WRECK OF THE CORNWALLIS ON PITCAIRN ISLAND.
New York, April 18. Tlie ship Dauntless. Captain Wilbur, arrived today, from San Francisco. She brought Captain James Howard and crew, twenty-six in number, of the British ship Cornwallis, wrecked on Pitcairn Island. Captain Howard reports that lie sailed from San Francisco December 18th, for Liverpool. On January 23rd made the island of Pitcairn. Hove the ship to with her head oil' the shore, distant about three miles. At 3 p.m. we went ashore with jhe ship’s boat, leaving the mate in charge, with instructions not to come within three miles of the island. After being on shore some time saw the ship standing in. We prepared to go off, she having stood close in. In tacking she missed stays, and in trying to wear the ship round she went on the rocks. Within fen minutes after striking I was on board She was then filling, having a hole through forward. The wind was fresh and right on shore, so that it was impossible to get her off or save the ship. Dark coming on and a high surf running, I determined to land the crew, which, after some trouble and risk, was done. At fl p.m. I went off to the ship, which was then partly under water. The islanders, in trying to get alongside, smashed three boats to atoms. Nothing could be done to save anything. The next morning there was so mucli sea and surf that we could not launch the boats. On the morning of the 25th the surf was much higher. At about If a.m. the ship began to break up, and by night she completely disappeared, nothing being saved but a few clothes, the chronometer, and three boats. The same day the ship Dauntless hove in sight, and the islanders launched the gig and went off to her, which, having taken the boat on board, lay by for the night. The next morning, Captain Wilbur having sent a letter to me proffering to take us off the island and do the best he coidd, 1 gladly accepted the oiler, and by 4 p.m. the whole of the crew were on board. Thanking the islanders for their kindness, wo proceeded on our passage to New York. The captain published a card expressing the warmest gratitude to Captain Wilbur.
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Bibliographic details
Globe, Volume IV, Issue 321, 23 June 1875, Page 2
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390WRECK OF THE CORNWALLIS ON PITCAIRN ISLAND. Globe, Volume IV, Issue 321, 23 June 1875, Page 2
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