Mrs. R. hears another spinechilling whaleship story

[July 1800] As Captain Nicholl was unacquainted with the navigation of these seas, he expressed a wish to keep company with the Friendship, until we came to the Cape of Good Hope in New Guinea; with which Captain R. concurred. He generally spent the day on board our ship in fine weather.

We had reason to suppose that the New Britons were cannibals, from the following circumstances. 

About a week prior to the Walker’s falling in with us, while she was off that coast, several of the canoes came from the shore; in one of which was a lad about sixteen, who was fairer than the rest. He seemed anxious to get on board the ship, but was restrained by two savages; at length they were enticed alongside, when this boy sprung up the side in the greatest agitation, and wished to run below. He spoke a language which the Walker’s company did not understand; but seeing a chart, which happened to be upon the capstan, he pointed towards Manilla and China. This convinced Captain Nicholl that the boy had been once in civilized society, and determined him to retain the youth on board, if to stay were agreeable to himself. Captain Nicholl then pointed to the canoes, which caused the poor boy to tremble all over; he then pointed down the hatchway the boy lost not a moment in descending below, where he remained until the canoes retired to the shore. 

This boy was brought on boar of us one day, when it was discovered that he understood the Malay language. Three people of that country we had on board, to whom he gave the following narrative of himself.

He said he was born on the island Mindanio; that when very little, he was sent on board a small ship with one mast, of which a China man was captain; that they went to many islands, getting things in exchange for cloth, long knives, &c. That the ship one night got on rocks, and was soon full of water; that there were three China men besides the captain; there were about fifteen persons in all on board. They left the wreck and went in the boat, and were many days in want of water; they landed at a place which he did not know, but were quickly set upon by savages. Some of his companions ran into the woods, and were murdered, and afterwards eaten by these people.  Two of the savages quarrelled about him; he thought one wanted to save, and the other intended to kill him. They struggled very much, and tore each other on the ground; many of the natives saw this, but did not meddle with them; he did not know whether one killed the other or not, for he was hurried on board a canoe, and taken to another place. 

After this he had many changes of masters, and did all they required of him. When he was asked how long it was since he fell into their hands, he could not tell; but said, he was so high, putting his hand to his breast; which made us conjecture that his captivity might begin about five years before he was taken on board the Walker. He told many strange and incredible stories, respecting his savage masters. We had no doubt of their being cannibals, for he affirmed they at times had nothing else to eat but human flesh, of which hunger made him glad to partake; which was served out in very small portions.

When the ship was first discerned from the shore, he told his masters that if they permit him to go on board, he would procured them many fine things, with which he would return. This induced them to comply with his request. In coming off in the canoe, he frequently trembled and shook very much, which was caused by the hope of escaping; they thought it was from fear, and asked him if the people on board would eat him. He said, “No, no, these people never eat man’s flesh, and that it was only cold which made him tremble.” The above heads of the boy’s account were interpreted by our Malay seamen, one of whom was very intelligent, having been brought up with a Europe-born Dutchman at Batavia.

On the 14^th June [1800, at 4° 31’ south, 152° 33’ east] we cleared St. George’s Channel, and next day passed, on our right, a large lofty island, named after Lord Sandwich [Lavongai]. We had now frequent squalls, with rain, thunder, and lightning; a calm succeeded, which made it very tedious. 

We saw some large trees floating in the water, with abundance of fish about them. One day, it being nearly calm, when Captain Nicholl was on board wit us, a very strange fish was seen from the forecastle to pass under the ship’s bottom; it was afterwards perceived astern, having a number of pilot fish about it, which readily took bait from a small hook. Three of them were caught, and put into a bucket of water, where they soon died; they were the most beautiful little fish I had ever seen at sea, being striped round with red and white, like a zebra: they measured about nine inches in length, and were delicious when cooked. 

They are said to attend only the shark; but I rather think they hover about any large floating substance, as numbers were seen about the drift wood and trees. The monster gambolling amongst them was termed the Devil Fish, by Captain Nicholl’s people; it was not afraid of the ship, and at times came very close. It appeared to me like a very large overgrown skate, being nearly square; I reckoned it might occupy a space about the size of our main hatchway; they threw the fish-gig at it, which bounded off its back, breaking two of the prongs; it never came so near afterwards, and a breeze springing up, we saw no more of it.

The whaleship's sad tale

After the playful encounter with the whaleship Walker, Mrs. Reid of the East Indiaman Friendship relates the stirring account that the captain and the surgeon brought on board.

[July 1800] Mutual civilities were then exchanged, and the captain of the Walker came on board us to supper, but quite altered in his looks since we saw him at Sydney. He was hardly able to come up the ship’s side from weakness, in consequence of a severe wound which he had received in the breast about three weeks before, in an encounter with the savages of Egmont Island where he lost three of his people, and two more who had been wounded were not expected to live. 

It appeared that after he left Port Jackson he intended to go to the northward, by the way of the Philippine Isles, and stretch over to the coast of America to look for sperm whales, but scurvy beginning to shew itself among his seamen, he was induced to call at Egmont Island, in order to procure as many cocoa-nuts, as possible; they could find no anchorage at the place where they touched, but seeing plenty of cocoa-nut trees on shore, and also a number of natives, they manned and armed one of their boats, the captain, accompanied by the chief mate, went in her, leaving the ship in charge of the doctor and a junior mate. As they came near the shore numbers of the natives beckoned to them to land. Seeing the islanders appear friendly and unarmed, the captain and a party were induced to land, leaving the boat in charge of three men, desiring them to be very civil to the natives.

The party on shore had but a few yards to walk to the coca-nut trees, but without advancing, pointed to them, shewing several trifles by way of barter; the natives then gave their visitors some nuts, but instead of offering to go up the trees for me, pointed to them, as much as to say, If you want them you may take them.

On this apparent invitation, two of the seamen ascended the trees, and soon cut down all the nuts on them. At this stage of the intercourse much muttering and signs of anger broke out amongst the natives; several, after betraying the most savage looks, suddenly disappeared. At this crisis the people were ordered down from the trees, and the whole party desired to keep close together for mutual support.  Many of the inhabitants now shewed themselves, armed with spears and bows and arrows, and it was their manifest intention to cut the strangers off from the boat. The three men stationed in the boat had the greatest difficulty in keeping her from being pulled ashore by the savages, who had taken out several things by force, and were endeavouring to seize the muskets.

The concourse of natives increased in an alarming degree. At last the party joined the boat, but a number of the natives got hold of the painter, and would have hauled her ashore had not the man in the bow cut it. At his moment a flight of arrows was discharged amongst them, which wounded two men; the party now found themselves compelled to fire upon the savages; one man they saw drop, and others appeared to be wounded. Regardless of this, a number of the natives rushed into the water after the boat, charging with their spears, one of which wounded the captain, while, from distant assailants, arrows were flying so fast and thick as to wound every man in the boat (the mate excepted). Notwithstanding this dismaying obstacle to their retreat, the party providentially effected it.

As all were engaged as getting the boat as fast as possible from the shore, but few shots were fired; the horrid yells of some hundreds of these savages when they commenced hostilities were most appalling. There were now only three men able to handle an oar, fortunately they were not followed by canoes, or they must all have been immolated, so diminished was their power of resistance. To augment their consternation, they heard a gun from the ship, which was hid from their sight by a point of land. They at first concluded she had run aground, or had been overtaken by some other great disaster. However, on doubling the point, they were relieved from these apprehensions by seeing the ship some distance from the land, but at the same time observed a number of canoes paddling very fast from her towards the shore. As soon as the captain, with his wounded companions, got alongside, and could be taken into the ship, they were informed, that shortly after they had left her to go on shore, a number of canoes approached her from the island. 

Portions of the crews paddling there, are some persuasion, came alongside, and subsequently on board, to the number of 18 or 20 individuals; no apprehensions were entertained respecting their intentions, until a goat was seized by a native and thrown overboard, when presently, as if a concerted signal had been given, they began throwing overboard everything they found loose about the decks, which the others, in the canoes, as readily picked up.

As the surgeon told the tale, the few Europeans on board were quite taken aback, for having seen the natives come alongside unarmed, they relied that their intentions were friendly, while they had no other disposition themselves than to cultivate an amicable correspondence in the absence of the captain. But now, in the midst of this return for courtesy, forbearance on our parts was out of the question; commencing reluctant war, the seamen thumped the trespassers with broomsticks, and anything they could get hold of, but nothing proved so effectual as the cook’s scalding water, which he dealt out on their naked skins with such good effect, as made them jump directly overboard. They appeared quite at home in the water, and soon reached their boats; they were most anxious after live stock; the few fowls and ducks within the coops had stood a poor chance, if the plunderers had known how to get them out readily.

The surgeon observed that the most formidable quadruped which the savages had encountered on board, was a large Tom-cat, which was sitting quietly as usual near the main hatch; when Tom found himself seized by one of the natives in such a rough manner, he applied his weapons of defence so well, that the blood streamed from the arms of his assailer, who quitted his hold, glad to let his intended prize escape.  Those in the ship then fired a gun, as well to intimidate the natives in the canoes, as to give a signal to the captain on shore. It was thought that the arrows were poisoned, as the three poor fellows who died suffered great agonies. The foregoing is founded on the reports of Capt. Nicholl and his surgeon of this distressing affair.

The Walker was thus rendered short of hands; two of ours volunteered to join her crew, which they were permitted to do, as we had more men on board then our complement. 

Pirates attack luxury cruise liner

This must be the joke of the week!  The incident described below apparently happened nine years ago, and was reported as follows, almost word-for-word.  Someone in the news bureau hit the wrong button. The Seabourn Spirit is currently safely at anchor in the British Virgin Islands.

With thanks to Richard Spilman for pointing this out.


Somalia: Pirates Attack Luxury Cruise Liner At Sea

1 MARCH 2014

British passengers aboard a luxury cruise liner are recovering after the ship was attacked off the coast of Africa by pirates firing a rocket propelled grenade and machine guns.

The Bahamas-registered Seabourn Spirit was 100 miles off the coast of Somalia when the attack took place.

Terrified passengers were woken by the sound of gunfire as two 25 foot rigid inflatable boats came up to the liner and started shooting as their occupants tried to get on aboard.

There were 18 British passengers on board, but all were reported to be safe after the incident.

The ship was carrying 302 passengers and crew, but there was only one casualty - a crew member suffered minor injuries from flying debris. It is not believed that the bazooka fire struck the ship, but it was hit by small arms fire. The vessel escaped with only minor damage.

The crew used an on-board loud acoustic bang to repel the attackers who finally sped off without managing to board the liner. They did not return fire at the pirates.

The drama happened in an area notorious for pirate activity, leading to warnings to stay away from the coast where bandits board ships and demand ransoms.

David Dingle, a spokesman for the Miami-based company Seabourn Cruises, owned by US cruise giant Carnival, said Britons were aboard but he could not confirm the number.

He said the ship was en route to Mombasa in Kenya on a 16-day cruise out of Alexandria in Egypt.

The 10,000-ton liner offers the height of luxury, with huge suites, marble bathrooms and more than one crew member to each passenger on board. Most of the passengers are believed to be American.

"The ship's crew immediately initiated a trained response and as a result of protective and evasive measures taken the occupants of the small craft were unable to gain access to the ship," Mr Dingle said.  And all the passengers remained calm.

Amazon drops audio royalty rate

From Digital Book World

In a blog post yesterday, Amazon's Audible audiobooks service announced that it was lowering the royalty rates it paid content creators.

It's not the first time that Amazon has lowered the amount of money it pays authors and publishers for the audiobooks they sell through its platform and, GigaOm news editor Laura Owen points out, it's a reminder that Amazon could always change its royalties for Kindle ebooks.

"That would be a much more visible move than the changes to ACX, which the company surely realizes. But the changes at ACX shows that good introductory deals don't always last," she writes.

True, and as competition from Nook fades, it would be much easier to do with indie authors having nearly nowhere else to go.

That said, Amazon has not indicated that it plans to change its royalty structure. (GigaOm.)

Captain R. plays a trick on Captain Nicholls of the whaleship Walker

On the 10^th June [1800] our track was to the left of several small islands; Next morning we saw Cape St. George, the south-eastern extremity of New Ireland; we kept the coast on our right, at the distance of three or four miles: every part appeared to be covered with trees, of several species, some of which were tall and stately, particularly on the ridges of hill seated inland. The shore, on many points, was seen to be rocky. No natives were observed here—about noon we descried Cape Orford, the eastern extremity of New Britain. From this to Cape St. George, the distance was supposed to be about forty miles, both being seen at the same time, forming the entrance to St. George’s Channel, up which we proceeded, having the land on both sides of us, giving to the entrance of the strait the appearance of a large river. The weather was fine; we had a delightful view of both shore, with their fertile valleys, and gracefully sloping uplands, where, possible in after ages, when the tenants of this wild shall become civilized the plough may prepare yellow trophies for the sickle, and bleating flocks and lowing herds diversify the landscape with symbols of cultivation and weather, as in the beautiful hills and dales of Old Britain and Ireland.

As we approached the coast of New Britain, we saw several boats, but none approached near the ship until the evening, when a canoe, having an out-rigger, and eleven people on board, came within about a cable’s length of us, where they lay gazing at the ship for some time; handkerchiefs were held up to draw them alongside, of which they took no notice. One of the men who stood up in the canoe, appeared tall, well made, and of a dark complexion. We for some time had thought that they had red and white turbans on their heads; but at length discovered that their hair, which was woolly and frizzled, was covered with a sort of red powder like ochre on one side, and with a kind of lime or chalk on the other; other individuals were seen with the hair all red, and others with it all white. Nothing could entice them alongside. The canoe could paddle very fast; we did not suppose that any of our boats could overtake it if a trial had been made. As it drew near dark, they paddled round the ship very briskly, until coming to their first station, between the ship and the land, they stopped and blew something like smoke or dust from their hand left to the mouth, and let fly some arrows at the ship (which did not reach us) and quickly retired towards the shore. The audacity of their New Britons could easily have been checked by firing a shot over them; but the captain did not wish to intimidate them from again approaching a ship; and preferred a course of lenity to resentment for acts indicating their disposition to be hostile.

We made little progress in the night, having light winds; meanwhile we descried several fires in New Britain, but none in New Ireland, and concluded that the latter was but thinly inhabited. Next morning we saw the Duke of York’s Island, lying nearly in the middle of the channel, which we thought should have been called the New Isle of Man, in correspondence with its relative situation. On the land of New Britain we noticed three remarkable hills, which have the shape of sugar loaves; one of which was much loftier than the other two; they had hence been called the Mother and her Daughters by Captain Carteret. They look as if they had been thrown up by a volcano, and we had no doubt but it had been so, for a little farther inland we observed smoke continually issuing from a hill which nearly resembles the cones just mentioned; several patches appeared like land under cultivation.

As we proceeded, a number of canoes was observed, coming from the Duke of York’s Island. They came boldly on to the ship, singing, and playing upon an instrument of hollow reeds in the form of the Pandean pipes. They held out bunches of plantains and cocoa nuts. Many articles were exhibited to them for barter, but nothing pleased them so much as red and white cloth. The captain cautioned our people to barter fairly, and to take nothing without making a return. There were at one time upwards of 30 canoes about the ship. The seamen having got a plentiful supply of plantains and cocoa nuts, had finished bartering, when the captain shewed some narrow red and white buntin, with some of my old ribbons, at sight of which, all the natives in the different canoes appeared most anxious to possess these treasures, pointing to the shore, and by signs intimating a wish for us to stop until they returned with a fresh supply of fruit and other native produce.

Their boats glided to the land, and so anxious were the companies of natives to possess he pieces of buntin, they they were quarrelling as to which of them threw fruit, yams, &c. into the ports. However, all got some of our rags in exchange for a plentiful supply of yams, &c. They were satisfied, and so were we. They took old knives and pieces of iron hoops in exchange, but did not set any value upon them. Glaring colours of red and white cloth attracted them most, there were from five to twelve men in the different sized boats; they had spears, bows, and arrows with them, but appeared to have such confidence in us, that we conceived they were placed in their boats more in readiness to repel an attack from their hostile neighbours, than from any apprehension from us.

As there was a fine commanding breeze, the ship drifted slowly between the satellite isle of New Man and the Island of New Britain. Perhaps the Phoenicians, when they first discovered Britain, and had intercourse with our rudely painted forefathers, might think of the latter with mingled commiseration, contempt, and dawning hope, as we did of these poor savage people. The captain wishing to get clear of the channel before dark, made sail from the lessening coast of these fair dealing men. In passing the opposite territory of New Britain, we saw Port Hunter, where the Waaksemheyd had watered. Several openings led us to suppose, that where New Britain is placed there were more islands than one, particularly as some canoes went in at one opening and came out at another. We observed a number of people on a projecting point of land, holding up bunches of plantains, cocoa-nuts, and yams, but we, having a sufficiency, did not bring to; at the same time a number of canoes were following the ship from different parts. As we proceeded we still perceived patches in the ravines that appeared under cultivation.

Just as we cleared the Duke of York’s Island, we were surprised to see a ship following us. We were nearly becalmed, but she having a fine breeze came near enough before dark for us to discover that it was the Walker south seaman, which sailed from Port Jackson about three weeks before us. They could not see our colours, the ship’s head being towards them. As it was quickly dark, it was thought we should have no communication until morning; however, about eight in the evening, we heard the boats’ oars towing their ship towards us, and presently voices of individuals in their crews conversing, the night being still—at length the captain of the Walker hailed us, saying, “What ship is that pray?” by which we knew that they did not know us.

“L’Amitié,” was answered. “From whence come you?” was the next question. Hollandez nuova was replied.  

“Who commands that ship,” was then demanded. “Capitaine Le Rouge.”

We then plainly overheard them, conversing together, say we were either French or Dutch.  However, not to keep them longer in suspense, our captain called aloud in English, “How do you do, Capt. Nicholl?” their commander returned, “Who is that?”

“Don’t you know the Friendship, Reid?” was rejoined. 

Mrs. R. in the Solomon Islands

In which the Friendship has more native encounters, and Mrs. R. suffers a sad loss

[June 1800] Prior to leaving Port Jackson, Governor Hunter requested my husband, if he passed near Stewart’s Islands, to ascertain whether they were inhabited, saying that he was at too great a distance when he first discovered and named them in 1791 to make any observation; hence, as they lay in the ship’s track, they were looked out for. 

On Thursday, the 5^th of June, we saw and approached them; they appeared to be a small cluster of low islands. Three were counted from the deck, and five from the mast-head. We observed one more elevated than the rest, which was named Mount Hunter, in honour of the first discoverer.

We saw much smoke from different parts, and several canoes passing from one isle to another; about noon a number of canoes came toward the ship, each carrying from five to eight persons; these were unarmed, and came close to the ship, staring at the masts and hull, with the greatest surprise and wonder. They appeared small muscular men, of sun-burnt complexion, having some sort of cloth round their waist; their hair was tied in a bunch behind. Signs were made to draw them close alongside, and little articles held out for them to accept; but for a considerable time they took no notice of these overtures; at length, a tall, fine looking old man, with a white beard, stood up in one of the canoes, and began talking very loud, often bending his body as if in the act of lifting something up; at the same time pointing to the shore, inviting us, as we thought, to land.

When he had done, some light things were dropped by the fishing-lines astern, which one canoe ventured to take; after which, several boats came round, to observe what was received. Presently a boat with five men paddled up to the main channel, and threw in two cocoa-nuts, and then paddled hastily away. At this stage, an accident happened, which put a stop to all farther intercourse. A canoe had hold of the line, to take something off, which the hook caught in the hand of the man who held the line; with a horrid yell he tore the hook out of the flesh, and all instantly quitted us; after which, no overture could induce them again to come near.

Their canoes appeared about twenty-five feet long, with out riggers fixed to one side to balance them. Many natives were seen on shore. We were very sorry that they had left us with bad impression, as we thought them to be a friendly good people. No doubt, were a communication established, ships might find many refreshments here, as abundance of coco-nut trees were seen from the Friendship. These island lie in latitude 8° 12’ south, and longitude about 163° east.

Next morning we saw Solomon’s Island on our left. We soon after passed between that and Gower’s Island, so named by Capt. Carteret. Gower’s Island appeared small, and we soon lost sight of it, but Solomon’s Island is of great extent, as we had it in view for three days, in which time the ship ran upwards of three hundred miles to the north-west; however there might be more islands than one, as several extensive openings were seen.

On the 9^th of June, we described the straits of Bouganville on our left, but entered a new passage between Anson’s and Bouganville Islands, which was found safe. While we were proceeding toward St. George’s Channel, so named by Capt. Carteret, who first sailed through it in 1767, six canoes came from Bougainville Island towards the ship, with about eight or ten men in each; they came alongside with confidence, and appeared to know something of traffic; readily exchanging bows, arrows, and spears, shells, necklaces, and ornaments from their arms and legs, for handkerchiefs, empty bottles, &c.

The Bouganville Islanders are small in stature, very dark, with frizzled hair. We observed a number of people on shore. While all the ship’s crew were busy in traffic at the gangway, the steward being in the cabin, heard a noise at the rudder-chains, and looking out, saw a native very busy, taking the fore-cock from the shackle; he had swam from one of the canoes, and would not desist when called to. The steward had a kettle of boiling water in the cabin, which he took to the window, and with it threatened the fellow, who would not understand him; however, a little of the scalding water very soon made him desist, for he instantly jumped into the water, and kept at a respectful distance, swimming about until taken into a canoe.

After laying to for about an hour, the ship stood on her course. No persuasion could induce any of these natives to enter the ship, although a number of boats were still coming off, and followed us until we came near Anson’s Island, when they all returned. We saw many natives, in groups, upon Anson’s Island; but no boats came off from it; we supposed that they were not upon good terms with their neighbours. We found the weather vey hot, but all the crew were in the best health; no doubt the fresh meals which the ship’s stores furnished them, and plenty of water, great contributed thereto. This day my poor kangaroo fell down the hatchway and broke its back; I had hoped to take it safe to England. Its innocent pranks, playing about the cabin and steerage, were often a source of amusement to the officers, who felt its loss as much as I did.

Rose de Freycinet crosses the line

In September 1817 twenty-two-year-old Rose de Freycinet dressed in men's clothes to stow away on the corvette Uranie to sail with her beloved husband, Captain Louis-Claude de Freycinet, on a discovery expedition to the Pacific.  Her journal, translated and edited by Marc Serge Rivière, was published in 1996.  This is her story of crossing the line.

On 19 November [1817], we crossed the equator. As a large number of men were doing so for the first time, the crew proceeded to organise the traditional ceremony.

To begin the ceremony, the previous evening, a postilion sent by the King of the Line climbed down from the top mast. The messenger's arrival was heralded by thunder, hail and heavy rain. The hail resembled the manna which met our forefathers in the desert; we could have eaten it, as it was nothing more than dried turkey corn. The thunder was in fact the sound of drums and the rain was seawater.

That envoy brought a letter from the King of the Line which stated that the Uranie would not be allowed to pursue its journey if all those not yet baptised did not undergo the ceremony. Louis replied gravely that he would give the necessary orders for His Majesty to be received the next day. At 10 a.m., the King of the Line appeared, accompanied by his consort and his daughter. The two ugliest men among the crew had, on purpose I think, been chosen to play those parts; they were simply hideous. The King was preceded by six sappers and was followed by his chaplain, his attendant and a few other characters. Lucifer, surrounded by eight or ten small devils, brought up the rear; he was dressed in a dark skin with an iron hook on his shoulder. the small devils were completely naked, some wore red paint and others black, while others had rubbed a glue-like substance on their bodies and plastered themselves with chicken feathers.

As soon as the King had sat down, he sent his sappers to cut down the Uranie's rigging, but Louis, crossing the palm of one of the attendants with a few silver coins, begged the King to spare his vessel. The sappers were then recalled and the congregation proceeded to the baptism of the infidels.

Thanks to the payment of a few Napoléons, I was let off during the ceremony.  Almost all the crew had crossed the line already, and only a few officers had to pay their dues as I did. As for those who were unable to exempt themselves or who were less generous, the King of the Line ordered their faces to be daubed with paint; then the poor wretches were seated on a mobile seat and ducked into a tub of water, while at the same time a bucket of water was emptied on their heads. As for those who refused to undergo the ceremony, they were brought back forcibly and soaked according to the degree of resistance which they had offered.

This ceremony lasted all morning. The King and his retinue, having gone round the ship twice, went off to drink the double rations which Louis had granted them.

We dined that night in the officers' mess. They gave us a splendid meal and a very pleasant one, after which I watched the crew dance in masks and behave in an extravagant manner.

Uncovering graveyards

Forgotten memories of Staten Island

This gorgeous photograph illustrates a NYT story by Edna Ishayik, about a woman whose dedication has restored the cemeteries of Staten Island to history.

Back in 1998, Lynn Rogers set out to find her grandparents' and great-grandparents' graves, and discovered a disgusting dump.  Horrified, she started clearing the site herself, and since then has raised money and received lots of help.  Now she is the caretaker of eleven cemeteries on Staten Island that had fallen into ruin.

As Edna Ishayik says, though Lynn Rogers is proud of her work, she is not concerned that she will receive no praise from those whose stories she has unveiled. After all, they are all dead.

And what stories they are! There are veterans of the Civil War who fought in Scottish regiments, in kilts, and Irishmen and women who had fled the potato famine. And, of course, there are bound to be seafarers, too.

With thanks to Jacqueline Church Simonds

Native attack! The Friendship's boat in trouble

In the afternoon [May 29, 1800] we passed two small low islands on our right, named the Brothers; also on on our left, covered with cocoanut trees. It was not thought probable that any inhabitants would be found on such a small spot, apparently not exceeding three miles in extent; but advertising to the possibility that there might be some, a boat was sent ashore to procure some cocoa-nuts, with strict orders that, if any natives were seen, not to land, but to return directly to the ship, which lay-to about a mile off.  

When the boat drew near the shore, we observed a number of natives amongst the trees skirting a part of the island, hidden from the sight of our people in the boat. We counted upwards of 30 of these naked savages; they were all armed with long spears, and what we took for bows and arrows. They frequently ran out of sight among the trees, and came to view again in a cunning manner. 

The captain now was very apprehensive that we should lose some of our men; the only signal agreed upon for ordering their prompt return to the ship was hoisting our ensign, and at that time the ship’s situation prevented them from seeing it. We observed the boat to lie a-back of the surf, and naturally concluded that they had seen the natives, and of course would not land. We saw one of the islanders separate from the rest and approach the boat; we was unarmed, but had something in his hand which he held up, beckoning our people to the land; he then put down what he held in his hand, and retired amongst the trees, where we saw him join the others, who were still in ambush concealed from the boat’s crew. Then two natives likewise unarmed approached the boat with some cocoa-nuts, which they held up; on this the boat appeared to pull up towards them. We were all very uneasy at observing this, as our party could not see the signal commanding their return. 

Presently all the savages left their ambush, and ran towards the boat. Luckily a gun had been got ready, and was now fired; the report of which drew the attention of the natives to the ship, which it gave notice to our people, who fortunately had not landed. The firing, however, did not intimidate the savages, for they came close to the surf, brandishing their spears, and discharged their arrows at the boat, which happily did no mischief; whereupon, to let them know our superiority, a gun was shotted and fired amongst the trees over their heads. As soon as this was done, they turned suddenly round to look at the trees, amongst which the shot had done some execution, and instantly retired from the beach. 

When the boat returned, Mr. Henderson, who went in command of her, said, the natives appeared black and small in stature, having woolly heads like Africans; that they did not see more than two natives until the gun was fired, then, he said, they were seen coming from amongst the bushes, making a wild noise, and letting fly arrows at the boat. One man among them was painted red, as if by ochre. Thus ended our transient intercourse with these perfidious people; and happy were all that no disaster had occurred. From the hostility of the inhabitants, and some coral rocks in the 

vicinity, this was named Danger Island.

Having but little wind, our progress was slow; we were still in sight of the volcano. Saw to the south of us this afternoon Swallow Island, named by Capt. Carteret, who sailed in those seas in the year 1767; it appeared pretty high land, but too distant for accurate observation. Capt. Carteret found much hostility from the natives about these parts. 

The weather now was very hot and sultry; the mercury sometimes standing as high as ninety degrees. We had much thunder, lightning, and rain; and several water-spouts passed near the ship. To us this phenomenon had the appearance of a long narrow smoky pillar let down from the clouds to the surface of the water, creating a white foam where the suction takes place, whirling round in a furious manner, but the vortex thus formed seems but a few yards in extent. Even to be involved in this is reckoned fatal to boats and small vessels; and the discharge of the column of water very dangerous to large ships, should it break upon their decks. The water first ascends to fill the cylinder. If a gun be fired near a water-spout, the vacuum caused by the explosion with disperse it. Several of our guns were made ready for this service, but were not needed.

Volcano! Exciting times for the Friendship

For several days in succession [after leaving Norfolk Island], we were favoured with the finest weather. 

On the morning of the 24^th of May [1800], the boy at the mast-head called out, “Land a-head!” It proved to be a small elevated rock, with a few stunted trees; many tropical birds were about it. As it was not marked in any of our charts, the captain called it Ephraims’ Island, after the boy who first saw it. To encourage vigilance, it was a standing rule on board, that the first discoverer of any new island, rock, or shoal, should have his name given to it. The latitude of this rock was found to be, 22° 40’ south, and longitude 172° 30’ east. We were now but a short distance from the Friendly and Feju Islands, so celebrated in Capt. Cook’s Voyages.

Next day the officers had good sights of the distance of the sun and moon, which made our longitude, at 12 o’clock …. 173° 54’ east

Adding the longitude of Dublin …….}                                                    6          6 west

Shews we are at the present moment …….}                                            180      0

the antipodes of that city

Several jokes were interchanged about this circumstance. The carpenter, who was from the metropolis of Ireland, doing some little jobs upon the quarter deck, having listened to the conversation, quickly asked, “Where did they say Dublin was?” 

He was told, in reply, “Directly under the ship’s bottom.” 

Then said he, “I will send a token to my old sister,” and fetching up a curious marked sixpence, he threw it over the side of the ship, exclaiming, “If old Judith sees this, she will know that Pat is not far off!” 

He was then apprised, that, although it was just noon with us, it was at the same instant exactly 12 o’clock at night in Dublin. He answered, “It matters not, for the sixpence, when it falls, will jingle upon the stones, and as the lamps shew a good light in Dublin, they can see to pick it up.” 

We were amused by his apparent simplicity, while we gave him credit for knowing better.

Soon after this we came in sight of the island, called the Hebrides, in the vicinity of New Caledonia.  In passing Annotam, Enomango, and Aurora, we saw much smoke from fires; but had no intercourse with the inhabitants of those islands, the weather being very bad, with heavy squalls of wind and rain. 

Advancing on our passage to the 11^th degree of south latitude, my husband was anxious to observe an island before dark, which had been discovered upon his former voyage in the Cornwallis, and named after that ship; but the exact situation could not then be ascertained. From the distance the ship had gone, it was supposed we had passed it soon after sun-set. The wind being fierce, the sea rough, and the night intensely dark, the ship was reduced under a low sail, and a good look-out kept, to give, if possible, timely notice of danger. 

The navigation of this unknown sea was so uncertain, that the ship proceeded only when it cleared up a little; as often as the squalls were seen coming, she was hove-to. This was alternately done through the slow hours of this trying night.

About four o’clock in the morning, just as an obscure squall cleared away, rocks and breakers were discovered close under the lee of the ship.  All now was consternation; but, by the kind interposition of Providence, we were, at a moment of apparent destruction, preserved from collision with the rock. My husband is naturally gifted with presence of mind and coolness in the hour of danger. In this critical situation the helm and sails were properly managed, and, by the Almighty’s goodness, we were saved from shipwreck. 

I never can forget that night, when, looking out of the quarter gallery, I saw the furious waves dashing against the rocks with an awful noise, making all white with foam. The ship appeared to be nearly amongst the breakers; my feelings at the moment cannot be described. Meanwhile a great clamour and bustle continued upon deck; but as I saw the vessel gradually leave the white water at a distance, my mind felt a great relief, and my melting heart was impressed with gratitude to God for our preservation. 

When daylight appeared, it was discovered that this was a dangerous reef of rocks lying off the same island which they had been looking out for during the night. The captain had every confidence in the mates; they were steady, sober, and good seamen; but as neither of them had been the voyage before, his anxiety was doubled whenever the ship was by contrary winds and counter currents driven out of the known track.

This afternoon we passed the island Edgecombe, about four leagues on our right; and saw, on the left, another large mountainous island, called Egmont or St. Cruz.

Continuing our course, about two in the morning, the mate of the watch reported that he saw, at a great distance, indications of an explosion, the same as if a ship had been blown up with gunpowder. As there are some low small islands in this track, the captain judged it proper to lay the ship to until day-light. 

On changing watch, at four in the morning, another vast illumination took place, a great distance to the west of us, tingeing the clouds in that quarter. It was not known what could cause these phenomina, until the captain, in looking over his old journal, observed there was an island called the Volcano, which he formerly passed without seeing any smoke or signs of eruption. He now conjectured that the subterranean fire had again burst out. 

At day-light the black dense smoke was seen towering on high from the top of the island; as we approached all eyes were employed in observing this wonder in nature. The wind being light and favourable, it was decided that we should pass near it; and accordingly, at 10 at night, the ship, by computation, was about one league distant. 

Explosions took place as we approached, with discharges of burning fragments into the air. The last eruption was followed by a longer interval than usual, and vivid admiration had began to be succeeded by a feeling of tranquillity, when, about 11 o’clock, the greatest horror and consternation seized every person on board. On a sudden the vessel laboured as if she had been amongst surf created by rocks, shaking in every part; and almost at the same instant, a tremendous eruption, accompanied with a correspondent noise, filled the air with fire, which cast such a light around, that all, looking to the moment when the ascending combustibles must fall, conceived our destruction was at hand. Most providentially for us, the wind blew the fiery fragments in the opposite direction; had it been otherwise, our vessel might have been consumed.

After this awful explosion, the streams of liquid fire descended the sides of the hill, and as they came in contact with the water, produced a hissing noise and a dense smoke, which curled from the bottom of the mountain. When our consternation had ceased, no time was lost in getting away from this scene of horror. The past had such an effect on all on board, as to banish sleep from every eye; the seamen stood continually gazing at the scene, when not called off to their duty. By two in the morning we were at a respectful distance. 

Meanwhile many small eruptions intervened. None occurred comparably to that which we had witnessed when nearest, until four in the morning, when another great explosion appeared, if possible, more terrible. The ship shook all over in the most violent manner, as if the land at the bottom of the ocean had been heaved by an earthquake; then followed the tremendous explosion, with the rush of liquid flames down the sides of the mountain as before. But our senses were now more collected, and being four leagues off, time and space allowed us to observe it.

At day-light  we had still the island Egmont in sight. As the volcanic isle lies only about 10 or 12 leagues to the north of the above, in latitude 10 degrees south, and 166 degrees east longitude, it was supposed that it could not be above 10 or 12 miles in circumference; but from the great quantities of lava thrown out, it may be expected to increase in size. It appeared broad at the base, tapering upward like an inverted funnel, ragged at the top or edge of the crater.