Year: 1871

Mr. EDITOR:


AT your request, take pleasure in Civ


ing brief account of the trip of the XII


lauea to Ocean Island, for the relief of the


crew of the q. s. S. Saginaw, wrecked on


that Island By direction of the Minister


of the Interior, | assumed charge of the


expedition on Monday the 26th of Decem-


Der, and as you are aware, sailed on the


afternoon of that day. During the first


four days we experienced very light


winds, so light in fact that the speed of


the vessel was considerably retarded for


the want of proper draft in the furnaces.


On the night of 3lst December, we took


strong trades which freshened by Sunday,


January lst into severe n. E. gale, with


thick weather and rain. On the night of


January I'd the vessel was hove to for


twelve hours with the view of sighting


Midway Island. / had been unable on ac-


count of the thick weather to obtain meri-


dian observations for the two DAYS pre-


vious, and therefore, although aware by


my reckoning that we could not be a great
distance from the Island, was unable to
define its exact position. On the morn
ing of the Sd, the weather being favora-


bic, found by observation that l was to
the leeward of Midway Island, and being
anxious to reach Ocean Island that day,
the vessel was Immediately headed for the
latter Island. We were, on this day, SO
meridian altitude, and at two o'clock p.
NJ by double attitudes, found ourselves
twelve miles to the Northward of the Is
land. The course was at once changed
for the Island, at 3.45 P. NJ. sighted the
breakers on the reef which surrounds the
Island. The next object sighted was the
flagstaff which had been erected By the
crew of the Saginaw, the Island being so
low that it was not visible from the mast
head until long after the surf and flagstaff
were seen. At half past four we had |
reached sufficiently near the Island, and |
as the anchorage was some five miles |
along the reef from where the vessel ap-
preached, thought it prudent to lay off
until morning-having in the meantime
with those on the Island by
dipping the flag and firing rockets to as
sure them that we had come to their relief.
On the morning of the next day, (4th of
january we anchored at the mouth of
The lagoon, Ia boat from the Island having
come off to the yesseI) After
sounding for some distance around the
vessel, from boat, to assure myself of the
safety of the anchorage, / went on
shore, finding every one there fortunately
veil, and rejoiced is hardly the express
ZION for the state of their feelings for the
timely relief l found them on rations Of
me ounce of -four or beans, and seal +
neat, or sea-fowl-albatross-besides the
ew fish they were able to catch in
he lagoon During the 4th and 9Th we
we're engaged in taking the crew and
heir baggage, stores, dc, on board The
rticles saved from the wreck of the yes
el were not considered by Capt Sicard
r myself as of sufficient value to war
ant the detention which would be neces-
arY in shipping them


On the 5th, as the last boats were com
lg off from the Island, the schooner
iona Packet arrived. None of the stores
Tere transferred from her, as there was
mply sufficient on board of the steamer. ! I