WRECK OF THE "GEM.”

Samoan Reporter, Issue 9, 1 March 1849, Page 4

WRECK OF THE "GEM.”

Capt. James M. Worth, of the whaling barque 44 Gem,” of Sag Harbour, has just handed us the following sad account of the loss of his vessel and valuable cargo in January last:— “ The ‘ Gem ’ was bound from the Sandwich Islands to the United States of America, and was wrecked on the night of the 23rd of January last. She struck, about eleven o’clock at night, on a sunken reef, which extends around Suwarrow’s Island. My mate being unwell, I took the first watch myself. My longitude being correct, I placed the ship eighty-five miles to the east of Suwarrow’s Island, on the chart. Just before she struck, I went into the bow, and told the man on the look-out to look sharp, and looked ahead myself, but saw nothing. I walked aft, and jumped into a boat, where a boat-steerer was looking out, and saw a white streak nearly under the bow of the ship. I said, 4 What is that ?’ and she struck with a terrible crash. She was going at the rate of six and a half knots; but carried away nothing except the fore-topsail sheets. She struck again, and rolled the lee rail nearly under water. I ordered them to haul up the mainsail, and let go the maintop-gallant halyards. I could see no land, and the ship was labouring hard. I then got the

men to clear away the larboard-quarter boat, and told my mate to save her, if he could. I then ran to another boat, and, with the assistance of my second mate and boat-steerer, got her clear, and jumped into her. I called several by name to get into the boat with me, but they refused ; and, fortunately, we got clear of the wreck. The mate called to me and said, his boat was stove ; hut, shortly after, the ship’s bow swung round, and left the starboard quarter clear. They then lowered her, and fourteen meh jumped into her, and got clear of the wreck. I took five into my boat, which left the mate nine and myself eight, and eight on board. About twenty-five minutes afterwards, a dark rain squall came, and I lost sight of the boat and wreck; and it was fiftysix hours before I found her again. The current being strong, took us twelve miles from the wreck, round the reef. At daylight, I could see nothing but two small islands and the reef, which we followed around for about fifty miles, and found a landing-place on the south side of the north-eastern island ; and, supposing we had been all around the reef, hauled up our boat. The next day, we searched for the wreck; but in vain; nor could we get food or water on the island. The next day, we took our boat, and followed the reef around on the inside ; and, after pulling eight miles, found th e wreck, with her masts gone, and three men on board. It was difficult to board her ; but, with assistance of ropes thrown to us, w r e succeeded. “ The men told me, that five men, the night before, had launched a boat in the breakers, and sprang into her, and the rollers took them on the reef, where they lay upon the rocks all night. They also told me, that Mr. Jennings, the mate, came to the wreck next morning after she struck, and got bread, water, nautical instruments, charts, compass, and boat-sail; and told them, he would land his party somewhere, and return to their assistance. I got bread, water, and one quadrant, and the three men, and returned to the island. “ Next morning, I went in search of the five men, and found them on a small island, and two stoved boats, which we towed to the larger island. We then got bread, water, and lumber from the wreck to repair the boats, and raise upon them. “I remained twenty-two days on the island, and then started, with three boats and sixteen men, for the Navigators’ Islands ; and arrived safe, after seven days’ passage, at the island of Upolu. “The wreck was quite hale when I left. The < Gem ’ had on board 2,230 barrels of whale oil, and 170 barrels of sperm oil, and 27,000 lbs. of bone. She was out fifteen months and twelve days. “On arriving here, I found Mr. Jennings and all who left the wreck with him ; so no one is lost. “ I found many friends at this island; and I shall ever feel grateful towards them, for their kind sympathy and hospitality. “ Very respectfully yours, “ James M. Worth.” “ Apia, Upolu, March, 1849.”