The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-11-17
MakaweH, Kauai, Nov. IA, 1902.

MakaWell, hdudl, NOV. Ii, lSU1.
Editor Advertiser: 1 noticed some-
time ago story in your paper regard
ing the proposed destination of the
little schooner Herman, which vessel
and her gentlemen adventurers" at.
tained some little notoriety during her
late stay in the harbor of Honolulu.
It was given out that the vessel was
after some treasure alleged to have
been on board the ship General Grant
at the time she was lost by drifting
during calm into cave on the Auck-
land island(a small island to the south
east of New Zealand) away back in the
sixties.
AS one who knows something of this
ship and the circumstance of her loss,
should advise those who were putting
up for the Herman's wild goose
chase" to stop now, sell the schooner,
and go back home BY way of expla-
and a young man / served eight
year (1S62 to 1870 on the good ship
Siam, then owned by Mr.. (Later Sir)
Roderic Cameron of New York, propri-
etor of the pioneer line of New York
and Australia packets. About the year
1864 this ship General Grant was
chartered by Miller, Lord & Quereau,
owners of the kangaroo" line of New
York and Australia packets. The two
ships loaded in New York together
and were also in Melbourne together.
Our ship went to Sydney from Mel
bourne with a. part of her cargo, and
from Sydney to Calcutta with horses,
and from Calcutta to New York. We
left the General Grant in Melbourne,
having been chartered by Mr.. De
Beers. later South African diamond
mine owner, to load return cargo OF
Australian produce. such as horns,
wool, Kaurie gum, etc., for New York.
The ship left Melbourne in splendid
sailing trim, and it was predicted that
she would make record trip home.
But months passed away and more
than year, and the ship had long
been given up as lost, with all on
III.
teen months from the time of the
ship's sailing from Melbourne, the sur
vivors, including the captain and his
wife and all but three of the twenty
three men comprising her original
crew. were landed in the port of Mel
bourne by the steamship Gothenbers
or Alhambra (these steamers being ex-
actly alike am not certain which one
it was), from Bluff Harbor. New Zea-
! land to which port they had been
brought by a small sealing schooner
which had visited Auckland island on q
prospecting voyage.
was a witness of the landing oil
these survivors, happening to be IN
Melbourne again on our usual rouno
voyage to Australia, the East lndles
or China and back to New YORK
Their story appeared in the newspa-
pers. and was about the same as tna'
appearing in the Advertiser some time
ago. The ship was becalmed near this
small island. and in spite of all they
eouId do. she drifted into this large
cave breaking off her upper masts as
she drifted farther in. The lower
masts being too strong to be oroken
were forced through the bottom OF the
ship. The people escaped with tnelr
lives only, and succeeded III mdhihS
fire on the island with their last match
which they never allowed to die out.
They lived on penguins, wild goats and
sheep and fish. The goats and sheep
had been placed there some years be-
fore by parties from the south island
of New Zealand. They found scanty
edible vegetation on the island, which
served in place of vegetables, and the
party experienced no hardships 10
speak Of Three men died from natur-
al causes.
It is extremely improbable that there
was any treasure on board, more than
the small sum usually carried by ships
of those days for very urgent and pres
sing occasions, as the payment for re-
pairs of small damages, or for the pur-
chase of provisions on what might be
a very long voyage. a telegraphlc
draft on the managing owner being as
vet one of the impossibilities. There
are various other reasons why this
ship could not have had much treasure