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Title: The Last Cruise of the Saginaw
Author: Read, George H.
Language: English
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THE LAST CRUISE OF THE SAGINAW
[Illustration: LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER MONTGOMERY SICARD]
THE LAST CRUISE OF
THE SAGINAW
BY
GEORGE H. READ
PAY INSPECTOR, U.S.N. (RETIRED)
_With Illustrations from Sketches by Lieutenant
Commander (afterwards Rear-Admiral)
Sicard and from Contemporary
Photographs_
[Illustration]
BOSTON AND NEW YORK
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
The Riverside Press Cambridge
1912
COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY GEORGE H. READ
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
_Published February 1912_
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY COPIES OF
THIS FIRST EDITION PRINTED AND
BOUND UNCUT WITH PAPER LABEL
THIS BOOK
IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE NOBLE
MEN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE
EFFORT TO OBTAIN RELIEF FOR
THEIR SHIPWRECKED
COMRADES
PREFACE
Dear Mr. Read:--
I am greatly obliged to you for letting me read your deeply
interesting account of the wreck of the poor Saginaw and the loss of
Lieutenant Talbot. With General Cutter's approval I shall take the
manuscript with me to Boston, but I will return it carefully.
I leave the two photographs, but I have the curious drawing and
newspaper scraps, which I will safely return.
Very truly yours,
EDWARD E. HALE.
Dec. 21, 1880.
WASHINGTON.
A recent re-reading of the above old letter from a friend who in his
lifetime stood so high in the literary world, has, together with the
suggestions of other friends and shipmates, decided me to launch my
narrative of the cruise and wreck of the Saginaw on the sea of
publicity.
The story itself may be lost in the immense current of literature
constantly pouring forth, but some good friends advise me to the
contrary.
The fact that stories of sea life and adventure have ever possessed
the power to attract the interest and stir the imagination, adds to
the courage given me to set forth my plain unadorned story without any
pretensions to literary excellence.
Some of the first instructions given to a newly fledged naval officer
enjoin upon him the necessity for brevity and directness in his
official communications, both oral and written, and eventually he
becomes addicted to formal expressions that pervade his entire
correspondence. Eloquence or sentiment would probably be crushed with
a reprimand. I trust, therefore, that the reader will consider the
above conditions as they have surrounded me throughout my service,
should he or she find a lack of decorative language in my narrative.
To my mind, as a participant in the related events, there is material
in the story to rival the fictions of Fenimore Cooper or Marryat, and
I think that the heroes who gave up their lives in the effort to save
their shipmates should stand as high on the roll of fame as do those
lost amid battle smoke and carnage.
G.H.R.
August 16, 1911.
CONTENTS
I. THE BEGINNING OF THE CRUISE 1
II. THE WRECK 12
III. ON THE ISLAND 31
IV. THE SAILING OF THE GIG 58
V. WAITING 72
VI. RESCUED 85
VII. THE FATE OF THE GIG 96
APPENDIX 121
ILLUSTRATIONS
LIEUT.-COMMANDER MONTGOMERY SICARD _Frontispiece_
U.S. STEAMER SAGINAW, FOURTH-RATE 2
THE LANDING AT MIDWAY ISLANDS, SHOWING SEALS AND ALBATROSS 8
_From a sketch by Captain Sicard_
THE MIDWAY ISLANDS AS WE LEFT THEM 8
OCEAN ISLAND AND REEF 14
VIEW OF OCEAN ISLAND, REEF AND LAGOON AS SEEN FROM THE
SOUTH 16
(The island is at the lower edge of the circle)
OCEAN ISLAND AS VIEWED FROM THE NORTH 16
(The arrow shows where the Saginaw struck)
THE SAGINAW IN THE GRIP OF THE BREAKERS 24
THE CONDENSER MADE FROM A SMALL BOILER AND SPEAKING-TUBES 36
_From a sketch by Captain Sicard_
GATHERING TIMBERS FROM THE WRECK 36
_From a sketch by Captain Sicard_
THE CAPTAIN'S TENT 42
_From a sketch by Captain Sicard_
THE STOREHOUSE--ELEVATED TO AVOID THE RATS 42
_From a sketch by Captain Sicard_
LIEUTENANT JOHN G. TALBOT 46
(Who volunteered and navigated the Saginaw's gig a distance
of fourteen hundred miles to the Sandwich Islands and was
drowned when the boat was in sight of land)
THE GIG BEFORE LAUNCHING, WITH SAILS MADE ON THE ISLAND 54
PASSED ASSISTANT ENGINEER JAMES BUTTERWORTH 62
(Who, standing waist deep in the water, put the finishing
touches to the gig)
RIPPING TIMBERS FOR THE SCHOONER 74
_From a sketch by Captain Sicard_
THE FRAME OF THE SCHOONER AS WE LEFT IT 74
_From a sketch by Captain Sicard_
THE FLAGSTAFF FROM WHICH THE KILAUEA WAS SIGHTED 86
CAMP SAGINAW ON THE DAY OF RESCUE 86
_Taken from the masthead of the Kilauea_
CAPTAIN LONG, COMMANDER OF THE HAWAIIAN STEAMER THE
KILAUEA 90
MR. JOHN PATY'S BUNGALOW AT HONOLULU 98
STARBOARD SIDE OF THE GIG AFTER HER EVENTFUL JOURNEY 102
DECK VIEW OF THE GIG AFTER HER EVENTFUL JOURNEY 102
WILLIAM HALFORD, COXSWAIN, THE ONLY SURVIVOR OF THE GIG'S
CREW 110
(He is now a retired chief gunner in the Navy)
THE TABLET NOW ON THE WALLS OF THE CHAPEL AT THE UNITED
STATES NAVAL ACADEMY AT ANNAPOLIS 119
THE LAST CRUISE OF THE SAGINAW
I
THE BEGINNING OF THE CRUISE
During the winter of 1869-70 the United States Steamer Saginaw was
being repaired at the Mare Island Navy Yard, and her officers and crew
were recuperating after a cruise on the west coast of Mexico,--a
trying one for all hands on board as well as for the vessel itself.
The "Alta-Californian" of San Francisco published the following soon
after our return from the Mexican coast. It is all that need be said
of the cruise. We were all very glad to have it behind us and forget
it.
The Saginaw, lately returned from the Mexican coast, had a
pretty severe experience during her short cruise. At Manzanillo
she contracted the coast fever, a form of remittent, and at one
time had twenty-five cases, but a single death, however,
occurring.
On the way up, most of the time under sail, the machinery being
disabled, the voyage was so prolonged that when she arrived at
San Francisco there was not a half-day's allowance of provisions
on board and for many days the officers had been on "ship's
grub."
Our repairs and refitting were but preliminary to another (and the
last) departure of the Saginaw from her native land. Our captain,
Lieutenant-Commander Montgomery Sicard, had received orders to proceed
to the Midway Islands, _via_ Honolulu, and to comply with instructions
that will appear later in these pages. (I should explain here that the
commanding officer of a single vessel is usually addressed as
"Captain," whatever his real rank may be, and I shall use that term
throughout my narrative.)
[Illustration: U.S. STEAMER SAGINAW--FOURTH-RATE
Built at the Navy Yard, Mare Island, California, in 1859]
In a northwesterly direction from the Sandwich Islands there stretches
for over a thousand miles a succession of coral reefs and shoals, with
here and there a sandy islet thrown up by the winds and waves. They
are mostly bare of vegetation beyond a stunted growth of bushes. These
islets are called "atolls" by geographers, and their foundations are
created by the mysterious "polyps" or coral insects.
These atolls abound in the Pacific Ocean, and rising but a few feet
above the surface, surrounded by uncertain and uncharted currents, are
the dread of navigators.
Near the centre of the North Pacific and near the western end of the
chain of atolls above mentioned, are two small sand islands in the
usual lagoon, with a coral reef enclosing both. They were discovered
by an American captain, N.C. Brooks, of the Hawaiian bark Gambia, and
by him reported; were subsequently visited by the United States
Steamer Lackawanna and surveyed for charting.
No importance other than the danger to navigation was at that time
attached to these mere sandbanks. Now, however, the trans-Pacific
railroads, girdling the continent and making valuable so many hitherto
insignificant places, have cast their influence three thousand miles
across the waters to these obscure islets. The expected increase of
commerce between the United States and the Orient has induced the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company to look for a halfway station as a
coaling-depot, and these, the Midway Islands, are expected to answer
the purpose when the proposed improvements are made. To do the work of
deepening a now shallow channel through the reef, a contract has been
awarded to an experienced submarine engineer and the Saginaw has been
brought into service to transport men and material. Our captain is to
superintend and to report monthly on the progress made. Thus, with the
voyages out and return, coupled with the several trips between the
Midways and Honolulu, we have the prospect of a year's deep-water
cruising to our credit.
_February 22, 1870._ Once more separated from home and friends, with
the Golden Gate dissolving astern in a California fog (than which none
can be more dense). Old Neptune gives us a boisterous welcome to his
dominions, and the howling of wind through the rigging, with the
rolling and pitching of the ship as we steam out to sea, where we meet
the full force of a stiff "southeaster," remind us that we are once
more his subjects.
On the fourteenth day out we heard the welcome cry of "Land ho!" at
sunrise from the masthead. It proved to be the island of Molokai, and
the next day, March 9, we passed into the harbor of Honolulu on the
island of Oahu. We found that our arrival was expected, and the ship
was soon surrounded by canoes of natives, while crowds of people were
on the wharves.
After six days spent in refitting and obtaining fresh food and
ship-stores, we took up our westward course with memories of pleasant
and hospitable treatment, both officially and socially, from the
native and foreign people. Nothing happened outside of the usual
routine of sea life until March 24, when we sighted the Midway
Islands, and at 8 P.M. were anchored in Welles's Harbor, so called,
although there is barely room in it to swing the ship. The island is a
desolate-looking place--the eastern end of it covered with brown
albatross and a few seal apparently asleep on the beach. We can see
the white sand drifting about with the wind like snow. The next day a
schooner arrived with the contractor's supplies and lumber for a
dwelling and a scow, the latter to be used by the divers in their
outside work. There also arrived, towards night, a strong gale. It
blew so hard that with both anchors down the engines had to be worked
constantly to prevent drifting either on the island or the reef.
During the month of April work both afloat and ashore was steadily
pushed. The contractor's house was set up and the divers' scow
completed and launched. In addition, a thorough survey of the entire
reef and bar was completed.
Our several trips between the Midways and Honolulu need but brief
mention. They were slow and monotonous, being made mostly under sail.
The Saginaw was not built for that purpose. On one occasion, on
account of head winds, we made but twenty miles on our course in two
days.
The last return to the Midways came on October 12, and the
appropriation of $50,000 having been expended, our captain proceeded
to carry out his orders directing him to take on board the
contractor's workmen with their tools and stores and transport them to
San Francisco.
We found the shore party all well and looking forward with pleasure to
the closing day of their contract. They certainly have had the
monotonous and irksome end of the business, although we have not been
able to derive much pleasure from our sailings to and fro.
A brief résumé of the work performed during their seven months'
imprisonment I have compiled from the journal of Passed Assistant
Engineer Blye, who remained upon the island during our absences.
Their first attempt at dislodging the coral rock on the bar was made
by the diver with two canisters of powder, and about five tons of
rock were dislodged and well broken up. Thereafter the work was
intermittently carried on, as weather permitted. During September and
October there were frequent strong gales from the west, and on such
occasions the mouth of the harbor, being on that side, was dangerous
to approach.
[Illustration: THE LANDING AT MIDWAY ISLANDS]
[Illustration: THE MIDWAY ISLANDS AS WE LEFT THEM]
After toiling laboriously and constantly for six months, using large
quantities of powder and fuse, the result now is a passage through the
bar fifteen feet in width and four hundred feet in length, whereas one
hundred and seventy feet in width is estimated as essential. A proper
completion would call for a much larger appropriation.
During the month of April the thermometer ranged from 68 degrees at
sunrise to 86 degrees at noon and 80 degrees at sundown. The
prevailing winds during the summer months were the northeast trades,
varying from northeast to east southeast.
A cause of much annoyance has been the drifting of sand during high
winds, when it flies like driven snow, cutting the face and hands.
(This was so great an annoyance that on our first trip to Honolulu I
purchased for each person a pair of goggles to protect the eyes.)
Taking into consideration the dangers of navigation in a neighborhood
abounding with these coral reefs, the fact that they are visible but a
short distance only in clear weather, and that an entrance to the
lagoon could only be made in a smooth sea, it really seems a
questionable undertaking to attempt the formation of an anchorage here
for the large steamers of the Pacific Mail Company.
When the westerly gales blow, the mouth of the lagoon being, as in
most coral islands, on that side, the sea breaks heavily all over the
lagoon and no work can be done. On one occasion the workmen were
returning to the island from the entrance to the channel when one of
these gales came on and, as one of them told me, "It was a mighty big
conundrum at one time whether we would ever reach the shore."
II
THE WRECK
With the homeward-bound pennant flying from the mainmast head and with
the contractor's working party on board, we sailed from the Midway
Islands on Friday, October 29, at 4 P.M. for San Francisco. We had
dragged high up on the beach the scow from which the divers had
worked, secured the house doors, and taken a last look at the blinding
sand with thankful hearts for leaving it.
As Doctor Frank, our surgeon, and myself were walking down the beach
to the last boat off to the ship, there occurred an incident which I
will relate here for psychological students.
He remarked, as we loitered around the landing, that he felt greatly
depressed without being able to define any cause for it and that he
could not rid himself of the impression that some misfortune was
impending. I tried to cheer him up; told him that the "blues" were on
him, when he ought to be rejoicing instead; that we had a fair wind
and a smooth sea to start us on a speedy return to the old friends in
San Francisco. It was in vain, however; he expressed a firm belief
that we should meet with some disaster on our voyage and I dropped the
subject with a "pooh pooh."
As soon as we reached the open sea, the captain ordered the ship
headed to the westward and the pressure of steam to be reduced, as
with topsails set we sailed along to a light easterly breeze. It was
his intention, he stated, to come within sight of Ocean Island about
daylight and to verify its location by steaming around it before
heading away for San Francisco.
It should be noted that it is in the direct line of a naval
commander's duty, when he is in the neighborhood of such dangers to
navigation, to confirm by observation their position on the charts as
well as to rescue any unfortunate persons that fate may have cast away
upon them. Our own subsequent situation gives proof of the wisdom of
such a regulation.
Ocean Island is about fifty miles to the westward of the Midway
Islands, is of similar formation, and is the last one (so far as our
chart shows) in the chain of ocean dangers that I have referred to as
extending more than a thousand miles to the westward from the Sandwich
Islands. It was on this reef that the British ship Gledstanes was
wrecked in 1837, and the American ship Parker in September, 1842, the
crew of the latter vessel remaining there until May, 1843, when they
were taken off.
[Illustration: OCEAN ISLAND AND REEF]
The "Hawaiian Spectator" for July, 1838, gives the following account
of the loss of the Gledstanes, captain, J.R. Brown:--
The vessel was wrecked July 9, 1837, at midnight. One of the
crew only was lost, he having jumped overboard in a state of
intoxication. Captain Brown remained on the island over five
months, when, with his chief mate and eight seamen, he embarked
for these islands in a schooner which had been constructed from
the fragments of the wreck. The other officers and men, who
remained on the island several months longer, endured great
suffering and were finally brought off in a vessel sent for them
by H.B.M. Consul. Captain Brown gave the following description
of the island. "The island is in latitude 28° 22' North, and
longitude 178° 30' West, and is about three miles in
circumference. It is composed of broken coral and shells and is
covered near the shore by low bushes. In the season it abounds
with sea birds and at times there are considerable numbers of
hair seals. The highest part of the island is not more than ten
feet above sea level and the only fresh water is what drains
through the sand after the heavy rains."
Charles Darwin[1] has the following to say concerning Ocean Island,
which he characterizes as a true "atoll," as distinguished from
"barrier" and "fringing" reefs, which are generally formed near the
shores of higher land:
I have in vain consulted the works of Cook, Vancouver, La
Peyrouse, and Lisiansky for any satisfactory account of the
small islands and reefs which lie scattered in a northwest line
prolonged from the Sandwich group and hence have left them
uncolored, with one exception, for I am indebted to Mr. F.D.
Bennett for informing me of an atoll-formed reef in latitude 28°
22', longitude 178° 30' West, on which the Gledstanes was
wrecked in 1837. It is apparently of large size and extends in a
northwest and southeast line; very few inlets have been formed
on it. The lagoon seems to be shallow; at least the deepest
part which was surveyed was only three fathoms.
Mr. Couthony describes this island under the name of Ocean
Island. Considerable doubts should be entertained regarding the
nature of a reef of this kind with a very shallow lagoon, and
standing far from any other atoll, on account of the possibility
of a crater or flat bank of rock lying at the proper depth
beneath the surface of the sea, thus affording a foundation for
a ring-formed coral reef.
[Illustration: VIEW OF OCEAN ISLAND, REEF, AND LAGOON, AS SEEN
FROM THE SOUTH
(The Island is at the lower edge of the circle.)]
[Illustration: OCEAN ISLAND AS VIEWED FROM THE NORTH
(The arrow shows where the Saginaw struck.)]
The evening following the departure passed quietly in our wardroom
quarters and in fact all over the ship. Officers and men were more
than usually fatigued after the preparations for sea both on shore and
on board. There was none of the general hilarity accompanying a
homeward cruise. There was also a prevailing dread of a long and
tedious journey of over three thousand miles, mostly to be made under
sail, and we all knew the tendency of the old Saginaw in a head wind
to make "eight points to leeward," or, as a landlubber would say, to
go sideways. We occupied ourselves in stowing and securing our
movables, and after the bugle sounded "Out lights" at 9 P.M. the
steady tramp of the lookouts and their half-hour hail of "All's well"
were all that disturbed the quiet of the night.
The night was dark, but a few stars were occasionally visible between
the passing clouds. The sea continued smooth and the ship on an even
keel. When I turned in at ten o'clock I had the comforting thought
that by the same time to-morrow night we should be heading for San
Francisco. We were making about three knots an hour, which would bring
Ocean Island in sight about early dawn, so that there would be plenty
of time to circumnavigate the reef and get a good offing on our course
before dark.
How sadly, alas! our intentions were frustrated and how fully our
surgeon's premonitions were fulfilled! My pen falters at the attempt
to describe the events of the next few hours. I was suddenly awakened
about three o'clock in the morning by an unusual commotion on deck;
the hurried tramping of feet and confusion of sounds. In the midst of
it I distinguished the captain's voice sounding in sharp contrast to
his usual moderate tone, ordering the taking in of the topsails and
immediately after the cutting away of the topsail halliards. Until the
latter order was given I imagined the approach of a rain squall, a
frequent occurrence formerly, but I knew now that some greater
emergency existed, and so I hastily and partly dressed myself
sufficiently to go on deck.
Just before I reached the top of the wardroom ladder I felt the ship
strike something and supposed we were in collision with another
vessel. The shock was an easy one at first, but was followed
immediately by others of increasing force, and, as my feet touched
the deck, by two severe shocks that caused the ship to tremble in
every timber. The long easy swell that had been lifting us gently
along in the open sea was now transformed into heavy breakers as it
reached and swept over the coral reef, each wave lifting and dropping
with a frightful thud the quaking ship. It seemed at each fall as
though her masts and smokestack would jump from their holdings and go
by the board. To a landsman or even a professional seaman who has
never experienced the sensation it would be impossible to convey a
realizing sense of the feelings aroused by our sudden misfortune.
There is a something even in the air akin to the terror of an
earthquake shock--a condition unnatural and uncanny. The good ship
that for years has safely sailed the seas or anchored in ports with a
free keel, fulfilling in all respects the destiny marked out for her
at her birth, suddenly and without warning enters upon her
death-struggle with the rocks and appeals for help. There is no wonder
that brave men--men having withstood the shock of battle and endured
the hardships of the fiercest storms--should feel their nerves shaken
from their first glance at the situation.
The captain had immediately followed his orders, to take in the sails
that were forging us on towards the reef, by an order to back engines.
Alas! the steam was too low to give more than a few turns to the
wheels, and they could not overcome the momentum of the ship. In less
than an hour of the fierce pounding the jagged rock broke through the
hull and tore up the engine and fire room floor; the water rushed in
and reached the fires; the doom of our good ship was now apparent and
sealed.
I hastily returned to my stateroom, secured more clothing, together
with some of the ship's papers, then ascended to the hurricane deck to
await developments or to stand by to do rescue work as ordered. I had
participated in the past in drills that are called in Navy Regulations
"abandoned ship." In these drills every one on board is supposed to
leave the vessel and take station as assigned in one of the ship's
boats. I had only taken part in these drills during calm weather at
sea, and thought it a pretty sight to see all the boats completely
equipped and lying off in view of the deserted vessel. Here, however,
no programme could help us. Our captain's judgment and quickness of
decision must control events as they develop.
The night was clear and starlit, but we could see nothing of any land.
Perhaps we had struck on some uncharted reef, and while strenuously
employed in getting the boats over the side opposite the sea we waited
anxiously for daylight. The scene was one for a lifelong remembrance
and is beyond my power adequately and calmly to describe.
There was at first some confusion, but the stern and composed attitude
of the captain and his sharp, clear orders soon brought every one to
his senses, and order was restored.
One of the most reassuring things to me at this time was the sight of
our colored wardroom steward in double irons for some offense, sitting
on a hatch of the hurricane deck, whistling "Way down upon the Suwanee
River." He seemed to me far from realizing the gravity of the
situation, or else to possess great courage. At any rate, it diverted
my thoughts of danger into other channels. He said the key to the
irons could not be found. The irons were soon severed, however, with a
chisel and hammer, and he went below to aid the men with his knowledge
of the stowage of the officers' provender. His confinement was never
renewed, for he did good work in the rescue of food.
A few of the more frightened ones had at first, either through a
misunderstanding or otherwise, rushed to our largest boat--the
launch--hanging at the starboard quarter and partly lowered it before
the act was noticed. A large combing sea came along and tore it from
their hold, smashing it against the side of the ship and then carrying
its remnants away with its tackles and all its fittings. This was a
great loss, we felt, if we should have to take to the boats, for we
did not know at that time where we were. The same wave also carried
off one of the crew, a member of the Marine Guard, who had been on the
bulwarks; and whisking him seaward, returned him miraculously around
the stern of the ship to the reef, where his struggles and cries
attracted the notice of others. He was hauled over the lee side,
somewhat bruised and water-soaked, but, judging from his remarks,
apparently not realizing his wonderful escape from death.
[Illustration: THE SAGINAW IN THE GRIP OF THE BREAKERS]
As the night wore on, the wind increased and also the size of the
breakers. The ship, which had first struck the reef "bows on," was
gradually swung around until she was at first broadside to the reef,
and then further until the after part, to which we were clinging, was
lifted over the jagged edge of the perpendicular wall of rock. She was
finally twisted around until the bow hung directly to seaward, with
the middle of the hull at the edge. Thus the ship "seesawed" from stem
to stern with each coming wave for an hour or more and until the
forward part broke away with a loud crash and disappeared in the deep
water outside. Our anchors, that had been "let go," apparently never
touched bottom until the bow went with them.
All that was left of our good ship now heeled over towards the inner
side of the reef, the smokestack soon went by the board and the
mainmast was made to follow it by simply cutting away the starboard
or seaward shrouds. Over this mast we could pass to the reef, however,
and there was comparative quiet in the waters under our lee. This
helped us in passing across whatever we could save from the wreck, and
in this manner went three of our boats, the captain's gig, one of the
cutters, and the dinghy, without much damage to them. We also secured
in this way an iron lifeboat belonging to the contractor.
As the first gray streaks of dawn showed us a small strip of terra
firma in the smooth water of the lagoon and not far from the reef,
many a sigh of relief was heard, and our efforts were redoubled to
provide some means of prolonging existence there. At any rate, we knew
now where we were and could at least imagine a possible relief and
plan measures to secure it.
Although the sea had robbed us of the larger part of our provisions,
in the forward hold there were still some of the most important
stowed within the fragment we were clinging to, which contained the
bread and clothing storerooms. With daylight our task was made easier.
A line was formed across the reef and everything rescued was passed
over the side and from hand to hand to the boats in the lagoon, for
transfer to the island. Thus we stood waist-deep in the water, feet
and ankles lacerated and bleeding, stumbling about the sharp and
uneven coral rock, until five in the afternoon, and yet our spirits,
which had been low in the dark, were so encouraged by a sight of a
small portion of dry land and at least a temporary escape from a
watery grave that now and then a jest or a laugh would pass along the
line with some article that suggested a future meal.
At five o'clock in the afternoon the order was given to abandon the
wreck (which was done while hoping that it would hold together until
to-morrow), and as the sun went down on the "lone barren isle," all
hands were "piped" by the boatswain's whistle to supper.
A half-teacup of water, half a cake of hardtack, and a small piece of
boiled pork constituted our evening meal, to which was added a piece
of boiled mutton that had been intended for the wardroom table.
After this frugal meal all hands were mustered upon the beach to
listen to a prayer of thankfulness for our deliverance and then to a
few sensible and well-timed remarks from the captain enjoining
discipline, good nature, and economy of food under our trying
circumstances. He told us that by the Navy Regulations he was
instructed, as our commanding officer, to keep up, in such sad
conditions as we were thrown into, the organization and discipline of
the Service so far as applicable; that he would in the event of our
rescue (which we should all hope for and look forward to) be held
responsible for the proper administration of law and order; that
officers and crew should fare alike on our scanty store of food, and
that with care we should probably make out, with the help of seal meat
and birds, a reduced ration for some little time. He would detail our
several duties to-morrow. Then we were dismissed to seek "tired
nature's sweet restorer" as best we could.
With fourteen hours of severe labor, tired, wet, and hungry, we were
yet glad enough to sink to rest amid the bushes with but the sky for a
canopy and a hummock of sand for a pillow. In my own case sleep was
hard to win. For a long time I lay watching the stars and speculating
upon the prospects of release from our island prison. Life seemed to
reach dimly uncertain into the future, with shadow pictures
intervening of famished men and bereaved families.
I could hear the waves within a few rods of our resting-places--there
was no music in them now--lapping the beach in their restlessness, and
now and then an angry roar from the outside reef, as though the sea
was in rage over its failure to reach us. I realized that for more
than a thousand miles the sea stretched away in every direction before
meeting inhabited shores and for treble that distance to our native
land; that our island was but a small dot in the vast Pacific--a dot
so small that few maps give it recognition. Truly it was a dismal
outlook that "tired nature" finally dispelled and that sleep
transformed into oblivion; for I went to sleep finally while recalling
old stories of family gatherings where was always placed a vacant
chair for the loved absent one should he ever return.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: _The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs_, by
Charles Darwin. Walter Scott: 24 Warwick Lane, London, 1842. If Mr.
Darwin had known of the proximity of the Midway and Pearl and Hermes
reefs he would probably have doubts as to the true character of our
atoll.]
III
ON THE ISLAND
_Sunday, October 30._ No pretensions to the official observance of the
Sabbath were made to-day. We always had religious services on board
the ship when the weather permitted on Sunday, but to-day every effort
has been made to further the safety of our condition.
The captain, executive officer, and many of the crew went off early to
the wreck in order to make further search for supplies and equipment.
The wreck appears from the island to be about as we left it, for the
wind has been light and the sea calm during the night.
I remained on shore with a few men to assist in sorting out and making
a list of the articles rescued yesterday and to assemble them in the
best place suitable for their preservation. We spread out in the sun
the bread, bags of flour, and other dry foodstuffs, even to the
smallest fragments, and it was early apparent that unless much more
food is secured we shall be compelled to live upon a greatly reduced
ration and that our main source of food will be the seal and brown
albatross (or "goonies," as they are commonly called). Both of these
seem plentiful and are easily captured.
The seal succumb quickly to a blow upon the head, a fact we discovered
early in our first visit to the Midway Islands. One of the boat's
crew, when pushing off from the beach, carelessly and without intent
to kill, struck a near-by seal on the head with an oar, and the next
morning it was found dead, apparently not having moved from the spot.
Its mate had found it and was nosing it about, while moaning in a most
humanlike voice.
These seal are quite different from the Alaska fur seal, of such
great value for their fur. These have a short lustreless hair, and
their principal value is in the oil that is extracted by the few seal
hunters who seek them. They frequently exceed two hundred pounds in
weight, and are savage fighters if one can judge by the many scars
found upon them. We never thought, when, a few months ago, we amused
ourselves on the verandas of the Cliff House at San Francisco in
watching their disporting about Seal Rock, that we should make such a
close acquaintance with them.
The "goonies" also are easy to capture, although they are large and
strong and a blow from the wing would break a man's limb. I measured
one of them from tip to tip of wing, and it was over seven feet. They
are, however, very awkward on their feet, and, having a double-jointed
wing (that is, a joint in it like an elbow) can only rise from the
ground when the wind is in their faces. Owing to this fact one only
needs to get to the windward of them with a club and look out for the
wings. We should like to add some of their eggs to our bill of fare,
but dare not for fear of driving the birds away. I imagine it would
take but a few of the eggs, if eatable, to go around, for I saw one at
the Midways that was as large as those of the ostrich.
Fresh water will, however, apparently be our greatest cause for
anxiety; for we have secured but a small supply, considering our
number--ninety-three. A few breakers or kegs only, that were stowed in
the boats, were secured. Rain, of course, we count upon; but to
conserve our scanty supply until it comes is most necessary. To-day
several wells have been dug in various parts of the island, but the
water found in them is near the surface and is too brackish for any
use.
The old timbers of a former wreck, probably of the "Gledstanes,"--the
"bones" as sailors call them,--lie near on the beach and look as
though they would yield us fuel for a long time. Our fire, which was
started last evening by a match that Mr. Bailey, the chief diver, had
fortunately kept dry, has been constantly going for lack of more
lighting material.
_Evening._ The reef party returned at sundown, reporting a strenuous
day on the wreck. We all had a supper of "scouse" (a dish of pork,
potato, and hard tack), and before sleeping the camp site was laid
out, the sails and awnings which had come on shore temporarily set up,
to our greater comfort. Besides the sails and awnings, more food
supplies were captured from the after storeroom and a particularly
fortunate prize secured in a small portable boiler that had been
lashed to the after deck. This had been used by the contractor's party
in hoisting to the scow the blasted coral from the reef, at Midway
Islands. There were also in one of the wheelhouses of the wreck some
distilling-coils, which the engineer's force with our chief engineer
successfully rescued after hard labor, for the sea was washing through
the wheelhouse with terrible force. The boiler, suspended between two
boats, was successfully landed on the beach, and we are greatly
encouraged at the promise of fresh water to-morrow. We secured a
barrel, also, partly filled with sperm oil, and a lantern in good
condition. These two articles insure us a supply of lighting material
for the cooking-fire, which can now be put out at night and much fuel
saved. Considerable clothing was secured from the officers'
staterooms, and I was fortunate enough to find some of mine rolled up
in one of the large wet bundles; and a few soaked mattresses and
blankets were also brought in. The carpenter's chest, too, came
ashore intact, and altogether we feel our situation greatly improved.
[Illustration: THE CONDENSER--MADE FROM A SMALL BOILER AND
SPEAKING-TUBES]
[Illustration: GATHERING TIMBERS FROM THE WRECK]
Mr. Talbot tells me that they are literally "stripping" the wreck, and
nothing movable will be left on it if the weather will but hold good
long enough. No one stops to question the utility of an article found
adrift; it is seized hastily and thrown out on the reef to be
transported later to the island. Pieces of rigging, boxes of tinned
coffee, canned goods, tools, crockery, sails, awnings, etc., all come
to the beach in a promiscuous mass to be sorted out later.
_Monday, October 31._ Still at work on the wreck. Boiler set up on the
beach and connected with the distilling-coils by a piece of canvas
hose. The inner end of the coils was joined to a length of our
pilot-house speaking-tube as a return to the beach. By this
arrangement the steam passed under the cooler water of the lagoon and
was condensed as it returned to a bucket on the beach. Great joy was
expressed at the first sight of the little stream and a great fear was
lifted from our thoughts. At supper we had a cup of coffee to finish
the quarter-ration of food, which was made into a scouse as before.
The hard tack needed in making the scouse, however, will soon be
exhausted, for, excepting a small quantity saved in tins, it is
spoiling rapidly. So to-day I opened a bag of flour to ascertain if we
were to have any breadstuff. I found to my glad surprise that, with
the exception of about an inch on the outside, it was sweet and sound.
The sea water had protected it with a crust. A barrel of beans was
also found to be in good condition; so that our pile of foodstuff
under the sentry's charge begins to loom high for our safety for some
time to come.
_Tuesday, November 1._ The crew was formed into several messes to-day,
and also into watches. Each mess was provided with a tent, that for
our mess (the wardroom) being made from the Saginaw's quarter-deck
awning. Such of our dry goods and bedding as had been rescued were
removed to them, and our little camp begins to take on the appearance
of comfort.
The duties of every member of the ship's company have been so arranged
that it is hoped and expected that no one will have much time to brood
over our situation or the future.
_Wednesday, November 2._ The bad weather we have feared has arrived.
It came on suddenly this morning from the southeast with a high wind
and a heavy rainfall, and before we had been able firmly to secure the
tents. After strenuous exertion, however, we saved them from being
blown over, but were wet to the skin when they were finally safe in
place.
Fortunately the wreck on the reef has been thoroughly explored and
there is very little material there now that could be of use to us,
unless it may be the timbers themselves, to help us in building a
seaworthy boat should it be necessary to do so in a final effort to
get away. The idea of sending a boat to the Sandwich Islands for
relief has been already revolving in our minds, and to-day was
revealed by an order from the captain to the senior officers. After a
consultation singly with us, he has directed each one to file with him
an opinion on the feasibility and necessity of doing so--each written
opinion to be without knowledge of the others.
It is probable that the hulk will be considerably broken up before the
wind and sea go down, for one can see it rise and fall with the
breakers, and occasionally a piece is detached and floated across the
reef into the lagoon. As soon as it is safe to launch the boats, the
work of securing these pieces will be started.
The boats are now resting at the highest part of the island in the
centre of the camp, for even with the protecting reef the sea in the
lagoon has been so rough that combers have reached within a few feet
of our tents. As I write my journal we are a wet and sad party of
unfortunates.
Our captain and his boat's crew must be having an experience worse
than ours, however. They left this morning in the cutter for the sand
spit near and to the west of us, to collect driftwood, and are
"marooned" there in the storm. They can be seen, with the glasses,
huddled together beneath the upturned boat. They do not, however, seem
to be in imminent danger, and have made no signals of distress; so we
expect them to return as soon as the sea abates.
_Thursday, November 3._ It has been still too rough to-day to launch
the boats for work in the lagoon. We have, however, busied ourselves
in erecting a storehouse for the better preservation of our food
supplies, and to-night have them safely under cover. Last night the
rats robbed us of a box of macaroni, and, therefore, we have put our
storehouse on posts and two feet above the ground with inverted pans
upon the posts.
We made the acquaintance of the rats last night in our tent when a
noisy fight over a piece of candle disturbed our sleep. We had seen a
few of them before, but did not suppose them to be so very
numerous--as on first thought there seemed to be so very little for
them to eat. We now found them to have good lungs and appetites,
however, and a good deal of thrashing around with boots, etc., was
necessary to expel them. We discussed them before we went to sleep
again in the light of a future food supply,--an addition to our
one-quarter ration,--and the opinion was general that should the
seal and gooney desert us the rats would become more valuable. At any
rate, they would thrive on the refuse of the food we had now.
[Illustration: THE CAPTAIN'S TENT]
[Illustration: THE STOREHOUSE, ELEVATED TO AVOID RATS]
The captain returned this morning from his expedition and gives a sad
story of their luck. They had to literally bury themselves to the neck
in the sand and lie under the boat to prevent being drenched by the
rain. During the height of the storm they had one streak of good luck.
They found some companions that the rough sea had induced to seek the
shelter of the lagoon and beach. They were large sea turtles, and he
and his crew turned them on their backs to prevent their escape.
To-day we have them added to our food-supply and they are very
welcome, notwithstanding the sad plight of their captors when they
returned.
We have also added to our fresh water a supply of about fifty gallons
caught in the rainstorm of yesterday, and doled out an extra cupful
to each person.
_Friday, November 4._ The sea is rolling in huge breakers on the reef
to-day, enveloping the wreck in spray, and we are constantly expecting
to see the last of the Saginaw as a hulk. Several pieces can be seen
adrift in the lagoon, and the hurricane deck is probably among them.
The boats were launched and the mainmast towed to the landing, where
it was anchored. It is the intention to have it set up near our camp
and to use it for a lookout station as well as a means of flying a
distress signal in case a passing vessel should be sighted. However,
we do not pin much faith to the idea of rescue from passing ships, for
the presence of these coral reefs constitutes such a menace to
navigation that they are avoided. Vessels generally pass far to the
north or south of them.
_Saturday, November 5._ The gig was carried well up on the beach
to-day and set in a cradle, to be prepared for a voyage to the
Sandwich Islands. It is the intention to raise her sides a few inches,
to construct a light deck over all, and to fit her with two masts and
sails. (Part of the sails were saved with the boat.) In the deck there
are to be four square small hatches (with covers in case of bad
weather), in which the men can sit and row when the wind is too light
or contrary for sailing. From this it may be seen that the perilous
trip has been decided upon by the captain. I have no doubt he feels
the responsibility which he assumes, and I have great faith in his
judgment. Our opinions were handed in to him yesterday, but of course
we do not know what their influence has been, but it must be evident
to him that all hands--officers and men alike--are loyally
co-operating with him in our trying situation.
We learn that Lieutenant Talbot volunteered the day after the wreck
to make the attempt and that several of the crew have also asked to go
with him. In fact, so many of the men have volunteered that it will be
necessary to take the pick of those most likely to stand the exposure,
for although we have seen that such a trip was made in the case of the
"Gledstanes," it must be remembered that they took five months to
build a seaworthy vessel, while our brave boys will go in a
practically open boat.
_Sunday, November 6._ We were mustered for divine service to-day, and
it being the first Sunday of the month the roll was called and each
man answered "Here" as his name was called. After that prayers were
read by the captain and an extra cup of water served out from the
quantity caught during the recent gale. Work was suspended so far as
possible, but the lagoon being so quiet it was thought necessary to
launch two of the boats and tow in some of the floating timbers. We
were overjoyed thus to receive and haul up free of the water a large
fragment of the old hurricane deck. We can imagine some value in
almost any piece of timber, but in this particular we are confident of
securing much material for the building of our future boat, it being
of three inch thick narrow planking. We believe we can make one and a
half inch stuff from it by rigging up a staging and converting our one
bucksaw into a jigsaw with a man above and one below. The blacksmith
believes that he can extract a good supply of nails, and in many ways
it is evident that we are not going to wait supinely for the relief we
hope for from our brave comrades' voyage.
[Illustration: LIEUTENANT JOHN G. TALBOT]
To-day we killed our first goonies and had some for supper. They were
very tough and "fishy," and Solomon Graves, once the Saginaw's cabin
cook, but now "King of the Galley" on Ocean Island, says that he
cooked them all day. Only a portion of the bird could be masticated.
However, it was voted superior to seal, the latter being so tough that
Graves has to parboil it overnight and fry it in the morning. The hard
tack is exhausted, but so much of the flour has been found good that
we are to have a tablespoonful every other day and the same quantity
of beans on the alternate days as substitutes for the hard tack. A cup
of coffee or tea every day for the morning meal. Supper we have at
five.
We had a luxury after supper. There are nine of us in the wardroom
mess who smoke, and each of us was generously supplied with a cigar by
Passed Assistant Engineer Blye, whose chest was rescued the second
day; it contained a box of five hundred Manila cigars.
_Monday, November 7._ The mainmast is ready to raise to-morrow. An
excavation has been made at the highest point of the island, near the
captain's tent, and the mast rolled up to it with the rope guys ready
to hold it upright. The carpenter's gang have been busy all day in
sorting out material for the gig's deck and for raising her sides
eight inches.
While the weather is fine, there seems to be a considerable swell at
sea from the late storm, and the wreck is gradually, as it were,
melting away. To-day a piece of the hull floated towards us and a boat
was sent after it. When it reached the beach I recognized the remains
of my stateroom, with twisted bolts protruding from the edge where it
had been wrenched away from the rest of the hull. I viewed mournfully
the remnant of my long-time home and reflected how it had once been my
protection and that now fate had turned me out of its shelter. Many of
the hopes that were bred within its wooden walls have been shattered
by its destruction, and I thought it would be appropriate to bury it
on the beach with an epitaph above it showing the simple words "Lights
out" which I had so often heard at its door when the ship's corporal
made his nightly rounds at the "turning-in" hour. However, it was
valuable even in its ruin for building and burning material. Besides,
we are not ready yet to think of anything like a funeral.
_Tuesday, November 8._ I am writing my journal this evening with
feelings of cheer and strengthened hopes, for although the fore part
of the day was full of gloomy forebodings it has ended eventfully and
happily. Our task to-day, as I have said, was to set up the mainmast,
and the work was begun immediately after our breakfast. All hands were
strenuously employed until noon. First, the mast was rolled into
position so that the foot would be exactly over the centre of the
hole dug yesterday. Then a small derrick was made to support the mast
nearly in balance. With tackles and ropes then adjusted, as all good
sailors know how to do, the heel was lowered slowly and the top
elevated by the guys, until the mast stood on its foot and was secured
upright. It was dinner-time when we considered it safe to leave, and
we were glad when it was finally in place, for the work took about all
the strength we had.
What was our dismay while we were at dinner to hear the snap of rope
and the crash of the falling mast. Everybody rushed to the spot, and
it was discovered that one of the guys had parted and that the sand
had not been firm enough to hold the mast erect. Luckily the mast was
not injured, and the captain said calmly, as though it was an everyday
occurrence, "Well, men, we must do it again."
While we were standing about the hole and the captain was directing
preparations for another effort, one of the men, noticing the water at
the bottom, scooped some of it up in a shovel and raised it to his
lips. I shall never forget his expression as he swallowed it. His eyes
snapped, his face went white, and broadened almost into a grin, and he
seemed for an instant to hold his breath. Then his color came back,
and with a wild shout of gladness he exclaimed so that all could hear,
"Boys--fresh water, by G----." And so it proved,--soft and
pure,--although within twenty feet of the salt water at the beach.
Examination showed that there was quite a "pocket" of this filtered
rainwater, and that the point where we had excavated was evidently
where the island had originally commenced to form on solid ground. We
noticed, too, during the afternoon that the water in it rises and
falls with the tide of the ocean in the lagoon without mixing. This
was explained by one of the officers, who had before seen such
conditions, as due to the difference in density of the two waters, and
the fact that the small rise and fall of the tide, which is only about
twelve inches here, does not create an inrush and outgo sufficiently
strong to force a mixture. However, we are greatly rejoiced over the
"blessing in disguise" our falling mast has proved to be, and although
the supply is probably moderate and dependent on the rains, we shall
be able to dispense with the boiler, which has begun to give trouble
from rust and leakage.
_Wednesday._ Blye and I went inland among the bushes and killed twelve
boobies for supper to-morrow. Breakfast, pork scouse and cup of water.
Provisions got wet from leak in storehouse last night; took tea,
coffee, and wet bread out to dry. Several showers during the day. Mr.
Talbot went over to the sand spit and brought back driftwood and four
large turtles. Supper, salt beef and two dough-balls from mouldy
flour.
_Thursday, 10th._ Breakfast, salt beef and flour-balls. Getting up
ship's mainmast for flagstaff and lookout. One boat off to the wreck.
Several rain squalls during day, and unable to dry out stores. Supper
on boobies and flour-balls.
_Friday, 11th._ Breakfast, turtle steak and a tablespoonful of mashed
potatoes. The mast was again raised to-day and care taken to prevent a
repetition of Tuesday's accident. Stronger guys were led to heavy,
deep-driven stakes. A topmast was added and a rope ladder to the
crosstrees. Work on the gig progressing fast--nearly decked over.
Supper, turtle, eight goonies, potatoes, and cup of tea.
_Saturday, 12th._ Breakfast on fish, turtle soup, and mashed potatoes.
Supper, seal meat and tablespoonful of mashed beans. The fish from
the reef are voted no good. They are brilliantly colored but strong in
taste, and are said by the captain to be similar to the "parrot fish"
that is found among our West India coral reefs. Solomon Graves says
that the parrot fish is poisonous, so it is decided to leave them out
of our bill of fare. Should it become necessary to augment our ration
it will, no doubt, be done by adding the _rats_, and for myself I
believe they will improve it.
[Illustration: THE GIG--BEFORE LAUNCHING--WITH SAILS MADE ON THE
ISLAND]
_Sunday, November 13._ Ship breaking up rapidly and boats out to pick
up driftwood. Had prayers (read by Captain S.) at 3 P.M., and he
addressed us with remarks as to necessity in our situation of working
on Sabbath. Thousands of rats about. Put extra night watch on
storehouse, for fear of further depredations.
_Monday, 14th._ Same diet as yesterday. Aired all clothing. Work on
gig pushing, and we expect to get her off this week. Every one writing
letters to send in her.
_Tuesday, 15th._ Diet, goonies and turtle, with last of potatoes. The
gig was launched and provisions sent down from storehouse. Had a long
talk with Talbot. He realizes danger of trip, but is brave and
confident; gave him my revolver.
_Wednesday, 16th._ Cup of tea, 7 A.M. and breakfast as usual at 10;
turtle and gooney; Heavy sea on reef, and ship fast disappearing,
boats out picking up driftwood. Had to take the condenser and all wood
high up on the beach. Wind shifted suddenly from north to southeast.
Gave Talbot two hundred dollars in gold coin for possible expenses.
_Thursday, November 17._ Blowing hard from north. Tea at 7 A.M. The
gig anchored off shore. Mr. Bailey and I fixed up the well where
fresh water was found when mast fell; good-by to the old condenser.
"The little cherub that sits up aloft" doing good work for us all.
IV
THE SAILING OF THE GIG
_Friday, November 18._ The weather has been fine since the breaking up
of the storm of the second.
As to work, every one has had his duties portioned out to him, and
there is no doubt of the captain's wisdom in providing thus an
antidote to homesickness or brooding. Faces are--some of them--getting
"peaked," and quite a number of the party have been ill from lack of
power to digest the seal meat; but there are no complaints, we all
fare alike. Medicines are not to hand, but a day or two of abstinence
and quiet generally brings one around again. In the evenings, when we
gather around the smoking lamp after supper, there are frequent
discussions over our situation and prospects. They are, however,
mostly sanguine in tone, and it is not uncommon to hear the expression
"when we get home." No one _seems_ to have given up his hope of
eventual relief. It has been very noticeable, too, at such times that
no matter where the conversation begins it invariably swings around,
before the word is passed to "douse the glim," to those things of
which we are so completely deprived--to narratives of pleasant
gatherings--stories of banquets and festival occasions where toothsome
delicacies were provided. It would seem as though these reminiscences
were given us as a foil to melancholy, and they travel along with us
into our dreams.
Upon one point we are all agreed, that we are very fortunate in being
wrecked in so agreeable a climate, where heavy clothing is
unnecessary. The temperature has been, aside from the storm we had
soon after the landing, between seventy and seventy-five degrees
during the day and around fifty degrees at night. We are very sensible
of the discomforts that would be ours if tumbled upon some of the
islands of the northern ocean in winter.
The moonlit nights have been grand, and calculated to foster romance
in a sailor's thoughts were the surroundings appropriate. As it is,
the little cheer we extract from them is in the fact that we see the
same shining face that is illuminating the home of our loved ones.
Often in my corner of the tent, Mr. Foss and I pass what would be a
weary hour otherwise, over a game of chess, the pieces for which he
has fashioned from gooney bones and blocks of wood.
Mr. Main has made a wonderful nautical instrument--a sextant--from the
face of the Saginaw's steam gauge, together with some broken bits of
a stateroom mirror and scraps of zinc. Its minute and finely drawn
scale was made upon the zinc with a cambric needle, and the completed
instrument is the result of great skill and patience. Mr. Talbot has
tested it and pronounces it sufficiently accurate for navigating
purposes.
Another officer has made a duplicate of the official chart of this
part of the Pacific, and still another has copied all the Nautical
Almanac tables necessary for navigation.
I have been directed by the captain to make a selection from the
best-preserved supplies in the storehouse most suitable for boat
service, and calculate that Talbot will have the equivalent of
thirty-five days' provender at one-half rations, although many of the
articles are not in the regular ration tables.
This morning the boat was surrounded by many men and carried bodily
into water that was deep enough to float her. There she was anchored
and the stores carried out to her. Mr. Butterworth, standing waist
deep in the water, put on the last finishing touches while she was
afloat by screwing to the gunwales the rowlocks for use in calm
weather.
There was expended from store-book the following articles: ten
breakers (a small keg) of water, five days' rations of hard tack
sealed in tin, ten days of the same in canvas bags, two dozen small
tins of preserved meat, five tins (five pounds each) of dessicated
potato, two tins of cooked beans, three tins of boiled wheaten grits,
one ham, six tins of preserved oysters, ten pounds of dried beef,
twelve tins of lima beans, about five pounds of butter, one gallon of
molasses, twelve pounds of white sugar, four pounds of tea and five
pounds of coffee. A small tin cooking apparatus for burning oil was
also improvised and furnished.
[Illustration: JAMES BUTTERWORTH
Passed Assistant Engineer]
I had intended putting on board twenty-five pounds of boiled rice
in sealed tins, but discovered one of the tins to be swollen just
before the provisions were started off. Hastily the tins were opened
and the rice found unfit for use. The dessicated potatoes were at once
served out in place of the rice, the cans scalded and again sealed.
With the navigating instruments and the clothing of the voyagers on
board, the boat was pronounced ready and we went to dinner. There was
little conversation during the meal. The impending departure of our
shipmates hung like a pall of gloom over us at the last and was too
thought-absorbing for speech. Talbot seemed to be the most unconcerned
of all, but as I watched him I felt that the brave fellow was assuming
it to encourage the rest of us. I had a long friendly talk with him,
last evening, during which he seemed thoroughly to estimate the risk
he was to take, and entrusted to me his will to be forwarded to his
parents in Kentucky in case he should not survive the journey.
All hands have been given permission to send letters by the boat, so
all papers, together with a bill of exchange for two hundred pounds
sterling, which by order of the captain I have given to Talbot, have
been sealed air tight in a tin case. I sent the following letter to my
home in Philadelphia, which I will insert here, as it partially
represents the state of affairs:--
You will of course be surprised to receive a letter from this
desert island, but it now has a population of ninety-three men,
the Saginaw's crew. In short, we were wrecked on the coral reef
surrounding it, and the Saginaw is no more. We left Midway
Islands on the evening of Friday, October 28, and the next
morning at three o'clock found ourselves thumping on the reef.
We stayed by the ship until daylight, when we got out three
boats and all the provisions we possibly could. We also saved
the safe, part of the ship's books, about one fourth of my
clothing, and my watch. If you could see me now you would hardly
recognize me: a pair of boots almost large enough for two feet
in one, ragged trousers, an old felt hat, and no coat--I keep
that for evenings when it is cool. I have my best uniform saved,
having rescued it to come ashore in. We had to wade about two
hundred feet on the reef, and I stood in water about one half of
the day helping to pass provisions to the boats; then went
ashore and spread them on the beach to dry.
We have been living on very short allowance, being thankful for
a spoonful of beans, a small piece of meat twice a day, with a
cup of tea or coffee in the morning. I am indeed thankful that
no lives were lost, and hope to see you all in three months'
time. The gig has been decked over and is to start for Honolulu,
to-morrow or next day, for relief.
Ocean Island is similar in formation to Midway, but is larger
and the coral reef is farther from the land.
We had for breakfast this morning some of the brown albatross or
"goonies," as they call them. We shall not want for meat for
some time, as there is an abundance of fish seal and turtle, but
the flour, rice, and hard bread will not last more than two and
one half months.
I hope this will reach you before you get anxious about us, for
if the gig should not be successful we may have to stay here
until the middle of March. I shall send this in her to be mailed
from Honolulu. Our executive officer and four men go in her, and
a perilous trip it will be, for she is only twenty feet long and
the distance is over a thousand miles. Look us up on the map.
Most of our sails were saved and we are comparatively
comfortable in good tents. I am well but hungry. We have dug
wells, but found no fresh water. However, we are getting some
from a condenser fitted by our chief engineer. Altogether we
have more conveniences than might be expected and are in good
health generally. I should like to write to friends, but space
in the boat is scarce and everybody is writing.
The hour set for the boat's departure (four o'clock) arrived and we
were all mustered upon the beach. Prayers were read by the captain,
after which final farewells were said and the brave men who were to
peril their lives for us waded off to the gig and climbed on board.
They quickly stepped the little masts, spread the miniature sails,
raised their anchor, and slowly gaining headway stood off for the
western channel through the reef. With full hearts and with many in
tears, we gave them three rousing cheers and a tiger, which were
responded to with spirit, and we watched them until the boat faded
from sight on the horizon to the northward.
As I write this by the dim light of a candle the mental excitement due
from the parting with our shipmates seems still to pervade the tent
and no one is thinking of turning in.
Mr. Bailey, the foreman of the contractor's party, came into the tent
soon after we had gathered for the evening. He had in his hand a small
book and on his face a smile as he passed it around, showing each one
an open page of the book; when he reached me I saw it was a pocket
Bible opened at the fifty-first chapter of Isaiah, where Mr. B.'s
finger rested under the words, "The isles shall wait upon me and on my
arm shall they trust." He did not speak until I had read, and then
said he had opened the Bible by chance, as was his habit every
evening. Poor Bailey! We all feel very sorry for him. He is a fine
character, well advanced in years; and having by economy accumulated
considerable money, had bought himself a home, before coming out, to
which he was intending to retire when this contract was completed.
By invitation from the captain I accompanied him in walking around the
entire island, avoiding, however, the extreme point to the westward,
where albatross were nesting. He talked but little, and I saw that his
eyes often turned to the spot where the gig had disappeared from
view. As we separated in front of his little tent he said with a voice
full of pathos to me, "Good-night, Paymaster; God grant that we see
them again."
I find that I have so far omitted to give the personnel of Talbot's
crew. As stated before there were many volunteers, but the surgeon was
ordered to select from a list given him four of the most vigorous and
sturdy of the applicants and report their names to the captain. There
was considerable rivalry among them. In fact I was accidentally a
witness to a hard-fought wrestling-match between two of the crew who
sought the honor of going and risking their lives. The defeated one, I
was told, was to waive his claim in favor of the victor.
The following letter, which has gone in the boat from our captain to
the Admiral of the Pacific fleet, gives the personnel of the boat's
crew and other information.
OCEAN ISLAND, PACIFIC OCEAN,
November 16, 1870.
Rear Admiral John A. Winslow,
Commanding Pacific Fleet.
SIR:--I have the honor to recommend that the attention of the
Department be particularly called to the fine conduct of
Lieutenant J.G. Talbot. The day after the wreck of the Saginaw,
Lieutenant Talbot came to me and volunteered to take one of the
ship's boats to Honolulu in order to bring back relief for the
officers and crew of the vessel. He has been most zealous and
spirited through this whole affair and of the greatest
assistance to me.
His boat (by the usual route at this season) will probably have
to sail and pull some fifteen hundred miles, and I think some
recognition of his handsome conduct would be proper.
The names of the crew are as follows:--Lieutenant J.G. Talbot;
Coxswain William Halford; Quartermaster Peter Francis; Seaman
John Andrews; Seaman James Muir. The last two are contractor's
men and were specially enlisted by me from Mr. Townsend's party
for one month. They were men of such fine qualities and
endurance that I thought it proper to let them go.
The enlistment was made with the express understanding between
myself and them that it did not interfere with their previous
contract with Mr. Townsend.
I am very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
MONTGOMERY SICARD,
Lieut.-Comd'r-commanding.
V
WAITING
_Thursday, November 24._ Thanksgiving Day--at home; the noble bird,
roast turkey, has not graced our tarpaulin-covered table. He has been
replaced by a tough section of albatross. Nor was there any expression
of thanks at the mess table until one of the officers, having finished
the extra cup of coffee served in honor of the day, said, "Say,
fellows, let's be thankful that we are alive, well and still with
hope."
Last evening about nine o'clock we were given another flurry of
excitement over expected relief. The storehouse sentry reported a
light to the eastward and in a "jiffy" our tent was empty. Sure
enough, there was a bright light close to the horizon which, as we
watched, appeared to grow larger and nearer. The captain was called,
and I joined him with Mr. Cogswell (our new executive officer since
Talbot left) in front of his tent. After watching the light for a few
minutes, the captain turned to us and said, "Gentlemen, it is only a
star rising and the atmosphere is very clear. Better turn in again";
and he entered the tent.
_Sunday, November 27._ Last Sunday and to-day we have had divine
service led by the captain reading the prayers of the Episcopal
ritual.
(_Note._--I find nothing but the Thanksgiving note in my journal after
the departure of the gig until November 27, other than official
entries of receipts and expenditures of food,--the receipt of seals
and albatross killed by Mr. Blye and his detail of men; the
expenditure being the same with the daily allowance of flour or beans
and the coffee for the noon meal.)
Work has been steadily pushed on the schooner. The keel has been hewed
out of the Saginaw's late topmast and is blocked up on the beach. We
are ripping the old deck planks in two with our old bucksaw and one
handsaw, and while it is slow work we can see our boat planking ahead
of us when the frame is ready. The schooner is to be forty feet long,
of centre-board, flat-bottomed type, and the captain has settled upon
her shape and dimensions after experimenting with a small model in
company with the contractor's carpenter, who has had experience in
boat-building.
This morning about sunrise the camp was roused to excitement by the
loud cry of "Sail ho!" I found on joining the crowd at the landing
that the captain had ordered a boat launched and her crew were already
pulling away in a northerly direction.
[Illustration: RIPPING TIMBERS FOR THE SCHOONER]
[Illustration: THE FRAME OF THE SCHOONER AS WE LEFT IT]
I could see nothing from the crow's nest at the masthead, but the
statement of one of the crew that he had seen a sail was positive;
and the camp was full of a nervous expectancy until nine o'clock, when
the boat returned with the disappointing news that the alleged sail
was only a large white rock on the north end of the reef that had
reflected the sun's rays. As the sun rose to a greater angle the
reflection disappeared. An order was at once given out that no one
should again alarm the camp before permission from the captain was
obtained.
_Sunday, December 25._ Christmas Day!! Merry Christmas at home, but
dreary enough here! Still the salutation was passed around in a
half-hearted manner. It is the first day since the wreck that
depression of spirit has been so contagious and camp-wide. The
religious services, as we stood in the sand bareheaded (some
barefooted also), hardly seemed to fit our situation, and the voice of
the captain was subdued and occasionally tremulous. I had donned my
best uniform coat, which had come ashore when the wreck was stripped,
and tried also to put on a cheerful face. No use; I could not keep up
the deceit, and I slipped out of line before the service was ended, to
change back to the blue sailor shirt and working clothes. I felt that
I had been "putting on airs." It has been my first really blue day,
for the pictures in my mind of the Christmas festivities at home but
emphasized the desolation of the life here.
Strangely enough, Dr. Frank has seemed to a certain extent to be more
cheerful than usual. It seems queer that he, pessimist as he appeared
to me when he predicted disaster before we sailed from the Midway
Islands, should now be the optimist and attempt to dispel our gloom.
Some expert in psychical research may be able to discern, as I cannot,
why the doctor's belief in Talbot's success should now have influence
enough to change my melancholy into a firmer hope than ever.
We borrowed the chart from the captain and followed in pure
imagination the course of the gig; and when we folded it, the doctor
said that he believed Talbot had arrived at the end of his journey and
we should be relieved. Talbot has now been away thirty-seven days, and
our several estimates of the time he would consume have been between
thirty and forty.
Every afternoon, when work is suspended for the day and we have
repaired to the tent, the expression of Talbot's whereabouts is the
first note of discussion; as though it had not been in our minds all
the long weary day of work.
As the possible failure of Talbot's brave effort begins to enter our
calculations, the greater is the exertion to provide in the near
future another avenue of escape. So, with gradually weakened
strength, owing to lack of sustaining food, the labor we find arduous
and exhausting; I, being included in the carpenter's gang on the
schooner, realize that fact thoroughly. Yesterday the captain and
myself made another circuit of the island, and both were glad to rest
on the return to the camp.
The captain has ordered the cutter to be also fitted for a voyage to
the Midway Islands. There he intends to have a sign erected stating,
briefly, our situation; to serve in case the Navy Department should
send (as we expect it will) a searching vessel for us. Twice every day
I have climbed the rope ladder on the mast and searched with anxious
eyes through my rescued opera glasses the shipless horizon; sometimes
with such a strain of nerves and hope that phantom vessels plague my
vision. The loneliness and solitude of the vast expanse of water
surrounding us is beyond expression. Truly, it is the desert of the
Pacific Ocean, and more dangerous than that upon the land, for there
are no trails or guide-posts for the weary traveler when the sky is
obscured. One might easily fancy that beyond the line of the horizon
there exists only infinite space. As the Prince of the Happy Valley
observes in "Rasselas," after an ocean voyage, "There is no variety
but the difference between rest and motion."
I do not remember the cry of "Sail ho!" during all of our cruising
between the Hawaiian and Midway Islands save in the vicinity of the
former.
The rats are more in evidence of late. At first small and timid, they
are now growing larger and bolder; running about and over us in the
tents during the night. We are getting quite accustomed to their
visits, however, and, rolling ourselves in blankets or whatever
covering we have, pay small attention to them. If we stay here,
though, our attention will become more acute; for they begin to loom
up in importance as a food supply.
The seal, on the contrary, are growing less in numbers, although great
care has been taken not to frighten them away. Also, we have not
lately attempted fishing on the reef, for fear of reducing their food.
We have been prevented from trying the eggs of the albatross, that
their nesting may continue without interruption. They will probably
leave, too, when the hatching season is over and the young have been
taught to fly.
So far as our present ration is concerned, with the exception of
beans, flour, and coffee from which our small daily issue is made, we
are situated as though no provisions had been rescued from the wreck;
for the captain has wisely ordered that all the rest must be held
intact to provision the schooner. So, with all the nerve we can
muster, the work on the schooner is being pushed. To-day the frame
stands ready for the planking, and the captain thinks that in another
week her mast can be ready for stepping.
Last Thursday we had our second most violent wind and rainstorm. It
came with hurricane force from the eastward, and the tremendous sea
crossed the reef and reached our beach with considerable energy left
in it. Our schooner that is to be, with her frame almost completed,
was perilously near the waves, and all hands were called. We turned
out in the storm and carried her bodily higher up on the beach and
breathed more at ease when we saw the seas diminish with the dying
wind.
Mr. Blye has been, to-day, our Santa Claus, and with several others I
have received a Christmas present of great value. As before noted,
there came on shore from the wreck when it was being stripped a box of
Manila cigars, and it has been supposed that they were all
distributed by the generous owner and had been smoked. To-day,
however, Mr. Blye discovered that three of them lay in the bottom of
his chest, and to be impartial he divided them into three parts each
and doled them out. My present was thankfully and cheerfully accepted,
and while I am writing my journal, is passing off in wreaths of hope
above my head.
Mr. Bailey and myself have for several days been having the joint use
of an old clay pipe he had saved, and we have been trying to smoke the
dried leaves and bark of the bushes around us. It is a failure with
me. Now much has been said by learned men _for_ as well as _against_
the use of tobacco, but I do not hesitate to testify to its great
value in conditions such as ours. It has been a cheering companion to
our thoughts in solitude, and a comfort in depression of spirits. I
have even seen one man offer his only coat for a piece of plug about
the size of a silver dollar.
_Sunday, January 1, 1871._ New Year's Day--"Happy New Year"! I think
no one but the marine sentry at the storehouse saw the birth of the
new year or cared to see the new year come in. For myself I hope there
will be no more holidays to chronicle here except it may be the one
that liberates us from these surroundings. They have--the three we
have had here--aroused too many sombre reflections in contrasting
those of the past with the present.
Talbot has now been away forty-three days and it seems almost beyond
probability that he should have reached the Sandwich Islands before
the food was exhausted. There is a lingering hope, however, that some
delay in starting relief for us may have occurred or that he may have
reached some island other than Oahu, where Honolulu is situated, and
that communication with Oahu may be limited. We are "threshing out"
the whole situation to-night in earnest discussion between the
sanguine and non-sanguine members of the mess.
VI
RESCUED
_Tuesday, January 3._ At midnight. It is near an impossibility sanely
and calmly to write up my journal to-night--my nerves are shaken and
my pencil falters. I have climbed into the storehouse to get away from
the commotion in the tent and all over the camp. No one can possibly
sleep, for I can see through a rent in the canvas men dancing around a
huge fire on the highest point of the island, and hear them cheering
and singing while feeding the fire with timbers that we have been
regarding as worth their weight in coin. To a looker-on the entire
camp would seem to have gone crazy. I will tell what I can now and the
rest some other time.
At half-past three this afternoon I was working on the schooner near
Mr. Mitchell, one of the carpenters of the contractor's party. I was
handing him a nail when I noticed his eyes steadily fixed on some
point seaward. He paid no attention to me, and his continued gaze
induced me to turn my eyes in the same direction to find what was so
attractive as to cause his ignoring me. I saw then, too, something
that held my gaze. Far off to the northeast and close to the horizon
there was something like a shadow that had not been there when I had
last visited the lookout. It appeared as a faintly outlined cloud, and
as we both watched with idle tools in our hands it seemed to grow in
size and density. Very soon he spoke in a low voice, as though not
wishing to give a false alarm: "Paymaster, I believe that is the smoke
of a steamer," and after another look, "I am sure of it"; and then
arose a shout that all could hear, "Sail ho!"
[Illustration: THE FLAGSTAFF FROM WHICH THE KILAUEA WAS SIGHTED]
[Illustration: CAMP SAGINAW ON THE DAY OF RESCUE]
The order concerning alarms was forgotten in his excitement, but as
the captain stood near and his face beamed with his own joy, no notice
was taken of the violation. He directed me at once to visit the
lookout, and I did so, rapidly securing my glasses. By the time I
reached the top of the mast I could see that the shadow we had watched
was developing into a long and well-marked line of smoke and that a
steamer was headed to the westward in front of it. I notified the
eager, inquiring crowd at the foot of the mast and still kept my
glasses trained on the steamer until her smokestack came into view.
She was not heading directly for us, and I cannot describe the anxiety
with which I watched to see if she was going to pass by,--my heart was
thumping so that one could hear it. I could not believe she would fail
to see our signal of distress that waved above me, and pass on to
leave us stricken with despair.
When she arrived at a point nearly to the north of us, I saw her
change her course until her masts were in line, and then I shouted the
fact to those below, for it was evident she was bound for Ocean
Island.
The long dreary suspense was over; our relief was near, and I slid
down the Jacob's ladder, pale and speechless. The few moments of tense
watchfulness had seemed to me like hours of suspense, and it is slight
wonder that it took some time to recover my speech. When I did so I
acquainted the captain with all I had seen. By the time I had
completed my statement the steamer was in view from the ground, and
then I witnessed such a scene as will never be forgotten.
Rough-looking men--many of them having faced the shocks of storm and
battle--all of them having passed through our recent misfortunes
without a murmur of complaint--were embracing each other with tears
of joy running down their cheeks, while laughing, singing, and
dancing.
I was at once ordered to break into our supplies and issue the best
meal to all hands that I could concoct. This I certainly did with
haste, and after our supper of boiled salt pork, flour, and beans,
finished off with a cup of coffee, I felt as I might after a Delmonico
dinner. It was a much-interrupted meal, however, for some one or more
were continually rushing out of the tent and returning to report to
the rest the movements of the steamer. By the time we had finished
supper she was very near and was recognized as the Kilauea, a vessel
belonging to the King of the Sandwich Islands. She came within half a
mile of the reef where the Saginaw was wrecked and dipped her flag and
then slowly steamed away in a southerly direction. This manoeuvre we
understood, for, as it was getting late in the day, our rescuers were
evidently intending to return to-morrow and avoid the danger of a
night near the reef. Our captain has ordered a fire to be kept in good
blazing order throughout the night as a beacon.
_Thursday, January 5._ On board the Kilauea (pronounced Kilaway) at
sea. It was next to impossible yesterday to make any entries in my
journal, and even this evening I have been compelled to ask Captain
Long for the temporary use of his stateroom, owing to the tumult in
the cabin and on deck; because I wish to record events while they are
fresh in my memory. So much excitement and so many incidents were
crowded in during the time we were rapidly collecting our effects and
embarking on the Kilauea that it is difficult to note them in order.
[Illustration: CAPTAIN LONG
Commander of the Kilauea]
The Kilauea appeared at daybreak and anchored near the west entrance
of the lagoon, and very soon after her captain came to our
landing-place in a whaleboat. I recognized in him an old Honolulu
friend,--Captain Thomas Long, a retired whaling captain, and as he
stepped from his boat, we gave him three rousing cheers while we stood
at attention near the fringe of bushes around the camp. Captain Sicard
went down the beach alone to receive him, and after a cordial
greeting, they conferred together for a few minutes. Together they
came towards us apparently in sober thought, and Captain Sicard held
up his hand as a signal for silence. He uncovered his head and said,
in a tremulous voice, "Men, I have the great sorrow to announce to you
that we have been saved at a great sacrifice. Lieutenant Talbot and
three of the gig's crew are dead. The particulars you will learn
later; at present, Captain Long is anxious for us to remove to the
Kilauea as quickly as possible." He bowed his head and a low murmur of
grief passed along our line. From a cheering, happy crowd we were as
in an instant changed to one of mourning. All the dreary waiting days
we have passed seemed to fade into insignificance in the face of this
great sorrow.
Captain Long inquired if anything was needed immediately, stating that
a generous supply of food and clothing had been rushed on board the
Kilauea in Honolulu, and that she had started to sea eight hours after
he had been notified of her mission. One of the officers told him that
the thing that would best supply a long-felt want was tobacco; so the
Kilauea's boat was at once dispatched to the steamer for a box of it,
which when opened on the beach was greedily appropriated.
I went off to the Kilauea in the first of the embarking boats, taking
the ship's safe and papers that had been stored at the head of my
mattress in the tent; therefore did not see the final disposition of
articles left on the island; but they suddenly lost all interest to me
and, beyond the fact that our water supply was labeled with a sign for
future unfortunates, I know but little. The captain tells me that
Captain Long demurred at the length of time it would take to bring off
most of the government property, saying that his duty to us and to his
vessel made it necessary to get away from this dangerous neighborhood
at the earliest possible moment; the rescue of life and not property
was his object in coming to us. So our food supply and many articles
of equipment were collected and stored at the highest point of the
island.
When I reached the Kilauea I was served with a good meal, of which I
ate sparingly; and, having deposited the safe in a near corner of the
cabin, "turned in" on a near berth, boots and all, sleeping through
all the turmoil made when the others came off. And so we sailed away
at dusk to the eastward, turning our backs on the desolate home where
we had suffered for sixty-seven days.
I have learned that a fast-sailing schooner, Kona, was dispatched on
Saturday evening under charter by the American Minister, eight hours
after the arrival of Halford. Our consul and vice-consul, with other
friends, however, prevailed upon the United States Minister, Mr.
Pierce, to accept the offer of the Kilauea by the King; urging as a
reason that there was no certainty of our being in a condition to
await the slow progress of a sailing-vessel; that there might be
sickness and even starvation in our party. The Kilauea was hastily
coaled and sailed on Monday.
(_Note._ The Kona was sighted in the offing as we were leaving Ocean
Island, and running down to her Captain Long ordered her back to
Honolulu.)
On the way to Honolulu, while sitting in the pilot house of the
Kilauea, I overheard a conversation on deck between two of the
Saginaw's men concerning the superstition connected with sailing on
Friday. "What better proof," said one of them, "would you have of its
being an unlucky day than in the case of the Saginaw? She sailed from
the Midway Islands on a Friday, and two days afterward she lay a total
wreck among the breakers of Ocean Island. The gig that went for help
also started on Friday, and what was the result? Four out of the five
brave boys who manned her came to an untimely end--how Halford escaped
is a mystery to me; but I guess he'll think twice before venturing on
another voyage on that day of the week." I said to myself that I would
think twice, too, unless I was starting under orders.
VII
THE FATE OF THE GIG
_Honolulu, January 28, 1871._ Perhaps some reader may deem the story
of the Saginaw's last cruise complete. I cannot, however, consider it
so while lacking the sorrowful story of our comrades' voyage in the
gig, with its fatal ending as told by Halford, the sole survivor. Nor
would it be less than ingratitude to pass unnoticed the fact of our
hearty reception when we arrived here on the fourteenth, well fed and
well clothed through the generous exertions of our friends. The King,
his Cabinet, and most of the population were on the wharves as the
Kilauea steamed into the harbor. The cheers and hat-waving were but
the prelude to a most cordial and affectionate greeting when we landed
in the midst of the throng. Several of the officers were at once
seized upon and taken to the homes of their old-time friends. When I
could elude the crowd I was whisked away in a carriage to the Nuuanu
Valley home of Mr. John Paty, and there rested in luxury and comfort
until to-day, when we are to sail on the steamer Moses Taylor. In
recognition of his great kindness as well as to illustrate the
comfortable style of the island homes, I insert a picture of Mr.
Paty's bungalow.
On Thursday our captain and several officers were received in audience
by the King, and in acknowledgment of the great kindness shown us, the
following address was presented.
Our captain said:--
In behalf of the rear admiral commanding the Pacific fleet, I
desire to thank your Majesty for the most courteous offer of the
steamer Kilauea to go to the assistance of the shipwrecked crew
of the United States Ship Saginaw on Ocean Island. It was a
most welcome and opportune relief to the company of United
States officers and seamen there in distress; a proof of your
Majesty's friendly feeling toward our Navy. I am sure your
Majesty's kind and humane intentions were most efficiently
carried out by the very capable and intelligent officer with his
officers and crew sent in command of the Kilauea. I must ask
your Majesty, also, to accept my thanks and those of my officers
and men for the sympathy shown us in our probable distress; for
the personal interest taken by you in the speedy dispatch of the
Kilauea. Your Majesty's Minister of the Interior, also,
manifested the strongest interest in our relief; to his
energetic and efficient efforts was it due that your intentions
were so promptly carried into effect.
At Ocean Island we recognized your Majesty's ship as soon as she
appeared on the horizon. Our feelings of gratitude may perhaps
be imagined, but can only be thoroughly appreciated by those who
have been placed in a similar situation. On our arrival in port
we were welcomed with the most warm-hearted cordiality, and
since have received abundant proofs of the kind feelings of
the Hawaiian people.
One officer and four men belonging to my vessel bravely and
generously volunteered on a long sea voyage in a small boat for
the relief of their shipmates. These finally, with one
exception, made sacrifice of their lives upon the shores of the
island of Kauai. Your Majesty's subjects on that island received
the survivor of the boat's crew with great kindness and
hospitality. They were most solicitous to recover the remains of
my officer and his men, and to inter them in a suitable and
Christian manner. I desire again to return thanks for all that
has been done for the Saginaw's officers and crew.
[Illustration: MR. JOHN PATY'S BUNGALOW AT HONOLULU]
His Majesty replied to the captain as follows:--
Captain--I am pleased to see you here to-day and congratulate
you and the officers and crew of the late United States Ship
Saginaw upon the delivery from their unpleasant position upon a
desolate island. I am glad that my Government has been enabled
to render you assistance. The officers of your Service in this
ocean have always shown themselves prompt to go to the
assistance of distressed men of all nations, and I have lately
had a proof of their prompt humanity in the offer of Captain
Truxton, of the ship Jamestown, to assist some of my subjects in
the Micronesian Islands, and in the efficient aid which he
rendered them. Such interchanges tend to promote personal and
national friendship.
I sympathize with you, Captain, for the loss of your ship--a
misfortune always keenly felt by a sensitive officer, however
unavoidable it may have been. I sympathize with you for the loss
of the gallant officer and men who, after a long voyage in an
open boat, met their death on the shores of Kauai. Such examples
of devotion to duty are a rich legacy to all men. Permit me,
Captain, to express a hope that you and your officers who have
shared with you your service in this ocean for some time past
and your peril in the late shipwreck may live to attain the
highest honors in your profession.
On Saturday last there was held a sale by a local auctioneer of such
articles belonging to the Navy Department as we were able to bring
away from Ocean Island. Among them was included the gig which Halford
brought from the island of Kauai. We were surprised to learn later
that the boat had been bid in by a syndicate of our friends for
presentation to us as a souvenir. It has been accepted and we are
considering plans for its future preservation. I went down to the dock
yesterday to see it prepared for shipment, and its sad story was
almost told in the scars upon it. Its bow was bound with iron straps
and a large gap in the starboard side was covered with canvas. Its
wounds seemed almost as making a mute appeal for sympathy, and
expressed the struggle it had gone through.
_Halford's Story_
When we left Ocean Island, November 18th, we ran to the north to
latitude 32°, there took the westerly winds and ran east to, as Mr.
Talbot supposed, the longitude of Kauai (Kowee), but it proved
ultimately that we were not within a degree of that longitude. We then
stood south. Five days out we lost all light and fire and had no means
of making either--no dry tinder or wood, although we had flint and
steel. About five or six days before making Kauai we succeeded in
getting a light with a glass taken from an opera glass. We suffered
much from wet, cold, and want of food. The ten days' ration of bread
in a canvas bag was mostly spoiled; the two tins of cooked beans could
not be eaten, causing dysentery, as did also the boiled wheat; the
gallon of molasses leaked out, and the sugar, tea, and coffee were
spoiled by wetting. To the dessicated potato, five five-pound tins of
which were given us at the last moment before sailing, we attributed
the preservation of our lives from starvation. For the last week it
was all we had, mixed with a little fresh water.
[Illustration: STARBOARD SIDE OF THE GIG AFTER HER EVENTFUL
JOURNEY]
[Illustration: DECK VIEW OF THE GIG AFTER HER EVENTFUL JOURNEY]
We had heavy weather while running to the eastward; hove to with the
sea anchor twice, the last time lost it. We then made another drag
from three oars, which was also lost. Then we made still another from
two oars and a square of sail by crossing them. That lasted for three
turns of bad weather; but the third time it broke adrift and all was
lost.
Mr. Talbot was ill with diarrhoea for seven or eight days, but got
better, although he continued to suffer much from fatigue and
hardship. He was somewhat cheerful the whole passage. Muir and Andrews
were sick for two or three weeks. Francis was always well.
We did not make land within a week of what we expected. The first land
we saw was Kawaihua Rock, at the southern end of Niihau (Neehow)
Island, on Friday morning, December 16th. We stood north by east, with
the island in sight all day. During that night and Saturday stood
northeast by north, and on Saturday night headed east and south
southeast.
Sunday morning the wind allowed us to head southeast with the island of
Kauai in sight, and Sunday night we were off the Bay of Halalea on the
north coast. We then hove to with head to the northwest, the wind having
hauled to the westward. We laid thus until eleven P.M. It being my watch
on deck, I called Mr. Talbot and told him that the night was clear and I
could see the entrance to Halalea Harbor. He ordered the boat to be kept
away and steered for the entrance. As we came near the entrance it
clouded up and became dark, so we hove to again with head to the
northwest. At one A.M. I called my relief. Andrews and Francis came on
deck, as did also Mr. Talbot. After I went below the boat was again kept
away toward the land for a short time and again hove to. At a little
past two A.M. Sunday morning she was kept away again for the third time.
I remained below until I felt from the boat's motion that she was
getting into shoal water. Then I awoke Muir and told him it was time we
went on deck. He did not go, but I did. Just as I got to the cockpit a
sea broke aboard abaft. Mr. Talbot ordered to bring the boat by the
wind. I hauled aft the main sheet with Francis at the helm and the boat
came up into wind. Just then another breaker broke on board and capsized
the boat. Andrews and Francis were washed away and were never afterwards
seen. Muir was still below, and did not get clear until the boat was
righted, when he gave symptoms of insanity. Before the boat was righted
by the sea Mr. Talbot was clinging to the bilge of the boat and I called
him to go to the stern and there get up on the bottom. While he was
attempting to do so he was washed off and sank. He was heavily clothed
and much exhausted. He made no cry. I succeeded in getting on to the
bottom and stripped myself of my clothes. Just then the sea came and
righted the boat. It was then that Muir put his head up the cockpit,
when I assisted him on deck. Soon afterward another breaker came and
again upset the boat; she going over twice, the last time coming upright
and headed on to the breakers. We then found her to be inside of the
large breakers, and we drifted toward the shore at a place called Kalihi
Kai, about five miles from Hanalei. I landed with the water breast-high
and took with me a tin case of dispatches and letters. On board there
was a tin box with its cover broken containing navigation books, charts,
etc., also Captain Sicard's instructions to Lieutenant Talbot, with
others, among which were Muir's and Andrews's discharge papers; they
having been shipped November 15th for one month. (They belong to the
contractors, in whose employ they were previous to that time.) This box
also contained Francis's and my transfer papers and accounts destined
for the Mare Island Navy Yard. This box with everything not lashed fell
into the water when we were first upset.
I landed about three A.M., but saw no one until daybreak, when, seeing
some huts, I went to them and got assistance to get the boat onto the
beach. I had previously, by making five trips to the boat, succeeded
in bringing ashore the long tin case first mentioned, the chronometer,
opera glasses, barometer, one ship's compass, boat's binnacle compass,
and had also assisted Muir to the shore. He was still insane, saying
but little and that incoherently. He groaned a great deal.
I was now much exhausted and laid myself down to rest until sunrise,
when I looked for Muir and found him gone from the place I left him.
Soon after I found him surrounded by several natives, but he was dead
and very black in the face.
During the day I got some food and clothing from the natives--one of
them called Peter. After resting myself Peter and I went on horseback
over to Hanalei to Sheriff Wilcox and Mr. Burt. Then we returned with
the sheriff and coroner to Kalihi Kai, where an inquest was held over
the bodies of Lieutenant Talbot and Muir, the former having drifted
ashore just before I left Kalihi Kai for Hanalei. Mr. Talbot's
forehead was bruised and blackened, apparently from having struck the
boat or wreckage.
After the inquest the two bodies were taken to Hanalei, put into
coffins and buried the next day in one grave at a place where a seaman
belonging to the U.S.S. Lackawanna was buried in 1867. Funeral
services were performed by Mr. Kenny by reading the Episcopal burial
service, and the two Misses Johnson (daughters of an American
missionary) singing.
Before I left Hanalei for Honolulu it was reported by a half-white who
had been left to watch the shore at Kalihi Kai that Andrews's body had
come ashore and had been taken care of.
Captain Dudoit, the schooner Wainona, offered to bring me direct to
Honolulu, leaving his return freight at Wainiea for another trip. I
accepted the same through Mr. Bent, and we sailed for Honolulu on the
evening of Tuesday, December 20, and arrived at Honolulu at eleven A.M.,
December 24, bringing with me the effects saved as aforementioned. I
went, on landing, immediately to the United States Consul's office,
where I saw him and the Minister President and told to them my story.
(_Note._ The reader may remember the incident I related as occurring
at the time we were provisioning the gig; the discovery that the
boiled rice had fermented and the hasty substitution of the dessicated
potatoes. Halford was emphatic to me in the assertion that the potato
was the preserver of their lives and that mixed with water it
constituted their only food during the last week of their sufferings.
The dessicated potato was at that time a part of the Navy ration. It
was also called "evaporated," and was prepared by thoroughly drying
the potato and coarsely grinding it. In appearance it resembles a very
coarse meal.)
* * * * *
Halford has told me of several remarkable incidents which happened
during the voyage of the gig and which, although not considered
essential in his official statement, would be lifelong memories to
him.
[Illustration: WILLIAM HALFORD
The only survivor of the gig's crew. (Now a retired chief gunner
in the Navy.)]
Of one of these he says--and I give his own words: "We were scudding
before a gale of wind under a reefed square sail. A nasty sea was
running at the time. I was standing in the after hatch steering; had
the reeving string of the cover that was nailed around the combings
drawn tight under my armpits to keep out the sea as it washed over the
boat, when I felt a shock. The boat almost capsized, but the next sea
lifted her over. I looked astern and saw a great log forty or fifty
feet long and four or five feet in diameter, water-logged and just
awash. We had jumped clean over it. It was a case of touch and go with
us."
Of another incident he says: "One night I had relieved Peter Francis
at the tiller and he had crawled forward on deck. Somehow or other he
got overboard; luckily we had a strong fishing-line trailing astern
all the voyage, but never got as much as a bite until it caught
Francis and we got him on board again. It was a bright moonlight
night."
Of another happening he says: "Then, when our provisions had run out
entirely, a large bird came and landed on the boat and looked at me as
I stood at the tiller. The other four at this time were very weak from
want of food and from dysentery; they were more dead than alive. I
caught the bird, tore off the feathers, cut it up in five pieces, and
we all had a good meal. It was raw, but it tasted good. About
thirty-six hours after this, just at break of day, as I was sitting at
the tiller, I felt something strike my cheek. It was a little
flying-fish. I caught it, and soon a school of them came skipping
along, several dropping on deck. I captured five or six of them and
they gave us the last meal we had on the gig: for at daylight I saw
land--Tahoora or Kaula Rock."
Our captain has made the following report to the Secretary of the
Navy, which adds to and confirms the story of the lone survivor of the
gig:--
HONOLULU, HAWAIIAN ISLANDS,
_January 18, 1871._
SIR:--I forward herewith the brief report called for by
regulation of the death of Lieutenant J.G. Talbot (and also
three of the crew of the United States Steamer Saginaw) at the
island of Kauai (Hawaiian Group).
I feel that something more is due to these devoted and gallant
friends, who so nobly risked their lives to save those of their
shipmates, and I beg leave to report the following facts
regarding their voyage from Ocean Island and its melancholy
conclusion.
The boat (which had been the Saginaw's gig and was a whaleboat
of very fine model) was prepared for the voyage with the
greatest care. She was raised on the gunwale eight inches,
decked over, and had new sails, etc.
The boat left Ocean Island November 18, 1870. The route
indicated by me to Lieutenant Talbot was to steer to the
northward "by the wind" until he got to the latitude of about 32
degrees north, and then to make his way to the eastward until he
could "lay" the Hawaiian Islands with the northeast trade winds.
He seems to have followed about that route. The boat lost her
sea anchor and oars in a gale of wind and a good deal of her
provision was spoiled by salt water. The navigation instruments,
too, were of but little use, on account of the lively motions of
the boat. When she was supposed to be in the longitude of Kauai
she was really about one and one half degrees to the westward;
thus, instead of the island of Kauai she finally sighted the
rock Kauhulaua (the southwestern point of land in the group) and
beat up from thence to the island of Kauai. She was hove off the
entrance of Hanalei Bay during part of the night of Monday,
December 19th, and in attempting to run into the Bay about 2.30
A.M. she got suddenly into the breakers (which here
made a considerable distance from the shore) and capsized.
I enclose herewith a copy of the deposition of William Halford,
coxswain, the only survivor of this gallant crew; his narrative
being the one from which all accounts are taken. I have not seen
him, personally, as he left here before my arrival.
Peter Francis, quartermaster, and John Andrews, coxswain, were
washed overboard at once and disappeared. Lieutenant Talbot was
washed off the boat, and when she capsized he clung to the
bottom and tried to climb up on it, going to the stern for that
purpose; the boat gave a plunge and Halford thinks that the
boat's gunwale or stern must have struck Mr. Talbot in the
forehead as he let go his hold and went down.
James Muir was below when the boat struck the breakers, and does
not appear to have come out of her until she had rolled over
once. He must have suffered some injury in the boat, as he
appears to have been out of his mind and his face turned black
immediately after his death. As will be seen by Halford's
statement, Muir reached shore, but died of exhaustion on the way
to the native huts.
The body of John Andrews did not come on shore until about
December 20th. All clothes had been stripped from it. The body
of Peter Francis has never been recovered.
The bodies are buried side by side at Hanalei (Kauai). The
service was read over them in a proper manner. Suitable
gravestones will be erected over them by subscription of the
officers and crew of the Saginaw.
As soon as we had gotten on Ocean Island after the Saginaw's
wreck, Lieutenant Talbot volunteered to take this boat to
Honolulu, and the rest volunteered as soon as it was known that
men might perhaps be wanted for such service.
Mr. Talbot was a very zealous and spirited officer. I had
observed his excellent qualities from the time of his joining
the Saginaw (September 23, 1870) in Honolulu. During the wreck
and afterwards he rendered me the greatest assistance and
service by his fine bearing, his cheerfulness, and devotion to
duty. His boat was evidently commanded with the greatest
intelligence, fortitude, and gallantry and with the most
admirable devotion. May the Service always be able to find such
men in the time of need.
The men were fine specimens of seamen--cool and brave, with
great endurance and excellent physical strength. They were,
undoubtedly, those best qualified in the whole party on Ocean
Island to perform such a service. Both Lieutenant Talbot and his
men had very firm confidence in their boat and looked forward
with cheerfulness to the voyage. Such men should be the pride of
the Navy, and the news of their death cast a deep gloom over the
otherwise cheerful feelings with which the Kilauea was welcomed
at Ocean Island.
I do not know that I sufficiently express my deep sense of their
devotion and gallantry; words seem to fail me in that respect.
Previous to the sailing of the boat from Ocean Island I had
enlisted John Andrews and James Muir as seamen for one month.
Since I have ascertained their fate I have ordered them to be
rated as petty officers (in ratings allowed to most of the
"fourth rates"), as I have thought that all the crew of that
boat should have stood on equal footing as regards the amount
they might be entitled to in case of disaster, as they all
incurred the same risk.
Andrews and Muir belonged to the party of Mr. G.W. Townsend
(the contractor at Midway Islands), and it was made a condition,
by them, of their enlistment that it should not interfere with
their contract with Mr. Townsend. It was intended as the
security of their families against the risk incurred while
performing the great service for the shipwrecked party. I have
forwarded their enlistment papers to the Bureau of Equipment and
Recruiting.
I am very respectfully,
Your obedient Servant,
MONTGOMERY SICARD,
Lieut. Comdr. U.S.N. Comd'g.
HON. GEORGE M. ROBESON,
Secretary of the Navy.
_In God's Country again_
_San Francisco, February 8, 1871._ After a pleasant voyage in the
Moses Taylor we are again, all hands,--minus our gallant comrades,--on
American soil, and the cruise of the Saginaw is officially closed. The
officers have taken up quarters on shore, and the crew temporarily
transferred to the U.S. Steamer Saranac for discharge or detail as
their period of enlistment may require. The gig came with us and will
be temporarily stored until it is decided as to her future. We have
started a subscription for a suitable memorial to the gig's heroes,
and the other ships of the squadron have generously offered their
help. The most approved plan seems to be a marble tablet on the walls
of the chapel at the Naval Academy, and the captain has made a sketch
of one as it would appear there.
(_Note. November 1, 1871._ The tablet as designed has been completed
and delivered at the Naval Academy. The following picture shows its
appropriate character, and I deem it a fitting conclusion to my story.
The gig is also to go to the Naval Academy to be deposited in the
Museum.)
[Illustration: THE TABLET
Now on the walls of the chapel at the United States Naval
Academy]
THE END
APPENDIX
I
I have been asked several times how it came about that our good ship
could have met her sad fate when so recently out of port, her officers
knowing the existence of the dangers so near. I have confined my
narrative to personal experiences and to incidents of the life under
the conditions surrounding us. However, as such questions may arise in
the mind of some readers and in order to enlighten them, I set down
below some copies of the results from official investigations by those
higher in authority.
First: There is the report of the Court of Inquiry held upon our
arrival in San Francisco, which reads thus:--
The Court is of the opinion that the wrecking of the Saginaw was
caused by a current, as the evidence shows care in running the
vessel at a safe rate of speed and the log-line was found to be
correct two days before and had been used only ten hours at sea
afterward, and that Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Sicard used
due vigilance and care in the navigation of his vessel, and
after striking upon the reef that he exercised sound judgment
and exhibited great skill and prudence.
This was followed later by the Secretary of the Navy's annual report
to the President, from which the following is an extract:--
Leaving Midway Islands on the 28th of October, Commander Sicard,
of the Saginaw, determined to run to Ocean Island, a small
island lying about one hundred miles to the westward of Midway,
to rescue any sailors who might have been wrecked there and who,
being out of the ordinary track of vessels in that part of the
Pacific Ocean, would have little chance of relief from any other
source. This expedition, though in the direct line of his duty
as the commander of a naval vessel, was fraught with the usual
perils of navigation in unknown and dangerous waters, and about
three o'clock on the morning of the 29th of October, the
Saginaw, running slowly in the darkness, was wrecked on a reef
outlying the island for which she was bound. With much exertion
and the exercise of much energy and skill, all on board,
including the officers and men of the ship and the working
party from Midway Islands, were safely landed, with a small
allowance of provisions and materials rescued from the wreck.
Cast upon the shores of an uninhabited island with scanty means
of subsistence, out of the line of travel, and more than one
thousand miles from the nearest port of refuge or relief, then
it was that the commanding officer of the Saginaw illustrated
the benefits of the comprehensive education and strict training
which he had received at the hands of the Government and
exhibited the high personal qualities which characterize him as
an officer. Ably seconded by his subordinate officers of every
grade, Commander Sicard took immediately every possible means
for the health, safety, and final relief of those who were
committed to his command. Whatever could be saved from the wreck
was at once secured; measures were immediately taken to keep up
the health, spirits, and discipline of the men: fresh water was
distilled by means of an old boiler, and everything was
organized so that there was no waste of either provisions,
material, or labor.
The boat fittest for the service was promptly repaired,
provisioned, and equipped, as far as might be, for the perilous
voyage. Manned by one officer and four men, all of whom
volunteered for the service, it was dispatched to Honolulu, the
nearest port from which relief could be expected. After her
departure work was vigorously pushed on the island; and when
finally rescued, the shipwrecked marines with well-directed
labor had almost completed, from the material of their old ship,
a new schooner perfectly seaworthy and sufficient, under
favorable circumstances, to carry the whole shipwrecked party to
a port of safety. I have thus collated some of the facts of this
case to illustrate my high opinion of the energy and ability
displayed by Commander Sicard and his comrades on this occasion
and to show how well such conduct repays the favor of the
Government.
After relating the history of the boat's voyage which we have already
read, the Secretary concludes as follows:--
The death of Lieutenant Talbot closed a career of unusual
promise, and in it the Navy lost a brilliant and beloved member.
A skillful sailor, an accomplished officer, and a Christian
gentleman, his self-sacrifice has arrested the attention of his
comrades and will remain an example to the Service which in life
his virtues adorned and whose highest qualities were illustrated
in the crowning heroism of his death. His comrades of humbler
rank will not be forgotten; with him they faced the dangers of
the lonely ocean and offered their lives with his to save their
shipwrecked messmates, and no one can estimate how much of
danger and suffering, perhaps death, was saved through the
courage and endurance of the sole survivor of that gallant
boat's crew.
II
The following is a list of the officers and crew of the Saginaw as it
appeared on the pay-roll at the time she was wrecked; I feel that I
should name them all in recognition of a comradeship in suffering
never to be forgotten where each one performed his duty
unflinchingly:--
_Officers_
Montgomery Sicard, lieutenant commander.
John G. Talbot, lieutenant.
J.K. Cogswell, Perry Garst, and A.H. Parsons, ensigns.
George H. Read, passed assistant paymaster.
James Butterworth, passed assistant engineer.
H.C. Blye, passed assistant engineer (in charge of contractor's
party).
John J. Ryan, C.D. Foss, Herschel Main, and Jones Godfrey, second
assistant engineers.
George H. Robinson, master's mate.
_Petty Officers_
Peter Francis, quartermaster.
Nicholas Barton, quartermaster.
Thomas Hayes, sailmaker's mate.
John Lane, boatswain's mate.
James Foschack, gunner's mate.
J.M. Logan, yeoman.
William Halford, coxswain.
Samuel A. Thompson, master at arms.
Charles Hale, paymaster's yeoman.
A.E. Myfinger, cabin steward.
Solomon Graves, cabin cook.
Joseph Ross, wardroom steward.
George D. Wauchoss, wardroom cook.
Henry B. Clark, third-class apothecary.
William Edman, ship's cook.
Henry Wallace, steerage steward.
L. McCabe, steerage cook.
_First-class firemen_, Francis Scott, Lorenzo Coburg, George
White.
_Second-class fireman_, George Hubert.
_Seamen_, William Cairns, Michael Lynch, Henry D. Vivian, Daniel
Collins.
_Ordinary seamen_, Joseph A. Bailey, John H. Wallace, Dennis A.
Fitzgerald, John Daley, Charles Brown, Dennis M. Hayes, Michael
Jordan, Edward James.
_Landsmen_, James Nichols, W.J. Evans, Edward O'Brien, Thomas
Kearney, J.R. Miller, Martin Doran, William Fallon, Thomas
Larkin, Joseph McLaughlin, George Saunders, William Combs,
Joseph A. Agarrie, Michael Garvey, John Murphy, John Downs,
James McNamara, John Riley, Thomas Melody, James M. Nolan.
_Marine guard_, Charles A. Martin, orderly sergeant; John G.
Moore, corporal; Phillip Morris, corporal.
_Privates_, D.G. Brennan, Thomas Wiseman, David Muir, James
Sarsfield, Thomas Jones, John McGrath, Lewis Peck.
The Riverside Press
CAMBRIDGE · MASSACHUSETTS
U.S.A
* * * * *
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