The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1889-12-20
A SEA CAPTAINS YARN
Discovery Of Shipvrseksd SaiIen b
the Seath Pacific.
Al E.gsssh.Aas Aehss us8ssas Csoasss-
able Aaoag the Havngos-A 1h0o-
saad Miles In Opsa Dooe-
a ROnaatie 0aogy.

PORTLAND. Me-, Dec. ia tale OF
shipwreck in the southern seas, Of savase
islanders and the romance Of . modern
Robinson Crsisoe 10 what Captain William
Goosiing tells. He was commando OF the
Portland bark Tewksbury Sweet, loss In
the South Pacific last spring. and has
just arrived I'm this city ON his way 70 his
home at Yarmouth. n. =. The first intel
ligence that thcy were alive was received
about two weeks ago. Their escape from
death from the wreck and from savasss
makes an interesting story.
The staunch American bark sailed from
Newcastle, ~. >. W.. ON March nth last
for HougkonR. On April 9th she en-
cotntcred u gale and was driven ashore
on Susanne reef, near Pozeat island, ono
of the Carolines. A very high wind was
blowing at the time, the surf was running
high, aud the vessel commenced to GO tn
pieces soon after she struck. Noshing was
saved from the wreck but one chronome-
ter. The crew escaped i'm one OF the ships
boats and managed with difficulty To
From this islet, when the storm had sub
sided, they made the Island of Pozeat
which ~ Inhabited 10y fierce savages.
fleet of canoes put of from the shore.
There were obont I'D canoes, with eight
aud spears, and some of the savages i'm
their eagcrness jumped overheard and
SWAIN to the boat. each with a long wicked
looking knife held between his teeth. Tho
first of the savaHes to reach the boat
clambcred i'm until il was nearly swamped.
their coats ana outer rar.nent., throwing
the garments aboard Of their own canoes
The men were soon .iespoiled of every
thing hut their understands then the whole
fleet drew in toward land.
The savagcs all this time had kept up q
and a crowd Of women aud children on
the shore were dancing and jumping
about with shouts aud cries. The saiior.
expected better treatment than eo bss
killed and eaten, hut they learned af-
| tcrwarsl. the natives of this island arc nos
While the shipwrecket crew were stand
| ing surrounded by the noisy crowd, q man
dressed "a. all the Others. with only . cloth
| to them in English. He gave his name a.
| Charles Irons, an Englishman by birth.
| sibie.
II secms that he was left ss Possas hx Q
I trading weasel about four years ago, Lis
cocoanuts on the island. hat the vessel
| never called for Irons since leaving him.
| aud hc had gradually assumed the habits
| them i'm appearance and manner. He
| had taken to himself seven wives, and was
porta,,ce. second only so the chief OF tbs,
| tribe. Irons had even forgotten many OF
the common details of civilization. hut he
1 was OF good service to the castaways, no
| doubt saving the lives of all.
| A day or two after landing at Pozeat
s.i". H. rnn,,,,y "r , si.n.. % "o, hmsr..,~
exactly whether ti,. day Was Thursday or
| Friday, asked Irons IL he knew what day
/ of tine week t WAS, but he did not. Irons
| Interested himself i'm behalf oe the ship
| wrecked men and hired q canoe OF tho
| Goosiing. Second Mate George W. Har-
rison and one of the ships crew set sail
ten days after their arrival, leaving tho
| rest of the men and First Mate Richard
Matchon. seven men in all. at Pozeat.
The captain and his men made
\ At s.ltylt tsrs L IN
stops AT each varying from two days to -
month. They finally arrived at Ruk.
they were cared for 10y the missionaries
and obtained the Use of a boat belonging
70 the s,.tioh. Inc MISSIONARIES uiu nos
deprived of IL they would be exposed to
the danger OF an attack from the natives
and deprived of their only means of leav-
ing tn. island, but finally gave their con-
sent.
The missionaries also told them that
had they come ashore at Poxeat with any
vaiuabIes the natives would certainly have
killed them, as they had others.
| In IA missionary bpat with u staunch h
cent.rboarsi, the captain made sail back
to Pozcat. lie then returned with the
,sr the .I S.ss.i os1ms s,n.
where they arrived November 18th. From
| Honolulu Captain Goosling and a part of
the crew were brought by the steamer
Australia To san Francisco, arriving there
The first act of Captain Cooling ON
reaching san Francisco WAS To telegraph
the vessels owners, Messrs. Chase, Leav-
| lit Il Co., of this city. This message Was
received n veritable tidinRs from the
dead. all hope of ever hearing from
either the ship or men having long been
rs,linsluished. Captain GooslinG states
that he left two of his men i'm the hos
| pital at Honolulu, two more are coming ON
u sailing vessel from Honolulu. one man
| the steward, has shipped n hand on
the Morning Star. and two mates and two
seamen accompanied the captain to san
Francisco. He estimates that his voyagina
i'm canoe and boat around by the way ol
the island of Ruk. WAS about 1000 miles.
During these voyages and stay on the is
lands, covering - period OF abous six
| months, the men subsisted on cocoauut
bread and natural products which form
the usual food of the natives. In conclo
sion Captain Goo<iing says:
ut was the most thrilling experience
ever had in all my scafarinH life. captured
we were by such beings and saved ia
such u sensational manner. After is was
decided 10y the natives not to kill the
sailors were given the widest possible lib
critics. You can imagine our gratitude q
Irons, and We lost no opportunity to ex
press it,"