LAUNCH OF THE VESSEL. 69 



officer, Mr. Waxall, proposed that the old vessel should 

 be pulled to pieces, and a new one constructed, of a size 

 to carry them all. This plan was unanimously adopted. 

 It was now the beginning of April, a favorable time to 

 commence operations. All took their share in the work, 

 and the entire month was employed in breaking up the 

 wreck to obtain materials for the new vessel. 



Three Russian carpenters had died since their arrival 

 on the island, and there was not one left. A Cossack 

 of Siberia, named Sawa Slaradoubzov, who had worked 

 in the yard at Okhotsk, offered to construct the vessel if 

 the proportions were given to him. He succeeded in 

 laying down the new ship, a service considered of such 

 importance, as well as ingenuity, that he was rewarded, 

 on his return, by being elevated to the rank of Sinboiar- 

 skoy, the lowest degree of nobility in Russia. 



On the 6th of May they began to construct their 

 new ship. It was forty feet long by thirteen broad. 

 At the beginning of June it was ready for planking up, 

 the frame being complete. It had but one mast and 

 deck, a cabin was built on the poop, and a cooking 

 place in the forepart of the vessel ; it had four places 

 for oars on each side. Many things were still want- 

 ing, but they nevertheless proceeded to calk the planks, 

 that the ship might be got ready for sea. They took 

 care to construct a boat to accompany their vessel, capa- 

 ble of holding nine or ten persons. 



They launched their vessel on the 10th of August, 

 and called it the St. Peter, after the ship out of which 

 she had been built. The shot and iron-work of the old 

 vessel they employed for ballast in the new. The 

 weather was fortunately calm for six days, during which 

 time they got in the mast and rudder, bent the sails, and 

 took in their provisions. Their vessel drew five feet 

 water. All having embarked, they set sail on the 16th. 



