The Hawaiian gazette., 1886-09-21


lished accounts. relative 10 the wreck Of
the c. ;. Steamer Saginaw. and other
vessels. on Ocean Island. the incidents Of
which are now again brought up to public
recollection by the late disaster. the wreck
ofthe British ship Donnater Castle. Cap
tam Martin. laden with coal. bound from
Sydney. y. 5. ". to Wilmington Cal and
which vessel went ashore on theIsland. on
July 14th. 1856
Il was upon one OF these islands known
A. Ocean Island, situated in latitude 17So
% north and longitude l7So 80 west.
that the United States steamer Saginaw
went ashore on the morning Of the 29th
Of October. 1870. while on her way 10 San
Francisco from Midway formerly Brooks
Island There her crew remained. having
al fortunately reached the shore IN safety.
until the 81 of January. ISL, when they
were rescued from their half starved and
perilous situation by the timely arrival Of
the steamer hilauea. which had been
PROMPTLY dispatched TO their aid by the
Hawaiian Government on the receipt Of
the news OF the disaster at Honolulu.
In the Eac1iiGl Spectator for July. 1895.
we ind the following account Of Oeean
Island and the wreck OF the Gledstanes.
as furnished by the master:
The Island. IN Lat. 2So % y. and
Long. Us : 30 w. which I suppose to
be Ocean Island. i about three miles in
circumference. Il i composed OF broken
coral and shells. and l. covered. near the
shore with low bushes. In the season. Il
abouris with sea birds. and at times. there
j q considerable number OF hair-saals
There i always an abundance Of fish. and
In great variety. The highest part Of
CLe island Is not more than ten feet above
CLe level Of the sea The only fresh water
Is what drains through the sand after the
Leavy rams From the specimens of dead
shells lying about the beach. there ap-
pears 70 be great variety Of shells
Through the Misrepresentation Of in
tsrested parties, backed by the recommen-
dau0ns Of naval officer. the Pacific
Nail Steamship Company was led 70 be
lieve that by the expenditure OF q reason
able sum. q good harb0r could be made at
Midway Island q barren sand-bank. en-
closed II q coral reef. situated ii north
latitude . : IL and west longitude III
.. distance from Honolulu about LOO
miles. and IS miles from Ocean Island
TINS was TO be the coaLlg station for the
cgmpany's steamers on their voyages be
tween San Francisco and China. As &
commencement Congress appropriated
$4,000 for the work OF blasting q ship
channel through the reef. The Saginaw
was detailed for the service. and on the
22d % February. 1910, left San Francisco
Tor Midway Island VIA Honolulu. having
on board q party of experienced divers.
and al the necessary machinery. apparatus
and stores Tor carrying on the work of
blasting and excavaung the proposed
channel She arrived al the island March
2+th. and after putting up the necessary
buildings. the business Of blasting the bar
was commenced. and the first trial was
considered satisfactory. fifty pounds Of
powder having been used in two charges.
each dislodging about five tons Of rock
This was to be hOisted into q scow and
then dumped on the reef on either side Of
the proposed cut. The channel was to be
600 feet IN length, with general average
width Of 200 feet and depth Of q feet.
On the 14th Of May the Saginaw sailed
Tor Honolulu. and up to the date of her
loss. October 29th, had made four trips to
and from the island On her last return
from Honolulu, Captain Siesrd brought
orders to the working party to discontinue
operations, as the appropriation (S50,OO0)
had been exhausted.
Having taken on board the working
party and their materials on Friday,
ltrsditOnslly unlucky day for sailors the
Saginaw left Midway Island for San
Francisco. L was determined however, I
70 visit Ocean Island about IS miles to
the west. where II was possible that some
vessel might have been wrecked 1t was
EpCu this island that the British ship
Gledstanes was wrecked IN 1887. and the
American ship Parker. IN September, 1872 I
The crew Of the latter ship were taken
from the island ID May. 1873 But the
Saginaw. on her humane mission became .
q wreck The wind was fair. and the
engines were running slowly. and 1t was
expected that they would be near the isl (
and ab0iIt four In the morning. At half /
past two, the engines were stopped entire
y. At half-past three. the man on the 4
lookout reported that he saw something 4
ahead which be thought to be breakers i
The order was given Immediately 20 back .
the engines. which was done aud contin- +
Jed for about ten minutes. when the .
wheels refused % move. the difficulty
being evidently that some Of the steam /
connections were broken During this (
time the top-sails were still set and could Z.
not be got il before she struck The (
water came IN IN torrents. and IN z few
moments was up 70 the crate bars Every
wave that struck the ship threatened to
break her 10 pieces The smoke stack
went over the side. and the ship gradually
careened over TO port towards the reef 4
she was being lifted bodily upon the /
rocks. and N q little time the after part 1
II --- -as..- - 49, IL Ii .