The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-01-28

-ONIg iOL hANNlC ACoA NAR~ ~ GA 1880
the island. On her last return from Honolulu,
Captain Sicard brought orders to the working
party to discontinue operations, as the appro-
priation $3.50, 00O) had been exhausted. After
toiling laboriously and constantly, whenever the
weather and health of the men permitted, under
water and in boats and scows for six months,
using large quantities of powder and fuse, they
had excavated a channel near the centre of the
cut about Is feet wide and $50 feet in length,
and the $50 600 was expended, and the work
brought to a stop. At this rate the work
will cost, when completed, at least the sum OF
81 600 ,O00t 1t is very much to be doubted
whether the United States Government will con-
sent to the throwing away of any more money in
the useless attempt to make an available harbor
at Midway, after the experience of the past year.
If Congress is again prevailed upon to aid the
insane project by appropriatIng more funds, 1T
will certainly require a vast deal OF lobbying and
corruption.
The prevailing winds at Midway during the
SIMMER months, were the northeast trades So
called, VARYING from Z. by Y. TO Z. ). r. In the
fall and winter, the wind was mostly from the
North, with occasional strong gales from the West.
When the westerly gales blew, the mouth OF the
lagoon, being as in all coral islands, on that side,
the sea broke heavily all over the lagoon. and no
work could be done. On one occasion, the work
men were returning TO the island from the en-
trance of the channel when one of these gales
came on, q and said our informant, &" it was a
mighty bag cOnhndrun a6 one time whether Sne
would ever reach the shore" During the month
of April, the thermometer ranged from 6S at sun
rise to sc at noon and 80 at shutdown. Twenty
eight days in July, marked 30. "a, and 81, morn
ing, noon and night, and for twenty-five days IN
October, %. "a, and 10.
Having taken on board the working party and
their materials on Friday, (traditionally unlucky
day for sailors) the Sd1indto left Midway Island
for San Francisco. 1t was determined, however,
to visit Ocean Island, about 48 miles to the west,
where it was possible that some vessel might have
been wrecked. 1t was upon this island that the
British ship GLedstdnes was wrecked in 1887, and
the American ship Parker. in September, 1S42.
The crew Of the latter ship were taken from TIE
island in May, 1913. But the Saginaw, on her
humane mission, became herself a wreck. The
wind was fair, and the engines were running
slowly, and it was expected that they would be
near the island about four in the morning. At
~halfpast two, the engines were stopped entirely.
At h~alf-past three, the man on the lookout reported
that he saw something ahead which he thought
to be breakers. The order was given Immediately
to back the engines, which was done, and con-
tinued for about ten minutes, when the wheels
refused to move, the difficulty being evidently
that some of the steam connections were broken.
During this time the topsails were still set, and
could not be got in before she struck. When the
breakers were reported, and the engines backed,
the men were sent alOft to iurl the topsaIs, but
they were not got in soon enough to prevent their
giving the ship more Roadway than the engines
with the steam they had could counterfeit. There
was Is pounds of steam when the engines were
first backed, and the fires were banked. Steam
was used down to ! pounds, but in the meantime
the fires were opened, and at the time the vessel
became finally fast on the rocks, the steam was
rising. The topsails were all the sail she was
CARRYING at the time of striking, the foretopsail
being only clewed up. Shortly after striking for
ward, the ship swung round broadside on, and
huge breakers were pounding at her bow and
starboard side. As the engine ceased working
she struck under the fire-room, raising the ire
room pIa ties and the starbOard boiler. The water
came in in torrents, and in a few moments was
up to the CRATE bars. Every wave that struck
the ship threatened to break her to pieces. The
smoke stack went over the side, and the ship
gradually eareened over to port, towards the reef.
She was being lifted bodily upon the rocks, and
in a little time the after part OF the vessel was
above the water level, so that the men could climb
directly from the ship to the rocks without dam
ger. At one time, the order was given to clear
away the boats, and some one let 20 the after fall
of the launch. hoisted on the staFbOard side OF the
quarter deck. The order having been counter
manded, the launch remained with her stern
lowered some six feet and all the gripes cut. In
a short time she was carried away, davis ana all.
Gangs went to work at once to get provisions ont
of the fore and main holds. Not a great deal
was obtained from the fore hold, as the forward
part of the vessel was not on the rocks, as was The
after part. and the hold was full of water. Tins
before daylight. When day broke, an island
appeared, less than a mile from the ship, sur
by the reef. This was Ocean Island, TO
the Saginaw had come in search of ship
peopEe,-and they were undoubtedly
found, IN tine persons of her own crew.
As soon "a it WAS light, the boats were got out
and taken over the reef to the lagoon, with little
or no damage. The ship was evidently going to
up somewhere near the engine, as the lot
ward portion of her had already much greater
heel than the after, and the deck was to n con-
siderable extent broken up. TIE water was nearly
to the matches. Lines of men were formed to
carry the provisions that hatf been saved TO the
boats. About 7 or & o'clock, the ship labored SD
much, that the mainmast was ordered to be cut
away. The heel of the vessel was such that the
mast broke short off at the dsek with simply cut.
ting the shrouds on the starhOard side. the mast
so as to make n gangtay to the reef, and
so remained until the vessel finally broke up In
a short time, the forward part of the ship separ-
ated, as it had threatened, just forward of the
engines, and swung around against the reef. The
mast fell, and very soon that part OF the ship lost
resemblance to what it Rad been. Very for
t~unately, a good portion Of tie provisions we're in
the after hold, and could be got at with compare
ease. The day was spent in saving and con-
Veying to the island what provisions, tools, sails,
could be got at. But few articles OF clothing
were-sayed, and with great difficulty. To add to
the disagreeable character Of she situation, many
IF the men became utterly unable to work on ac-
count of drink. In clearing Get the hold they had
the wine lockert in the ward-room,
md had helped themselves, and although there
was nothing in it stronger ttan ale and claret,
IN men who are debarred from all liquors, and
who were fasting, the effect IVES soon apparent.
t ) O'Clock P. NJ, word wa passed to abandon
he ship. All hands accordingly went on shore.
The damaged provisions were spread out on avn
ngs and such sails as could be got at. Much of
he bread had been placed in 5ags, and the wash
# the sea rushing through the holes in the ships
ides had reduced it to a mere pulp, such as to be
absolutely UNBEATABLE, except to people in danger
# starvation. The bread in boxes Jared better,
ince it was kept in shape, and was not so thor
'ughly saturated. Much of The beef aud pork
vas broken out of the barrels. and everything
vas adriIt- On getting to fi,e shore. tired, wet
nd hungry, after twenty-tnir hours of FASTING