The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-09-17
STORY OF CAPT.
|NALKUP'S DEATH

The following account Of the loss of
the missionary schooner Hiram Bing
ham, and her master, Captain A. c.
Walkup, was received on the Aorangi
by Rev. Dr. Scudder of Central Union
Church, from Rev. p. A. Delaporte, the
missionary of Central Union in Micro
nesia:
On May in the morning, the Hiram
Bingham, on her way from Ocean Is
land to Butaritari with ten souls on
board, was still forty.fve miles from
the latter place. The wind was light
and Mr.. Walkup thought he could
reach land that day with the use of
his engine. He accordingly went be-
low to oil it and get it ready. 1t
seems that all the natives were also
below, with the exception Of an Ocean
Island boy, who was at the wheel.
A squall came up, but he gave Mr..
Walkup no warning until it was very
close. Mr.. Walkup got his oilskins
and rushed on deck, but his orders to
the man at the wheel, and his efforts
to east off sheet, were of no avail.
The vessel capsized, or rather lay on
her beam.ends. They did what they
could to right the ship, but seem to
have been unable to right her. In
short time the sun was shining bright
ly. The boat was on the lower side
of the house, but worked itself loose,
and with it came two oars and pins
Quite little food and cocOanuts
came to the surface, but Mr.. Walkup
allowed them to take only a five-pound
nf ri nd
nuts, as they were confident of reach.
ing land. 1t seems the boys were
afraid to dive into the ship on ac.
count of the floating gasoline. They
cut the weather lanyards with small
scissors that came to the surface in
the chest of the little girl that was
with them. Then afterwards they
made sail of a piece of cloth from
the same source. They remained by
the ship until about 2 o'clock, when
they gave it up. They pulled until
sometime on May 6, when they sighted
Butaritari, getting near enough to see
the beach and saw a steamer entering
the passage. 1t seems that Mr.. Walk
| up wished them to pull for a place
| about fifteen miles distant, where is
a mission station. In trying to do this,
they were caught by strong current,
and swept away.
By this time the boys got SO weak
that they were no longer able to pull
and then they rugged a sail with the
cloth and an oar. When they saw
that it was impossible for them to
reach Butaritari, they tried to get to
Tarawa, and continued in these efforts
until they sighted the lights on Ebon,
ON the night of the 25th. The next
morning they were seen by some canoes
that were out fishing, as they were
rapidly carried past the island. They
were towed into the passage and re.
ceyed first assistance from Mr..
| Eyarts, "A trader
Mr.. Walkup was without a hat, aud
covered with sores. lie recognized
Mr., Heine, DIR. Rife's teacher at Ebon,
blt was delrious most of the time. He
seemed to be getting along well, until
the morning Of the Goth when he was
not able 20 talk as well, and unable
TO take his food. Mr., Heine says that
hr found bis mouth swollen. lie died
about midnight and was buried the
next day, sunday, IN tho presence OF
the whole population, The natives are
all doing vol, but at last reports could
rot walk yet. The money that WAS on
board the Hiram Bingham went down
| with her,
Thus ended "woll spent lie, bro,
Wulkup aid for iwouly'nino years
NWhAt he cGuldN Tor those poor 10
] lnuuVrH Muy lg rest la ngnpf