"
H.B.M.S. TEMPEST, which arrived yesterday at this
port, brings Captain Trent and four men of the British
brig FLYING SCUD, cast away February 12th on Midway
Island, and most providentially rescued the next day.
The FLYING SCUD was of 200 tons burthen, owned in
London, and has been out nearly two years tramping.
Captain Trent left Hong Kong December 8th, bound for
this port in rice and a small mixed cargo of silks,
teas, and China notions, the whole valued at $10,000,
fully covered by insurance. The log shows plenty of
fine weather, with light airs, calms, and squalls. In
lat. 28 N., long. 177 W., his water going rotten, and
misled by Hoyt's NORTH PACIFIC DIRECTORY, which
informed him there was a coaling station on the island,
Captain Trent put in to Midway Island. He found it a
literal sandbank, surrounded by a coral reef, mostly
submerged. Birds were very plenty, there was good fish
in the lagoon, but no firewood; and the water, which
could be obtained by digging, brackish. He found good
holding-ground off the north end of the larger bank in
fifteen fathoms water; bottom sandy, with coral
patches.
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