SARAH W. HUNT’S CASTAWAYS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1035, 27 December 1883, Page 2

SARAH W. HUNT’S CASTAWAYS.

The Government steamer Stella arrived at Port Chalmers at an early hour yest erday morning. ,>he left V- e’lington at 1 p.m. on the 15th inst. for Campbell Island, in search of the missing craw of the Sarah W. Hunt. She arrived off the island at 10 p m. on the 20th, and at daylight on the 2lst searched round the island, and put into the north-west bay, but owing to the heavy sea a crew could not land, and she then steamed round to the north-east bay and anchored there. A complete search of the bay was made, but nothing was seen of the missing men or their boats. She then proceeded to Perseverance Harbor, and found one of the boat’s creivs, comprising the second mate and five men, named Michael Crawford, Martin Tierney, Thomas Whittle, Alexander Henderson, William Hertwig, and Emil Huber. They were all very ill and unable to stand, owing to their feet being blistered and swollen. They were taken with the whaleboat on board the Stella. After searching the island and finding no traces of the other boat’s crew, the Stella sailed for the Auckland islands, it being thought that there might be a chance of finding them there, as the crew when they left the schooner had no compass. Reached the Auckland Islands on the 23rd, and searched Camley Harbo-i and Camp Cove, and visited the storehouse, but found no traces of the missing men. Steamed to Sandy Inlet, and on landing found that the storehouse had been robbed, bit there ware no traces of any castaways. Proceeded on to Sarah’s Bosom,and found the storehouse there bad also been opened, and its contents taken Captain Gray is of opinion that both houses had been plundered by the same persons, as at Sarah’s Bosom he found the cooking pot which had been left with tbp clojfching and provisions in the storehouse at Sandy Inlet on the last visit of the Stella. After a careful and strict search had been made, and finding no traces of the other boat or crow, the Stella left for Port Chaim rs at noon on the 24th, and experienced fresh gales with fpggy weather. 'i he following statement has been made by the second mate, Michael Crawford : —On the arrival of the Sarah W. Hunt at Campbell Island, the cflief officer went op shore and broke oppn the ,chegt in the storehouse, taking out the blankets, coats, pot, axe, and two pannikins, also a bottle containing instructions for castaways. On bringing theip pn hoard the schooner the ptpward complained pf the male’s actiop, and stated that the articles hafl beep left on the island for the sole use of castaways, and therefore they ought to be t ken on shore again. The captain took the paper j

out of the bottle, and after reading the instructions ordered the things to be put down the lazaretto until the next mornin/, when he would send them on shore. This was done on November the 16th, and the captain went on shoie and wounded a seal, but did not succeed in capturing it. On the same day the mate launched a boat, and after giving chase to a seal shot it, but it sank before the boat could reach it. Early on the morning of November 27th the ciptain ordered the two boats to be got reany. This was done, clubs,skinning knives, and steel for killing seals being placed in each boat, together with biscuits and a gallon of water. At 5 a. in. the captain ordered the two boats’ crews to go and search all the creeks and bays for seats. The schooner was then lying at anchor. In an hour and a half after leaving the vessel afresh W.S. W. beeze sprang up, increasing to a heavy gale, which blew both boats off the land, they parting company at about dusk' At 6 a.m. on November 28th, it was still blowing hard, they sighted the other boat two or three miles distant, but lost sight of her two hours afterwards, and saw nothing of her or her crew from that time. For two days they could not see land, but for the next five days they were in sight of it. During this time they had had nothing to eat, except the pound and a half of bread between the six men, and for five days they had not a drop of water. On the evening of the seventh day they succeeded in making the land, entering one of the small bays on the west side, where they got water. They then attempted to reach the bay where they supposed the schooner to be lying at anchor, but they had no compass. Upon landing again they found they were too much to the southward, but owing to a heavy gale setting in they were compelled to remain there until December 4th. During the whole of this time they had no foed of any description. On the afternoon of the 4th the gale having abated they made another start and reached Perseverance Harbor, where they loft the schooner, but found her gone. In a hut they discovered provisions left there by the Government. After remaining there for ten days the schooner Kekeno, Captain Craig, arrived, having been blown in by a heavy gale of wind. Captain Craig supplied them with provisions and everything requisite. At this tints the men could not stand on their feet on account of them being so swollen. The Stella then arrived, and they were carried on board. The Kekeno intended to go as far as Maguire Island in search of the other boat’s crow. The whole of the m?n desire to express their gratitude to the Government for despatching the vessels to thei* assistance; also to" Captain Craig (of the Kekeno), Captain Gray, and the crew of the Stella for their kindness and attention.