The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-10-22
A NAVAL COMBAT
YACHTS, WAR, AND wATER-MELoNs !

A desperate encounter between
two of the principal yachts of the
Hawaiian squadron, took place in
our harbor last Saturday afternoon,
which came near resulting disas-
trously, and is here recorded as
bit of important island history.
1t was watched with intense in
tcrest by the forccastle hands of the
Alert, who were so excited over the
event that they tried TO induce the
officer of the deck to send boat TO
the rescue.
A newly painted yacht, with sails
freshly washed, which few the signal
''H. 1. ID. b." was gracefully riding
the waves on a light summer breeze,
closely followed by another yacht
flying the signal rs. w. z. NJ"
The crew of the latter had been
curiously watched by the boat boys
and long-shore men, as they filed
aboard their craft with water-melons
under each arm, carried with as
much care as if each were torpedo
or dynamite cartridge. The belli-
gerent appearance of this crew in
duced our correspondent to seek Ia
position on board the Alert from
which point of vantage he observed
the following strange proceedings:
After sailing some distance to sea
the yacht rs. w. z. NJ" was OBJ
served to bear down upon the "H.
1. d. B." and as she passed her,
delivered broadside of water
melons, which exploded upon the
"H 1. ID. B." striking its diminutive
captain, the tall handsome mate, and
its heavily bearded crew, while the
sails were riddled with melon-shot.
The little skipper of the "H. I.
d. B." becoming fercely excited,
ran to the bows of his craft and with
rage upon his brow shouted: Ran
them doom
The order was promptly obeyed,
while the skipper stood in the rig
| ging prepared to fire hot shot into
the enemy.
Soon the yachts collided-the tao
tics of the as. w. 2. NJ" bringing
them broadside to. AS they clinched,
the little captain, clinging close to
the ratelines, heaved big kick at
the blue ribbon captain of the rs.
w. P. NJ" Quick as thought the
latter seized his leg, while one of his
counter-jumping crew grappled for
ard while in this war-like position
q sudden squall came over the reef
and immediate orders were given,
Let 90 legs and grappling irons!
The yachts parted, but not with
out farewell volley of small shot
from the rs. w. p. NJ" which dis
abled the handsome mate, drenching
his shirt front with what appeared
to be gore; imprecation meanwhile
being hurled at each other by the
captains of the respective crafts.
Both the yachts lay by on the
wind to repair damages. The "H.
l. d. B." appeared inclined to show
her heels and avoid further conflict,
but the IS. w. p. NJ" was evident
ly bent on a decisive conflict, and
bore down once more upon the
enemy.
| On board the latter yacht great
excitement prevailed, while the crew
of the Oh. L. d. B." prepared to
repel boarders by arming themselves
with row-locks and Delaying pins.
There was now every indication
of a hot and bloody conflict.
! The attacking party, getting with
in range, sent forth volley of fiery
looking shot, which so enraged the
defenseless "H. 1. ID. B." that they
hove to for battle.
Again the yachts grappled. The
little captain, with fierce yell OF
defiance leaped aboard the assailant,
and fell with rage upon his rival.
After brief, free struggle he was
seized by the burly mate who, shout
ing, Take back your dozen cas-
pirate, hurled him aboard the "H.
L. d. B." whose crew was blinded
by the hot shot of the enemy.
Again they parted, while the "H
1. d. b." made all haste for the
safety of the harbor, the ensign
wildly waving a flag of truce to the
closely following victorious yacht
While the attacking party were
evidently considering the situation
they had gradually come within
range of the guns of the Alert an6
both fearing the interference of this
formidable man-of-war, an armistict
was declared, in token of which :
huge peace-offering was sent ABOARD
the defeated yacht in the shape Of ,
large ripe watermelon, both yacht