Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-19

, Hawaii Archipelago or Sandwich Islanda
| After leaving the Anson Archipelago the
Dreadnaught had, no doubt, taken the di-
rection of the Mariana and the Philippine
Islands, thence through Celebes Sea and
Maoassar Strait to the Java Sea, which 10
bounded on the south by the Sunda Islands,
in order to reach Singapore. The Strait Of
Malacca, which is formed by the Malay PEN
insula and the Island of Sumatra opens on
the west into the Bay of Bengal, in which,
outside of the Audaman and Nicobar
Islands, there was no place where the
wrecked crew could have found refuge.
Beyond all doubt John Allairs had nos
reached the Bay of Bengal, for inasmuoh 40
he had not touched at Singapore, and this
was now known to be the case, ii must be
that he had been unable to get beyond the
limits of the Java Sea and the Sunda
Islands
As for supposing that the Dreadnaught
instead of following the Malaysian route
had attempted to reach Calcutta by thread
ing her way through the difficult passes Of
Torres strait along the north coast of the
Australian continent, no good seaman would
have dreamed of such a thing. Captain
Willis insisted that Captain John would
never have taken such rash and uncalled
for step as to expose his ship to the dangers
of this route. The idea was not to be in
dulged for q moment, and it was resolved to
confne the search solely to the route already
marked out as the one most likely followed
by Allaire.
The fact is that the Caroline, Cslebes and
Java seas are filed with thousands of islands
of all sizes, and there il was that the crew
of the Dreadnaught, if they had survived
the wreck of their vessel, might be living
on some desert isle or be held in bondage
by some tribe. Having agreed upon these
points, it was resolved to send an expedi-
tion to the Malaysian seas Mrs Allairs
then made proposition, which to her mind
was of the greatest Importance. She asked
Captain Willis if he were inclined to take
command of the expedition.
As the Flying Cloud had been Ilaid up by
Hollister 6 Co., Willis was on the waiting
list, and therefore, although taken unaware
by this proposition Of Mrs. Allaire's, he
didn't hesitate to place himself at her dis
posal, conditioned upon the consent Of Mr.,
Hollister, who gladly accorded il and
thanked Willis for accepting.
'T'm only doing my duty" replied vii.
lis, 'and everything in my power to find
the survivors of the Dreadnaught shall be
done. "If Captain John is alive"
"John is alive" exclaimed Mrs. Allairs
in tone positive enough to silence the
most incredulous.
Captain Willis now began the discussion
of several points calling for settlement. To
ship crew worthy of this expedition would
not be q difficult matter. But there was the
question of vessel of course for such an
expedition as this the Flying Cloud was in
no wise suited. 1t was not sailing vessel
which a wise navigator would choose in
order to undertake such q task, but .
steamer.
At that moment there were lying in the
bay of San Diego several steamers suitable
for such an enterprise. Mrs. Allaire COM
missioned Captain Willis to acquire title to
the swiftest one of the lot and placed the
necessary funds at his disposal. A few days
sutficed for this transaction. Mrs John
Allaire became the owner of the Davitt, the
name Of which was at once changed to the
Molly's Hope, a most appropriate nams
under the circumstancess and one of good
augury.
1t was a screw steamer of 900 tons burden,
and constructed with very commodious coal