The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-01-21
The Trip of the "KiIauea."

We copy from the GaSette the following &C
count of the trip of the Kilduea, as furnished by
Capt. Long. In our next issue, we propose to
give a full account of life on a Pacific Atoll, as
cleaned from the returned members of the expedi-
ton to Midway Island, illustrated by engraved
plans. We shall issue an extra number of the
COMMERCIAL to go forward by the steamer, to sail
about the Both = %eET
Mn. EDITOR AT your request, I take pleasure in
giving a brief account OF the trip of the RIdueG to
Ocean Island, for the relief of the crew of the u. S. s..
S0ginauo, wrecked on that Island. By direction of
the Minister of the Interior, l assumed charge of the
expedition on Monday the 25th of December, and as
you are aware, sailed on the afternoon of that day.
During the first four days we experienced very light
winds, so light in fact that the speed of the vessel
was considerably retarded for the want Of proper
draft in the furnaces. On the night of 31st Deem
Der, we took strong trades which freshened by Sum-
day, January LIST into a severe n. E.. gale, with thick
weather and rain. On the night of January I'd the
vessel was hove to for twelve hours with the view Of
sighting Midway Island. 1 had been unable on ac-
count Of the thick weather to obtain meridian observ-
atoms for the two days previous, and therefore,
although aware by reckoning that we could not be
a great distance from the island, was unable to de-
fine it's exact position. On the morning Of the 3D.,
the weather being favorable, l found by observation
that / was to the leeward of Midway Island, and
being anxious to reach Ocean Island that day, the
vessel was Immediately headed for the latter island.
We were, on this day, unfortunate as TO be unable TO
obtain a meridian altitude, and at 2 O'Clock P. NJ. by
double altitude, found ourselves twelve miles to the
Northward of the island. The course was at once
changed for the island, at 3:45 p n. sighted the
breakers on the reef which surrounds the island. The
next object sighted was the flagstaff which had been
erected by the crew Of the Saginaw, the island being
so low that it was not visible from the masthead until
long after the surf and flagstaff were SEEM At half
past 4 we had reached sufficiently near the island,
as the anchorage was some Eve miles along the reef
from where the vessel approached, l thought it pru-
dent to lay off until morning-having in the mean
time communicated with those on the island by dip
ping the Dag and firing rockets TO assure them that
we had come TO their relief On the morning of the
next day, (4th of january we anchored at the
mouth of the lagoon, "a boat from the island having
previously come off to the vessel)
After sounding for some distance around the yes
sci, from a boat, to assure myself of the safety Of the
anchorage, I went on shore, finding every one there
fortunately well, and rejoiced is hardly the express
sion for the state Of their feelings for the timely
relief found them on rations Of one ounce Of flour
or beans, and seal-meat. or ea-fowl-alDatross-
besides the few fish they, were able 70 catch in she
lagoon. During the 4th and 9th We were engaged In
taking the crew and their baggage. stores, &C., on
board. The articles saved from the wreck Of the
vessel were not considered by Capt. Sicard or myself
Eas of saficienttvaiae to warrant the detention which
would be necessary in shipping them.
On the 9Th, as the last boats were coming of from
the island, the schooner Koha Packet arrived.
None of the stores were transferred from her, as
there was amply sufficient on board of the steamer.
Capt. Sicard directed the Captain to return to Homo
lulu.
On the evening of the 9Th We got underway from
Ocean Island, and being uncertain of the quantity
of coal necessary for the return trip, thought it
expedient to take n quantity on board at Midway
Island, where we arrived on the morning Of the 9th.
During that day and the following, with the assist
ance Of the SaginGtc's crew, we were enabled to get
forty tons of coal on board. Fortunately we were
able to leave on the evening of the 7th, as / was
assured by those who had lived on the island that
the strong westerly wind which we experienced the
next morning. would have kept US there fol. pt least
a week. Our passage from Midway Island was
extremely pleasant, having had favorable winds and
good weather. We sighted Kauai at ii A. M, on the
18th. and reached Honolulu at ADO p. NJ, on the
18th, having made the passage from Midway Island
in seven days, and the whole voyage in nineteen,
passing over a distance Of $3.50 miles, and being
detained at Ocean and Midway Islands four days
The average speed on the voyage was six and hal
knots. The best days run was 230 miles
fHE Yours, truly, THos. LONG.