The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-12-25
NOTES OF THE WEEK.

\
Loss OF THE ROBIN HOBBY the arrival of the
Ramehameha y, intelligence was received of the
loss OF the American ship Robin Hood, at Baker's
Island, by fire, on the morning of the 30th of Augusta
Capt. Taylor has kindly furnished us with the followS
ing particulars of the loss of his ship. The Robin
Hood left this port on the 9th of August, and arrived
off Bakers Island on the 18th. but did not 60 to the
moorings until the 21st on Monday, Odd, commenced
discharging ballast and by Saturday night, 18th,
had over four hundred tons of guano on board. On
the morning of the Both, at four O'Clock, the ship
was discovered to be on fire and the alarm immedht
ately given. Capt. johnson, in charge of the Island,
Immediately boarded the ship with a force of forty
natives and rendered valuable assistance. Smoke
was first discovered coming from the after hatch,
down which the officers and crew poured quantities
of water. The smoke was so dense that it was i'm
possible to get below to discover the locality of the
fire. Surprising it to be between decks, water was
poured down the ventilator, cabin skylight, and
through holes cut in the deck. At about six o'clock
finding the smoke getting worse, with the advice of
the shore party and Capt. Brown of the brig Fred.
Thompson, decided to try and smother the fire.
Closed everything up tight and spread sails over the
deck aft, and kept them constantly wet. Smoke
soon commenced to work through the sides. Orders
were now given TO unbend sails and send them, to-
gether with everything movable above deck, on shore.
4 t II NJ, no fame could be discovered which led to
the belief that the fire was in the hold. AT A p. NJ,
the between decks were heard to fall in. At 6 p. NJ,
the fire broke out about ten feet from the stern post
and just above the copper. Tie fire was now raging
f%earful,y and the after part of the ship was a mere
shell. Cut the standing rigging from the fore and
main masts and sent it ashore. In a few minutes the
flames broke through the poop deck and soon after
x~o-,al olo,tt la xrIoto aror1ar Of fha chin Haipn
fearful that the spars might fall, ordered all hands
into the boats and ordered the moorings slipt. At
about 8 P. NJ, all hands left the ship and she was
soon on FIRE fore and aft, the masts falling in. At IL
midnight she was burned to the waters edge and was
SLOWLY drifting to the westward. The ship was IN
houbtedly fired by some of the crew. Mr.. Adamson,
the United States Consul, has ordered four of the
crew under arrest previous to a more thorough ex-
animation on a charge of setting the ship on fire.
Mr.. Lake, who has been employed on the Island
for the past six years, gives us the following addi-
tional particulars: The fire was among the dunnage
in the lower hold, away aft. The ship being some
six feet by the head, the water that was poured down
the hatch and through the holes cut In the deck did
no good, as it all ran forward. The usual report,
furnished US by Capt. johnson. has not come to hand,
although it was probably made out, from which We
should have had further particulars of interest
Evening sales and the purchase OF Monday
gifts have engrossed public attention the past week.
1t viii surprise many to know how much is spent in
this line. By the close Of the year, there will have
been at least fifteen auction sales of holiday presents,
and the total of these together with private sales,
will probably amount to at least twenty, thousand
dollars. spent solely for gifts and keepssAeS In many
instances, where useful articles are bought, judicious
investments are made ; but more often the money is
thrown away in tn . for half its value. However, as
people seldom praN,ice wisdom when seeking for
pleasure, it is of no use to descant on the follies of the
age. - /,
81 The United States Consul at this port has or
dered under arrest four of the crew of the Robin
Hood on suspicion that they were the parties who
set the ship on fire. At this writing nothing has
been elected to confirm the suspicious Of the captain.
There can be but little doubt but that the ship was
fired purposely, but it may be difficult to fasten the
matter upon any one or more of the crew.
81 The Kona coast Of Hawaii has experienced
high winds, particularly near Kailua. We are told
that a number of houses have been blown down, the
Rev. Mr.. Pilipo's house being among them.
= The Juveniles will not fail &c read he pretty
Christmas story on the fourth page. The lesson it'll
teaches should be laid to heart by rich and poor.