The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-11-04

Particulars of an affray at the Leper Set
Element on MOlokai having been received by
the Secretary of the Board Of Health on
Saturday, His EKeelleney the President Of
the Board of Health resolved to visit that
place at the earliest possible opportunity to
INQUIRE into the particulars of that occur
renee and asct rtain generally the exact con-
dition of affairs at the Settlement. 1t had
been in contemplation for some time past to
pay a formal visit to the Settlement, on
which occasion Her Majesty the Queen and
some Sisters OF Charity were expected to
accompany His Excellency, house for the
reception Of the latter having been pre-
pared by the Board Of Health; but the
lamentable occurrence in question rendered
an earlier visit by him absolutely necessary.
Accordingly the Government tug Eleu, Cap
tain Rice, Was ordered to be in readiness to
proceed to Molokai at 5 q. m. on Monday.
At 5:25 a. M precisely she cast of from the
wharf and steamed out Of the harbor, having
on board His Excellency Mr.. Gibson. Presi-
dsnt of the Board Of Health; Mr.. Fred.
Hayselden, Secretary of the Board; Mr. r.
J. Creighton, Of the p. G. ADVERTISER; Gap
tain VIM. Tell and Officer Henry Dole Of the
Honolulu police force, the two latter being
Instructed to take charge Of the prisoner.
The morning was squally. with strong
trade wind aud heavy sea. The mountains
were capped with clouds, and the valleys APP
peared to be receiving their. usual morning
shower bath. The moon and stars gradually
faded away before the advancing sunlight,
400 al off Wai-
kiki glorious bow Of promise SPAWNED the
heavens, its limbs resting on the horizon
line on either side, thus forming perfect
arch OF brilliant colors.
The incidents on the trip were few and un
interesting. The Eleu may be a very ad-
mirable tug boat, but she is not an inviting
sea boat. Her course lay dead to windward,
and as she laboriously plOwed her way
through the crested waves her deck was
swept with water, which kept awash the
greater part of the trip. She shipped several
heavy seas, one of which carried the Presi
dent of the Board of Health off his feat. A
apar and sail would steady her, but these
would be membranes in = tug, and they
have been dispensed with. At length the
channel was crossed, and the low point Of
Nolokai was we'll in view. There is nothing
suecial TO distinguish this point Of land from
ether points, except the fact that China
ship went ashore there and that everything
an board was saved. That is so exceptional
an occurrence in cases of shipwreck that il
deserves recording. Inland, however, the
scene was somewhat noticeable. For miles
nc sea we could discern great clouds Of dust
over the island, and as we got nearer land
il appeared as if 3 perpetual dust storm
RACED there. The low land or valley lying
between the coast and the sloping ridge Of
an extinct crater is swept by the trade wind
which always blows fresh here, and the dis
intsgrated soil is carried of in the shape Of
dust to sea- Indeed, the water on board the tug
gave evidence Of this fact long distance of
shore. This land was once heavily grassed,
it appears, but having been oVerstocked
With sheep tue natural verdure was almost
destroyed, aud its place has not yet been
fully occupied by imported grass, although
IL il stated that good deal has been already
done in that direction by the owner. the
Hon. G.. R. Bishop, who uses it as cattle
range. which is known as MolOkai Ranch.
having rounded the low point of Malokai
the course lay along the nOrthwesterly coast
Of the island, which shows in . very marked
way the special care nature takes to provide
effective barriers against the incessant action
Of wind and wave. The formation Of the
cliffs sson changed from clay to rock, in
creasing also in height until they presented
q solid perpendicular face of from two to
three thousand feet, buttressed here
and there by sloping vegetation which grows
upon the wash Of earth from the cliffs above
that found q Judgment upon an occasional
ledge But as a whole this part Of the Molo-
kai coast is straight wall Of volcanic rock,
along the precipitous edge of which shrubs
we're seen growing. The table land above is
said to be very fertile.
As the landing is approached the character
Of ths cliffs change. They become less pre-
cipitous on the face. and are clothed with
vegetation from top to base. Up these are
the trails by which land communication is