The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-09-30

-as it would take 4 skilled eye TO detect
lnything the matter. But now we are
we'll abreast OF the island, and our
whistle rings out shrill and clear, nearly I
Ieafening US with its clamor, while the
wind carries the sound right In the
direction Of the island Still, however,
no answer from the shore, and We come
to the conclusion that the crew must
have gone. Another thing that con-
firms us in our suspicion is that no boats
can be made out on the beach. But now
we are entering the reef and slowly we
feel our way in. The Second Mate
heaves the lead from the bow. deep
water" seven" quarter less seven, "
"six, " Give and-a-half, " five. LET 90
your anchor" and we are at rest some
300 yards from the wrecked ship.
Quickly a boat is lowered, provisions,
medicines and other necessaries are
bundled in and all the passengers take
their places. We also have with US
some palm trees for planting on the
island. Our crew settled to their work,
the Mate of the Waialeale steering, and
we are started on our long row to the
island (six miles, passing close astern OF
the wreck At first it is very hard work,
but after while we get within the inner
line of reefs and the water becomes
smoother. We indulge in many con-
lectures as to the shipwrecked crew, Int
all are useless, as our doubts are so soon
to be settled. We approach sand bank
on which we see a turtle and large
flock of birds, who come wheeling over
our heads as if to find out the cause of
this strange intrusion. Now we are
nearing the shore, and just as we are
landing three dogs come bounding to the
boats. Surely these are not the only
survivors from the ship. Someone finds
a notice: "Meat buried here" and we
take it for a grave. The tent looks as il
it were occupied, and half in dread OF
what we are going to see we fastened to
it, but to our relief found it empty. Look
ing about we find a we'll dug in the sand,
into which a cask has been sunk, the
water being quite drinkable, though a
little brackish; also, sheepskin mats
cooking utensils, earthernware, three
rusty rifles tied together, and two ships
cutlasses. Then another one finds bottle
fastened to post, containing a piece d
paper. On opening this we read i
CURE ISLAND,
Wednesday, August Is, 1861
Z This is to anyone who comes here, tina
the crew, % in number, of the ship Dun
hotter Castle, after being here for 80 days
was taken off the island by the ship Birnan
Wood, of st. Johns, n. B., from Hong
kong, bound for Valparaiso my Chief Off
Ger, five men and one apprentice having
gone away in the lifeboat three weeks be
fore for assistance. The Birnam WOOD
being bound for Valparaiso, l expect to b.
landed there At the time of departure
all the crew were we'll
(Signed) II. A. MARTIN,
Master ship Dunnotter Castle
Our minds being thus set at rest, We
give three hearty cheers, and then Col
Boyd, who is dressed in fatigue uniform
says:
"Gentlemen-Before going further,
have a piece of business to perform. 1
Genealogy that the Hawaiian Islands
formerly extended much further north
have been commissioned by His Maj
esty King Kalakaua to take possession Of
this island-Ocean Island, or Moku Pa
papa"
He then shows us his commission
and proceeded to read as follows:
I, Colonel James Harbottle Boyd, by the
power in me vested as His Hawaiian Maj
esty's Special Commissioner, do hereby
take possession of this island-Ocean Isl
and, or Moku Papapa-as portion of His
Majesty's Royal domain.
Done at Ocean Island this goth day OF
September, 1886.
We, the undersigned, were present and
witnessed the above.
s. E. CRADDoCK, NJ. D.,
J. D. STRONG,
HENRY NORMAN
Chief Officer Dunnotter Castle.
The Hawaiian flag was then hoisted
and saluted with three hearty cheers, and
mo o,1 10 J;11or 1I,;e Ia;y,r, J;S,ooOa1 Of