In 1864, the crew of the schooner Grafton faced a harrowing ordeal after their ship wrecked on the remote Auckland Islands, nearly 480 kilometers south of New Zealand’s South Island. Shipwrecked on January 3, the five crew members—Captain Thomas Musgrave, François Raynal, Alexander McLaren, George Harris, and Henry Forgés—endured 18 months of isolation, showcasing incredible ingenuity and resilience.
The Wreck and Initial Struggle
The Grafton, a 56-ton vessel hired for a sealing and mining expedition, was caught in a fierce gale on New Year’s Day 1864. As the storm intensified, the anchor chains broke, driving the ship onto a rocky beach in Carnley Harbour. The crew managed to salvage essential supplies—food, tools, navigation equipment, a rifle, and canvas—before the vessel was destroyed. Initially, they erected a makeshift tent from spars and sails, but the harsh subantarctic climate demanded a more permanent solution.
Building a Home: The Epigwaitt Hut
Under Raynal’s guidance, who had experience building huts during his goldfield days, the castaways constructed a sturdy cabin named “Epigwaitt,” meaning “a dwelling by the water.” Using timber and stone from the wreck, they built a structure with a stone chimney, stretchers, a dining table, and a writing desk. The hut featured two small glass panes from the ship’s cabin and a thatched roof, providing shelter from the incessant gales, hail, and rain. Trenches around the hut kept the floor dry, a testament to their resourcefulness.
Survival Techniques
With provisions lasting only two months, the crew relied on the island’s natural resources. They hunted seals, birds, and fish, supplementing their diet with ingenuity. Raynal built a forge using bellows made from sealskin, crafting tools from salvaged metal. They tanned leather from seal hides to make clothing and shoes, replacing their deteriorating garments. Remarkably, they produced soap from seashells and brewed a passable beer from Stilbocarpa rhizomes, adding variety and combating scurvy.
Entertainment and Morale
To maintain morale, Musgrave initiated reading classes, teaching Harris to read and write. Raynal carved a chess set, dominoes, and cards for entertainment, though he later destroyed the cards due to Musgrave’s poor sportsmanship. The crew also kept journals, some written with seals’ blood when ink ran out, documenting their experience.
The Escape
After a year with no rescue, the castaways modified their dinghy, raising the gunwales and adding a false keel and deck. In July 1865, Musgrave, Raynal, and McLaren embarked on a daring 450-kilometer journey to Stewart Island in the improved boat, arriving after five days of rough weather. They organized a rescue mission with the Flying Scud, saving Harris and Forgés weeks later. All five survived, a stark contrast to the nearby Invercauld crew, whose poor leadership led to most perishing.
Legacy
The Grafton castaways’ story, detailed in Musgrave’s and Raynal’s accounts, inspired public concern and led to the establishment of castaway depots by the New Zealand government. Their survival, driven by leadership and teamwork, remains a remarkable chapter in maritime history.
