Early Ships At Pitcairn
p. 32 · Read in the full issue
Island
HERE is some interesting hisory from
the Central Pacific, kindly supplied
by Mrs. Ada M. Christian, of Pit cairn Island. It is a list, copied from the ancient record kept by John Buffett, of al 1 the British ships that called at Pit cairn Island, from the time that the descendants of the “Bounty" mutineers were found, until 1853, when the island’s
present Registrar was established.
Some well-known names, and some famous voyages are noted in this list.
Ship’s Commander’s name. name. 1814—H.M.S. “Briton” Capt. Staines.
H.M.S. “Tagus” Capt. Pipon. 1825 —Dec. 5: “Blossom” ... Capt. W. P. Beechy. 1830 —March 15; “Seringapatam”, W. Waldegrave. 1831—Feb. 28: “Comet” ... Alex. A. Sandilands. 1833—Jan. 10: “Challenger” .. Capt. Preemantle. 1837 —Jan. 11: “Actean” Lord Russell.
Dec. 8: “Imogene” H. H. Bruce. 1838—Nov. 20: “Fly” Russel Elliot. 1839—Nov. 9': “Sparrowhawk” ... J. Shepherd. 1841—Aug. 18: “Curacoa” Jenken Jones. 1843 —Mar. 5: “Talbot” .. Sir Thomas Thompson. 1844—July 28: “Basilisk” H. Hunt. 1849—July 11: “Pandora” J. Wood.
Aug. 11; “Daphne” E, G. Fanshawe. 1852—Jan. 29: “Daedalus” Geo. Wellesley.
Aug. 18: “Portland” H. Chads.
Nov. 17: “Cockatrile” W. W. Dillon. 1853 —Jan. 24: “Virago” Jas. Prevost.
The first steamboat to come to Pitcairn. In firing a salute to the “Virago” from the “Bounty’s” gun, as she was leaving, an ex posion occurred which shattered Matthew McCoy’s right arm. The accident was witnessed from the “Virago”, and a boat with the doctor and assistants was sent on shore. The arm was amputated in the hope of saving his life, but during the night (Jan. 27) he died. 1853—May 15: “Portland”, Flagship of Rear Admiral Fairfax Moresby.—H. Chads.