The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-09-30
thursday September Both.
OCEAN ISLAND.
Return of the Relief Steamer Wal
aleale
The shipwrecked Mariners Rescued
Particulars OF the Expedition.

On Monday, September 18th, the
steamer James Makee arrived in port
with the Chief Officer and six
seamen of the British ship Dun
hotter Castle, which vessel had
been wrecked at Ocean Island
on July 18th The shipwrecked sailors
left the latter island in lifeboat, and
after voyage of fifty-two days, reached
Kalihiwai, Kauai, where they were
taken on board the Makee. They left
the Captain and twenty-five men on the
island.
AS soon as the facts of the shipwreck
became known, H. 3. NJ. Commissioner,
Major J. H. Wodehouse, chartered the
steamer Waialeale to go down. In the
meantime the Hawaiian Government,
having taken into consideration the
exigencies of the case, resolved to charter
a steamer and send her to the island to
relieve the shipwrecked mariners. How
ever, Major Wodehouse, on behalf of the
British Government, having chartered
the only available steamer, the Ha-
waiian Government, through His Ex-
cellency Mr.. Gibson, Premier, requested
to participate in the expense and work
of the expedition, which was kindly al
lowed by the British Commissioner
The ADvEsTIsER has already described
the starting of the expedition, to which
there is nothing to be added. 1t is now
enabled to present to its readers a de-
tailed narrative of the voyage of the re-
lief party by the Waialeale and its oper-
! atoms on shore.
DIR. cRADDocK's NOTES OF THE VOYAGE.
The following is full account of the
expedition, furnished us by DR.. S. E.
Craddock, and giving each days expe-
riences;
At 4 40 September 14th the whistle
blew, and friends hastily left the
steamer, and we are off. TIE crowd on
the wharf gave us parting cheer, to
(which we answer from the vessel. Once
49, irTJf and
current are with US, and Barber's FONT
is passed in one hour and twenty min
utes from leaving the dock. We adjourn
to supper, and shortly afterwards retire
to rest, most of us feeling that the Wal
aleale is not the steadiest of boats.
SEPTEMBER 18th.
This morning we are up early, and
find that th1 Island of Kauai has been
passed during the night and
that Niihau is visible on our starboard
quarter Shortly after Kaula's black
rock appears on our port bow, and this
is the last point of land we are to see be-
fore making Ocean Island All hands
were in good spirits, and we amused
ourselves by shooting at some molten
sive ducks that passed over the steamer.
Yves succeeding in killing some, but
none fell on board ship. At II p. m.
we had made $50 miles, which was at
the rate of 90 knots per hour.
On the 10Th the steamer made 205
miles, and on the 18th 218 miles.
SEPTEMBER 18th
The steamer made POS miles. a look
out was stationed at the fore masthead
at intervals during the day, in case
another boat had started from Ocean
Island. At u p. m. we passed within
twenty miles of Lissianski Island.
SEPTEMBER 10th.
4 sharp lookout was kept all day from
the masthead and bowsprit We ex-
pect sto make Ocean Island the next
morning. A large white bird settled on
the. mizzenmast-head and was nearly
caught by one of the sailors. The vessel
made 2O7 miles. Distance from the
island, $50 miles.
SEPTEMBER goth
We are all up early, eager to catch the
first glimpse of the island. Two men
are at the masthead and another in the
rigging At 7:3O a. M, shortly after
breakfast, a lookout reported land on
the port bow. The steamers course
was changed for the island, and soon
the masts of the Dunnotter Castle are in
view. We are now to the east of the
big reef, about sixteen miles in extent,
and which almost surrounds the lagoon
in which the island is situated. The
opening is on the western side, and we
have to steam nearly half round the reef.
Gradually we get a nearer view OF the
island and hoist our flag at the main,
Whine every glass on board Is brought
to bear on the island. We see the flag
staff which the crew had erected and at
first we think that our signal has been
answered. Closer inspection, however,
shows that this is not the case, and We
strain our eyes in vain in the attempt to
distinguish any living object. Then we
make out tent, but still no signs OF
life, though at times an occasional rock
makes US think that a boat is being put
off from the shore. The wrecked ship
stands out prominently in the back
ground, looking so natural and at rest