THE WRECK OF THE HOVE EXPEDITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6566, 2 December 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE WRECK OF THE HOVE EXPEDITION.

. Further particulars of the wreck suffered 3 by Lieutenant Bove have arrived in a letter • written by him to a friend. After describing , the stress of weather which compelled him : to run the ship he had hired on shore in . Slogett Bay, whither he had gone at the re- - quest of the missionaries of Uschuvia, who . hoped there to get into communication with , a still unknown tribe of Fuegians. Lieutenant ■ Bove continues as follows:—"It was ten '. minutes past three p.m. on the 31st of May i when the brig struck the ground for the I first time. An immense wave entered at the' i prow and impelled the vessel backward, 5 followed by several others. Our larboard r boat was completely smashed. I looked ' - round ; none of us had been carried away. | i In ten seconds we had all jumped into the j s water, and ten seconds later we were stand- \ , ing together on a narrow piece of elevated . land witli the furious sea at our feet and the • threatening rocks above our heads. On ounting our number not one was wanting, nd a long hurrah proclaimed that all were ' saved. But for how long ? The tide was i rising ; large stones fell from the mountains, 3 our naked feet were buried in snow, the icy 3 south wind cut our faces, and, perhaps, be- ' hind us the poisored arrows of tho Indians I were awaiting us. Until four o'clock in the morning the tide prevented us from moving, .' aud we were obliged to pass the night i where we were, .rind what a night ! snow t beneath us, snow above us, and only a few 9 bushes to shelter us from the furious wind ! 1 But my fatigue, at least, was such and my • confidence in God so deep that 1 slept soundly i till seven o'clock. It is a sad awakening . after a misfortune. Tho future seemed very 1 dark, wretched on Terra del Fucgo ! on that t ill-famed land, among savages believed to be - the most bestial in the world, wrecked on a - sheet of snow ! But it did not matter. 'To work, boys :' I cried, * the ship still lies on the shore. Lotus help ourselves aud God o will aid us !' During the course of the day, 2 iu spite of the difficulty of walking, the b snowstorm and the strength of the wind, t which almost took us olf our feet, we carried 8 a large part of our provisions on shore, 3 erected tents and organised a slight defence. J The. spirit of self-preservation steeled our 3 muscles. I carried weights th:it iu other 3 circumstances would have crushed me. The night of the 2nd of June was excessively cold, ten degrees below zero. The tent was covered inside and out with ice, and toward five in the morning it began to snow so hard that in a few hours it was three feet deep. The aspect of the cjuutry was most melant - choly. Snow everywhere ; abovo, leaden and q thickening clouds ; but our work was purwucd Y with alacrity. With our united efforts we 0 transported the galley intact to our camp. . The surrounding bushes were cut down, and y we made a kind of stockade to defend us in . case of a night attack by savages. I instituted 3 a watch of each two hours at a time, and set P the example with my gun on my arm. We t had saved one of our boats, and determined b to send it to ask for help from the English . mission in Beagle Canal. Witii great ■f difficulty it was launched through the t breakers, one of the men being thrown into \ the water, and a cry of joy escaped us as it [j passed over the crest of the waves and turned t the points. What suffering and bloodshed would be prevented if it reached its destina--5 tion, for the least misunderstanding with natives would easiily lead to a conflict, and r our arniß were excellent! The days passed b without incident until the 9th of June. We 3 had constantly looked out for the boat or a ship, more from curiosity than hope, for we f could not expect either till the lOtli. On the 3 night before shadows had been seen prowling (-, iu tho nighbourhood of our camp, ind we L - were working at strengthening our defences when I heard savage cries to the north. 1 mounted into tho roof of the kitchen and 3 saw ten or twelve creatures, I could not 1 make out whether beasts or men, moving toward us. Taking my glass 1 recognized 1 the famous Fuegians on foot. I alarmed the ) camp and we made ready. I was not anxious t about the presence of these savages, as we 5 could easily overcome them ; but I was afraid t for two of my companions, who had gone shooting in the brushwood. Oco of the Indians preceded his companions and came to parley. What an ugly face ! We bade him enter the camp and s;ave him cakes. Another savage followed him and then the whole troop. What was my joy when I saw my ■ friend Dr. Spugaxzini and our cook Rcvcrdito " among them ! These savages have a terrible 1 aspect. Their faces and bodies are strangely ' painted ; they carry a bow and quiver. J Th(-ir head-dress is a kind of mitre, which : gives them a ferocious appearance. In general they are finely made, muscular and 1 healthy. Having ascertained that friendly relations were desired on both aides we laid down our guus aud the savages their bows. We then regaled them on biscuit aud fat. In the evening they went away, but iheir looks were, so little reassuring that we redoubled our watchfulness and strengthened the weaker part of our defences. Next morning we perceived a boat rounding the point, aud it no sooner landed than we heard the good news that the Allen-Gardiner v.v.s on the way to us, but had been detained by calms. On tho morning of the 11th the vessel was in sight, and four hours later we left Slotjett Bay, thanking God for our safety. I had been unable to persuade one ship, the / Cabo di Homos, to follow me (the officers of the Argentine Navy would not accompany me, believing that I would not return to Buenos Ayres, and it was for this reason that I bad hired the brig'i ; I had lost the other. Ought Ito defy fortune any more or fold my wings aud return home 5 A sense of duty overcomes every other desire. The little Allen-Gardiner shall cirry mo to the place still unvisited, and only when I feel sure that I have tried all possible meams of fulfilling my duty will I return to my country. I am now, therefore, waiting at Uschuvia for the return of the Allen-Gardiner, in which I shall then continue my explorations."