Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-05-18


northwest, the steamer kept up her
search among the islands along the
coast ~ Sumatra. On June 20 the
southerly end OF the Malay peninsula
was sighted, and the Molly's Hope short
" afterwards put In at the port Of Sin
gapore.
As the engines called for repairs, Capt
willis was obliged 10 make stay Of
two weeks In this port, which IA situat-
ed on the southorly side Of the small
island Of the same name. This little
island, however, since the English first
selected IL as naval and commercial
station In 1918, has steadily increased In
Importance, u fact due TO Its admirable
situation on the line Of trade between
America and the indies.
IL will be remembered that II was Mt
this port that the Dreadnaught was TO
land portion Of her cargo before pro-
ceeding 10 Calcutta. II will also be
remembered that the American clipper
ship never entered this port. However,
Capt. Willis profitcd by his forced So
journ here 10 investigate the circum-
stances OF every wreck that had been
reported within late years.
From the very fact that the Dread
naught had been siRnaled off the port
OF Mncassar and that she had never
reached Singapore, IL became necessary
10 assume that she had been wrecked
somewhere between these two points
True, there was another position 10
take. and IL was that Capt. John had
left the Java sea ana run out into the
Indian ocean through the strait Of
Lombok or strait OF Sunda. And yet
why should he have done this, In
asnluch Ms he WIS bound for Singapore?
Such supposition had nothing TO sup
port IL.
by August 81 the steamer was ready
for sea, and Capt. Willis, by coastiug
along the Simoa islands, left no point
unvisitcd. One after the other he made
thorough search on Madura, Bally,
Lombok and Sumbdwa islands. "'he
Molly's Hope had great difficulty Mt
times to keep herself from being caught
In the violent currents flowing through
the different straits opening into the
Indian ocean, currents 80 strong that II
ship Is carried along even in the teeth
of the monsoon. II will be readily un.
dcrstuud that sailing vessel would
find 1t almost impossible to escape from
one 81 these impetuous swirls TO the
southwark
After leaving Flores island Capt,
Willis continued TO skirt along the
chain Of islands shutting In the Flores
and Banda seas on the south, but no
tidings OF Capt. John and his com.
panions, no trace Of the beautiful clip
per ship, rewarded their efforts, Nat.
urnlly the crew Of the Molly's Hop,
felt tho depressing effect Of this long
aud fruitlcss cruise hut, however, II
was too soon To give up all hope, rs tho
search was really not yet completed II
was possible that Capt. John, instead
Of entering Macnssar strait after lcav
ing Mindanno, had chosen the MoluccT
passage and had entered the Java So,
through the Banda and Flores seas
But the time was running down ant
the logbook Of the Molly's Hope con
tinucl to make no mention Of any trac,
or tidngs of tho lost vessel. Neither
mt Timor nor among tho three groupi
which make up the Molucca Rrchipcln
go did Capt Willis come upon any hi
VI VI NhNh
point to the fact that the Inflated clip
per had been lost in these waters
When the search steamer had rcachc,
the island of Gilolo the circle was com
pIete Capt Willis had made tn
rounds OF the eastern archipelago, h.
had ended tho task which had been as
signed him.
Having taken on the necessary sup
plies Of provisions and coal, the Molly
Hope on January Q was headed TO
home. Thus ended the year 1881
the sixth since the Dreadnaught ha'
last been heard from. IL was not unit
January 90 that the steamer wa
sighted at tho signal station OF Sal
Diego.
Tho Malnysian campaign had laste'
nineteen months and In spite OF tn
prodigious efforts OF Capt Willis, sec
ondcd by tho admirable devotion OF hi
officers and crew, the mystery OF IN
Dreadnaught remained as dark an
deep as ever