The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-02-14
THE MISSING MEN

bound for this port from Sydney, n.
S. W., with a cargo of coal, was
wrecked on the 10th of January and
proved to be total loss. The news
reached this city yesterday afternoon,
when a trim-looking boat with her
sail set and Hawaiian flag flying
came in the channel on her way to
rewer's wharf, where landing was
made.
The occupants of the boat slowly
got out, and by their emaciated condi-
ton people who were standing around
saw at a'glance that the poor and al
most lifeless unfortunates had tale
of shipwreck to tell with all its ac-
companying sorrows and privations.
The onlookers were correct in their
surmises, and in few moments the
half dead victims of a treacherous
ocean gave few particulars of the
loss of their good ship and unfOlded a
tale of misery and privatiOn that
would melt the hardest heart.
A STORY OF WRECKAGE.
The strangers proved to be the cap
tain, his wife, the second mate, the
cook, cabin boy and two seamen of
the Hawaiian bark Lady Lampson,
which was due here from Sydney with
q cargo of coal.
The vessel left Sydney on Novem-
Der 1st last for this city and on the
morning of the 10th of January, about
$50 O'Clock, Al days out, the vessel
struck reef and Immediately filled
with water and sank until her bottom
rested on the rocks and then she
keeled over.
At the time the vessel struck there
| were two men on the lookout. They
were stationed on the fore royal-yard
but as the weather was foggy and the
sea very rough, the men had no idea
| that breakers were near. The Lamp
son was going along at fair rate of
| speed, and when she struck the shock
was enough to throw the captain out
of his bunk. He Immediately ran
upon deck and in a second it dawned
on his mind that the vessel had
struck reef and nothing could be
done to save her. 1t was soon found
that in the collision the keel of the
vessel had been completely taken of.
THEY LEAVE THE SHIP.
The loss of the keel caused the
ships bottom to open and in few
moments her hold was full of water
and then she sank on the reef. The
captain then called all hands together
and preparations were made to leave
the wrecked ship to voyage to Pal
myra Island which was situated
about forty miles from the reef on
which the vessel was lost.
With hope to reach the island which
was to give them refuge the party
was divided, the captain, his wife and
five others took one boat; while the
first mate and four seamen jumped
into another which was smaller They
expected to reach Palmyra in a few
hours and in consequence but six gal
Ions of water, twenty pounds of shiI
bread and six tins of canned meat were
taken, as both boats were already
heavily laden. At about o'clock, o.
an hour and half after the vesse
struck, the shipwrecked party put of
from the ship, the mates boat bein!
towed behind the captains. In tn,
meantime the weather moderated
and both boats successfully rode tn
. breakers, which broke over the rec
in quick succession.
THEIR MISERY COMMENCES.
When the mariners reached the opel
sea, the weather clouded up, and tn
storm increased. Tie wind, which
was blowing a living gale, was no
favorable to the unfortunates, and, in
stead of carrying them otheir destina
ton, it took them in an opposite di
rection. The boats were continual.
shipping water, and, to add to thei
suffering and misery, the bread whicl
| they depended on for their eXistenc
. became soaked with sea-water, an
was unfit for food. During tn
D storm, which lasted for several days
the captains log-book and all eXtr
clothing which belonged to the part
was thrown or washed overheard. Flo
three or four days the members of tn
shipwrecked party had nothing to ca
and finally their meagre supply {
water gave out. The storm had sui
sided, and both boats were driftin
about-no one knew where. Every
thing looked dark for the men, an
the pangs of hunger and thirst almos
crazed them. The sailors, althoug
suffering greatly, did not show an
signs of dangerous discomfort, wit
the exception of second mate Brown
' who was in the captains boat.
PROPOSED TO DRAW LOTS.
n 1t is supposed that the man was
h trifie insane, as he acted in n yer
strange manner. He first commence
an attack on the cabin boy, name
Willie Weldon. The lad is bl
fourteen years of age, and the vo!
age on the ill-fated vessel was h
( first one. The mate scared the DO
and the other occupants of the DO;
by stating that they must have son
b food of some kind. He then propose