Revised Dec 10 2021
Jany. 2nd.
Abraham Quintall, elected Chief Magistrate
Frederick Young & David Buffett councillors
" 7.
At about 1 P.M. intelligence was brought to the village
that Robert (a native of one of the society islands [who?]
was left here sick from the American Whaleship [?])
was washed from off the rocks by the surf. Those who
were at hand when the news was told, immediately hastened
to the spot, to learn the truth of the statement upon
arriving at the place, and not seeing any thing of him a
search was made along the rocks. This proving unsuccessful
some of the men went in their canoes to [search?]
for him outside of the Rocks. A few minutes after
the canoes were launched. His hat was found some
thirty or forty yards from the place where he washed
off. Being convinced fro this that the man was
drowned the search was continued with renewed
vigor and about an hour after his body was seen
lying at the bottom in about seven fathoms of water
a short distance from the rocks. The men succeeded
in recovering the body which was interred the same
evening
It is but justice to the memory of this poor man to add that his good and quiet behaviour while among us, had gained for him the esteem and good will of all upon the island, and that his untimely end, is much regretted by the whole community
" 29th.
At break of day a ship was reported close in
with the
shore. All who had turned out of their beds hastened
to the edge of the precipice to ascertain the truth of the
statement scarcely had they done so, when from the
heraldic bearing of its colors, she was by the teacher
pronounced to be a man of war. The whaleboat was