“In the month of July, 1846, the American whaleship Triton, of three hundred tons burthen (under the command of Thomas Spencer,) sailed from the port of New Bedford under my command on a sperm whale cruise, in the Pacific Ocean and elsewhere.”

“Rounding the Cape of Good Hope and successfully encountering the dangers and difficulties which threatens the adventurous keel that ploughs the seas, smoothly and safely avoiding the low reefs which fill that portion of the Pacific through our course lay.”

“In the month of November 1847, we arrived at Maui, and after a stay of two or three weeks at Lahaina, the principal port of the Island, we again made sail, touching at the port of Honolulu, and the island of Kauai for a day or two to procure additional supplies of refreshments.” (Spencer)

“On the 8th of January 1848; about 6 o’clock in the morning, the weather being pleasant, the wind moderate and all hands in good health and spirits, and employed in trying out a whale caught the day previous, raised Sydenham Island (Nonuti, Kiribati,) distant about fifteen miles, bearing NE.”

“Shortly after making the Islands two canoes under sail were discovered steering for the ship and 9 o’clock they came alongside, bringing for sale cocoanuts and various articles which the natives informed us formerly belonged to the American whaleship Columbia, wrecked upon this Island about two years since.”

“After making such purchases from the natives (who were about twenty in number) as I required I took the two canoes in tow, braced forward the yards and stood along on my course. … more canoes would come alongside … “

“In one of these canoes I found a Portugese by the name of Manuel, whom I allowed to come on board, who spoke very good English. In conversation with him he stated that he had been discharged at the Islands about 10 or 11 months since, from a French whaler, and that he had also sailed in the American ship Nantucket of Nantucket.” (Spencer)

Having made landfall off Sydenham Island in the Kingsmill Group, Captain Spencer and some of the crew were lured ashore by a renegade castaway who, with the assistance of the natives, detained them on shore, seized the ship.

“Then it was they informed us that the ship was taken, and that all on board had been killed – Manuel and some of the natives being among the number – and that now they were going to kill us.”

“As soon as this intelligence was made known to us, four of the stoutest natives picked me up, and others seizing upon the crew, we were forced apart, as we supposed, never to meet again. I was carried to an island, distant about 900 feet from the main island, and placed in a large house.” (Spencer)

Held prisoner on shore, Captain Spencer was about to be executed by the natives when “In an instant, an old chief woman sprang towards me and tabooed me, patting me first rapidly on the breast and then on the back, repeating at the same time some words, as fast as possible.”

“The natives attempted to take her from me, roaring with rage for their prey; but her husband immediately interfered, and
gave me his name – that of Cogio – by which I was, during my stay on the island always called.”

“Thus was I saved from a certain and speedy death by the moral heroism of a poor, benighted native woman, who risked her own life and reputation, and all, to save from perishing one of a race she had been taught to regard as an enemy.” (Spencer)

After a number of attempts to escape, during which the hapless captain and crew stole canoes and paddled out to sea in pursuit of passing ships who set sail away as fast as they could, believing them to be hostile islanders, the castaways were rescued by the Alabama out of Nantucket. (O’Connor)

“After a pleasant passage of six weeks, I arrived, on the 15th of March, at Honolulu, on the Island of Oahu, where I have found kind friends to sympathize with me; and, while I live, the emotions of my heart will, I trust, testify to it.”

“As soon as I arrived, I wrote to the US Consuls at all the different ports that the Triton would be likely to touch at, and was daily expected here. About the 25th of March I received news or her being at Tahiti, and intending to come to these islands for men, boats, &c., every vessel that hove in sight I anxiously watched, but no Triton arrived.”

“At length, on the 10th of June, I heard she had procured an outfit, and, had left Tahiti bound to the coast of Kamschatka, under the command of the mate. Since that time, I have not heard from her. I am still here, waiting for her arrival at this port.” (Spencer) (The Triton was recovered and continued as a whaler, but was later crushed in ice in Yukon Territory on October 8, 1895.)

Deciding at length to give up the sea, he started a ship’s chandlery on Queen Street, which under his guidance served as the headquarters of the Pacific whaling fleet.

In 1853 he was joined by his brother, Charles Nichols Spencer, and by 1855 William L Lee, the close friend of Charles R Bishop, reported that Captain Spencer was ‘making more money than anyone else in town.’

He was fluent in Hawaiian and was known everywhere by his Hawaiian name, Poonahoahoa. It was later to be said of him, and of his brother Charles, that ‘they were on terms of social and political intimacy with the last six Hawaiian sovereigns.’”

“In 1861, in the full tide of success, Thomas Spencer sold the Queen Street chandlery and moved to Hilo, purchasing the house and sugar plantation at Amauulu (Puueo.)” He also became United States commercial agent and consul at Hilo and was later made a Knight Companion of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I. (O’Connor)

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triton

Triton-Kiribati Stamp

Captain Thomas Spencer

Nonuti-Sydenham Island