The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-15

sea, that Capt Willis was called upon
10 continue his search, not relaxing
his efforts until Singapore had been
reached
In a report sent to Mrs Allaire from
this extreme point of Celebes island, Will
| lis communicated to her this important
piece of information. at the same time
promising to keep her posted as to the
| results of the search which would now
be confined TO the Java sea and the Sum
da islands.
Willis had fixed the meridian of Sing
| apore as the western limit of the ex-
pedition, and on his way home intended
| to explore the western shores of Java
sea, and make search among the chap
| let of islands which shut il in on
that side, then after passing in among
the Moluccas regain the Pacific and re-
turn to America.
The Molly's Hope left Macassar on
May 2s, and crossing the strait at its
lower end, made the port of Banjer-
massin. This Is the official residence of
the governor of Borneo. Most scrupu-
lous examination was made of the ship
ping records, but no mention Of the
Dreadnaught could be found. There
was but one explanation. Capt John
had kept out to sea in crossing this
body of water.
Ten days later Capt. Willis cast an
chor in the port of Batavia at the west
erly end of the island of Java. This is
the capital Of the Dutch possessions in
Oceanica. The governor general was
not able to give Capt. Willis glimmer
of light on the possible fate of the
Dreadnaught. In the opinion of the
marine authorities at Batavia, the
American three-master had been over
taken by a tornado which had caught
her with all her sails set and sent her
to the bottom with every soul on board.
In support Of this opinion they cited a
number of like cases, in which no tid-
ings had come from the doomed vessels,
and no bit of the wreck had ever been
cast ashore.
In leaving Batavia the Molly's Hope
put the strait of Sunda on her port side
and soon sighted the islands of Billion
and Banka. Formerly the approaches
TO these islands were infested with pi-
rates, who frequently attacked vessels
touching here for cargoescof iron and
tin; but the marine police have succeed
ed in destroying this pest so that
there was no reason to conclude that
the Dreadnaught and her crew had
fallen victims to sea robbers at this
point.
Continuing her course toward the
northwest, the steamer kept up her
search among the islands along the
coast of Sumatra. On June 90 the
southerly end of the Malay peninsula
was sighted, and the Molly's Hope short
ly afterwards put in at the port of Sim
gapore.
As the engines called for repairs, Capt.
Willis was obliged TO make stay of
two weeks in this port, which is situat-
ed on the southerly 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, fact due to its admirable
situation on the line of trade between
America and the Indies.
It will be remembered that IL was at
this port that the Dreadnaught was to
land portion of her cargo before pro-
ceeding to Calcutta. II will also be
remembered that the American clipper
ship never entered this port. However,
Capt. Willis profited by his forced So
journ here to investigate the circum-
stances of every wreck that had been
reported within late years.
From tho wary foot that xha n~ooA
naught had been signaled off the port
of Macassar and that she had never
reached Singapore, IL became necessary
to assume that she had been wrecked
between these two points.
True, there was another position to |
take, and it 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 vet
why should he have done this, in
asmuch as he was bound for Singaporep |
Such supposition had nothing to sup
port IL.
BY August 25 the steamer was ready
Tor sea, and Capt. Willis, by coasting
along the Simoa islands, left no point
One after the other he made
thorough search on Madura, Bally,
Lombok and Sumbawa islands. The
Nolly's Hope had great difficulty at
lines to keep herself from being caught
n the violent currents flowing through
he different straits opening into the
indian ocean, currents so strong that a
hip is carried along even in the teeth
II the monsoon. II will be readily un.
lerstood that a sailing vessel would
ind it almost impossible to escape from
me of these impetuous swirls TO the
outward.
After leaving Flores island Capt.
Willis continued TO skirt along the
hahn Of islands shutting in the Flores
nd Banda seas on the south, but no
idings of Capt. John and his COM
anions, no trace of the beautiful clip
er ship, rewarded their efforts. Nat
rally the crew of the Molly's Hope
elt the depressing effect of this long
nd fruitless cruise But, however. il
'as too soon TO give up all hope, as the
earch was really not yet completed. It