The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-02-15
WRECKS AMONG THE PACIFIC ISLANDS,

The London Missionary SOciety's bark
John Williams returned recently 10 Port
Jackson from her usual periodical cruise
among the islands of the South Pacific
The Sydney Daily Telegraph says the
John Williams is somewhat late in ar
irving here this trip, but this is account
ed for by the fact that she had to return
from Samoa to Manihiki with party of
distressed natives. 1t seems that when
the John Williams was at Manihki in
June last Captain Turpie was informed
that two boats. with eight persons in
each, were missing, having been blown
away while crossing from the neighbor-
ing island Of Rakahanga, and a request
was made by the mission teachers and
people Of the island to keep lookout for
the castaways This was done by Cap
tain Turpie, but nothing was heard of
them till reaching Samoa, where the two
boats, with all hands, had drifted alter a
trip of ii days, during which time the
natives endured terrible suffering After
completing the Samoan out-station work,
the John Williams embarked the casta-
ways and took them to their homes,
where they were joyfully received.
Much gratitude was expressed to Cap
tain Turpie for the services rendered by
the ship.
On the John Williams leaving in June
last the Manihlki Islands were not under
any protectorate, but on the vessels re-
turn with the castaways, Captain Turpie
found that the British flag had been hoist
ed by'H NJ. S. Espiegle, attached to the
Pacific squadron, she having visited the
islands for that purpose some two
months since. A few particulars regard
ing the group may be found interesting
The two islands are of small area, in all
-Manihiki, the largest, being only six
miles long, including the central lagoon,
and four or five miles wide. The islands
are both ordinary lagoon atolls OF coral
formation, of oblong or partly circular
shape. The dry land is only mere
fringe enclosing the lagoon, the distance
across the island on each side from the
outer reef to the waters Of the lagoon
being only few hundred yards-lOO
yards or so. The islands are densely
covered with cocoanut groves, amongst
which the simple huts OF the natives
nestle. The climate is most genial, and
hurricanes are very rarely experienced.
The islands are both very low-lying, the
highest point on either being hardly sit
above high water mark. Manihiki IS
visible twelve miles out at sea. The first
sight of it reveals a forest of waving
cocoanut palms, soft to Colt in height,
growing luxuriantly on ali parts of the
atoll. Cocoanuts are, in fact, about the
only plants the place produces. They
yield good crops OF cOpra. Manihiki and
Rakahanga are we'll known for their
valuable pearlshell and beche-de-mer
fisheries in the lagoon, and the natives
are very expert pearlshell divers. The
largest native village is on the south
west side of the island, near the landing
place. There is no entrance into the
lagoon for any craft larger than whale
boat or canoe. The passage through
the encircling reef at the landing place is
very narrow. only wide enough to ENABLE
boat to shoot through on the top of a
wave, with the oars out on one side
only. The natives assist to haul the
boat over into the lagoon. There is an
anchorage off the boat landing. Raka-
hanga Island lies to the north-north-
west of Manihiki, and is about half its
size. Landing is not good here, but can
be generally effected in a whaleboat
with the assistance of the natives, neal
the village on the northwest side. There
are large quantities of copra and cocoa.
nuts. Fine mats and hats resembling
Panamas are made by the natives
There is said to be an anchorage for yes.
sells close in on the northwest side of the
island. At the islands there is only
about foot rise and fall of the tides,
| spring tides eighteen inches.
Captain Turpie reports that the past
| year has been a most disastrous one t.
shipping in the South Pacific. Apar
from the destruction wrought by the hur-
| ricane at Samoa, he states that more
wrecks have occurred and more wreckage
has been seen drifting about the islands
than at any other time during the last
thirty-four years. Some of the wreck!
have not vet been identified, neither has
anything been heard of their crews.
| One of their wrecks not identified wal
ashore on an island of the Gilbert group
1t was lying partly submerged, and Cap.
tain Turpie heard that it had been blown
ashore during bad weather Captain
Turpie examined it, but was unable t.
obtain any trace of the ships name, thu
| bow and stem having been washed away
The vessels topsides were also missing
but they were seen by Captain Turpie a
another island some 400 miles furthe
northward. The captain believes tina
the wreck is that of North American
built vessel, probably lumber ship O
about 100 tons. She appeared to have
been we'll built, the copper bolts in he
being very large and her timbers appar
emily in good state Of preservation
The Pacific Slope is the only vessel of tin
class missing from Sydney. This vesse
left Sydney early last year, coal ladel
for Shanghai, and nothing has since beef
Il IL. i. L..