The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-31
DEEP SEA MISSIONS.
Definite News of the Loss of the
Phoebe Chapman.
The Adventist Society Gave Her Up for Lost
Two Years Ago-The Piteairn's Cruise
in Southern Seas.

The report that the Phoebe Chapman. the
schooner of the Seyenth-day Adventist Mis-
sionary Society, was totally wrecked on the
west coast of Tahiti on November 80, 1890,
published in THE CALL OF yesterday. re-
wives interest in the fate Of Elder Cudney
and the Phoebe Chapman's unfortunate
crew.
In 1856 John 1. Tay. member of the So
ciety, left San Francisco with the object of
doing missionary work among the Pitcairn
islanders. He worked his way as far as
Tahiti on the Tropic Bird in the ca
pacity of ships carpenter. From there,
after two months delay, he obtained
a passage on board of the British
man-of-wor Pelican, which was unde r
orders to call at this remote dependency of
Great Britain. Mr. Tay spent five weeks
among the islanders engaged in active prose-
Iytng work. Then the yacht General
Evans of San Francisco happened to call
at the island, and he took advantage OF her
presence to return to San Francisco in order
TO report the result of his efforts and obtain
a minister to baptize the new.made converts.
HEADED FOR PITCAIRN.
Alta meeting of the General Conference
Committee of the Seventh-day Adventists
If was decided to send Elder A. J. Cudney
of Nebraska on visit to Pitcairn for this
purpose. and Mr.. Tay was instructed to
accompany him. The elder, on arriving ID
San Francisco, found no direct means OF
transport to Pitcairn, but was finally in
structed TO proceed to Honolulu, and there
do the best he could
Mr.. Tay, from the experience he had
gained in his former visit, concluded thaI
/ aesi plan would be to reach Pitcairn via
laIlti, and IL was finally arranged that FL
der Cudney should buy vessel In Honolulu,
pick up MIR. lay at Tahiti, and they should
together head for Pitcairn. In pursuance
Of this agreement the elder on reaching
Honolulu purchased at auction the schooner
Phpbe Chapman of f0rty-fve tons burden
for SiI00, md fitted her up at an additional
cost of $40, and shipping a crew of four
mes sailed for Tahiti on July 81, 1888, and
since that time the society has never heard
fr0u ll-fated vessel or any OF her un1or-
tunate cIew.
VIOLENT STORM.
1t is known that a violent storm oc-
rurred 81 ortly after she left Honolulu, and
the lnger ing hope that the missionary ana
tina crew had reached one OF the smaller
Islands which was at first cherished d.
friends has gradually died out.
A short time ago it was reported to the
soeieT that some wreekage, supposed to be
part Of the Phoebe Chapman, had been
picked up in Tahiti, and it is thought that
Tins nav be the basis of the categorical re-
POI. Of her loss. The society does not
7hink that the report can possibly be correct,
Tor they say it is hard to credit that the
vessel could possibly sail about for more
than TWO years without ever calling any
where, without being spoken or without
a single item Of news being received from
her.
As long ago as November 5, 1889, resoln-
tiOnS expressing the sense OF pain felt by
the organization over the suspense arising
from the lack of tidingS were adopted by
the General Conference.
STILL ANOTHER VESSEL.
Nothing daunted by this sad outcome of
their first effort, the International Sabbath
school Association of the Adventlsts brought
the matter OF building a missionary vessel
before the Sabbath schools of the denomina-
ton throughout the world, and, as a result of
this action, the fine schooner Pitcairn, OF
about 100 tons burden, was bnilt at a cost,
taking the ecu ipments and provisions for
two years cru Use, OF nearly $4,000. She
was launched on NOvem Der %, 1880. and
solemn dedicatOry exercises having been
held on September %, 1890, she sailed on
October 20th, having two missionaries, Ed
ers L. Ii. Gates and a. j. Read, and the
first evangelist, j. l. Tay, all three accom-
panied by their wives, and crew OF eight
on board.
News has been received from the schooner
since she reached Tahiti. and the mission
aries report that the whole of the adult
| population of Pitcairn, eishty-two IN an,
were baptized. From Tahiti the Pltcalrn Is
to make for Samoa, and continue from there
on prolonged cruise through the Pacific
islands.
TAKEN FOR A PIRATE.
The Pitcairn is a very rakish-loOking
craft, and her trim maSts, taut rigging and
low huh recently led to reflection on her
chara cter. A German ship sighted her
cruising off Pitcairn and thought her looks
so suspicious that she crowded on all avail
able sail and ran. The captain had some
thing of yarn to tell about pirate who
was infesting the Pacific seas.
No news of the Phoebe Chapman has been
received from those on board the Pitcairn.