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Herman Melville's Moby Dick is thought to be based upon
the true story of the American whaling ship Essex, which was charged and
sunk in mid-ocean by a 40 foot sperm whale in the vicinity of the Marquesas. The
survivors landed on Henderson, after sailing in an open boat from the distant
site of their shipwreck. The majority of the survivors set off again in an endeavour
to get to South America, leaving the Mate, Thomas Chappel, and two others on the
island. Their lives were saved from death from lack of water by a shower of rain.
But they had no food. As they had no tackle they could not fish: they had to suck
the blood of the few birds they could catch. A few turtles supplemented their
food supply. They lived on Henderson Island for several months in 1820-21and were
rescued by the Surrey. Six human skeletons were discovered in
a cave by the Essex survivors. There is, however, another report, from
the Religious Tract Society in 1830, that the Essex crew had found eight
skeletons (as versus six). Among the rocks were several caves
formed by nature, which afforded a shelter from the wind and rain. In one of these
caves they found eight human skeletons, in all probability the remains of some
poor mariners who had been shipwrecked on the isle, and perished for want of food
and water. They were side by side as if they had laid down, and died together!
This sight deeply affected the mate and his companions . . .
There are also reports of skeletons
found even before the Essex survivors arrived at Henderson, and others
discovered by Pitcairners in 1851, where several pieces of wreck were also found
upon the shore. A total of six skeletons were again found on Henderson Island
on Saturday, March 29, 1958 in a cave on the Northeastern coast. Were these
the same skeletons found by the Essex crew in 1820-21? Were they
Polynesians or shipwrecked Europeans? Dr.
Herbert Ford , director of the Pitcairn Islands Study Center, has gathered
new information on the skeletons from the 168 kilometres (90 Miles), of records
found in the United Kingdom's Public Record Office (PRO) at Kew, West London.
Below is a summary of the information he has found: The Pitcairners
watched as Captain Arthur Jones' crew swung their two longboats off the Shaw Savill
cargo liner Corinthic and onto the water outside the reef of Henderson Island.
It was Friday, March 28, 1958, time to gather Miro wood for carvings again. But
this time would be different from others before. Scotland Yard and the Royal College
of Surgeons, news wire services and a host of British officials would hear of
this trip. By late Friday afternoon the islanders had gotten their boats
safely through the reef, had landed and stretched out the tarps that would shelter
them for the next few days. Next day, Saturday, being the Sabbath day of
the Pitcairn people, they put off the start of their wood cutting in favour of
a brief religious service. In the afternoon one group decided to take a walk along
Henderson's east coast. The walk took them past a cave, and, explorers that
all Pitcairners are, some ventured inside. The sight was eye-popping, downright
chilling! There, lying side by side outstretched with their hands by their
sides, were four skeletons, three adults and a child! The skeletons seemed complete,
all joints and sockets appeared to be in place. Near one, which appeared to be
a woman, was a tuft of hair. "Don't disturb them; leave them like they
are," warned Chief Magistrate Warren Christian who was with the group. But, having
given the warning, he carefully collected the hair, knowing that it at least might
serve as a clue to the startling find. Heavy weather set in shortly afterward,
delaying the return of the loaded boats to Pitcairn, and while they waited for
fair winds the Pitcairners made a second visit to the cave. This time, beyond
the four skeletons, a bit deeper into the cave, could be seen a mound of coral
sand that had obviously been brought in from outside. Digging into the
mount those in the group came upon two additional skeletons! One had a tuft of
hair still attached to its skull. There was also a coarse material, perhaps a
deteriorated rug or blanket, mixed with the sand. With the changing weather
soon after this second find favouring their return to Pitcairn, and with enough
macabre skeleton unearthings to last them a long time, the islanders returned
home full of reports of the sensational discoveries. On April 7, Pitcairn's
Government Adviser E. Schubert sent an account of the discoveries to government
headquarters in Suva, Fiji.
Mr. Schubert's complete report is contained
in his 7th April, 1958, letter addressed to: The Secretary to Governor, Pitcairn
& Tonga Affairs, Government House Offices, Suva, Fiji. Here it is:
Dear Sir:
RE HUMAN SKELETONS - HENDERSON ISLAND On Friday 28th
March two boatloads of Pitcairn Islanders went to Henderson Island on the Shaw
Savill Liner "Corinthic". Besides being a good turn to the Pitcairn people it
was a Shaw Savill advertising plan. A good one too. Next day, Saturday,
being the Sabbath day to the Pitcairn people, the men on Henderson did not work
but in the afternoon they report going walking to the east coast of the island.
It was here that they visited a cave and first saw four skeletons, three adults
and one child. They were lying outstretched with hands by their sides. All joints
and sockets appeared to be in place. The skeleton of the child was so placed that
it could have been prenatal. A hair sample accompanying this report was taken
from near what appears to be the woman's skeleton. Three days later, while
waiting for suitable weather to return to Pitcairn, they report a second visit
to the same area where they began to dig in a mound of sand deeper in the cave.
Here they found two more skeletons, one with a patch of hair the size of half
crown still on the skull. The coral sand covering the skeletons was obviously
carried there to bury them as nowhere else in the cave is there any sand. There
are indications of a coarse material mixed with the sand which could be the remains
of a blanket or rug. The men say that there is a possibility that there
are more skeletons in the cave as there are heaps of sand not dug out. This of
course, is speculation, but not beyond the bounds of possibility. As for
previous visits to the cave, I am not able to ascertain to any degree of certainty
whether the Pitcairn men have been there before or not. However, I do know that
they have never found these skeletons before. There have been reports of skulls
and bones but not such complete specimens in other parts of the island, especially
on the west coast, but not here. The Island Magistrate was a member of the
party and asked the men not to disturb the skeletons. His request was not fully
complied with but in the main I think they were co-operative. I report this
as it came to me. Whether or not it warrants further action I am in no position
to say. The hair sample may give a clue to the age of victims and from there the
possibility of action could be discussed. It could be a wartime disaster, but
that is poorly based speculation. I attach a small map showing position of cave.
I would appreciate advice on the results of the examination of the hair
specimen. I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Sgd.) E. SCHUBERT
Govt. Adviser Note:
The school teacher and government adviser are one and the same person on Pitcairn.
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Coastal cave of Henderson Island. © Andrew Christian (andrew@christian.pn). Used by permission. |
The
Royal College of Surgeons in London was asked for advice on the action to be taken
to identify the remains by the Governor of Fiji, who was the ex officio Governor
of Pitcairn.
The Fiji Medical Department pathologist's submitted a report
on a hair sample taken from one of the skeletons. Pathologist Minnie Gosden of
the Laboratory and Research Division, Medical Department, Suva, reported:
I attach a report on certain hairs which you forwarded to me under confidential
cover on 13.5.58. The specimen consisted of a mass of hair mixed with white
powder. The colour was light brown and the texture fine and rather straight. I
have cleaned and mounted samples of this mass of hair and am of the opinion:- (1)
The hair is human. It was in short pieces, but very brittle and the ends are broken
and not sharply cut, so that the original length is in doubt. (2) The colour
is predominantly light brown. (3) The medulla is absent in many of the hairs,
but the three present are narrow. I have compared these hairs with hairs
from known European sources and also with samples from hairs from Polynesian students
from various territories which you supplied to me and with microphotographs of
Negro and Chinese hair. The unknown hairs resemble brown hair from European
sources, but some of the lighter hairs from Polynesian sources resemble individual
hairs very closely, although the general colour of the average of the Polynesian
hairs is darker. The width of the medulla also varies in different hairs. On
the whole, I am rather of the opinion that the probable race of the unknown hair
is European, but on microscopic appearances light coloured Polynesian sources
could not be excluded. The hair is dry and brittle, but as hair remains
unchanged for long after death, I do not think an opinion on age can be given.
The hairs are short and are therefore either male or from a female with
short cut hair. I am returning the remainder of the specimen with this letter.
Yours faithfully,
(Sgd.) Minnie Gosden
PATHOLOGIST. The
Governor's Deputy on Fiji mentions that it has been suggested that the skeletons
could be forwarded in air-tight coffins to either New Zealand or the United Kingdom
to some appropriate institution for identification, though this may prove difficult
to arrange successfully. But he concludes that Pitcairn Island can ill afford
the expense and that the islanders will not normally visit Henderson again for
about another year. The Governor's Deputy, Fiji, was worried that the press
would "indulge in wild surmise and may encourage yachtsmen to visit Henderson"
and wrote: "No persons reported missing in the vicinity of Henderson. Possibility
appears to be that they are Polynesian remains or skeletons of shipwrecked party.
Locality not visited by Pitcairners for about 40 years." The Metropolitan
Police Laboratory, New Scotland Yard, examined the hair from a skeleton. The Director
of the Laboratories, New Scotland Yard wrote: "The enquiry has narrowed to
the question whether these skeletons are European or Polynesian" and "it
is a pity that they did not bring away one skull, but I think it is impossible
to ask for any further specimens now, because the Island may not be visited for
many years, and Pitcairn has no funds to finance a special trip."
1st October, 1958 . Report on examination of the following samples
received from The Consulting Physician to the Colonial Office, Sir Richard Hawes,
by post: Samples of hair taken from skeleton found on Henderson Island. I
have examined the sample of hair and I found it consists of human head hair in
a brittle and disintegrating state. From the condition of the hair I should estimate
that it had been in the cave for a long period of time, probably in excess of
ten years. The hairs show a very great range of colour which would suggest
a possibility that they may be derived from more than one individual. Certain
of the hairs are dark and could have been derived from an individual of a brown
race, among which I include Indians, Malays and Arabs as well as Polynesians.
There are also present fair hairs, these are most likely to be derived from a
Caucasian race. I have not seen fair hairs, such as these, in any brown race. My
examination would indicate, therefore, that a European is represented among the
skeletons, while other hairs may be derived from a dark haired European or a light
haired Polynesian. The remainder of the hairs are returned herewith.
Sgd. M.Sc.
(Lewis Charles Nickolls)
DIRECTOR Reuters,
the British news agency, wrote: "Experienced master mariners here laughed
off suggestions that the skeletons could have been passengers and crew of the
derelict island trader, Joyita, which disappeared on an inter-island run
in 1956 and was found abandoned several months later." The Secretary
of State for the Colonies determined that from a medical standpoint no useful
purpose would be served by removing the remains for expert examination, and that
in these circumstances the best course would be to arrange a decent burial either
at Henderson or Pitcairn. The Governor of Fiji now asked the Chief Magistrate,
Pitcairn Island, to "arrange for the proper burial of the remains during
the next visit of the people of Pitcairn to Henderson Island and to ensure, if
possible, for the nurse on Pitcairn (assuming that the post is still filled by
a male appointee) to accompany the party to ensure that no obvious evidence relating
to origin, age, sex and cause of death is overlooked. "It would, of
course, be more satisfying to natural curiosity to have the remains removed and
properly examined, but, having regard to the financial resources of Pitcairn Island,
the Governor considers that no further action is justified in the circumstances."
On
which coast of Henderson Island were the Essex skeletons found? Mr. Schuberts
remarks that "There have been reports of skulls and bones but not such complete
specimens in other parts of the island, especially on the west coast, but not
here" seem to indicate that these are not the same skeletons found by the
Essex. Also the report that all the Essex skeletons "were side
by side as if they had laid down, and died together," whereas the 1958 find
were not, is further evidence that this is a new discovery.
A query to
The United Kingdom Public Record Office about the current whereabouts of the hair
samples, received this reply: "It is unlikely that we will have the samples
you refer to, although we may have copies of the correspondence." Howard
L Phelps contacted Betty Christian on Pitcairn and was told that there are no
bones or hairs from the Henderson skeletons on Pitcairn, but there are still bones
in Henderson. It seems that chance may have taken a part in this discovery
on Henderson Island's East Coast. It is apparently only very rarely that the Pitcairners
visit the East Coast.
Tom Christian, from Pitcairn writes:
We have always landed on the North or the West beach to cut miro wood... The
North beach is preferred, since it is approximately 2 miles long, and there is
much more wood both Miro, and Tau. Landing on any of the beaches (North, East
or West) can be difficult if there is a large surf on the reefs. Tom
Christian, from Pitcairn solves many unanswered questions about the further fate
of the skeletons. He writes: Other skeletons (incomplete)
were found in two or three other caves above the Northern beach many years ago. I
was in the 1958 party who discovered the skeletons in the cave to the West of
the East beach. No signs of clothing, buckles etc. were there. Caskets were
made by the U.S. Air Force in 1966 when the Island was fully surveyed. All skeletons
were placed in the caskets and a white cross set up by the cave. Bones
were taken again by the scientific party who spent 18 months on Henderson in 1991-92.
Michael Brooke based in London was in charge of the expedition. Bones were taken
back to Henderson by Pitcairners in Long Boats in 1995. I don't know anything
about the results of the tests.
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| US Air Force-made caskets and cross on Henderson Island. © Andrew Christian (andrew@christian.pn). Used by permission. |
| Based on Tom Christian's remarks, Dr Marshall
Weisler, a member of the the 1991-92 team who have analysed the bones, was contacted.
He reports: "I am still working on the Henderson burials and will send you
a report in due course. All the human remains examined are prehistoric."
The mystery is solved. The skeletons are the remains of prehistoric
Polynesians. Dr Weisler's final report confirms that they were prehistoric inhabitants
of the island.
An interesting related storyEric
Huffey sent an account of his visit to Henderson Island with the square rigger
Eye of the Wind in 1990. It contained the following passage:
...a couple of us attempted to reach a cave half way up the slope. Where we
had landed the sheer cliffs had given way to a steep jungle covered slope. It
was nearly impossible but we finally made it, badly scratched but happy. We did
find a small bag of bones, probably from the Henderson chickens, a sign of previous
habitation at some point. Eric Huffey was asked for further
information about these bones. This is his reply: ...sorry
to disappoint you but they definitely weren't human. Some humans had obviously
used the cave for shelter and cooking chickens. There were quite a few bones about.
I couldn't figure out why some were in a bag, It was a small bag, if laid out
probably four inches square. I did not remove the bones. Very
strange. Who would have placed these bones in a bag in an out-of-the-way cave?
And when? [The
Tomarchin-Moko Story] [Henderson Island] | 
