The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1886-10-05
DUNNOTTAR CASTLE
RELIEF EXPEDITION +!
PER STEAMSHIP wAlALEALE.

set, and everything done to make the journey as
quickly as possible. The passengers were MIR.
Norman, chief officer of the Dunnottar Castle; Mr..
w. H. Baird, DR.. Craddock, Colonel Boyd and Mr..
j. D. Strong. After dinner the steamer was tum-
bling about IN the Kauai channel, and the passen-
gers gradually disappeared evidently suffering
from IAN emotion caused by the motion of the
ocean" The breeze continued good during the
night, and the bright moonlight was a temptation
to sit out on deck, as the members of the party
were restless and unable to sleep. Sunrise next
morning found Us passing Niihau. and after break
fast haula was left astern the last land we should
see until we arrived at Ocean Island. Large num-
bers OF sea birds of various species we're flying
round, and several were shot.
Nothing happened to cause any excitement, and
the time passed pleasantly until Saturday, when
lookout was sent to the masthead to watch for any
thing; as in case second boat had left the Island
we might intercept it. Sunday morning found US
175 miles from the Island, and all on board were
feeling anxious. Next morning. Monday, nothing
was to be seen at daybreak, and the horizon was
hay. Just as breakfast was finished, 7:40, the
man on the lookout called out that he saw land,
and on the second mate going up he con frmed the
report and as the haze was clearing rapidly he
Immediately afterward reported that he saw the
ship The steamers course was slightly altered,
and as the ship was not yet visible from deck we
proceeded to pack up the articles necessary to take
ashore. When this was finished we found that we
we're close to the Island, but were unable to see
any sign of life on it. Then the tent came into
view, and the Tag was run up to the masthead, and
the whistle blown, but no answering signal was
given. We were running along the reef to
the ship and found good anchorage about 300 Yards
from where she lay. casual observer would have
thought she was at anchor, as she lay there with
her masts and stays all perfect and her sails furl
| ed, excepting that she was SO still and dead.
First thoughts were for the crew, and boat was
at once got ready, and the passengers took their
Places taking with them quantity of necessaries
which might be required. After long pull of
about six miles, we reached shore about 11:30. AS
we approached we were unable to make out that
there was anyone there. When about twenty yards
from shore three dogs ran out of the tent ard
barked furiously On landing, Mr.. Baird and the
doctor went up to the tent followed by the other
members of the party. Lifting the curtain of the
tent it was found to be empty, and an indescrib-
able relief was felt by all present. A search was
then made for some message giving information
of the crew, but it was not for some time that a
bottle was found tied to post on the beach. This
was given to Mr.. Norman, who read the following
message:
CURE ISLAND, Wednesday, August Is, 1886.
This is to anyone who comes here, that the crew,
twenty-five in number, of the ship Dunnottar
Castle after being here for thrty-thr days, was
taken off the island by the ship Birnam Wood, of
st. Johns, N. B., from Hongkong bound for Val
paraiso, my Chief Officer, five men and one APP
prentice having gone away in the lifeboat three
weeks before for assistance. The Birnam Wood
being bound for Valparaiso expect to be landed
there. At the time of departure, all the crew
were well. (Signed) b. A. MARTIN,
Master of ship Dunnottar Castle.
This was received with cheers and everyone felt
correspondingly happy. The boat was then sent
back to the ship with copy of the message and
to bring the materials for the house. Colonel
Boyd then asked for the attention of those present
stating that he had been commissioned by His
Majesty to take possession of the island, as part
of the Hawaiian Kingdom. After reading his
commission he said: " From the traditions of the
Hawaiian people 1t lad long been supposed that
the islands 10 the northwest of the group at
present known as the Hawaiian Islands, had for
merly been part of that Kingdom, and recent in
vestigations of the Board of Genealogy had estab-
lished the fact that this island (Cure Island) had
formerly been known as Moku Papapa. He now
took possession of the island, as a part of the
Hawaiian Kingdom.
The Hawaiian flag was then hoisted on the flag
staff erected by the crew of the Dunnottar Castle,
and three cheers given for the King. A copper
plate was nailed to the flagstaff, with the in
scription: Formal possession taken of this
Colonel j. II. Boyd, His Hawaiian Majesty;s
Special Commissioner, ON behalf of the Ha-
waiian Government, September 20, 1867
After very rough and ready lunch, the party
started off to explore the island, which lies in a
corner of the lagoon and is entirely protected by
the reef. There are also three smaller sand
banks, TO which it is possible to cross at low
water The beach is about 100 yards in width
from the water to the edge of the vegetation,
which grows in the center of the island Incud-
ing the sand-banks, the island is about three miles
In length and about one-half mile in breadth in
the widest part. tapering away to very narrow
strip of sand. The greatest elevation is about
thirty feet.
Three varieties of plants were found, the prin-
cipal one being shrub about three feet high,
with small cactus-like leaf without the prickies
and small yellow flower on the stem. Another
bush had leaf like sage plant and bore berry
resembling gooseberry. The other plant was a
creeper, with flower like a convovulus.
This vegetation was splendid cover for the sea
birds, of which there were thousands. Some five
or six varieties of these were shot, also two
plover and snipe. The nesting season was Just |
over, and the place was alive with young BIRDS |
some of which were covered with down as white !
as snow. Several of these were taken aboard but |
managed to get away during the voyage home. |
Many shells of crayfsh were noticed on the beach,
and the water in the lagoon was swarmino with |
fish of various kinds
Returning to the tent we set to work to prepare |
tea, which was heartily enjoyed by ALL Then the |
boat was seen coming ashore with the materials |
for the house. These were carried to the house |
site, and the carpenters set to work at once to |
erect it, and working during the night, had the |
building advanced by morning. During the stay
on the island the party occupied the tent which |
had been left by the crew, and as there we're sew
eral heavy rain squalls during the night, were !
glad of the shelter it afforded First thing in the
morning the boat was sent back for the tanks |
and Messrs. Baird and Norman returned to the |
steamer.
About hundred yards from the Dunnottar |
Castle camp are the remains of the sloop which |
was In course of construction by the crew of the |
Saginaw when they were rescued. The keel, stem |
and portion of the ribs are standing and formed /
the frame of a tent which was used by the crew |
of the Dunnottar Castle until they put up the large
tent afterwards used by them.
The DUnnottar Castle lies in the middle of the /
entrance to the lagoon. The reef starts about one
mile from either side of the ship, and extends in a
circle for about twenty-five miles, the island lying
in the southeast corner of the lagoon. Fish were
swarming about the ship, and quantity of rock /
cod were caught while the steamer lay at anchor
We reached the steamer about O'clock and at |
O'Clock started for Honolulu. On the return |
passage course was taken to the northward of |
the shoals between the islands, and strong head !
winds were experienced most of the way On t
Saturday afternoon, September 25th passed Gard ,
ner Island, lone barren rock, and tue evening of !
the following day, Sunday, sighted Necker Island |