Revised Jun 19 2021
Jan. 1. George Adams elected magistrate. William Quintall and John Adams, councillors.
Feb. 4th. As William M’Coy was assisting to carry a heavy piece of timber, his foot struck a small pointed stick, which entered among the sinews of the third and fourth toes, and broke off considerably below the surface. Attempts were made to extricate it, but without success. Laudanum was injected into the wound, and a bread poultice applied. The next morning the teacher dilated the wound, as much as the patient would let him; the teacher being fearful of cutting deep, on account of the proximity of the tendons. For three days laudanum was injected, and meal poultices applied thrice a-day; each morning an attempt was made to extract the piece of wood, but the patient was so susceptible of pain, that be could hardly permit the probing of the wound. The teacher being anxious that suppuration should take place, and knowing that laudanum would retard it, changed his practice, and substituted spirits of turpentine for laudanum, and basilicon for poultice. Things went on in this train several days, the patient suffering severe pain in his foot, his groin, and lower part of his belly. All attempts to extricate the wood were abortive. Feb 13, 1848 Serious fears were now entertained, which at last were fully verified. The teacher had been careful not to mention his suspicions to any one, lest they should reach the ears of the sufferer; but on the 13th, he was informed that M’Coy complained of a slight pain in the back of his neck, and that his jaws were somewhat stiff. Powerful anti-spasmodics were immediately applied, internally and externally, and repeated during the night, the teacher remaining with him; at daylight the sufferer was informed that death was inevitable, if the splinter were not extracted, when he consented to a further dilatation of the wound. The teacher too, urged by the desperation of the case, was determined to use more powerful means than he had hitherto done; accordingly the injured limb had a bandage bound tightly round it, and the patient being held down by several persons, a pair of plyers, reduced for the purpose, were inserted, and after many failures, the teacher succeeded in drawing forth a piece of wood. three inches long, and half-an-inch in diameter. Laudanum was now injected into the hole, and continued to be so at intervals during that day and night; but the tension of the jaws and the stiffness of the neck continuing to increase, spirits of turpentine were again applied. Feb 15, 1848
Feb 17, 1848 Strong anti-spasmodics were administered, and friction with the hand upon the jaws and neck was untiringly and almost unceasingly applied; on the evening of the 15th, his jaws became fast closed, but in such a manner that he could imbibe small portions of liquid substances, and they frequently produced the symptoms of a person labouring under hydrophobia, he being now unable to swallow any preventive medicine. On the 17th, William M’Coy ceased to exist, aged thirty-eight. As a member of the community, William M’Coy's conduct was ever worthy of imitation; a dutiful son, a loving brother, and a firm friend. Being unmarried, he left no issue; his lands he bequeathed to his niece, Jane M’Coy, daughter of his brother, Matthew M’Coy.
" 7th. Helen Amelia Quintall born.
March 9th. Arrived H. M S. Calypso, Capt. H. J. Worth. From some misunderstanding respecting the signal, no attempt to land was made this day; our boat went on board and remained all night.
“ 10th. At 9 A.M. Capt. Worth and a party of officers landed, and the greeting on both sides was most cordial; our people—men, women, and children, are almost beside themselves. Two whale boats and several large cases of useful articles were landed for the use of the island, contributed by the Admiral and officers on the coast, and foreign residents in Valparaiso, among which, the Rev. Messrs. Armstrong (our untiring benefactor), and Turnbull were prominent. At 12 Capt. Worth and his officers returned on board to afford opportunity for another party visiting us. Much intreaty was used by our people to induce Capt. Worth to remain another day, and our young women drew up a petition and presented it to him. He did not give a decided answer about it; but told them that if they heard a gun in the night, it would be a signal for sailing. At 1 P.M. another party landed and returned on board at 4 P.M. Thus ends a very happy day; but much anxiety will be experienced during the night, lest the report of a gun should be heard. Fair weather, and fine weather, and light winds, is the earnest wish of all concerned.
" 11th. At daylight this morning, the general inquiry was, “Where is the ship?“ She was discovered about four miles from the land Two of our boats went on board, and at 9 P.M. the Captain landed. Dr. Domet, hearing there were hieroglyphics supposed to have been cut out by the aborigines on the face of the cliff, on the east side of the island, determined to inspect them himself. He was informed that the path was not only difficult but dangerous; yet he would not be turned from his purpose. Accordingly, he started with one of the islanders and succeeded in his undertaking, being the first European that ever went down the face of the cliff (which is very precipitous), without the assistance of a rope. At noon, Capt. Worth assembled the inhabitants, and expressed to them his entire satisfaction with the state of things on the shore, and exhorted them to continue in the way they were in. After making them presents of various articles from his own stores, he returned on board. The cutter soon returned with another party, and Lieut. M’Leod and Mr. Lock (midshipman) succeeded in descending the “ridge of the rope.” At sunset, the cutter went on board, and the Calypso sailed, carrying with her our grateful aspirations that she may successfully accomplish the objects of her cruise, and return unscathed to Valparaiso. To Capt. Worth and his officers we are under weighty obligations, particularly to Lieut. M’Leod and Dr. Domet, though, in fact, every officer that came on shore seemed anxious to confer favours upon us. May God have them in his holy keeping, and may they long hold a place in our grateful recollections!
" 13th. Employed dividing the several articles brought hither in H. M. S. Calypso. The majority of the things were such as we were greatly in need of. Surely no community of people were ever so kindly cared for as we are.
" 30th. Cordelia R. Christian born.
April 9th. Jonathan Adams and Phoebe Quintall were married.
May 27th. Sydney Herbert Nobbs born.
July 8th. Alice Sophia M’Coy born.
“ 9th. Moses Young and Albina M’Coy married.
“ 31st. Anna Rose Christian born.
Nov. 15th. George Colvin Clifton Adams born.
Dec. 25th. Abraham B. Quintall and Esther M. Nobbs were married.
Births this year, 7; death, 1; marriages, 3. Inhabitants: males, 74; females, 72. Ships calling here, this year, 9. 44 children attend the school. 30 scholars, of 14 years of age and upwards, attend the Sunday-school. The attendance at the Wednesday Bible-class for adults quite satisfactory.