The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-07-07

The American schooner Mathew
Turner reached port yesterday morning
with twenty-six men from the Nor
wegian- banks Victor and Salamis,
which Were wrecked on Maiden Island
during storm on May 18th. The
Turner brought both crews and three
boats, and although there was hardly
food enough or accommodations for the
large number of extra men, Captain
Jensen brought the men along rather
than leave them on the island where
food was scarce.
Maiden Island is 1000 miles directly
south of the Hawaiian group and is
one of the guano islands Of the Pacific
Phosphate Company. There are over
one hundred men at work on the Is.
land, and the Victor and Salamis were
there loading guano when the storm
occurred which wrecked the vessels.
When Captain Jensen was seen yes
terday he gave the following account
of the voyage:
We sailed from Newcastle, N. s. W.,
on May 7th, bound for this port, and
had fair passage and fairly good run
TO Maiden Island.
On June 18th DIT p. M, while passing
Maiden, which is a small island of
coral formation situated in lat. 40 or
S. and long. 1862 or w. and is a guano
station, bonfires were seen on the is
land, which is very low. rising but Is
feet above sea level.
The wind was very light, and the
vessel was making but miles per
hour, when at 8 p. m. a boat came
alongside.
1t contained portion of the crews of
the two wrecked Norwegian banks
Victor, about 800 tons and crew of 10
men; and Salamis, about 1000 tons, with
crew Of 16 men.
1t appears that both vessels dragged
their mornings and their anchors in a
westerly gale on May 18th and goth
and stranded on the coral reefs. Both
vessels were quickly broken up. and
only little provision and clothing was
saved.
The manager of the island had only
6 weeks provisions for his crew of 100
South Sea Islanders and 6 white men,
and nothing definite was known as to
when the next vessel would arrive. So
when on June 18th the Turner hove in
sight, the outlook was bad. and they
were anxious to get away from the is
land.
I had ample stores for my crew Of
10. but with an increase Of 26 men and
the equatorial calm belt to be crossed,
ious one.
AS 1t was evident that they would
have to take to their boats and strike
out for some other island in a couple of
weeks, there was nothing to do but get
them on board and share and share
alike.
SO the Turner was hove to. and all
hands, with what clothing, stores and
boats were saved from the wrecks, were
taken on board.
On June 18th we proceeded on our
voyage, and had we not received some
of the provision from the wrecks, we
exceedingly calm passage from NAL
den.
The Victor was wooden bark. COM
by Capt. Danielson. She sailed
from Launceston (Tasmania) February
7th, and arrived at Maiden Island
April End. She had but few tons OF
guano on board when lost May 18th.
She was owned by o. Ribe Grimstad,
The Salamis. an iron bark. command
ed by Capt. Isak Larsen, sailed from
Melbourne February 18th and arrived
at Maiden May 28th. She was loaded
and ready for sea when driven on the
reef by the gale. Owned by L. Gunder-
sen. Porsgrund, Norway.
The Turner brings a consignment Of
coal for the Inter-Is'and Steamship IN