The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-28


Pointing over the hill, the guide
gasped:
People from the Hankan islands in
camp over therel And there's a white
man with them,'
But is that surprisirg?" l inquired.
Yes, sir. / should say it was" he
answered. Then ne added: We mustn't
stay here. It's dangerous"
To the surprise of the guide ] an
nounced my purpose TO have look at
these people, and, fearing to remain
alone rather than because he approved
OF the undertaking. the guide accom-
panied me.
We reached the top of the hill, from
which We could see a fire in the valley
not more than $50 yards below us.
About this fire four men stood, two OF
them Enthusiastically natives and two of
them as Enthusiastically white men,
though the slight attire of all was. the
same.
There are two white men down
ter how the others feel, these will be
friends. Come with me- And. making
sure that my pistols were smooth in the
holsters, / threw the shotgun into the
hollow of my arm and STROBE down.
Like man under hypnotic influence,
the guide obeyed me, and in few min
utes we were at the fire.
ne natives were the HISlf 10 see Us,
and, without Selling their spears. which
were on the ground. they uttered yell
of alarm and fled.
The older of the two bronzed white
men-the younger was about I'll
reached out his hands, and in a voice
trembling with emotion shouted;
.'Friendsi Friendsi AT last. friends"
When the younger man could COM
mand his tongue, after he had shaken
hands with us, he cried out: Get back
from the fire. There's danger herei"
He and his companion picked up the
spears, and, at a run, they followed the
guide and myself to our camp.
There was no time for explanation.
Clearly these men had been captives
and were as anxious to escape as We
were to help them.
We saddled up quickly, placed the
older man on the pack horse, while the
younger sprang up beside me, and then,
guided by the stars, We started east
ward.
During the night march the young
man behind me told me his story. His
name was George Baldwin; that OF his
companion was George Wellman, mate
of the lost ship Albatross and the
brother of the captain.
The ship foundered in a cyclone after
most of the crew, including the cap
tain, had been swept from her decks.
This was nine months after she had
left New Bedford.
Of the five men who got away in the
lifeboat, three died OF starvation. Young
Baldwin and the mate were flung
ashore on one of the Hankan islands,
where for six years the natives, who
in every way had treated them kindly,
kept them captive. Now and then they
made forays TO the main island to carry
off Maori cattle, and they had just
landed for this purpose the night be-
fore.
Take me to my father in Boston"
said the young man in conclusion, 'or
send me to him, and he will repay you
for your trouble
1 told him that his father was then
at Auckland, whereat he was so much
affected that the poor fellow burst into
tears.
The Maoris were astonished at our
discovery. and they gladly furnished US
with fresh horses to get to the nearest
stage line.
We had provided clothing for our
nearly naked companions. and bar
Der at the geySerS had made them more
presentable.
1t was now Christmas day when We
reached Auckland, and to two men at
least twas the happiest Christmas day
in all the world.
Mr.. Baldwin soon regained his health.
He and his son-the latter now married
are living in California, and never a
Christmas day passes that I am not
asked to visit them and celebrate the
meeting in New Zealand.
LEON EDWARDS.