The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1886-05-04
Tho Voyage of the Morning Star.

The American missionary barkentine Morning
Star, Captain /. Bray, arrived in port here the
18th inst, from the islands of Micronesia via
Hilo, Hawaii, after a passage of 40 days The his
tory Of this second voyage, of this new vessel,
reads like chapter of accidents loss of spars and
sails being mentioned, and also contact with the
coral reefs that abound in that tropical region
The following, in a much condensed form, is the
report made by the commanding officer:
Sailed from Honolulu, Nov. 30th 1885, direct for
the Marshall Islands, having as passengers DR.. G.
II. Wetmure and his daughter Miss l.. i. Wet
more. With moderate N. Z. trades, average
run Of los miles day made TO the first is
lands The largest days run was 300 and the
smallest 30 miles. Thirteen days out from Homo
lulu sighted and passed the island of Mile, and on
the l4th day anchored at Jaluit. Delivered the
different firms their mail, 40 days from Germany
altogether the quickest mail ttey had ever re-
oeived. The jenny Walker had recently sailed
for Honolulu, and the he Ia HOH lay anchored at
the Pacific Navigation Compauy's station. We
then first heard the news that German men-of-
war had visited both the Marshall and Caroline Is
lands, hosting their flag and declaring the two
groups under their protection. Their first busl-
ness after claiming the Marshall Islands, was to
impose fine of $500 on the people of Ebon, for
some transaction that took place before the is
lands came under their protection.
On December 18th, sailed for Kusaie and an
uhOred there on the 18th, after being absent Just
three months. A German man-of-war had been
there on Sunday had taken the island. and had
fired n salute, hosting their flag, but went away
angry because the natives would not sell them any
thing On that day. They threatened TO "come
again and show the husaieans what a German
Sabbath Is" Some of their proceedings at that
island where disgrace to their Government. The
missionaries expressed no regrets at the Germans
assumption of power, but the natives were quite
indignant. The island had been visited by west
erly gales which destroyed native houses, cocoa
nut and breadfruit trees The missionaries were
left in about their usual health.
At kusale we had the first trial of the steam
launch presented to the Morning Star by King
Kalakaua. Our engineer had put it in thorough
a raI 10
lection. In towing boats loaded with passengers,
goods wood, water, etc. it proved of great service
and TO the natives 1t source of constant
wonder and amusement. The launch is called Ia
MOI. On December 23rd we took the Marsh III
Island Training School on board, and sailed back
TO the Marshall Islands.
On December 18th, while working east our fore
topgallant trestle-tree gave away, but the spars
and sails were prevented from going overheard by
the heel of the lop-gallaut mast catching IN the
collar of the top-mast stay until we could secure
it. and send the spars on deck. We were without
the use of these sails IS days, before could fud
proper wood and make a new trestle-tree. This
was the means of greatly prolonginG the voyage
and the cause of much trouble IN lacking ship
On December 3lst we steamed into Ebou
Lagoon without any difficulty; this is the first
time We ever entered that most difficult of all
Micronesia lagoOns without great deal OF trouble
Remained at Ebon till January 4th. On the LIST
there was a grand celebration. Mr.. A. Capello was
marshal of the day. PROFESSIONS were formed and
marched TO the church where public exercises were
held. The German ana MarSnall lhlanu uaps DC
cupied the positions on either side OF the platform
and the American flag stood in its future place in
Micronesia-at the rear Germany will now build
upon another's foundation. They are fortunate in
having for that foundation the best oil American
material.
January 18th, 10th aud 10th was spent at Jaluit.
Found the General Sigel anchored at the Pacific
Navigation Company's station and heard the he
Az Hon had returned to Honolulu. Jan. 18th, an
chored again at kusaie after Just four weeks alb
senoe with the Marshall Island work finished
Jan. 22d, sailed from kusaie, and anchored at Po-
ape 24th, and found all the missionaries In good
health.
Jan. 26th, with Rev Messers. Doane and Rand
on board started back east TO do the Plngelap and
Mokil work. While running down the Ponape La
COON, with the sun directly ahead, the vessel ran
aground on a coral patch. BY tightening the ship
n foot, she was foated again, but had started q
fresh leak Native divers said piece of coral was
still sticking fast in the planks and covered 1t with
February i4th, the whaling bark AJJiolda an
chored near us having taken sixty barrels oil since
leaving Honolulu and brought the unwelcome
news to Ponape, that the Caroline Islands had
been conceded to the Spanish. We also obtained
Honolulu papers TO Jan. 18th.
Feb 18th we sailed from Ponape to the west, and
reached Ruk on the 17th-found the missionaries
well-took Rev. Mr.. Logan and his Ponape teach
ers and sailed for Mortlocks on the 18th. Hove tC
at Namolouk on the 10th and TOOK the Penap,
teacher and anchored at Iukunor, the hrst Mort
lock Island, on the 2lst. From FEB, list TO Mar
ID we visited the several stations of the Mortocks
spent March 2nd at Namolouk. Mar. Sd at Iosap
4th at Mama and anchored again at at Mala, Ruk
on the 9TH. Mar Sth and 9th visited Fefan anC
IMAM. islands in the Ruk Lagoon. Mar. 18th, a
$50 O'Clock a. m. sailed from Ruk for Hilo anC
Honolulu Sailing north through the n. E. trad
wind region we had light winds and Gains, beauti
'ul weather. and westerly current. The wint
= ,utinued TO the L. and n. Z. until we reached 20
\ 'Ut Went as far north as lat. "a IA where W
boj he thermometer at 90 Fair. Ran most o
Tho d. lance to the east with light winds from tn
sontb I'd made the longitude of iilo in latitude
March a th. in a moderate breeze and smootl
.sa onr ION gallant yard broke in the slings, anC
Jamared the sail badly, and we again lost the us
Of these sails. April 18th our spanker boom brok
bnt Inv fishing is we were able to use 1t 70 port
Took fresh easterly winds in latitude 30 deg. n
which brouoht us TO Hil0 on the % of April at
pm. as DAYS from Ruk, where we landed on
delegates Dr. Chas. ID. Netmore and bis daugh
ter Sailed mt dark of April 18th, for Honolulu
and steamed down with light airs and Gains
ancboriup in port at O'Clock April 18th, after al
absence Of l49 days. All the calms of the Toyag
have heen during the trip from Ruk to Honolulu
Sine Having Ruk we have had 2ll hours of cain
and steamed 22l hours. During this time, OF IL
DAYS. we have sailed ten thousand four hundre'
and seventy miles, visited is different islands am
some of them several times, stopped at 70 dlneren
mission stations. anchored IS Tunes mad IL
nasaanoers and boated 10 miles.