Extraordinary Shipwreck. 459 
to the ship to be repaired. Shortly after a whale of the largest 
class struck the ship, and knocked part of the false keel off just 
abreast of the main channels. The animal then remained for 
some time along-side, endeavouring, but in vain, to clasp the 
ship with her jaws: she then returned, went round the stern, 
came on the other side, and went away a-head about a quar- 
ter of a mile, when suddenly turning, she came at the ship with 
tremendous velocity, head on. ‘The vessel was going at the rate 
of five knots ; but such was the force when she struck the ship, 
which was under the cat-head, that the vessel had stern-way at 
the rate of three or four knots ; in consequence of which, the sea 
rushed into the cabin windows, every man on deck was knocked 
down, and the bows being stove completely in, the vessel filled, 
and went on her beam ends. By cutting away the masts, the 
vessel righted ; the upper deck was then scuttled ; and some 
water and bread were procured for the two boats, in which the 
captain and crew, in expectation of falling in with some vessel, 
remained three days by the wreck, but were compelled at length 
to abandon it. On the 20th December they made Ducie’s Island 
at which place the boats remained one week ; but the island 
affording hardly any nourishment, they resolved on venturing 
for the continent, leaving behind three men. The two boats, soon 
after leaving the island, parted. One of them, containing only 
three men, was picked up by an American whaler about 60 days 
after the wreck. The other, in which the captain was, was fallen 
in with by another whaler 90 days from the time of their leaving 
the island. Only two of her crew then survived, and their account 
of their sufferings was dreadful in the extreme. From hunger, 
they had been reduced to the painful necessity of killing and de- 
vouring each other. Eight times lots had been drawn, and eight 
human beings had been sacrificed to afford sustenance to those 
that remained; and on the day the ship encountered them the 
captain and the boy had also drawn lots, and it had been thus 
determined that the poor boy should die! But providentially the 
whaler hove in sight and took them in, and they were restored to 
existence. Captain Raine of the Surrey, having learnt this me- 
lancholy tale at Valparaiso, whence he was about to sail for New 
South Wales, resolved to make Ducie’s Island on his way, to re- 
scue the three men left there, if still in existence. On nearing 
the island a gun was discharged, and shortly after the three poor 
men were seen to issue forth from the woods. The boats were 
presently lowered, and the men with considerable difficulty, owing 
to a heavy surf, were got on board. 
3M 2 SOUTH 
