St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-08
ALL ALONE.
He Died on q Coral Island The
Uncanny Sight That Met the
Eyes of q Ships Crew.

He Died on q Coral Island - The
Uncanny Sight That Met the
Eyes OF a Ships Crew.
San Francisco Call.
The squatty little brig PAvenir, known
to all Newcastle and Honolulu, has piled
between the two ports mention ed since
time immemorial, so the sailors say.
She Is all unromantic looking raft, with
anything but lofty spars. and hull that
lies low-like in the water. scarcely show
ing enough of her eides to justify man
without spyglass Judging of her posi-
Die tonnage at distance of FIVE miles.
Her skipper, Capt. Jamison, is fully as
I unromantic as is his boat. and for this
reason the people of Honolulu declare
That the captain cannot be romancing
when he tells his story of the terrible
voyage of the brig from Newcastle to
port.
r The l. Avenir arrived at Hawaii on the
l4th of May, or one day before the
| steamer Gaelic sailed for San Fran
| cisco. The Gaelic arrived here vester
day morning. When the steamer left
the island everybody was chatting
about "Jamison's yarn and rightly
enough, too, for the doughty COM
mander really did spin wonderful
4 IL
| fed to this.
Jamison told of the trip of the brig
from the antipodes.. His vessel had
been long overdue, and of course the
| first question put to him when he
stepped ashore was: How did you fare
during the voyage? What delayed
| you?"
The elements" answered the can
tain. Adverse winds, heavy seas and
nasty weather, that drove US out of our
course and Kept us out SO long that we
ran short of provisions"
True enough; the brig had come near
being wrecked. Twice she was thrown
on her beam ends, and part of her cargo
had to be lettisoned. She made nearly
203 miles by the log under bare poles.
her crew being obliged to give all their
attention to the pumps, the vessel leak
Ing at the rate of several inches an
hour. She was nearly half filled with
water when she reached Honolulu.
When the gales had spent their fury
Capt. Jamison trimmed ship as best he
could, under the circumstances, with
damaged rigging and watersoaked
cargo. and headed toward Laysan
Island. He remembered that Hackfeld
q Co., OF Honolulu, had only recently
sent force of Japanese laborers and a
German overseef to LOOK after their
interests.
The company owns the island, which
is something similar in its formation to
Clipperton island, only 1t IS much larger
than the latter. The Laysan guano de-
p0sits are owned by the Hackfelds. and
It was Hans Hoisteln, well.known n
young German of Honolulu, who was
chosen by the firm to stand guard over
their CLAIM.
Capt lamison remembered that Hol-
stein had only few months previously
been sent to the reef, and that the place
was stocked with years provisions for
ten men. The PAvehir's lockers we're
as empty as sailors purse. not even a
pound Of beans being left to form the
basis of meal. There were few bags
Of sea biscuit aboard, but that was all.
1t was make Laysan or die of starvation
on the open ocean.
The brig dropped down on Laysan
anchorage late one evening. Il was
not what might be called a dark night.
for the stars were out In multitudes.
and mere rim of a moon shown with
sufficient luster to make navigation
comfortable In aud among the outlying
rocks near shore.
The island had been blessed with a
governor. G. ID. Freeth. but the gentle.
man had been away at Hawaii for some
months. Before he left he caused to
be erected square bamboo aud matched
house just under the brow of the hill,
facing the eastern end OF the island.
Near this gubernatorlal mansion was a
row of huts, used by the Japanese con-
tract laborers, and storehOuse.
There was not the sign OF light
about Laysan when Capt. Jamison and
His starving crew viewed 1t from the
decks of the brig. Not even the little
lantern tower near the governors house
gave any evidence Of the PRESENCE of a
lamp. Jamison ordered his dix cleared
away, and with enfeebled arms and
gaunt, hunger.pinehed faces the first
boatload of men pulled for the beach.
The sailors landed, Jamison heading
them, and started for the houses. There
were no signs of life about the place; no
Illumination In any of the windows; all
was as silent and dismal as the grave.
The sailors reached the labofers' butts
and opened door leading into one OF
them. The room was empty, as likewise
were the apartments In the huts In the
balance Of the row.
A lantern had been brought ashore In
the boat. Capt. JaInisop sent for 10,
aud while the men waited they CON-
menced to grumble and look fright
ened. for they were growing super
stitious.
When the lantern was secured and
lighted JamIsou led the Way toward the
governors dwelling. He paused on the
threshold, holding The Ilght above bis
head. His men covered behind him
like ack OF frightened school girls
Jack avoids anything pnqannS,
The outside blinds to Tho widows of