The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-04-13

during that awful night were such that
no ray of hope was permitted to pene-
trate the ureary prospect around us:
our thoughts and feelings, wrought up
10 the highest degree of excitement by
the horrors of our situation, continual
ly visited the homes we had quilted
probably forever-and offered up pray
ers for the dear friends we had left
behind. Every succeeding wave that
dashed over us threatened to sweep US
into an untried eternity, and while we
fmpatiently awaited approaching day,
we committed our spirits to Him who
alone could control the raging ele-
ments.
At daybreak we discovered that a
part of the reef, apparently about three
miles off to the leeward, was dry; and
this, though but of small consequence,
afforded US some comfort. In a short
time we discovered land at the distance
of twenty or thirty miles in an east
wardly direction. This, though we
were ignorant of the character of the
inhabitants-if indeed it should turn
out to be the residence of human b.
ings-presented to our minds the posi-
bility of escape; and without any de-
lay We pItpdl GU DIS wen dS we
to abandon the vessel. There remained
but one boat. and that was in a poor
condition for conveying US, eleven in
number, so great distance. But, as
no choice was left us. the boat was soon
prepared; and when the sun was about
two hours high we had completed our
arrangements. We took into the boat
one small chest of bread, some water,
a quantity of wearing apparel, a can
lister of gunpowder, one musket brace
of pistols, three cutlasses and finder
box In this frail bark and with these
poor means of subsistence and defence,
with little to rely upon but the mercy
of Providence, we took leave of the
ship; not without feelings of deep sor-
row and with small hopes of improving
our forlorn condition.
On leaving the ship we steered di-
rectly for the reef above mentioned and
without much difficulty landed and drew
up our boat. This proved to be, as we
had previously conjectured, part of
the reef upon which we had been
wrecked; and we soon ascertained that
the portion of the rock above water
vas but about sixteen rods long and
quite narrow, but sufficiently large to
afford US secure footing for the little
time we had to stay upon it. 1t was
our first, and almost our only object,
to remain here until we could render
our arrangements more perfect, and
either put to sea with less hazard or
make our passage to the land, which
was still distinctly visible. AS yet but
little time had been afforded US for
calm reflection; and it was now a ques-
ton OF serious Importance whether 1t
would be most prudent to encounter
the pillows in the crazy boat which was
our chief dependence, upon the open
sea, with our scanty means of subsist-
ence, or to throw ourselves into the
hands and upon the mercy of whatever
race Of beings might chance to inhabit
the island. In favor of the former plan
it was suggested that we might be
seen and taken up by some vessel
cruising in those seas and thus saved
from captivity or death among a bar
barous people; and, on the other hand,
it was maintained that chance among
the saYages of those islands would be
preferable to the risk of going to sea
in boat which was in all respects I'M
seaworthy, and with only few pounds
of bread and but little water for our
subsistence.