The San Francisco call., 1896-03-17

and we went on the French Frigate shoals.
During the four days and four nights we
were out the men suffered great deal,
but we all took our medicine, and when
we landed on the beach at Niihau we still
had two cans of apricots left. Our boats
went to pieces almost before we got ashore,
and Mate Walker, who brought his boat in
at the same time as mine, narrowly es-
capped with his life.
After getting ashore we began pros
pectlng for provisions. We found a native
who was on fishing expedition, and he
agreed to take me back to his camp. He
had horse, and both of us got on it and
rode ten miles into the interior. When we
reached the Kanaka camp they advised
me to 60 five miles further and see the
manager OF the station.
Il got q fresh horse, and I'll tell you in
confidence that that extra five-mile ride
was worse than starving in an open boat.
was simply hayed alive.
when / reached headquarters there
were eggs, butter and milk in abundadcc,
but all got was look at them. Manager
Moore kindly gave me a sheep, and after
waiting few minutes I said: Couldn't
you please let me have a little coffee p
Certainly, certainly he answered, and
handed out two small packages. l waited
minute or so longer and said sugar would
4
certainly he answered again, and handed
me out some sugar. Then feeling thor
oughly ashamed of myself, said, "A little
salt would 60 well with the mutton 'Oh,
certainly, certainly said Moore, and
handed out the salt. Then rode back to
the Hawaiian camp.
"What difference there was in the re-
ception. The natives had all gathered and
made collection. There. were clothing,
shoes. food and everything they thought
we might need. They had horses ready
and they came down in body to the
beach and did everything possible for my
crew. When the third boat came in they
took hold Of the almost famished crew and
fed them on poi diluted with milk, which
they rode ten miles to get. l can never
forget the natives of Niihau.
From that point we went to Waimea in
whaleboat. and when we explained that
two OF our boats were still missing Captain
thompson of the Ke Au Hou at once
stopped taking cargo and started out to
look for them. Larsens boat, we found,
had reached Niihau, but there was no sign
OF Jackson's craft. We cruised around all
that night and next day sighted them.
They were lying in the bottom of the boat,
but when we came alongside managed to
get up. and Alonzo Perkins made the boat
fast. When we arrived at Honolulu the
American Consul took charge of us and we
were sent home on the Bennington.
Chief Officer Hugh Walkers story is
similar to that of Captain Mockler's. The
two boats were in company troughout the
four days and the twelve men in them
were not reduced to such straits as the
others.
}. +. Jackson and Alonzo Perkins, who
were in the boat that was out eight DAYS,
say they never had such fearful expert
ence. The men were only half clothed and
when picked up by the steamer nearly all
OF them were mass of blisters and sores.
I'm getting away from the barren rock -
SAID jackson, "our boat was almost
wrecked. We followed in the wake of the
captains boat, but she sailed faster than
we did, and when eighty miles from land
we lost sight Of her. Then gale came
up and we were driven out of our course
We beat our way back, but another storm
drove us off and we were in despair. Our
last can. OF peaches had gone two days
previously and we were not only without
food, but perishing for drink. A rain
storm helped US out or else don't think
one of US would ever have reached Gait
fornia. alive. The Matte I. Dyer went
down almost in moment and Perkins al.
most went down with her. When we
reached the boat he only had pair Of