Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-01
A sH1PwREcKEn CREW.
Thrilling Adventure in the south Indian
Ocean.

Ocean.
From the London Telegraph
The Captain of the ship Holt Hill.
which was wrecked on the barren and
desoIate island of St. Paul, in the South
Indian Ocean, has just sent the owners OF
the ship-Messrs. w. Price & Co., of Liver
pool--particulars of the wreck and of the
Robinson Crusoe-like adventures of the
crew on the island The Holt Hill, 1856
tons, was four masted iron sailing ship.
While going from Rio to Calcutta in ballast,
she got ashore at St. PauPs island, having
run in cove between the rocks. She had
a crew of thirty-three hands, and the only
way Of escape was over the bows of the
ship, where there was a drop of forty to
fifty feet. A rope was put over the bows,
and one by one the crew dropped into the
surf. All escaped but the mate. 1t was
9 o'clock at night when the vessel struck,
and all night the poor fellows had to re-
main on the beach, nearly frozen to death
with cold. The men escaped just as they
were when the ship struck, and for the
most part they had no shoes on, and were
but partially clad Rocks 200 feet high
faced them, and as PERCEPTIONS as the side
of a house. The safety Of the men was
not assured until they reached the sum-
nit; but this was perilous and difficult
task Captain Sutherland, when climb
ing the rocks, fell some twenty feet, and
when he reached the top his hands were
dreadfully skinned by the sharp and loose
rocks.
When had gained the summit they d.
vided themselves into parties, some to
catch penguins, some to fish, some to get
wood and water and others to explore the
island. The cook had one match, and in
this the hopes of the thirty-two men lay,
as the nights were so cold it meant death
without fire. The solitary match was
watched by the entire company with the
keenest possible interest, and to the Joy of all
the outcasts, fire was kindled. This was
kept up day and night, special sentries being
told off to watch and attend to it, to prevent
it going out. The whole island was ex-
plored from beginning to end. The only
fresh water, besides some rain that had
lodged between the rocks, was that con-
tanned in some boiling springs After
getting the water the men had to wait I'M
Ill it cooled before they could drink it.
The penguins were rank and oily, but
after being stepped in salt water all night
their black flesh did not taste so badly,
although the surfeit which the poor fell
lows had of the food caused nausea, and in
several cases the vomiting of blood. Cray
fish were caught, and some nettles were
the only vegetation the men had. For to-
bacco the men, from two cid clay pipes
smoked some rope yarn. Their beds were
formed OF dried grass, and in most cases
they had simply their trowsers and shirts
for covering. Some huts were found, but
only one had roof. When the exploring
party found the rain-water they brought
back a supply in the legs of a pair of oil.
skin pants, the legs having been tied 10
keep in the water.
There were rabbits and goats on the
island, but they were too nimble for the
shipwrecked men. Some old fsh-hooks
were found, and others were made out OF
wire. Several fish were caught and they
formed an acceptable dish. The water in
the springs was so hot that the men could
half boil the fish in them. There was not
a tree on the island, which was covered
with thick, rank grass and rushes. 1t was
most trying for the poor fellows TO travel
over the prickly substance in their bare
feet. A small lagoon was found on the
northeast end Of the island but it proved
to be salt water. There were cliffs around
this lagoon to hight of 1000 to 5000
feet. St. Paul is an island on which the
Government is supposed to place provis-
ions and water for shipwreeked sailors, but
neither food nor water was found by the
crew of the Holt Hill. 1t was said that
whalers visited the island, and, though
not shipwrecked, made off with the pro-
visions. Eight small boats were found on
the island, though several were quite I'M
seaworthy. On the eighth day vessel
was sighted, and boat was put off from
the island. A fire was burned and dis.
tress signals shown, but the ship disap.
peared. She was so near that the ship
wrecked crew could see the man at the
wheel.
Just as their hopes were giving way tc
despair another sail was sighted. Dried
cended was seen by the stranger, which
proved to be the bark Coorang. The pre-
served men-thirty-tw in number-were
nineteen days on board the Coorang, and
were most humanely treated. All Of the
Holt Hills crew behaved well, Captain
Sutherland being remarkably cool under
the trying circumstances. 1t was thought
that if the Government could put a supply
of fresh water in the tanks and quantity
of biscuits on the island periodically, as
well as few fish hooks, they would doubt
less prove great blessing to shipwrecked
people. st. Paul is a volcanic island OF
about ten miles in circumference, large
quantities of lava all round the coast tes-
tifying to the many eruptions. 1t was the
opinion OF the men that had they been
compelled to spend another eight days on
the island many Of them must have sue.
cumbed to their sutierings. None of the
crew has vet arrived in Liverpool. The
ship herself, though of immense strength,
was soon smashed to pieces by the fright
full seas that from time to time struck her
on the stern as her bow lay fast wedged in
between the great rocks. The name of the
chief officer who was lost was james
Williams.