It soon became evident to Gardiner and his fellow-laborers that a permanent mission station on the shores of Tierra del Fuego was impossible under the conditions that then existed, and that their only hope lay in a mission vessel moored in the bay, from which they could visit the shore to preach Christ to the people, and return. Stores could thus be preserved in safety, and supplies sent out from time to time without danger of them being stolen. Gardiner returned to England to make known the situation, and in answer to his appeal, a Christian lady in Cheltenham sent him a thousand pounds, with which two launches were purchased, and named The Pioneer and Speedwell, to be used as mission boats in Fuego.
The Lord raised up fellow-workers also, and such helpers as were necessary for the work. They were all earnest Christian men who, for the Gospel’s sake, willingly left home and kindred to accompany Allen Gardiner to the lone shores of Fuego with the message of God’s salvation.
RICHARD WILLIAMS, who had a good practice as a surgeon in Burslem, Staffordshire, gave it up to go out to Fuego. He had only just time to bid his friends farewell, and join the Ocean Queen at Liverpool. Only a few years before, Williams had been a skeptic, living without God, and, to use his own words, accounting the Bible “a mere lumber book.” During a serious illness, when he seemed to be at the point of death, he was awakened to a sense of the realities of God, eternity, heaven, and hell, and a horror of great darkness fell upon him. How could he meet that God whose existence he had denied, whose Word he had defamed? Someone standing by his bedside told him to “look to Jesus,” and by means of that one word, the light of the Gospel entered his soul. He says, “I did look to Jesus as I was bidden, and I found joy in so doing.” Through that look he received life, and passed out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of God’s love. Restored to life as by a miracle, Williams went forth into the world a new creature, to live for God and eternity. Speaking of his experiences at this time, he says, “Jesus was most precious to me—my glory and infinite joy. The Bible, hitherto a sealed book, is now a river of water to my thirsty soul.” Need we wonder that this happy saint, occupied thus with the Person of Christ, was constrained to give himself to the service of God? Not, however, without first proving himself by faithful service in the circle where he moved, as all who go forth in public service for Christ ought to do. In his own town of Burslem, during a visit of cholera, in which hundreds of his fellow-townsmen died, he went from house to house tending the sick and dying, and pointing them to Christ, while many an ear soon to be sealed in death took in the joyful message of life and peace from his lips. For many years his memory was fragrant in his native town, and when he left it to go forth to Fuego, he was followed by many an earnest prayer from those who knew him best.
JOHN MAIDMENT, a godly young Sunday School teacher in London, who had been accustomed to plenty of hard work, formed another of the company. ERWIN, a ship carpenter, who had sailed with Gardiner on a former voyage, and who volunteered to accompany him again, giving as his reason that “being with Captain Gardiner was like a heaven on earth.” Three godly Cornish fishermen named BRYANT, PEARCE, and BRADOCK, who had been well accustomed to toss in rough seas in open boats, offered their services to join the mission band.
A farewell meeting was held in Bristol, at which the six devoted men were commended to God in earnest prayer by a number of the Lord’s people. Then the whole company stood and sang together. A short time after, amid many tearful farewells, the pioneers of the Cross went on board the Ocean Queen, and sailed for the distant shore. Mrs. Gardiner, with many friends and fellow-believers, waved a last farewell, little thinking they would never meet their loved ones again, until that fair morning, when from every land and sea, the redeemed of the Lord shall be gathered to meet Him in the air.