350 THE ISLAND OF NANTUCKET. 



aboard, and they succeeded by continual pumping in 

 working her into Boston. The steamer ' Massachu- 

 setts' and sloop ' Copy ' went out next morning, but 

 could of course find nothing of her. Empty boxes were 

 6een floating on the water, the sugar having dissolved 

 and the boxes come up to the surface. The captain 

 proceeded to Boston to report the loss of the vessel, 

 but was astonished to find her tied up alongside of the 

 wharf, all right." 



Room only for one more anecdote can be given, and 

 that from the pen of the one most directly interested 

 in the sad catastrophe. 



In a communication to the compiler from Capt. 

 John Niven of Thorntown, Ind., he says: — 



I have your letter containing a request that I 

 should send you an account of my shipwreck off your 

 island in 1846, and am happy in attempting to do so, 

 albeit a reminiscence of that tragic scene brings forth 

 many painful recollections ; and were it not for the many 

 very happy associations connected with it in my inter- 

 course with the islanders and their more than hospita- 

 ble treatment of myself and crew, I could almost have 

 wished to have buried it in deep oblivion with my sor- 

 row on that mournful occasion. 



Here you have my jottings from memory. You can 

 clip out, abridge, or manipulate it in any way you like, 

 except to abbreviate any of my remarks relating to 

 the kindness and whole-souled hospitality of your 

 people to my naked crew and my bewildered self. 

 Their conduct and philanthropic bearing can never 

 be forgotten, or the story too often repeated. Con- 



