The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-01-27
pERILs OF TIE sEA.

Capt. George n. Armstrong, of
late years n resident of Hampden,
in Penobscot county, has recently
been visiting in this section. Capt.
Armstrong was born in Marysyille
in this county, being a son of the
late Ferdinand Armstrong. His
mother, several sisters and brother
still reside in that town. When Il
young man, Capt. Armstrong, be-
ing of a rowing turn, made his way
to q seaport town, and his days
have been mostly spent on the briny
deep. He is regarded as skillful
and successful ship-master, and has
generally been "lucky." His last
voyage in the ship Templar was,
however, SO remarkably unfortun-
ate, rs to have attracted the atten-
tion OF the country, through the
columns of the press.
This ship, in command of Capt.
A. who was accompanied by his
wife, daughter of Samuel Rogers,
ESQ.,, of IIampden, and his daughter
Emma, a young lady about eighteen
years of age, left New York for San
Francisco in Sept. 1878. After q
tempestuous voyage of lGl days she
arrived at Rio Janeiro the ship hav-
ing been so seriously damaged as to
render it necessary to discharge her
cargo at that port, in order to make
extensive repairs. As the cargo was
about being shipped again, Capt.
A. was taken sick with the yellow
fever, which dread disease was rag
ing in the port, and before the yes
sci weighed anchor, nine seamen
died from the same destroyer. Not
withstanding the condition Of her
captain and the fever among the
crew, the Templar sailed on the
goth of February, and on the first
day out, the yellow scourge broke
out afresh, and Capt. Armstrong,
his wife, daughter, and five of the
ships company were obliged to seek
their berths. On the 9th Mrs.
Armstrong died, and within few
days, three more of the crew were
consigned to watery grave. In
this terrible condition of things it is
not singular that feeling of despair
should overtake the portion of the
crew that was still able to do duty
and that they should determine tc
take the ship from her course ant
make for the nearest port. This
resolution was, however, prevented
by the captain, who in his enfeeblec
condition, at the point of the pistol
still kept the crew to their duty ant
the ship on her course. Durin.
these terrible days, and while Capt
Armstrong was confined to his bert
his noble daughter Emma, who ha
sufficiently recovered to keep tn
deck q part of the time, relieved th
first mate, who had proved derelic
to his duty, and herself took com
mand. Fortunately she had learne
from her father the principles Q
, navigation, and with the assistanc
, of the second mate, who was able
take the mechanical bearings of tn
vessel, she herself, made the nece;
sary calculations and gave th
l needed commands. Thus, throug
] the winter months, through til
spring months, through the fullnes
of the summer months after q voy
age of $50 days from New Yorl
and almost q years struggle wit
t death, this young heroine conducte
the ship Templar into the waters {
: San Francisco bay.
S The faithfulness and heroism
It Capt. Armstrong and his daught'
: did not fail to meet with appreci'
tive recognition, and the Board {
: Underwriters of San Francisco, at
It meeting called for thatpurpose, pr
a sented to each of them purse col
c tanning $500 in gold, accompanie
by many fattcring expressions Z
: approval and esteem.- Aroostot
II Pioneer.
) Captain Armstrong is now mast
e of the Eva, at present in the port
" Honolulu.
r,Its, no prlFn