The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-07
ON HIDDEN REEFS.
The Lady Lampson Lost
at Sea.
sUFFERINGs OF THE CREW.
Six Sailors and the Captains Wife
in an Open Boat for Twenty
Six Days.

The bark Lady Lampson, bound for Homo
lulu from Sydney. New South Wales, was
wrecked on sunken reef about forty miles
distant from Palmyra Island, on the morn
ing of January 16.
This news was brought to San Francisco
yesterday morning by the schooner W. +.
Witzemanp, which sailed from Honolulu
nineteen days ago.
The first .idngs of the wreck were OBJ
taIned at Honolulu on the afternoon OF
February Is, when a ships boat flying the
Hawaiian flag, sailed up the channel TO
what is known as Brewers wharf. The
little craft was trim and neat in spite Of
well-marked weather stains, but the ap-
pearsnce of the persons on board was sutti-
Gent in itself TO tell tale of shipwTeck
with all its accompanying horrors and priva-
tions.
Those In the boat were Captain j. Peter
son of the Inflated bark, his wife and five
of the crew, including Second Mate Charles
Brown; Willie Weldon, cabin-bOy; Frank
Villen, sometimes called Nuncs, the cook;
and William Carlson and {. EYersOn, sea-
men.
With careful hands the bystanders helped
the occupants OF the boat on the wharf, and
so emaciated we're they that they could
hardly stand. even with assistance. The
captains wife was particularly weak, and
1t was easily seen that all had nearly reached
the limit Of human endurance.
BOATLOAD MISSING.
"Where are the others? Have you heard
ANYTHING about them ?" were the first words
spoken by Captain Peterson as he eagerly
glanced about
Then it became apparent that there was
another small boat RtiOat on the Oroad
Pacific, unless 1t had already gone TO the
bottom, in which were other suffering sur
Vivors Of the disaster, of which Captain
Peterson and his companions had Just
brought report.
The missing boat, he said. was under the
command of First Mate K. MOller, and
when last seen had contained besides him
self four seanen, named w. Snyder, j.
JugeuseD. Oscar Magnusen and on e Martin.
Help was at once given the exhausted
arrivals. All we're much in need OF cloth
ing, as what thew had was soaking wet and
in The case OF some Of the sufferers fairly in
rags.
Captain and Mrs. Peterson were taken to
the Eagle House aud given every attention
by the proprietor and his wife.
The officials OF the Inter-lsland Steam
ship Company came forward and looked
well TO the comfort of the other members Of
the shipwrecked crew.
THE CAPTAINS SAD STORY.
I'VE had sailed" said the captain, when
be had somewhat recovered, from Sydney
to Honolulu with a cargo OF coal. Ever
since we left extremely bad weather W as
encountered, a hurricane blowing some
times. For TWO days and nights before the
vessel struck | was constantly on the deck,
ana after midnight or on the morning of
January 16 l went to my cabin for little
sleep.
81 don't suppose was there an hour when
was thrown from my berth.
Il rushed al once 10 the deck and saw that
the vessel was doomed.
''She was fast on a hidden reef, and the
Keel mad been knocked clean off and was
floating alongside.
"a wide seam had been opened up along
the vessels bottom and she was rapidly
filing.
IN few moments she had settled down
solidly on the reef, and if she had not
rested on the bottom we would not be here
10 tell the story of her wreck.
"Orders were at once given for the boats
to be lowered, and no time was lost in do
"My idea was that we had struck on
KiHgmal's shoal, and that we we're there
fore about forty miles from Palmyra Island.
Il directed that the boats be headed for
that place.
MADE A BAD START
''In the hurry Of departure, there being
every reason to suppose that the wreck
would break up a any moment, and that it
would only be a matter OF few hours be-
fore laud would be reached, very INSULT.
cient supplies were put in the boats.
There were in all six gallons of water,
twenty pounds of ships bread and six tins
of canned meats.
Another reason for taking as little as
possible was thatthe boats were too heavily
loaded as il was.
1.-The boats pulled away from the wre ok
early in the morning. The mates boat WAS
tOwed by mine.
For while the storm moderated, but it
came back with redoubled fury aud drove
us in direction opposite to that whic we
wished to go.
THE men kept bailing to keep the boa IS
clear, but the water came over the gunwale6
so fast that cur bread became soaked with
sea water TO such an extent that it was rem
dered UNBEATABLE.
After three days there was nothing left
In the way of provisions, and death by
starvation stared US in the face.
In day or two the water gave out and
thirst was added to hunger.
WANTED TO EAT a CABIN-BOY.
1.-THE men, though suffering the fortunes
of lingering death. behaved well with the
exception of Second Mate Charles Brown
whose mind became affected.
He began making wild speeches and
threatening the life Of the cabin boy, whom
he wanted killed for food. These acts Of
the mate nearly drove little Willie WeedoI
frantic with terror.
% Food we must have Brown would
shout, fixing his glazing eyes upon the boy
If you want to draw lots to see who must
die to save the rest from starvation all right
but food we must have
added 10 this was the storm, which
tossed cur little overhurdened boat abou
and tbrpafpppd n OF >
The men became almost too weak to bale
out the water.
MY log and all the extra clothing wer,
washed overheard, and the end seemed no
far distant
Finally the storm subsidized and matter
began 10 look more hopeful.
Brown became worse and had to b.
watched carefully.
Mrs. Peterson became his special obiec
In the matter of food, and his talk wal
wilder than before.
1T then became necessary to take stronl
measures, and after binding him am
threatening to throw him overheard, n
became more quiet and we got along very
well.
BACK TO TIE WRECK.
''0n the morning of the ninth day afte
the boats had left the wreck the battered
hulk OF the Lady Lampson was agair
sighted, and we lost no time in making on
way back to her.
ut was perious job to get over til,
breakers to the vessel, but it was accom-
plished in safety, and a season OF rest ant
thanksgiving followed.
There was plenty of food and water OF
board, and after a good feast the boats wert
amply prOvisioned while the opportunity
was taken to repair the little crafts whic
bad suffered considerable damage by bein
bufeted about IN the terrible storm they hal
wlthstood so bravey.
1.-THE wreck was hanging together b!
threads and 1t was unsafe to remain on her
30 we put to sea again as rapidly as posi-
bic, this time heading for Honolulu. Tw,
days later the boats separated, the mat
taking more northeaserly course.
Il kept in the course l had mapped out
and during the seventeen days following
made fair Roadway with a good wind and
moderate sea. All in the boat, however
suffered from cold
Our clothing was continually wet Will,
the cramped position and the jmpossibiIit,
Of taking the least exercise caused grea
sunerlng. L only slept for few moments
o a M / frE,s Il