The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1889-09-03
LOSS OF THE GARSTON.

Particulars OF the Misunderstanding of
Twenty-one of the Crew; and Pro-
bable Loss OF the Captain and Eight
Seamen, Including ed and Sd Oaicers.
BY the British war-vessel Espiegle,
which returned to port on Wednesday
last after an absence of four or five
weeks, we were only able to give very
brief account of the voyage in yesterdays
issue; but our reporter has since inter-
viewed the chief mate and some of the
sailors OF the wrecked ship Garston, from
whom the following epitome of the voy-
age and wreck OF the vessel was cleaned.
The ship Garston, Captain Pye, was
l ,Sl2 tons register, owned in Liverpool,
England, and left Sydney, n. S. W, on
June 10th last bound to San Francisco.
The vessel sailed the usual easterly
course to the North Cape of New Zea-
land; but at this point of the voyage,
owing to easterly winds a northerly
course was steered to the Harvey group.
On the 18th about 10 p. m. the chief
mate was awakened by an unusual mo-
ton OF the vessel, and on reaching the
deck he found that the ship was
aground. Captain Pye was then giving
orders to back the yards in an endeavor
TO get the ship into deep water, but his
efforts were fruitless. The surf was very
heavy and the vessel reeled about so
that it was difficult for the men to
move about, and fears were enter
tanned that she would cant over.
The Captain then gave orders to
abandon the ship, and the whale boat
was lowered with five men under charge
OF the third officer. The gig was next
lowered with four men under charge of
the sailmaker, and provided with a
chart, compass and provisions. The
life-boat followed in which was placed a
cask OF water, q compass and nautical
instruments. When Capt. Pye left the
vessel he went in the life-boat, and placed
the second officer in charge OF the gig
instead of the sailmaker who had charge
at first. As was stated in Thursdays
issue. the boats remained near the YES
again on board for more supplies; but
when morning dawned they found this
to be impossible, and pulled to-
ward Starbuck island. The cap
tain and third officer changed
from the life-boat TO the gig which con-
tanned also the second officer, sailmaker,
and five sailors. A landing could not
be effected on the island, and as night
approached, the boats were ordered
back to where the ship was stranded.
Next morning the three boats kept COM
fany along shore, but To landing place
could be found; and during the next
night, the gig in which was Capt. Pye,
had disappeared from the other. two
boats and was not afterwards seen. The
Two remaining boats then made fast to-
gether and remained hove to for the
night in order TO rest the men who
were by this time tired out. The follow
ing morning the boats were out OF sight
OF land; and, as the whale boat was
leakingit was abandoned 4 scarcity
of water was now felt, and much
privation was suffered until by steering
in q southerly direction for ten days
from the time of the stranding OF the
vessel, land was sighted. As the remain
ing boat made the land, q canoe was
seen to approach containing natives;
and, on nearer acquaintance, those on
fair English that the land was Hum
phreys Island. A welcome was extended
TO chief mate Davis to &C into the canoe
and ne went ashore TO report. Finally
the hfe-boat came up close TO = reef;
and, IS the crew were exhausted they
were assisted by the natives 10 land.
The greatest kindness awaited the
sailors on shore, and they were wei
coined TO the native village of Tol1ao
where food and water was supplied.
The natives were found to be Christian
lied, and among them was Protestant
missionary or settler named Ellis.
On August eth II. B. VI. S. Espiegle
hove in sight; and, on communication
being made with her, the shipwrecked
men were taken on board the warship
with the exception OF one sailor who
elected to stay ashore. The Espiegle
then continued her cruise, visiting sew
eral islands and also the wreck-fnally
arriving at Honolulu as stated.