The Hawaiian gazette., 1873-10-29

Accordingly The boats were got oai aud lowered.
The 6rst one lowered contained all the women
and ehillrea that could be found aud gos into u
At the time. 1t was aAeed undeF the care OF
Iieu,enaut Dslahanly. Of the United States ship
Portsmouth. who vas passenger. II bad oeg
two men TO pull the oars. One of them was an
old man-ol,warsmsn, and was the other. can
paI an car as well as any body. The oext boat
lowered was under the command Of Ensign May /
es. Of the Poi4Smoxss. The qaar,ermaster's
boa, contained several Of the lady passengers.
The boat commanded by the third mate pashed |
pH for towa with u crew and notified those on |
shore of the disaster. The qaarIermasters boat
some time aiterward also pulled away towards
town and made the landing about o'clock in the
morning, The iIlh boat was fOUnderel in launch
ing. by some disarrangement or breaking oil The
tackle, as understand and some Of the men Tell
overheard. They were picked up BY the third
mates boat and taken into town.
Lieu,enan. Delahanty aud Ensign Mayer con
rluded that a. there was no sea on. aud they were
in no immediate danger. it would be better to re-
main near the steamer until suceoS reached them
than to attempt TO row to the city. They tried
10 make landing on the opposite shore near the
vessel bu, could not do il with safety 50 they re-
n,ained in The boats occasionally pulling out into
the stream. as they drilsed With the tide near the
breakers. Blankets were passed to them irOm
tho steamer and BY wrapping them about the
women and chlldrea, they were Kept from sufer'
ING aueh from cold. They remained in this con-
di,ion in the boats from halfpast until O'Clock
when the tug boat reached them, aud they were
landed al the Nail Compsny's wharf.
The snoirkation was conducted in an orderly
manner. and the ladies and children conducted
themselves with great courage and qaietnesS'
There was no screaming. no fainting. and no
manic or disturbance Ia the boats 1t was the
same. They weze very quiet, aud those to whom
they belonged had right To be proud Of thsu.
| Captain I.ap,dse aud the Purser and first otieeS
4 remained With the ship. They sent up rockets
/ y, intervals during the night aud showed blue
lights. About two hours after we got into the
boats We saw, what We rightly judged to be. Fsrt
4 Point light and Aleatraz light. The fog remain
I ed more or less thick until morning. | wish you
10 say that the passengers, especially the ladies'
and children. feel very grateful to Lieutenant
DeIah- nty and Ensign Mayer for their admirable
re-assurins conduct while in command OF the
boats CONTAINING most OF the Ia lies and children.
They fully appreciate the courage and gallantry
eyipeed by those officers in voluntarily helping
them out Of danger, while the officers themselves
4 a rfrttT IN az
meet any such thing Of them. They showed
vrsa, presence Of mind and did gTeat deal TO
reassure those who were frightened
In answer to the reporters question. Mr. Nord-
bof said that he did not believe there was the
SLIGHTEST foundation in fact for the rumor that
Captain Iapidge was intoxicated at the tune oil
the disaster. lie was with the Captain great
deal and did not see him taste drop OF liquor
during. the day. The Captain did not drink any
beverage with his meals; WIS in i'll health. and
the nature of his complaint-indammltlo OF The
kidneys-precluIed the use Of liquors The
Cup,aip was xeak and somewhat nervous before
the accident, in consequence OF having eaten
nothing all day and oeng long on deck with
ont sleep or rest. He was cool and self-possess-
ed ; gave his orders promptly and did everything
IN his poxer to the vessel. and after the dis
aster 10 render the condition Of the passengers
as comfortable as possible. Mr.. NOrdhof says
that while all the officers did their duty. the Cap
tain. first officer and Purser were conspicuous foE
gallant conduct. Mr. Nordhof was below when
the first boat was lowered. and consequently did
not witness the rush OF the Chinese for the boats
AdaI,IouaI Particulars by n chieagOan.
Tbju,as 81. Lee a young gentleman OF Chi
eago. who il on bis way home from the Islands
gives an account Of the disaster substantially
agreeing with all that Mr.. Nordhof states, with
sumo additional particulars. He was on deck
with the Captain most Of the afternoon and eve
Mug. He says: About clock We beard tbs
log Whistles 90 the Point. as We supposed. and
the Captain decided TO run in. We were ABDUL
t9c hours sail from what supposed 10 be The
rutranee Of the Gate. When | went up STAN
Ee bad passed a buoy. and the first officer said he
kues where be was then. The Captain told blu
10 70 ahead then, and We went along very sloWi,
ami carefully. This about o O'sloek- The
f,x had then bec.,ue very dense iudesd- Abou
hali-past The Captain became undecided wheth
er to 90 ahead or TO anchor.
Tie finally stopped aud ordered the anchors go
ouL 1. vas then pretty dark. There vas SONS
trouble 10 getting the anchor ready to throw
caused believe. by the Chinese not understand
ing their work properly, and after considerable
delay the Captain decided to 60 on, as the fOt
had cleared little So We started ahead. blow
ing the whistle. the fog whistIes sounding frOu
each point. While | Was standing near thI
= wbeeLhouse one uf the walters told me that b
heard breakers On the port side. l went and tol'
the Captain Of il, when suddenly the rocks loom
ed NJ right helOre Is. The Captain ordered th
engineer to back up. The engines were reversed
ba, before the vessel got under Roadway sh
driftei on the r,cks. striking her stern not Yer.
heavily. after which sbe swung round and begai
humping on the rocks. " hen the boats yer
Io2ered 10 take tbe ladies' and children from th
chip rash vas made for them By men. | eou'
not see Who did it, bot vas tod that il vas th
Chinese sailors
The Cause Of the Disaster.
-, ~ uo,oTnf1 ~