The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-08-29
H. B. M. S. ESPlEGLE.
Her Return from the South
Seas Two Islands Annexed,
Part of the Shipwrecked
Crew of the Bark Gar
stOn on Board.
A Boat with the Captain and 9 Men Missing.

clarke, returned TO port yesterday
afternoon from the South Seas, after
an absence of a month, all well on
board. Directly after the vessel
had come to an anchorage in the ma
val row a BULLETIN representative
boarded her, taking along large
bundle of the "Buletin Weekly
Summary" including the insurrec-
ton edition, which the officers were
very pleased to receive.
The Espiegle left here July 9th
and went to Rierson Island and
Humphreys Island, both of which
were annexed, the British flag being
hoisted and a royal salute fired. The
vessel also visited Penrhyn, Star
back, and Maiden Islands. The
two islands annexed are only twenty
miles apart. Pleasant weather was
experienced throughout the trip.
The Espiegle will probably remain
in port for some time.
While at Humphrey island the E.
piegle found Chief Officer Geo. Davies
and twenty of the crew of the Brit
ish bark Garston which was wreck
ed on Starbuck island July 18th.
Mr.. Davies was interviewed by the
BULLETIN representative, and he
very kindly gave the following par
ticulars of the wrecked vessel.
The Garston was steel vessel of
1912 tons register, owned by Messrs,
Leland of Liverpool, and left Sgd
ney June goth bound to San Fran
cisco with cargo of coal. Expe-
rienced moderate to fresh w. and
S. w. winds TO New Zealand. The
intention was to go by Pitcairn ISL
and, but easterly winds setting in,
shaped course for the Northern Pas
sage. On the night of July Z tried
to sight an island about 400 feet
high, one of the Hervey group, but
failed. On the 18th, at noon, the
ship was going five to six knots. At
the relief OF the watch at p. M,
orders were given to the third officer
and the lookout to be on close
lookout. About 10 p. IN. Chief Of
ticer Davies was awakened by the
motion of the vessel. He ran ON
deck and found she was ashore.
Captain Pye was giving orders to
back all the yards and try and get her
off, Found five fathoms under the
stern, four amidships and two in
the wake of the fore-rigging. While
in the act of squaring the fore yard
the starboard fore lower topsail
brace got foul and they had to let
her go. The ship was thrown about
on the reef ,soImuch so that the men
could not keep on their feet. The
vessel was making water fast, and
they were afraid she would turn
over. Orders were given to aban-
don the ship. The whale boat was
put over first with five men, in
charge of Mr.. Annersley, the third
officer. Provisions were also put
in. The gig was next launched, the
sailmaker in charge, with four men
and also provisions, chart and
compass. After launching the life
boat a cask.of water was put in her,
compass and some nautical instru-
mcnts, Unfortunately, the water
cask was capsized and the compass
broken. The Captain left the ship
and took charge of the life-boat,
while Mr.. Bruce, the second officer,
was placed in charge of the gig.
The boats kept close to the ship for
some time with the intention of
boarding her at the first opportunity
to obtain more stores. The three
boats afterwards pulled towards
the N. f. point of the island
which vas found to be Star
buck. The gig made a little
Roadway but the whaler and life
boat drifted 10 the s. w. with a
strong current, The Captain called
to the gig and got into her. Besides
him there were in the gig the second
and third officers, sailmaker and
five men. Could not find landing
on account of heavy surf. Night
coming on all the boats were order
ed to make for the ship. Stood off
and on until morning. When morn
ing dawned Starbuck island became
visible beyond the reef, but stiff
breeze blowing and heavy surf
breaking it was impossible to board
the wreck. The three boats in close
company pulled all day in the burn
ing hot Sun along the shore, but no
place could be found safe enough
it was at last thought best by the
Captain and mate to make an at
tempt to land, Night came on and
the gig which was in charge of Capt.
Pye was lost sight of and not seen
again. The whaler and the life-boat
then made fast together, The men
were very tired from having had to
pull all day. The two boats hove to
for the night. The following morn
ing no land was in sight. Itlooked as if
there would be some trouble between
the men in the whaler, but it did not
amount to anything. It was no more
than complaint against one for
not doing his duty. The whale boat
was found to be leaking so badly
that the men in it were transferred
to the life boat, and the whaler was
abandoned. They pulled for twenty