The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-10-29

The last of the shipwrecked French
sailors Of the French ship Connetable
de Richmont arrived in Honolulu YES
terday from Kauai as passengers in
the steamer Mfkahala An but one
of the entire crew which had mirac-
uious escape, are passengers on the
steamer Alameda, which left at noon
yesterday for San Francisco. en- route
to Nantes, France Captain Rault
remains behind to protect the interests
of his vessel, wrecked on the French
Frigate Shoals, and Sailor Destrich-
sen is undergoing treatment at the
Queens Hospital for eruptions on his
legs, the result of exposure while in
the boat of Boatswain Rault. The
poor fellows legs are covered with
boils, due to IA days soaking in salt
water.
The crew of the third and last boat
rescued, withstood the privations of
thirst and exposure to an extreme.
Their lot was an unhappy one, and it
was due to Boatswain Rault's per-
sistence that the crew landed safely
on Niihau. For DAYS the sailors were
without water and they sailed to
Neckar island to obtain supply, only
to be disappointed. A sudden down.
pour of rain saved them from death.
Boatswain Rault left the wreck in
company with the other two boats
on October IL. He kept company
with the boat of Captain Rault, but it
was perceived that his was a craft
which could not '-eep pace with the
captains. One Thursday night, Octo-
Der Is, the boats separated, when about
100 miles from Niihau. Boatswain
Rault had a compass, but no chart.
His boat was clumsy, slow. and poorly
equipped for a long voyage. During
that night the water gave out, and
in his quandary over this desperate
situation, the Boatswain headed for
Neckar island, to the east of the
French Frigate Shoals, in the hope of
replenishing the water supply. When
the men went ashore not drop of
water was to be found Already the
mems threats and tongues were
parched and swollen, but they bore
their disappointment, and then decided
to return to the wrecked ship on the
Frigate Shoals, where water was to
be obtained. They set sail for the
Shoals, but after covering about 100
miles rain fell. The sail was lowered
and the precious fluid was caught, the
casks were filled and their terrible
the men changed the course of their
little craft toward Hawaii.
Then came another difficulty. The
calm weather changed to rough, and
soon the plunging boat opened up her
seams and the sea water came in.
The crew was divided into watches to
tinued for three days and as many
nights, and the men had little lest.
The sail had to be lowered when the
weather became so rough that safety
demanded it, and the boat then drifted.
Just when things began to look dark
to the seamen, Niihau was sighted.
The boat drifted ashore on Saturday,
October "a, and the men were kindly
cared for by the Niihauans. The next
day the Mikahala arrived and they
were taken aboard.
The new arrivals yesterday were eff
fusiyely greeted by their comrades al
ready here, and as soon as congratu-
lations were over, one who spoke Eng
lish. took off his hat, and cried: Three
cheers for Captain Gregory" and the
cheers were given with a will. capt.
Gregory was surprised. but quite
pleased at this demonstration.
Consul Raas and Capt. Rault took
charge of the sailors, sending De-
strichsen to the hospital. The men
last saved were: Rault, BoatsWain;
Orteuil, Daniel, Destrichsen. Dugipern,
La Corne and Charters, seamen; and
Siven, galley boy.
Consul RaaS, since the Hrst news al
| rived of the wreck, has been indefat-
gable in his efforts to bring the sailors
safely into port, anS utilized every op-
port unity to search about Hawaiian
waters for the missing boats. AS
his present billet of acting French
Consul is the first official post he has
filed in the service of France, he
demonstrated his entire fitness for the
position by his recent labors.