The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-01-05
BURNT AT SEA.
Fate Of the WhalGP John
P. West.
Thrilling Scene Off Honolulu
Early This Morning.
Crew Picked Up by the Steamer
w. G. HaIl-No Lives Lost
-lnoendiary Origin
Supposed.

The whaling bark John p. West,
of the James Mackenna fleet Of whal-
ers, sailing out of San Francisco,
took fire off Molokal about O'Clock
this morning. The bark had been off
for cruise, having called here few
days ago, and Capt. Huntley had de-
cided to return to bid his wife another
farewell, as she was to leave on the
s. S. Australia to-day for San Fran
cisco to receive medical treatment.
1t will be remembered that the ves-
sci called here last week to leave
Mrs. Huntley, she having taken seri-
ously ill on the passage from San
Francisco. Captain Huntiey had just
left the deck on the termination of
his watch. He retired to his cabin
and turned in. Only few of the
crew who we're on the watch re-
NAMED on deck.
Five minutes after the skipper had
retired cries of "Firel" were heard
on shipboard. The alarm was given
by one of the crew who had just
come out of his bunk He had seen
fire and smoke issuing from the fore
hatch. The fire spread rapidly to
the between decks, where there was
quite quantity of coal oil. Captain
Huntley and his men tried to extin-
guish the fire, but all efforts to do so
were Intellectual. The fire was seen
at A o'clock this morning while the
bark was off Moloks;, and half an
hour afterwards the stern of the ves-
| sci was blown out.
According to the stories of the
1 crew it would appear that on seeing
the flames sailor rushed to the spot
and discovered two blankets between
decks saturated with kerosene oil.
He did not venture near enough to
extinguish it because the flames were
flaring up and would have been dan
gerous to approach. The skipper
seeing there was no chance to save
the vessel decided to leave her.
"Lower all boats!" cried Captain
Huntley and the order was immedi-
ately complied with. Several of the
crew were pulled out of their hunks
aud hasJened Out Oh dcCh, without
knowing what was the matter.
The boats were lowered and the
captain and crew, numbering about
thirty-seven, FASTENED to enter them.
They lowered around till the ship
burnt down to the waters edge. The
crew then started to row to Homo
lulu and were picked up by the
steamer w. G. Hall. They were
fairly exhausted and were given
some refreshments on board the
steamer.
| The steamer could not tow the YES
sci in, as she was beyond saving.
They arrived in port about o'clock
this morning and quickly sought E.
o. Hall & Sons, agents of the vessel.
Two of the crew managed to bring
some clothes ashore in bag, but the
rest, including the captain, have
nothing but what they had clothing
their persons. No lives were lost and
all are thankful for their safety. The
vessel had made no catch so far, and
Capt. Huntley had decided to sail VI
North after his call.
The John p. West was new bark
having been only about nine year:
afoat, and the loss of so noble look.
ing vessel is deeply regretted.
The circumstance alleged of the
finding of a blanket saturated will
oil at the starting place of the fire il
placed by suspicion against a sailol
who was put in irons when the vesse
called here, for insubordinate con
duct after the crew was refused
liberty ON shore. 1t is said this sailo
was Union man shanghaied oil
board at San Francisco, and witt
didn't want to stay with the vesse
longer than he could help himself. A.
Capt. Huntley refused to talk unit
an official inquiry was held, nothing
but sailors accounts can be obtained
for anything now unpublished. An in
quiry is being held at the United
States Consulate this afternoon. TIL
tug Eleu went out to- the wreck a
midday, and returning at z o'clocl
reported 10 still afioat and burning
The fire was apparently subsiding
however, and Capt. Rice of the Ele
thinks it will die out and the hui