The record-union., 1891-11-30
LOST AT SEA.
THE BRIG TAHITI FOUND FLOAT
ING BOTTOM UP.
No Trace of Any of Her Crew or Pas
sengers Discovered-All Believed
to be Drowned.
Special TO the REcoRD-US1oS.

Special TO the REcoRD-UNIoN
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. ga dispatch
from Manzanillo, Mexico, received here
yesterday furnishes almost conclusive
proof that the first extensive attempt at
"blackbirding" on the Pacific Coast has
resulted in the loss of over 300 lives by
shipwreck.
The ill-fated craft mentioned in the dis
patch is the brig Tahiti, which touched
in brakes Bay, fifteen miles north of the
Golden Gate, early in September,
crammed with Gilbert Islanders under
contract for a term Of years to coffee
planters in the San Benito District
All the horrors of the slave traffic on
the African coast were recounted during
the few days the Tahiti lay in brakes
Bay in distress, but from the dispatch in
question there is little room to doubt but
that the sufferings OF the cramped, ILL
found slaves-they were nothing else
We're ended several weeks ago in a storm
off the Mexican coast.
The American steamer RosevilIe ar
rived at ManZanillo Friday evening from
Islapa, and her Captain reported that on
the "Trip over to Islapa from Manzanillo
the Roseville passed tie wreck Of the
Tahiti eleven miles southwest of Lizard
Point. She was floating bottom UP. with
her rudder gone and her ballast badly
shifted: To the experienced eyes OF the
RoseVlIle's Captain it was evident that
the brig had capsized while on the star
poard tack, as all the port rigging had
oeen cut away in an attempt to prevent
her Ifom going over. The masts were
sun standing, showing that the cutting
oi the sheets and braces and other run
nlng gear had been accomplished too
lale, and that the capSiZe had followed
100 quickly to permit of cutting away the
sticks in further attempt to right her.
IN the opinion of the Roseville's crew
the disaster had occurred at thirty and
more likely forty days before thev
sighted the hulk. The steamer stopped
and sent a boat off to examine the wreck.
but not a living thing could be found
and the position of the brig forbade any
search of her interior that would have de-
| termined how many of the unfortunate
islanders, bodies were still imprisoned
between decks.
The briggs yawl was still by her. but
the two small boats We're gone. This
gives little hope that any lives were
saved, for only the yawl would have
stood any chance of surviving q storm
that would affect the brig to the extent of
making it necessary to cut her running
rigging.
From Manzanillo inquiries were sent
to all points on the coast that could be
communicated with, but not a survivor
was reported as having made the shore
at or near any port which could be heard
from.
From the drift of the currents at the
point where the Roseville sighted the
wreck it is supposed that the capsize oc-
Cured several hundred miles farther
south and out at sea.
If any of the passengers on the brig had
| escaped they would have been heard from
before now, and it is almost a certainty
that all perished
Besides the Captain and the go island
ers the Tahiti carried three mates. a
physician (Dr. Scrymserl, two cooks and
a crew of twelve seamen.