The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-26
ON A MID-OCEAN ISLAND.
SHIPWRECK OF CAPTAIN F. D,
WALKER WITH HIS FAM
lily AND CREW.
A TALE OF SUFFERING THAT
LASTED FOR EIGHTEEN
DREARY MONTHS.

Captain f. D. Walker, who arrived here
on the Gaelic from Honolulu last Satur-
day, was one OF the principal actors OF q
thrilling sea drama which is worthy OF
place among the shipwreck and castaway
tales OF Defoe. In 1889, while master OF
the bark Wandering Minstrel, he was
cruising among the Midway Islands,
small group, mostly of mere sand heaps,
in the Pacific, 100 miles west-northwest
from Honolulu.
The islands are uninhabited except by
seabirds and sand crabs, and were once
considered as subjects of annexation by
the United States, the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company having taken possession by
landing few tons of coal on one OF these
tiny dots OF land showing itself above the
ocean,. However, this locality as coaling
station lost favor among the powers of the
Pacific Mail and Uncle Sam left his
claim to the original owners, the birds and
crabs.
The Wandering Minstrel was engaged
principally in shark-fishing, profitable
business that adds largely to the cod-liver
oil supply in the medical world. One
night while lying at another off Sand
Island, the smallest of the group, hurri-
the reef and was beaten to pieces by the
heavy breakers in few hours. Fortu-
nately all hands, twenty-nine persons,
among whom were Mrs. Walker and three
children, managed to reach the shore.
Next day two of the ships boats and
several chests of clothing drifted ashore
with fragments of the wreck, and in this
primitive style they began housekeeping in
mid-ocean for a period that was to last
eighteen long dreary months.
They saved not a morsel of food from
the bark and their only sustenance was a
meager supply of fish and birds. Occa-
sionally they were enabled to vary the bill
of fare by robbery committed upon the
nests of the latter. a few huts made from
the wreckage of the lost bark afforded
them poor shelter from the burning trop-
ical sun, but they took the almost inces-
SAINT rain storms unprotected. For weeks
they lived in their wet clothing and suf-
fered from scurvy and kindred ills, the
natural consequence of their semi-starva-
ton existence. Fierce gales OF wind howled
over their small, insecure abiding place,
almost blowing them into the sea, while
the salt spray and showers of sand flying
before the tempest stung their faces and
half-clad bodies, and the succeeding hot,
blistering sun completed their misery.
On the highest point of sand was their
graveyard, and five seamen of the wrecked
bark lie there with the wild gales of mid
ocean sweeping around them Captain
Walker and two companions, while fishing
on the reef, were caught in sudden gale
and driven out to sea. For three DAYS
they pulled at their oars and succeeded in
making their island, almost persisted with
thirst and hunger. Only the possession
OF a small pocket compass by the captain
enabled them to get back to their COM
panions.
remained and stole away one dark night in
hopes OF finding a passing vessel. They
were never heard of again Mrs. Walker
and one of her sons were at the point of
death from starvation and the long months
of hardships when the schooner Norma,
passing close to the island, saw their sig
nails and rescued them from their sea-girt
prison.
Captain Walker afterward purchased an
interest in the Norma, plying between
Victoria and the islands. He sold out to
Daily & Claxton, an insurance firm in
Victoria, and a few months ago returned to
Honolulu, where his family reside; his
two sons being engaged in business in that
city When the Norma arrived with
cargo of salmon she was searched by the
customs officers, but according to an item
published in the Commercial Advertiser
nothing contraband was found aboard of
her.
Captain Walker Indignantly states that
the article appearing in a morning paper
to the effect that he was deported by the
Hawaiian Government, is entirely untrue
and that he was given his passports, as is
islands. He will return to Honolulu in a
he