130 REPORT OF COMMISSIOXER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



On the 5th of October, 1835, the ship touched at Namarik Island * to recruit. 

 The natives came on board the ship, as was usually their custom, but in 

 no extraordinary numbers, and they manifested only the ordinary curi- 

 osity common to all these islanders in those days. At noon the captain, 

 mate, and second mate went down to dinner, leaving the third mate, 

 Silas Jones, in charge of the deck. Having finished, they returned, 

 and Mr. (afterward Captain) Jones went below, coming back in about 

 fifteen minutes. The ship's company at this time were scattered about 

 the vessel ; three of them were aloft on the lookout for whales, and one 

 watch was below. Just after the return of Mr. Jones to the deck the 

 attack commenced. The natives, who had, unnoticed, grouped them- 

 selves, suddenly made a rush for the whale-spades, which were in their 

 accustomed places in the ppade-rack under the spare boats. Captain 

 Coffin was the first one to fall, being beheaded with a broad-edged 

 spade, and almost simultaneously the man at the helm was killed. The 

 first mate was butchered as he leaped down the fore hatch, while the 

 second mate, who had run out on the jib-boom, was struck with some 

 missile, and, falling, was clubbed to death by the savages. In the mean 

 time the third mate had seized a spade, and alter a struggle secured it. 

 This he threw at a native, but, the wily savage dodging, it fastened 

 firml}' into the wood-work. Before Mr. Jones could loosen it, two natives 

 had hold of the pole behind him. Unable to secure it, and the inequal- 

 ity of the conflict becoming each moment greater, Mr. Jones made a run 

 for his life. At this time he was the only white man on deck abaft the 

 try-works, and so closely was he beset that he was unable to escape 

 until he reached the fore hatchway, down which he jumped. The deck 

 was now in the possession of the natives, who proceeded to fasten down 

 the hatches and close the companion-way so as to imprison the crew. 

 The leader then took the wheel and headed the ship for the shore. The 

 men who were aloft and were the horrified spectators of this butchery, 

 feeling that their only safety lay in thwarting the plans of the sav- 

 ages, went as far down the rigging as they safely could and cut the 

 braces. The yards now swinging freely the ship lost her steerage-way 

 and slowlj' drifted toward open water. 



During this time the third mate and the remaining survivors of the 

 ship's company were by no means idle. Knowing that in the cabin 

 were the ship's muskets, and realizing that it was necessary to secure 

 them before they fell into the hands of the natives, they worked their 

 way aft, and managed to gain possession of them unseen by their foe. 

 From this castle they fired upon the savages wherever a mark was 

 offered, now at the faces as they peered through the skylights, now 

 through the cabin windows at the assembling canoes. But now a new 

 idea occurred to the prisoners. By order of the third mate a keg of 

 powder was got up from the run, a quantity of it was placed on the 

 upper step of the companion-way and a train laid to the cabin. Direct- 



* Latitude 5p uoith, lon<i;itude UH'^ east. One of the Marsha] I group. 



