The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-08-26

Government Observatory at the sum-
nit of Diamond Head telephoned a
strange air ship from the northwest.
Ia a short time tie city of Honolulu
was thrown into a futter of excite
ment by seeing magnificent air-car
float gracefully over the city and dis
appear over the rim of Punchbowl.
Soon a strange vehicle came swiftly,
but easily and quietly, down the
drive from Punchbowl, and took the
most direct course to the Govern
ment building. The vehicle con
sisted Of beautiful boat resembling
whale boat, but made Of aluminium.
It was supported on four wheels,
which seemed intended to act as
wheels on land and as propellers 10
the water. for it was evident at once
that the curious carriage was equally
at home on terra frma or III the
aquacious element.
The carriage was propelled by
some unseen engine. probably eiec-
trio in principle. Within the am-
phibious machine sat three men.
One, evidently the superior in COM
mand, was quiet looking gentleman
about 36 years of age, dressed as a
civilian; the others were In uniform,
of pattern new to the spectators,
and were very intelligent looking
men. Gee of these controlled the
movements of the car. At the rear
end was q short staff, from which
fluttered long scarlet pennant.
When the car arrived at the
Government House one of the men
in uniform stepped out and said. IN
English, to someone staodlng near:
"Will you please tell the Minister
of Foreign Affairs that a gentleman
desires to speak to him."
Permission was soon given and
the one in the suit Of a civilian
passed into the building. By this
time thousand or more persons had
gathered around the car and its two
occupants. They said nothing IN
reply to the many questions; but
tuey cautioned the crowd not to
touch the car, aud those assembled
needed the caution with care.
After the lapse of an hour, g
clerk from the foreign Office brought
card and handed 1t to one Of the
men in the car, whereupon the car
immediately moved off, and was
soon lost to sight up the Pnnchbowl
road. That evening about IL O'Clock
several private carriages stopped at
a certain spot near the base Of
Punchbowl, and soon there were col
lected the sovereign, the cabinet,
and members of the Supreme Court.
In few minutes the strange car
moved silently to the spot, and the
whole party were taken on board,
and were soon gliding up the noun
tain road. Presently they saw the
immense air-ship resting quietly on
a level space near the summit. 1t
looked like an immense torpedo, and
it was evidently composed OF alumni
mum. Airships had been seen be-
fore in Honolulu, but nothing that
equalled this. A neat stairway Of
woven wire extended in graceful
curve over the side of the vessel.
The royal party were soon seated
on the broad upper deck, enclosed
by shining metal railing. Soon
the crater seemed to sink beneath
them, and ere they were aware they
were floating out over the silent city,
without a jar or seeming motion,
bathed in the lambent light Of
tropic moon.
In the morning the widest excite
ment reigned IN Honolulu. To be-
gin with the ADVERTISER contained a
special phonogram as follows:
LIHUE, June 10.-A message by wire
from Niihau states that the small rock
islet of Kaula, lying about Is miles SOUTH
west OF that place was destroyed last
night. It is supposed that submarine
earthquake must have buried it in the
sea. A tidal wave about three feet high
was noticed at many places on Kauai
about P. NJ.
Rumors were flying thick and fast
concerning the visit Of the air ship
and the interview with the Minister.
But the Minister was very reticent.
He said things were going very well
with Hawaii, but nothing more could
be ascertained.
It was known that there was great
activity in the Government Build
ing, and that a dispatch had been
sent to the Hawaiian representative
at Washington instructing him to
ascertain what the United States
proposed to do about the indemnity
question. Part of his reply is as
follows:
The secretary was greatly surprised
that should again call his attention to
the matter; he hoped that nothing
would occur that would strain the
friendly relations existing between he
two nations, but he did not feel like
going into the case He hoped that Ha-
waii would not further press matter
that he had con idered already tacitly
di 'posed of.
*The discovery In 1894 of new chem
ical combination consisting Of G. H2 0,
and Hg gave rise to crop of new and
powerful explosives, a thousand-fold
more destructive than the old time mix
ture Of aqua FORTS and soap grease.
These compositions were called terror
inc, devastine, chaosite, mercuric-eth-
crime, etc., and a pound Of refined quick
-,-l l. 4