Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-12-05
400 LIVES LOST.
Wreck Of the Brig Tahiti in the
South Seas.
She Was Carrying Slaves 20 Mexican
PlantatiOns--No Trace of the
Crew or Cargo.


Crew OF Cargo.
despatch from San Francisco, Gala. ssys:l
Information ola terrible disaster comes from.
Manzanillo, Mexico. The brig Tahiti has
oard-nesrly 400 souls-were drowned. The
resell, which was practically a SLAYER, touched
in Brakes Bay. 10 mil north of the Golden
Gate, In September. She was loaded with
Gilbert Islanders, under contract for term
,fyears to coffee planters In the San Benito
district.
The steamer Rcseyille arrived at Msnzanillo
from islapa, and her captain reported that ON
The trip over TO ls'spn from Manzanilio the
Roseyille passed the wreck Of the Tahiti IL
miles southwest of Lizard Point. She was
aoating bottom up, with her rndder gone and
aer ballast badly shift ed. In the opinion of
the Roseyille's crew the disaster had occurred,
?. obably 40days before they sighted the hulk.
Tho steamer sent boat of 10 examine the
wreck but not living thing could be found.
The posito on of the brig forbade any search
Of her interio-. The briggs yawl was still by
her, but two small boats were gone. This
gives little hope that any lives were saved, for
only yawl would have stood any chance Of
surviving the storm that would effect the brig
10 the extent of making il necessary to cut her
running rigging, as had been done.
Not asurvivor was reported as having made
shore at or near any port which could DC
hea I'd from. From the drift of the currents
a. TIE point where the Rosevile sighted the,
wreck it is supposed that the capsize occurred
several hundred miles further south and cut
at sea.
The Tahiti was 300 tons burden and was
owned by II. II. Leavitt, of New York.
Captain W. H. Ferguson was in command.
She lett San Francisco on April ON a trading
cruise in the South Seas. After having dis
posed of her wares she took on nearly 40
people from the Gilbert Is ands, bound for
Mexico osteusibly to work under contract on
coffee plantations The contract was one of
the usual kind in such cases, and provided
that the slaves should work for term OF two
years at wages that would scarcely buy them
a mess of beans day. The chiefs advised
them to 60, as the islands were famine
stricken. Leavitt promised at Il G expiration
of their term Of servitude that they would be
returned TO their homes free of expense,
such being guaranteed by the Mexican
Government.
On September 30 the brig put in at brakes
Bay, near Point Reyes, for repairs to her
rigging. She had been forced out OF her
course by foul weather. Captain Ferguson
did not care to bring his cargo into San
Francisco.
DIR. Gibson, the surgeon, left the vessel and
returned TO san Frarc SEQ, his place being
taken by Dir. Scrymzcr. A new set OF sails
was procured. Captain Ferguson, whose
wife was !. was succeeded by Captain G.
Erickson. Collector Phelpa after examining
The briggs napers, decided that he had no
power to detain her. On September s she
twas towcd TO sea. Before smiling, however,
four Of the crew leit the brig and their places
we're filled. The natives seemed pleased be-
cause they were going to warm country.
If any Of the natives had escaped they
would have been heard from before now. IL
is almost certainly that all persisted. The
Tahita carried three mates, a physician DIR.
Scrymzer two cooks and q crew OF ~ men.