Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-26

reachlng home. On the other hand, the
moment it was assumed that Captain John
had never entered Torres Strait, then arose
the question of the fragment of the wreck
and how to explain its presence off Mel
vile Island
Captain Willis ran the Molly's Hope
boldly into this dangerous passage, keeping
close to the Australian coast. Upon near
ing Murray Island, the approach Of num-
Der of dugouts was signaled, but the natives
who manned them as well as those who
gathered on the shores as the Molly's Hope
steamed along slowly by, contented them
selves with uttering wild warwhoops and
brandishing their battle spears.
For whole month, up to June TO- Willis
and his interchangeable searchers contieued to
ransack the coasts of the islands lying be-
tween the Gulf of Carpentaria and New
Guinea Not bit or shred of rigging not
broken spar or piece of wood was picked
up by Captain Willis to lead him to think
that the Dreadnaught had gone to pieces on
these reefs
After another month spent In coastine
along from Arnheim Bay to Van Diemen's
Gulf, the Molly's Hope on July II sighted
Melville Island. It was ten miles to the
north of this coast that the fragment of the
wrecked Dreadnaught had been picked up.
As 1t had got no farther than this point, it
became necessary to assume that it had
only been detached from the wreck a short
time prior to the arrival of the Golden
Gate. 1t was therefore possible that they
were at that moment in close proximity to
the scene of the wreck
With the coming of November, Willis
asked himself whether he was to consider
that the campaign was at an end, at least so
| far as the Australian coast and islands living
off it were considered. Should he return
home after he had made search among the
| Sunda Islands lying in the southern part of
Timor Sea? In plain words, was be consci-
Gus of having done everything that it was
| possible for a man to do? The brave sailor
hesitated to look upon his task as ended
even after he had secured the Australian
coast. Something happened to rescue him
from this state of indecision.
On the morning of November he was en-
gagged in conversation with Zach French
when the boatswain pointed at some object
floating IN the water about half mile from
the steamer. They were neither pieces Of
wood, fragments of planking nor trunks of
trees; they were huge punches of grass, sort
of yellowish gulf weed torn from the bot
tom of the sea and drifting along the main
land.
well, that's stranger' said French,
hang me if that grass isn't coming from
the west; yes from the southwest There
must be current which is carrying it
toward the strait
That's so,." replied Captain Willis, "and
it must be a local current with an easterly
course, unless 1t be the effect of the tide"
Il don't think so, Captain" answered
French, for l recollect now that early this
morning l noticed punches of this grass
drifting in the same direction" -
each, are you certain of it7''
Gas certain as 1 am that We shall find
Captain John some day."
"Well, replied Captain Willis, "if such
a current exists it may be that that piece of
the wrecked Dreadnaught came from the
west, following the Australian coast"
'That's exactly my opinion, Captain"
'Then there is but one course for us to
take. We must continue our search across
Timor Sea as far as the West Australian
coast"
II was never more convinced of it, Cap
tain, since, beyond all doubt, there is a |
coast current which runs in the direction of |
Melville Island. By assuming that Captain |
John was lost in Western waters, we have |
now an explanation how it was possible that |
piece of his wreck should have been |
picked up where it was''
Captain Willis sent for his mate and con-
suited with him as to the expediency of |
continuing the expedition toward the West |
The mate was of the opinion that it now be-
came absolutely necessary to do this at
least until the source of the current had |
been reached
''To the westward, then" cried Captain
Willis 1--WE must not go back to San
Diego with possibilities, but with certain
ties-the certainty that if the Dreadnaught
went to pieces on the Australian coast
there is not plank or a spar of her left in
existence"
In consequence of this, under the circum-
stances, very justifable determination, the
Molly's Hope crossed to Timor Island in
order to take on provisions and fill her coal
bunkers, and then, after stay of 4S hours,
recrossed to Cape Londonderry Upon
leaving Queens Channel, Captain Willis
determined to follow as closely as possible
the outline of the Australian coast above
Turtle Point. At this location the direc-
tion of the current toward the east was
very perceptible.
Upon making Cambridge Gulf the waters
of which bathe the foot Of Mount Cockburn,
Captain Willis resolved not to risk his ves-
sci in this deep funnel bristling with reefs,
so he ordered the steam launch to be low
cred aud put it in command of Zach French,
with orders to make thorough search of
the interior of this gulf
Evidently" said Captain Willis to
|
into the hands of the natives of this coast,
it would be folly to imagine that O single
soul OF them is still alive. But what we
are after is to learn whether there are any
of the Dreadnaught in case the
natives should have scuttled the clipper
ship in the Cambridge Gulf
''It wouldn't surprise me in the least to
find out that the Williams had done So" re-
piled Zach.
French made the tour of the gulf without
coming upon any trace of the lost ship and
thereupon returned to the steamer
Captain Willis now weighed anchor
rounded Dusseiour Cape, and heading for
the northwest doubled Cape Londonderry.
her now southwesterly course,
the Molly's Hope crossed Buccaneer Archi-
pelago and entered King Sound, and by the
end of January, after fruitless search in
this long arm of the sea for some trace of
the Dreadnaught, Captain Willis deter
mined to end the expedition at this point, |
to wit: at the IS parallel of south latitude,
Besides the coal supply was running low
and hence it was considered advisable to sail
for Batavia, then, after coaling, to coast
along the Sunda Islands, cross Timor Sea
and so get out into the Pacific once more.
The weather was beautiful ana the sea
ike mirror outside the line of reefs, over
which the swell broke in long lines of snow
white foam as the Molly's Hope stood out
from Cape Leveque and soon left the Aus ,
,ralian coast behind her, growing fainter /
md fainter until it had faded to mere blue
inc on the horizon. Everything promised |
/ favorable cruise across to Java Island.
The fact is the steamer was on her way home,
except that there would be some delays to
enable Captain Willis to examine the