WRECK OF THE GENERAL GRANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1311, 29 January 1868, Page 3

WRECK OF THE GENERAL GRANT.

NARRATIVE OF THE WBECiL, AND SUFFERINGS OF THE SUEVIVOES, ON AUCKLAND ISLANDS. (From the Southland Times, January 15.) (Concluded.) 22nd. Remained here, owing to the weather. 23rd. Started again, but were obliged to put back, on account of thick fog, which was coming on. The seal being finished, we were obliged to gather shellfish. Mussels were plentiful, and seal could not be got. _24th. Again started. All of us were taken sick with dysentety. Made but little progress. In the afternoon it rained and blew hard, and we put in a email bay about five miles to the north of Oamley's Harbour. Here we got a seal, and being all sick, we ate sparingly, as we fancied the seal was unhealthy. We passed a miserable night, wet and cold. "We found the remains of an old miami where we fancied

some unfortunates like ourselves had camped. 25th. Took some raw seal and again started. On coming to the entrance of Musgrave'e Bay we were unable to go further. We did not know at this time this wa9 the bay we were in search of, being so much reduced by toil and dysentery wo gave up the search. "We were so weak we could scarcely lift our oars out of the water. It was then we found relief from the piece of pork which had hßen so long hoarded up. Some wer« unable, owing to sioknesa, to eat even their small allowance; while those who ate it found relief and gained strength, enabling us to pull to one of the bays, where we camped for the night. 26th. Started again, but were not able to reach home. Camped in a small bay about five miles north of the place left that merning. Qere we killed a eeal. We remained here till the 28th, when we arrived home. We found here all sick, like oureelvej ; and, in fact, they were reduced to mere skeletons, and we did not know each, other after an absence of eight aye. All things have an end. It was wonderful to see how fast we improved when we got a little used to our new mode of life. Still thought Musgrave's hut could be found. Made an attempt to make a sail of the New Zealand flax, which grows in small quantities at the old settlements. During this time, some of those barefooted tried to make shoes out of the seal's skin, but did not succeed very well. One day I thought of the mocassin, and made a pair for P. M'Nerin. Soon after this, all hands were able to make them for themaelveß. These were good substitutes during our stay on the island. I made some needles from the bones of the albatross; also, some salt. The salt was mado in a piece of an old broken pot which I found at the hut. It held half a pint of water at a time, therefore the quantity made was small and useless. 26th June.

A sail having been made from the seal's ekin, one of the boats started in search of Muegrave'e hut. I was unwell, and therefore did not go in the boat After much euffaring from the inolemency of the weather and camping out in tho rain, enow and wet, the long looked for hut was found on the 11th July. But picture our disappointment, instead of finding a well-stocked depot, we found nothiDg of value except an old boiler, afterwards used to boil salt in. and some old canvas, which lined the inside of the hut, all else having been carried away. The boat

returned on the 13th. But during the absence of the boat we were searching around home with our other boat. Wβ found the papers and the trees marked by the Victoria and Southland at the old settlement, where we learned that there was nothing of any value to us left by them, and tbat we might give up all hopes of either steamere returning to these islands. Saw some pig tracks at the head of the bay, but no pigs. When the boat returned they were all well, and when we were told what was left in the hut we offered up many a hearty prayer. On the return of the boat's crew they wished all hands to go to Musgrave's hut, ns it wae larger than ours, and the eoal were more plentiful on that part of the island. After a little consideration it was decided that half were to stop, and the other half go to Musgrave'e hut, so as to keep a look-out for paeeing ehips, or a sealer that might enter at either end of the island, 14th July. Some who were away in the boat wished to see the papers left by the eteamers; went to the settlement, and whil«> there they were fortunate enough to find an oven belonging to a stove; this made a good pot for cooking in. _ During the boat's absence we visited a small island lying between Enderby's and the main island, ■where an old hut was fourd already fitted up with three buijks, .some wearing apparel, a few old bouille tins, an old adze, and a spade. The hut appeared as though recently vacated, as the hind part of a seal wae hanging to a tree. Babbits were very numerous, but we had no nif>ane of catching any; we gate it the name of Kafcbit Island.

18th. Went to Enderby's for seal and caught three kide, and found dead ; we tied up thoee that were alive, thinking to catch the old one suckling them ; but as the boat started back to Musgrave's on the 19th, did not go back till the day after. One kid was dead, but .we caught the mother of the two other kids and brought them home. A few days later found an oven at the settlement, and some galvanised iron, from which we made frying pans ; tho oven was used to make salt in. After this the weatLer was very cold, and we could seldom get a day to go for seal as we were obliged to use the boat for this purpose ; no seal could be got where Wβ were living. If early all our time was employed in mending clothes". At night we crawled into our grassy beds huddling close to one another to keep warm, the hut being colder than when the other eight were there. The eight at Musgrare : s knr, I imagine, lived pretty much as we did ; but as I was not there I am unable to give the particulars of their mode of living—but when I mention our mode of living, I suppose theirs is tho same.

let September.—Caught a goat and bronght her home, having then four live animals shoring our hut with us. We tried every meane to munufactnre seal's alrin into clothes, as those we had left were all threadbare, and the skins we had to keep us warm at night were like boards. We scrubbed them with Band, s.nd scraped them with glass, but to no purpose. At ln-i I hit upon a successful plan. I was trying to get a patch for my trousers, and thought of paring the skins with a knife, but I cat a hole in erery square inch ; I saw the plan would answer by poring the dried skins close to the roots of the hair ; the skin was then very soft, and by perseverance and practice I found (hat we would be able to make clothes much, better than we imagined.

On 19th September, after seven weeks of very severe weather, the boat returned fr-jra Muegrave'g, bringing some eeal, thinking we might be short, owing to their scarcity, but they found us all right. Weather being fine, they started tho next morning , , and reached the hut at m dnight. F. P. Caughley, 1). Aehworth, and, in fact, nearly all of us were taken tick with a swelling of the limbs, which com« menced at the stomach, and worked its way to the legs and feet, rendering them almost helpless. At first thought it was the ecurvy, aa the Bwollen parts when any pressure came upjn them retained the indentation made for quite a long time ; but we have since found out that the disease is known to whalers by th~. name of the "cobbler." The weather being fine we were enabled to go about in search of anything useful. On Enderby'e we killed some eeal, the skine of which, when pared,, made blankets. We found a couple of files, a gnn flint, and one or two old knives at the old huts. "W» made some tinder, which saved each man the troubleof a two hours' watch over the fires at night. October 6th. "While at 'Rabbit Island a ship was seen, fires were started on the island, four of us took the boat and made a chase, but could not catch her. JHhe must have seen the smoke, as we were within a couple, of miles from her, and as she was passing we hoisted the sail to attract her attention, but on she went, leaving us to pull home in very low spirits. This caused visits to be paid to Rabbit Inland very oftsn. There we got a number of rabbite by knocking them over with sticks. As spring set in we got some s*>a-fowle' eggs, which were a great change, and caught quite a rumber of fish. About November Ist we caught another goat; and on the Sth of Decembar the other boat returned for good. We were at thi3 time able to make coats, vests, and trousers out of the seal's flrin. Those who had been at ilusgrave's had nothinfij made of seal's skin; but, after making some sails for the boat, they patched up their clothes with tha remaining pieces of canvas. One day, while at the eld huts, which had been burned, when gathering nails, found an axe ; and the same day those at home got ore in the stump of an old tree in front ol the hut we lived in. We commenced to fit up the boat for a passage fo Now Zealand, as before the summer wan over ehe was expected to start—U.V. The bo it left on 22nd January, IS67> not being able to start before on account of the weather. Her crew consisted of Bartholomew Brown, chief officer, William JJTewion Scott, Andrew Morrison, Peter M'Nevin, A.B.'s, The boat had bsen decked over with seal's skin. They carried about thirty gallons of water in seal's gullets, also some seal's meat, and the flesh of three goats, and about twenty dozen of eggs—all cooked. There was aleo a very small etove made by W. N. Scott, and some charcoal to burn in it.. They had no compass or nautical instrument of any sort. They did not know the course, as they thought that stealing E.N.B. would bring; them to New Zealand, but eince we have'learned that the course was north, or a little to the west of north. When the boat left the wind was S.W., but it shifted tt.e first night to the N.W.i • with rain. It blew very hard most of the night. On the 23rd it shifted to the S.W., and remained bo till the 29th, with fine weather, giving them ample time to reach New Zealand if they survived the first night. There is a possibility that they might have made Campbell Islands, as they are abcut 100 miles in an easterly direction; if so, they are most likely there still. After the boat was away about five weeks, we began to give her up, and thought of keeping a lookout on Enderby'e for passing ships, and where eeal might be procured without tha constant use of th» boat, which we were obliged to take great care ofc March Bth. Went to Enderby's and built two huts, also built a small hut for a look-out station, where a look-out was kept from daylight to dark all the lime we on the island, the men taking it in turn. On the 23rd of April we gatheied a pile of wood for lighting as a signal in case a ship was seen. When the huts were being built we Went to North Harbour in search of boards along the beach, and saw quita a number of pigs. We caught & small one and were within five or sir feet of several large ones, but could catch none. Any soit of weapon would have been of great uae. Beal being very plentiful on Enderby'e, we had but little trouble in procuring enough to eat. Before the winter set in we went b> Musgrave's and brought some casks, and the oil boiler for making salt in. Salted some seal down, and it was well we did so, as the winter was very severe.

Bad we been living at the old hut we ehonld probahly have been obliged quite often to have gone without anything to eat, as thert were three or four weeks together the boat could not have been ug6d. Our original woollen clothes being all worn out, it took us all our time to mend and manufacture seal's skin coats, and make thread from the New Zealand flax. About this time we found on the mainland on a point inside Underby's Island, a aiave on -Which was written \iith charcoal the words " Minerva—£ men, 1 officer—Leith—May 10th, 1864—March 25th, 1865."

A man's name had evidently been added, but was illegible. From the relative poeiti n of the words our impression wae that the word Leith had reference to the man or men, and not to the Mi-erva. During the month of June we caught a small pig, which was kept three .months before she was killed. Qtt the 3rd of September, 1867, David M'Lelland, an old man of 62 who had passed through all our hardships, departed this life. This sad event, owing to its suddenness, and which by many was unexpected, cast a feeling of deep gloom upon us- J3e was buried up.on the sand hill on Enderby Island. Previous to his death he stated that he was born in Ayr, Scotland, and had for some years been employed by the firm of Messrs. Todd and M'Gregor, in Glasgow. His wife still resides m Patrick, Glaegow. We were badly off for some means of capturing the pigs, but at last hit upon the following plan :— We had seen them in the bay tiiues and conld catch none; I at last proposed a " hook," which wae ridiculed by some, but I determined to try it, and as I had some pieces of old iron that from time to time were picked up, I got a half-inch bolt and pointed it, bent it in the shape of as good a hook as might be expected under the circumstances, and then made & flax line, to the hook, and made the hook elightly fast to a pole 10 feet long. A few days later we saw pigs on the beach; tried the hook and found it a success. I hooked a. fine sow, the rod pulling from the fastening of the hook, leaving her fast to the rope ; also caught a email one. We all made hooks, but as the weathex was still baa, we were unable to get out ta the place where th» pigs were most plentiful. Three or four weeks later, on going along the ehore we got another pig. W* hadnotonr hooks ready, but as he took to thewater, we caught him by means of the boat. Next day were prepared with our hooks —saw seven, and caught three, proving the sucwss of our weapon for pig hunting. Two days after this, went to North Harbor, or, as we have named it, Pig Bay. Killed two large pig*, and brought home nine small ones alive, fled we been accustomed to the hooto, we would have got many more. Following week.

killed seven, and brought fivo small ones alive home. "Were n"t out agaia iur two weeks; this time was takc:i up in fixing our pig-yards, and in planting our pcte'oes. j forgot to mentinn that nbout the old huts in different parts of the island which had been previously used as gardens by tho old settlers, wo frund some Tery amull potatoes growing wild. Marked tho places where they grew, anl when ripe gathered them for seed. About this time we sent off a small boat, in the hope that some vessel might pick it up, •nd thus learn our existence. Wo subsequently si-nt off another email hoat, and at various times wo sent away the inflated bladders of the pige and gouta we tilled, with a slip of wood attached to them. The boats were formed of a rough pieco of wood, about throe feet, long, to which, by way of keel, T attached it henry pie"cc of iron eo aa to trim the littlo craft by tho stern, to ieep her bsfo-e tho wind—a short stout must, with a tin sail, completed the little vessel. On tho doct of the boat was carved the ship's name. d»te, and place of wreck, number of enrrirors, and the date 0:1 which the boat itsolf was launcUod. The game particulars were also punched with a rail into the tin Bail, and carved on the labels nttached to the bladders. We alao put the words " want relief " on the bow* of the boats and on the sails and labels. Another boat and several bladders were ready to be sent adrift when we were taken off by the Amberst. All tho see:'.s planted by the Southland are dead. The H6Xt time we wero at Pig Bay, nine pigs ■were killed, and caught throe F.nwll ones. It rained hard in the afternoon. We took shelter, and it did not clear till the next tnornins;. Aftsr standing round the fire all niiht, in the morning felt more like s'eepins: than pig-hunting, so we started for home. We salted tho pig" down. We wete preparing to go out av*ain and build a hut to shelter us from the rain as we intended to salt ell the pigs we not for a winter's stoei. Wo were to Iβ' lOOS 3 all the small ones on Fn Derby's to etoclc the island, t-'oal were getting scarce and our troubles were soon to end. 19th November. The man on ibo look-out sighted a s:iil to the eastvrnrd of fe Isl <n :. which nfterwards proved to be the l''an»y (cutter) bound to this Island; but as she passed on without seeming to notico the smoko we mado ai :i signal ro her vro began to gi>"o up all hopes not Injowin:; thsit relief was so near »t hand. On the 21 st November sighted the brig Ainhcret, Captain P. Gilroy, of Invercargill, running along the land -from tho southward, Th« boat wes .'annchod, and we pulled :in.i pot on beard. We were very kindly received by both officers and crew. On the fulloreitic morning, after nearly nineteen month-' of the severest hardships, all of us wero | tjikea aboard. 22nd. Xiit locioa tlie pigs v.jion the island for the benefit of others, fflifa all of us wore aboard, we had such clothes given us as could be veil spared by both the officers and ere* of the brig Atnherst. Jl'or these v.'O ■were lincl t»re most thankful. Everything übo.tr.l was given with the greatest kindnes3; and in fact we could not be better u cited by them. sth D jcember. We saw the Funny (cutter) in Crumley's Harbour. The captain h-ivins; seen the papers lelt by tho Victoria at Musltiw s, on tho buck of which we had written o;:r mines, whero we were, ant! the mime of Ehipin which we were wrecked, had put hia cisks ashore, unci was on the way t) look for u= when wo saw hi'.n. For riiis wo feel .c;ri;ally thankful to Captain Ac'-iers and the crew of tha Fanny cuttor.