Chapter IV: Appendix: 121 (3)

The boat left Ocean Island November 18, 1870. The route
indicated by me to Lieutenant Talbot was to steer to the
northward "by the wind" until he got to the latitude of about 32
degrees north, and then to make his way to the eastward until he
could "lay" the Hawaiian Islands with the northeast trade winds.
He seems to have followed about that route. The boat lost her
sea anchor and oars in a gale of wind and a good deal of her
provision was spoiled by salt water. The navigation instruments,
too, were of but little use, on account of the lively motions of
the boat. When she was supposed to be in the longitude of Kauai
she was really about one and one half degrees to the westward;
thus, instead of the island of Kauai she finally sighted the
rock Kauhulaua (the southwestern point of land in the group) and
beat up from thence to the island of Kauai. She was hove off the
entrance of Hanalei Bay during part of the night of Monday,
December 19th, and in attempting to run into the Bay about 2.30
A.M. she got suddenly into the breakers (which here
made a considerable distance from the shore) and capsized.

I enclose herewith a copy of the deposition of William Halford,
coxswain, the only survivor of this gallant crew; his narrative
being the one from which all accounts are taken. I have not seen
him, personally, as he left here before my arrival.

Peter Francis, quartermaster, and John Andrews, coxswain, were
washed overboard at once and disappeared. Lieutenant Talbot was
washed off the boat, and when she capsized he clung to the
bottom and tried to climb up on it, going to the stern for that
purpose; the boat gave a plunge and Halford thinks that the
boat's gunwale or stern must have struck Mr. Talbot in the
forehead as he let go his hold and went down.

James Muir was below when the boat struck the breakers, and does
not appear to have come out of her until she had rolled over
once. He must have suffered some injury in the boat, as he
appears to have been out of his mind and his face turned black
immediately after his death. As will be seen by Halford's
statement, Muir reached shore, but died of exhaustion on the way
to the native huts.

The body of John Andrews did not come on shore until about
December 20th. All clothes had been stripped from it. The body
of Peter Francis has never been recovered.

The bodies are buried side by side at Hanalei (Kauai). The
service was read over them in a proper manner. Suitable
gravestones will be erected over them by subscription of the
officers and crew of the Saginaw.

As soon as we had gotten on Ocean Island after the Saginaw's
wreck, Lieutenant Talbot volunteered to take this boat to
Honolulu, and the rest volunteered as soon as it was known that
men might perhaps be wanted for such service.

Mr. Talbot was a very zealous and spirited officer. I had
observed his excellent qualities from the time of his joining
the Saginaw (September 23, 1870) in Honolulu. During the wreck
and afterwards he rendered me the greatest assistance and
service by his fine bearing, his cheerfulness, and devotion to
duty. His boat was evidently commanded with the greatest
intelligence, fortitude, and gallantry and with the most
admirable devotion. May the Service always be able to find such
men in the time of need.

The men were fine specimens of seamen--cool and brave, with
great endurance and excellent physical strength. They were,
undoubtedly, those best qualified in the whole party on Ocean
Island to perform such a service. Both Lieutenant Talbot and his
men had very firm confidence in their boat and looked forward
with cheerfulness to the voyage. Such men should be the pride of
the Navy, and the news of their death cast a deep gloom over the
otherwise cheerful feelings with which the Kilauea was welcomed
at Ocean Island.

I do not know that I sufficiently express my deep sense of their
devotion and gallantry; words seem to fail me in that respect.

Previous to the sailing of the boat from Ocean Island I had
enlisted John Andrews and James Muir as seamen for one month.
Since I have ascertained their fate I have ordered them to be
rated as petty officers (in ratings allowed to most of the
"fourth rates"), as I have thought that all the crew of that
boat should have stood on equal footing as regards the amount
they might be entitled to in case of disaster, as they all
incurred the same risk.

Andrews and Muir belonged to the party of Mr. G.W. Townsend
(the contractor at Midway Islands), and it was made a condition,
by them, of their enlistment that it should not interfere with
their contract with Mr. Townsend. It was intended as the
security of their families against the risk incurred while
performing the great service for the shipwrecked party. I have
forwarded their enlistment papers to the Bureau of Equipment and
Recruiting.

I am very respectfully,
Your obedient Servant,
MONTGOMERY SICARD,
Lieut. Comdr. U.S.N. Comd'g.

HON. GEORGE M. ROBESON,
Secretary of the Navy.

_In God's Country again_

_San Francisco, February 8, 1871._ After a pleasant voyage in the Moses Taylor we are again, all hands,--minus our gallant comrades,--on American soil, and the cruise of the Saginaw is officially closed. The officers have taken up quarters on shore, and the crew temporarily transferred to the U.S. Steamer Saranac for discharge or detail as their period of enlistment may require. The gig came with us and will be temporarily stored until it is decided as to her future. We have started a subscription for a suitable memorial to the gig's heroes, and the other ships of the squadron have generously offered their help. The most approved plan seems to be a marble tablet on the walls of the chapel at the Naval Academy, and the captain has made a sketch of one as it would appear there.

(_Note. November 1, 1871._ The tablet as designed has been completed and delivered at the Naval Academy. The following picture shows its appropriate character, and I deem it a fitting conclusion to my story. The gig is also to go to the Naval Academy to be deposited in the Museum.)

THE END