48 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP. 
II. 
Dec. 
lS2.j. 
third blow stove in the bows of the ship, and she went down in a very short time, even 
before some of the boats that were away had time to get on board. Such of the crew as were 
in the ship contrived to save themselves in the boats that were near, and were soon joined by 
their astonished shipmates, who could not account for the sudden disappearance of their 
vessel ; but found themselves unprovided with every thing necessary for a sea- voyage, and 
several thousand miles from any place whence they conld hope for relief. The boats after 
the catastrophe determined to proceed to Chili, touching at Ducie’s Island in their way. 
They steered to the southward, and after considerable sufferings landed upon an island which 
they supposed to be that above mentioned, but which was, in feet, Elizabeth Island. Not being 
able to procure any water here, they continued their voyage to the coast of Chili, where two 
boats out of the three arrived, but with only three or four persons in them. The third was 
never heard of, but it is not improbable that the wreck of a boat and four skeletons which 
were seen on Ducie’s Island by a merchant vessel were her remains and that of her erew. 
Had these unfortunate persons been aware of the situation of Pitcairn Island, which is 
only ninety miles from Elizabeth Island, and to leeward of it, all their lives would have been 
saved. 
It appears from their narrative that the island possessed no spring ; 
and that the two men procured a supply of water at a small pool which 
collected the drainings from the upper part of the island, and was 
just sufficient for their daily consumption. 
In the evening we bore away to the westward, and at one o’clock 
in the afternoon of the 4th of December we saw Pitcairn Island bearing 
S. W. by W. ^ W. at a considerable distance. 
