Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-08-31
Mr.. H0LDEN'S NARRATIVE.
A Romantic Story of Shipwreck,
Captivity and Suffering.
CAST AMONG BARBAR0US SAyAGES.
Horace Holden Subjected TO Unheard Of
SuffePings Among the BarbaFOus
Pelew islanders.
CAST AMONG BARBAROUS SAyAGES
CHAPTER XN.

ed safely in New York, and since
the reader secs us once more safely
among friends it is time for the mar
rative to close, as its mission is per
formed. But before concluding
there are a few loose ends to be
gathered and questions answered
questions that naturally suggest
themselves 10 the reader. He will
naturally inquire what became OF
our comrades James Mudcr, Calvin
Alden and Horalio Davis, who were
left as hostages with the natives OF
the island upon which we found
ourselves when the vessel was
wrecked and where we were detained
for twelve months.
Upon my return to Boston as soon
as possible | pushed on to Washing
ton to see what, if anything, had
been done looking to the relief of
the men who were thought to be on
the Pelew islands, having been
aboard the ship Mentor when she
was wrecked. | found that the
man-of-war "Nincernes" had been
sent out to her station of Chill on
the Pacific coast.
Upon arrival at the Pelews the
Vincennes anchored off COreOra-at
the opposite end Of the island and
about seventy-five miles from where
we were captives. AS fortune
would have it, when the vessel
anchored there "Old Charley" the
Englishman whom we had met
there, was at Coreora. Assisted by
the natives he rowed out t. the
vessel and went aboard at once,
relating to the Captain the story Of
the wreck of the Mentor and the
escape of all the men but three at
different times and that those three
{ Davis, Mentor and Alden) at that
time were on the opposite side of
the island. The CaptaiG sent word
to them that he was there to relieve
them. But before getting their re-
ply the vessel proceeded on to Toby
to get the men who were supposed
to bc there. But arriving there none
were found, all having either made
their escape or died and been sent
adrift on the sea. Kobac, one of the
Pelews who had gone with us to
Toby was there and had not forgot
ten the little English | had taught
MIN, and he gave what information
was desired. Kobac was taken
aboard and the vessel hurried back
to the Pelew island. After arriving
there Kobac, the Pelew chieftain,
was returned TO his people, and it
was found that but two men were
left, Alden having made his escape,
aided by friendly Pelew, to pass
ing vessel. The natives unwiliingly
gave up their prisoners, who were
taken on board and the vessel sailed
away, bearing its rescued Ameri-
cans safely home. Itmav be stated
here that the Nincennes arrived al
Boston while was at Washington
In the interest of my shipmates.
To conclude--of the TWENTY-FIVE
men who sailed from New Bedford
July 81, 1881, on the ship Mentor,
only seven ever lived to tell the tale.
They escaped or met THEN fate as
follows; Eleven perishcd of the
reef the night the ship broke upon
he rocks; Captain Barnard and
Rollins escaped to vessel from
Toby, after being on that desolate
sic less than IA month; Alden escap-
III from Pelew, rs related above;
our men died of starvation on Toby !
n were sent adrift on the sea to die:
Nute and Holden were rescued by |
he harque "Britauuia;" and Meder |
md Davis were relieved 10y the gov
rnment man-of.war "Niucenues.
Ii is impossible now To tell what
has become of the seven men who
scaped with their lives. The sub
ect of this narrative, however, is
wing retired life ON his farm
Iorth of Salem, aud though well
dvanced in years being now
early eighty years OF agc-Is stin
ute active, and has gratefully re-
'ted to the writer the tnrllling
'enes of "Holden's Narrative"
rHE ssh.
AN AkTONIsmIxG CnaNEr