Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-08-12
SHIP PYRENEES SAVED
PLUCKY WORK OF
THAYER AND PORTER
VESSEL HAD BEEN ABANDONED
IN SOUTH SEAS - FINALLY
BROUGHT INTO FRISCO
HAReoR.

San Francisco. July 29.-After hay-
ing been abandoned in the South seas
by her captain and crew, the British
four-masted ship Pyrenees has been
brought to this port by Captain George
Porter and crew Of men picked up
at Tahiti. Two-thirds of them are
Cook islanders, who have never before
been away from home. The ship ar
rived yesterday afternoon, sixty-eight
days from Papeete. Island of Tahiti,
sailing into the harbor and coming to
anchor off Black Point. The passage
from the South Seas was devoid OF in
cident until only few days ago, when
a gale carried away some Of the back
stays OF the foremost. On all the trip
sails were carried on ali the masts ex-
cept the mizzen, which was weak.
The Pyrenees, commanded by Cap
tain Robert Bryce, sailed from Tacoma
on Ostober "a, 1900, for Leith. with a
cargo Of 1850 tons Of wheat and barley.
Everything went well until the after
noon Of November l6, when Chief Mate
John Kerr reported to the captain that
smoke was coming from one Of the aft
er ventilators. The ship was then not
far from the equator. Efforts to
quench the fire in the hold were unsuc-
cessful, and Captain Bryce made for
Pitcairn island. distant 100 miles, with
the intention Of Bleaching the ship. Fair
uinde pna hlal tho Dyrapaac IN mall n
good time. and Pitcairn was reached
on November 20, but the island was
encircled by such huge breakers that
II was impossible TO run the vessel
ashore. Governor Mccoy of Pitcairn,
one of the Bounty" descendants, went
out TO the ship, and, upon learning OF
the situation. advised going 10 Manga
Reva lagoon 300 miles to the west
northwest, and offered to pilot the ship
TO that place. His services we're ac-
cepted, and with the iron decks warp
ing over the heat OF the burning grain.
and with all hands well nigh exhaust
ed after their long vigil in keeping
the decks flooded, the Pyrenees steered
her course for Manga Reva. The la
COON was safely reached on December
2. 1900, and the ship was beached in
an upright position.
For nineteen days Captain Bryce and
bis men remained near the snIp. which
appeared to be beyond salvation, and
finally succeeded in reaching Papeete
in the schooner NoCtor. Seventeen days
later Captain Bryce and his men sailed
for this port on the steamer Australia,
reaching here on February 6. 1901. A
few weeks later the Pyrenees. upon in
structions from her owners, was Of
fered for sale at auction, and brought
S236. but the owners in England re-
fused to approve the sale. Some months
later the underwriters, who had taken
over the ship, sold the wreck to Cap
tain !. +. Thayer OF this city for a sum
sad to have been $500. He immedi-
ately began preparations 10 save the
vessel, though he was ignorant Of her
exact condition. With Captain George
Porter. for,erly a whaIer, Captain
Thayer went to Tahiti. when they sail
ed on schooner for Manga Reva. with
an outfit for saving the shin. win tho
crudest kind of assistance from q s,ore
Or more OF natives they succeeded in
floating the pyrenees on February n
last. and sailed her 10 Tahiti Tbar.
the vessel WAS mt in shane for tho ,rir
to this port.
r,o ,,,o,, o,, ,..,. -, c.,.,
r,o,.o, a,s, ~. 80 - 80" -,
b.. o,,a,,, nao,a,,a 80 r'"'', y,
~ aha.,an ,n n nv" "
,ho "Dnnran,,'. a,,ar, go, 100 l' %Ht
,ho ,anna, TIa nsnaon" y. :" ,ins
a,,on no.. orrirai ~ nan, -,
-, 49,, ~ '. 80 ,,'.'' o"'
! - $500 ''s - s''N - ~ 'N''-'