ACCIDENT ON THE ISLAND. 273 
About 330 vessels have touched at Pitcairn 
since 1808. 
It will be seen that the last vessel men- 
tioned on the foregoing list, is the Virago. In 
connexion with her visit to the island, it now 
becomes a painful duty to record a melancholy 
accident, which occurred at Pitcairn, towards 
the end of January last, and which must have 
spread a gloom over the small, but united 
band of friends, in whose welfare and hap- 
piness so many sympathise. The account 
cannot be given in any words so well as 
those of the Rev. W. H. Holman, their pastor, 
teacher, and medical friend, in Mr. Nobbs's 
absence. 
It was stated at page 95, that the Virago 
had left Callao for Pitcairn on an errand of 
kindness. Some of her officers and crew had 
visited the island, and were about to sail, on 
their return, when Mr. Holman wrote : 
" January 29th, 1853. 
" Captain Prevost had wished all good-bye, 
and gone on board the Virago, to start for 
Tahiti, when there occurred one of the most 
awful accidents that have ever taken place on 
