TALE OF SHIPWRECK.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 272, 4 May 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

TALE OF SHIPWRECK.

ON WORLD'S LONELIEST ISLANDS

To the Editor of the New York Times,

Reading with interest in your paper from time t-o time articles and letters about the lonely island of Tristan da Cunha and its still more lonely and desolate neightbour. Inaccessible, I am giving you herewith a brief summary taken from the true narrative written by my grandfather, Alexander M. Greig "(founder of Greig's Penny Post in New York) of his shipwreck and adventures on Inaccessible, and of his stay with the original Governor Glass, formerly a corporal in the British Army, on Tristan da Cunha, after ho and "his companions had managed after great suffering to get across to that island. The full account of this shipwreck, entitled ''The Fate of tlio Wendon Hall," was published in New York in 1847, twenty-nix years after its occurrence. The original manuscript was written on Inacessible in the blood of the penguin, the only substitute for ink available, and written on the margin of old newspapers washed ashore from the wreck. It may interest some of vour readers, and, if so, I shall bo most pleased. The Clendon Ilall, East Indiaman, in command of Alexander Greig, tho father of the author of the narrative, sailed from London in May, 1821. Ixmnd for Bombay. All went well until the Tristan de Cunha group of islands was sighted, July 215, in latitude 37 29 south, longitude 11 4j west, when, on venturing too close to Inaccessible for the purpose of taking an observation. the ship's rudder became fouled in seaweed, and the ship became helpless. All efforts to bring her head round to tho wind proving of no avail, and with the sea running mountains high, she was rapidly driven toward th-a breakers . At last she struck with tremendous violence and the seas dashed over her, tearing her apart piece by piece, until only a fragment remained fixed on the rock on which the ship's company and passengers, men, women and little children, huddled. All seemed over for these miserabe people, when a wave much larger than its fellows lifted the mass of wreckage with its human freight and carried it so far up on the rocky shore that all wcro saved. Saved from drowning, but for what? Thrown bruised and bleeding on the bare rocks, without shelter from the storm and with night at hand, it seemed only a postponement of tlicit cruel fate, "the women and childien especially being objects of deepest pity. For four months these unfortunates dragged out a miserable existence, their only food at first being pieces of raw pork that washed ashore from tho wreck, and the flesh of birds eaten raw. Later a case of surgical instruments (which I now have) came ashore, in which was flint and steel, enabling them to cook their food, such as it was. Penguins' eggs were found after a tima in great abundance, and these really became the means of preserving their lives. At length, after many trials and disappointments, tlue ship's carpenter succeeded in patching up an old boat and in it reached Tristan da Cunha, November 11. He returned with the Governor of that island, William Glass, and two large boats, in which all tho shipwrecked party was rescued. Tho news of the world the Governor was able to give them, having heard lately from a passing ship that Napoleon Bonaparte had died a few months before and also Queen Caroline of England. fn 1816 a company of artillery was quartered there in command of Captain Cloete. but was withdrawn two years later. Corporal Glass was permitted to remain, and with the shipwrecked sailors and some deserters from vessels, made up the population. They got their living by killing sea elephants and fur seals, making oil from the former and preserving the skins of tho latter, which they bartered with ships for such articles as they needed. They lived in jierfect harmony with each other unless they got hold of liquor, in which case there was riot and confusion at once. For two months the party stayed with the worthy Governor, and were treated with every kindness and consideration. Oil leaving, the Captain insisted on compensating him to some extent and drew on Messrs. Houghton and Co. of Cape Town for a proper amount. 1 have these old drafts now, dated Tristan da Cunha, January 8, 7822, and endorsed on the back. " Received payment, William Glass." '1 ho entire party sailed on that day in the brig Nerinae, and arrived safety at Capo Town January 21. An account of the wreck appears in tho Asiaic Journal of August, 1822, written by ono «f the passengers, and of which 1 have a copy now. ALEX. AY EKS.