The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-09-30
Trial Trip OF the steam Schooner
Surprise.

morning for Waianae, for the purpose OF
affording her prospective purchaser an
opportunity Of judging her value as a sea
goer. The necessary permission having
been obtained from the Collector General
Of Customs, Hon. John NJ. Kapena, the
vessel was got in readiness for days
sail, and at an early hour quite a crowd
of guests assembled upon her spacious
decks, some on pleasure bent, others
with an eye to a possible business trans
action-one, moreover, which, should /
it be completed, will possess a certain /
amount OF public interest. Captain /
Roberts, her commander, was there |
TO extend the hand Of welcome to his /.
visitors, conspicuous among whom was
Mr.. A. F. Cooke, President Of the Pacific
Navigation Company; also, Major An
tone Rosa, Major Bendel, Captain c. Fl.
Clark, Of the Custom House, Or. McAllis-
ter and wife, Mr.. H. F. Glade, Mr.. Geo.
N Wilcox, Mr.. John f. Colburn,
and a number of other ladies and
gentlemen. There was quite a bevy
of master mariners, including Cap
tains Dudoit, Weisbarth, Perriman
and Winding, who took their turns at
the wheel from time to time. The
various newspapers were also repre-
scented. The steamer left the quay at
8 40 a. m, and, as soon as she was clear
of the reef, set sail, carrying mainsail,
foresail, spanker and jib. Heading
straight for Barber's Point, she proceeded
to run before the wind, but the breeze
was very light and scarcely sufficient to
fill her sails This was a strong point in
favor of the pleasure-seekers, exempting
them from the agonies of sea sickness
on the outward trip, but was not calcu-
lated to display to the best advantage
the good qualities of the vessel, which is
specially designed for heavy weather.
AS it was, the most confirmed landsman
could enjoy the run down the coast, look
ing contentedly at the balmy sunshine,
and lulled by the musical voices OF a
group of duslSy maidens as their fingers
lightly touched the guitar. The trip was an
eventful one The steamer James Makee
was saluted off Pearl river. A fine view
of the coast was obtained, the weather
being beautifully clear. Barber's Point
was passed shortly before IL a. m, and
the speed up to this point averaged 676
knots. Altering her course and steering
for Waianae, the vessel got the wind
abeam, and shot ahead at the rate of
knots for the remainder of the outward
trip, which she accomplished in little
over three and half hours, having log
ged % miles Luncheon was served on
deck as she approached her destination,
and as she neared the pier numerous
crowd of natives hailed her arrival with
vehement gesticulations, for the visit OF
such numerous gathering was evidently
quite en- event in the quiet village. A
landsg was quickly effected in the ships
be .ts,@and the party strolled through the
sugar mill, which though not in active
operation, was a source of no little inter
est both on account of the cleanliness
everywhere apparent and the extensive
machinery and plant The cane fields
were slime distance off, and time did not
admit of an inspection of these, besides
which the intense heat, far in excess OF
that experienced in the city, rendered
locomotion undesirable. The party
therefore contented themselves with a
glance at the mill, the native school, and
a rest at the Chinese store, and returned
on board the Surprise in something I'M
der two hours. At 2 40 p. m. she
weighed anchor and proceeded to sea,
steering due east until o'clock, dashing
along in fine form at knots and leaving
Blrbers Point miles in the distance
The run, however, was not in a direct
line hoEnewards, for head wind pre-
vailed and had considerably freshened
since the morning. At this point
the vessel put about and sailed
for the coast, and continued beating
up against the wind, covering some 81
miles, close hauled, and reaching the
wharf just within five hours from the
time she left Waianae The homeward
trip was made over less peaceful waters
than had been traversed in the forenoon
and those ills peculiar to the deep. anC
which are no respectors Of persons, be
gan to smite down first one and ther
another Social intercourse tagged, the
guitar was metaphorically chung upor
the willows" and only the more hardy
preserved their equilibrium. The youne
moon had risen and set, and darkness
had enveloped the scene before nearing
the reef. The disadvantages Of defective
lighting OF the port were consequently
experienced to the full, and a small
schooner sailed in unpleasantly close
proximity to the steamers starboard side
before being observed. The voyage was
brought to a close at 7:4O p. m, at
which hour a landing was effected on
the quay. The hospitality of Captain
Roberts was very generally appreciated,
and considering the very severe tax i'm
posed upon it by the numerical strength
of the party, it deserved to be.
Whether the trial OF the vessels quail
tiles was satisfactory to the company
which contemplates her purchase has
not TRANSFERRED, but in any case it is I'M
JarsfCOI +bof 10 will NOT J., .I-or, ,,.o-