The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-12-18
THE HYACINTH
RETURNS FROM AhNEXlNG THE
COOK GROUP.
RESCUE OF TwENTY-FouR sHIP-wREcK.
ED SAILORS on MAIDEN ISLAND.

Tahiti. and anchored in the naval
row between the Cormorant and
Alert. She left this port October
Sd, on n short cruise. Her destina-
ton was the Cook group of islands
five in number, Rarotonga, Man
gaia, Aitutaki, Mauki and Atiu,
which were annexed TO the
British Empire. The Union Jack
was hoisted on each island and
saluted with twenty-one guns. The
natives focked together in large
numbers, and were very pleased
with the idea of being under a
British protectorate, 1t is rumored
that Governor has been appointed
and will shortly leave for the group.
The Hyacinth fell in with consider
able bad weather during her cruise.
On December 4th, she touched at
Maiden island, and found two ship
wrecked crews, in all twenty-four
men. They included the master,
two mates and thirteen of the Ger
man ship Herman, and eight of the
crew of the Swedish bark Virgo,
both vessels having been wrecked
on the island within a short distance
of each other. The men were all
brought to Honolulu, and have been
handed over to their respective con-
suls. The Hyacinth had also on
board two distressed British SUBJ
jects, namely, one Lascar from Raro-
tonga and one Englishman from
Tahiti, and one American from Raro-
tonga. Full particulars of the two
wrecked vessels will be found be-
low. The Hyacinth will probably
remain here tive months. Captain
Acland, her new commander, has
been in Honolulu several weeks
awaiting her arrival.
Following is the statement of Capt.
Binge of the Hermann, one of the
vessels wrecked:-
1 arrived at Maiden Island with
the German ship Hermann, on Nov.
oath, from San Diego, CAL. and
found there the Swedish bark Virgo,
loading guano for Europe. She had
about 700 tons of guano on board.
On my arrival the wind was light
s. f., and shifted the next day
round the west, but this occurs very
often between November and March.
The bark was laying at buoy
moored with q chain from shore and
| three tons anchor with 60 fathoms
ii inch chain. The Hermann made
fast to a buoy, which had only a
chain from shore, and we lowered
down our big anchor to 10 fathoms.
The ship was only a cables length
from shore, and we sounded in
tifty-two fathoms under our bow and
had no bottom with one hundred and
twenty fathoms line at the stern of
the ship. The first two days we had
light westerly winds and not more
surf on the beach than is generally
the case. Then the weather became
squally and a very high swell made
a heavy surf on the beach. The
wind was still from west right on to
the land, and we were so close on
shore that it was impossible to make
sail. We tried to lay out another
anchor, but without success. In
the evening of the 9th about $3.50
p. M, the Swedish bark commence
ed to strike and went into the break
ers very fast. Eight of the crew
landed with their effects safely in a
boat, but unfortunately the second
boat capsized in the surf, and six
were drowned, Captain, mate,
carpenter, cook, and two seamen.
This was about 1880 p. m. At the
same time we sounded under the
stern of the Hermann, getting be.
tween 8 and Is fathoms as the shiI
swung through 2 or points of the
compass according to the direction
of the squalls, but she was SO close
on shore that the rollers commenced
to break under her sternpost. Al
8 p. m. a very heavy squat set in
from west and drifted the ship near
err to the land, and at $3.50 p. m.
she gave the first stroke, some chain
ran out, and she went high up on
the reef quickly. The ship was
lying in the middle of the breakers
and TO land with boat was inn
possible. We hanged to get line
on shore and rugged a whip for
landing through the heavy surf.
The Hermann was an iron ship with
$50 tons of ballast on board and we
considered there was danger of her
slipping down the reef, as soon as
she should fill with water. She was
striking very hard amongst the coral
blocks, but kept tight over an hours
time, then she became leaky and
filled very quickly. The crew got
on shore through the surf first, and
when left the ship, 1l:30 p. m.
the water washed about 3 feet above
the between deck and the sea broke
over the port rail. The next week
there was nothing but storm and
hard squalls from the west, with
very high sea and breakers, but we
succeeded in saving some provisions
and other small things from the
wreck, as we expected to be COM
PEELED TO remain on the island till
about March, 1889. The Hermann
broke nm very uuicklv. The second