The ships were in need of water and the crew was suffering from scurvy, but after circling the island it was determined that Wake was waterless and had "not a cocoanut nor a pandanus" and, in fact, "there was nothing on it but sea-birds, and sandy places covered with bushes."
Skibene havde brug for vand, og besætningen led af skørbug, men efter en rundtur på øen blev det fastslået, at Wake var vandløs og "ikke en kokosnød eller en pandanus" og faktisk at "der var ikke noget på den, bortset fra havfugle og sandede steder dækket af buske."