The Story of Marble Island. 119 



ever, some slight differences. There were just fourteen, the same as 

 on the monument ; but the name " Antoine " was written " F. 

 Antoino," the latter, no doubt, being correct. The name " Battisto " 

 was written " Baptiste," and that of " Hadle " " Hadley." 



Not far from this writing on the rock were the remains of a 

 hurriedly built stone hut which had no doubt been thrown up to 

 protect and shelter the unfortunate crew of the lost vessel. In this 

 hut, with such food, clothing, etc., as they had been able to save 

 from the wreck, the winter of 1872-3 was passed, or endured, by 

 such of them as survived its hardships. Fourteen of their number, 

 one after another, were carried off, victims to scurvy. It must have 

 been an awful winter ; and I can fancy that death would be little 

 else than a relief to those who became a prey to the disease. 



Following along the shores of the narrows and of the inner har- 

 bour, I came upon an old wreck lying partly out of the water. It 

 might have been the remains of the "Ansel Gibbs;" but what was 

 left of it indicated the . size of a schooner rather than that of a 

 barque, especially the dimensions of the timber ; but, notwith- 

 standing, if the "Ansel Gibbs" did not exceed three hundred tons, 

 the wreck in question might properly be said to be what in all 

 probability still remains of her. 



As for the six victims whose names are recorded on the eastern 

 side of the monument under the heading "Bark O. J.: crew," I 

 cannot separate them from the crew of the "Ansel Gibbs." The same 

 names appear, fourteen in all, both on the monument and on the 

 rock. They may have, at some previous date, belonged to a barque 

 called "O. J."; or, indeed, the "0. J." may have left part of her 

 crew to winter with the " Ansel Gibbs." It is very difficult to say. 

 One thing, however, is certain : the whole fourteen died and were 

 buried on that far-off, desolate island, and their memories share 

 alike in the one monument. 



The letter left by Capt. Fisher of the barque "George and Mary," 

 quoted above, deserves some attention. It shows, in the first place, 

 that these. American whalers are in the habit of communicating 

 with each other in this way. I take it that the "George and 

 Mary " came in last year, and possibly found, on her arrival, a letter 



