The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-02-14

for some time and the mate being a
good navigator, the ca stain thinks
that chances are in their favor.
WHERE SHE STRUCK.
The vessel struck a hidden reef
which is situated at an estimated dis
lance of forty miles from Palmyra ISL
and in latitude deg. 20 min, North,
and longitude 162 deg. % min. West,
1t is supposed to be Kingman Shoal.
The vessel was peculiarly unfortunate
for the reason if she had been but two
miles further north, she would have
been clear of the reef,
LOST EVERYTHING.
Captain Petersen and his wife lost
everything they had in the way of
personal effects. The captain esti.
mates his loss at about $1,000. He lost
his charts, flags, nautical instruments
and in fact everything. He landed
with a very poor suit of clothes, which
had not been off his back for twenty
eight days. His quarter interest in
the vessel is amply secured, as he in
sured it in San Francisco some months
since for $4,000 in the Fireman's
Fund insurance Company. 1t is his
IhlcllllOu W lcdNe 1Ol San II
on the next Australia, accompanied
by his wife.
THE LADY LAMPSON.
The Hawaiian bark Lady Lampson
an old vessel, but being built of teak
and other hard woods, she was still
staunch and strong up to the time of
her wreck. Several years ago, she
was placed under the Hawaiian flag,
and G. Brewer & Co. of this city en-
gagged her in the sugar trade between
San Francisco and this port for some
time, occasionally going to Australia
to bring a cargo of coal when out of
sugar seasons. Her registered tom
mage was 412 tons. She left Sydney
on November LIST for this port with
595 tons of coal on board for VIM. G.
Irwin & Co. She was owned by j. J,
Moore d Co. of San Francisco.
AN UNSUCCESSFUL SEARCH.
When the Lady Lampson's boat
entered the harbor yesterday after
noon, another report was started that
the mates boat was passing Diamond
Head. Port Surveyor Sanders and
three Customs guards went out in
their naptha steam launch at 8
o'clock. They went as far as Dia-
mOnd Head and then stood out for
several miles. They failed to see any
thing of the missing boat. Late in
the evening they hailed the schooner
Queen, which was standing off and
on. Mr.. Sanders reported to the cap
tain of the Queen about the missing
| boat, and also asked him to send up a
man alOft to be on the lookout all
night. The captain replied in the
affirmative. The Port Surveyor and
his men then returned to port, arriv
ing in the harbor about O'clock.
1t is understood that the Govern
ment will take immediate action
about sending relief boat in search
of the missing men.
PALMYRA ISLAND.
The following brief description O
Palmyra Island, the nearest land tC
| the scene of the wreck, is taken from
the North Pacific Pilot, Volume IL
The island is owned by Mr.. Fred
Wundenberg, of this city:
Palmyra Island was discovered by
Captain Sawle, of the American shil
| l. dllI III 1OO-. 1LC uCSClIOCu ~ a.
IA miles in extent east and west, an(
about half that in breadth, fiat, will
a lagoon in its centre Z miles long, il
which the tide regularly ebbed anC
flowed, and uninhabited. The Pal
myra anchored off the NV. side o
the island, three-quarters of mil,
from the shore in 20 fathOms of water
Turtle were abundant, but no fresl
water could be found. Formal pos
session was taken of the island by III,
American Guano Company in 1859
and by the Hawaiian Government il
1862 Captain Bent, in his letter t
the Hawaiian Minister of Interior
reports that the "Island is 10 mile
in length and miles in breadth; tn,
eastern end rises about 20 feet abov,
the level of the sea the landing
place is on the west end, and vesse
can lie in safety in three fathOms o
water. The trees on the island ar
cocoanut, puhala, and n species O
koa. All kinds of vegetables will
grow on the island, and / planted
some beans, corn and watermelOns
I erected a dwelling house and also
curing house for beche-de-mer, leav
ing one white man and four Hawai-
ians on the island"- (they were re
moved long ago..
Position: Captain Sawle made Pal
myra Island in lat. $50 N, long
1928 W.; subsequently it had beel
made IN lat. 5'0'49 N, long. 1928 w.
and in lat. 5.43 N, long. 1920 w
Captain Bent placed it in lat. $50 n.
long. 1888 w. Probable position
lat. $50 N, long. 1922 w. F.; but tn
mean of all will be lat. 5'4S N, long
1925 w.
Palmyra Island was surveyed b.
Commander J. S. Skerrett (now Rear
Admiral Skerret, of the Z. S. S. Mohl
can, now in port) of the U. S. S. Ports
mouth, 1874. The island consists c
many small islets OCCUPYING space {
fourteen miles east and west an
seven miles north and south. Tn
several islets, which enclose three dis
tinct lagoons, are low, the most elt
waited being only six feet above til
sea level, and covered with cocoanu
trees.
Weather: A resident stated tina
during the five months he had been o
the island the rain was almost cor
slant, four days of dry weather bein
the longest interval on any one occs
sion. There is no evidence that tn
island is visited by storms, but storm
squalls sometimes blow from the cas-
and southeast.
Supplies: A few people are Twin
on the Straun island, engaged in cul
ing cocoanut fruit. Fish are abur
dant and in great Variety turtle al
scarce; curlew, snipe and plover al
found. On one of the eastern lslet
there is small pool that general
contains rain water.