The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-08-21
THE OlMARUrS ESCAPADE.
SHIP IN PORT WAS HELD by
REBELS AT RIO.
Blocked for Three Months - Several
yolleys Across Decks-Fever-
Captain Brown.

jolliest old shippers that ever crossed
the main or cracked bottle to the
health of Davy Jones. His hair is
white but he has not yet lost his youth
full vigor with his fifty years. He is an
Irishman and is proud of it; but, during
his many years of life, has visited SO
many ports of the world that there is
not enough emerald in his nature to
dress the back of one of Joe Marsden's
toads.
He has dropped anchor all around
Europe and Asia, plowed the pillows at
both ends of Canada, told yarns with the
tars in New York and Frisco, seen the
Mountains of the Moon, knows all that
is to be known about Africa, is at home
in any port in South America and re-
members every snag around the coast
of Australia. More than all, he has
been here before. away back in the
whaling days. His craft, the Oimaru,
is stout fabric of 1000 tons burden,
though she bears evidence of having
seen some pretty tough weather in her
time. The vessel is neat in her ar
rangement and is amply provided with
the requirements of large crew.
Aside from her weather-beaten ap.
pearance, however, the Oimaru has
more than one rifle. ball hole on deck.
She was in Rio harbor during the recent
rebellion, surrounded by Admiral Da
Gama's fleet of war vessels, and at a
time when the rebels did not care much
whether they sent Captain Brown to the
bottom of the bay or not. The holes in
the Oimaru, still to be seen, were not
caused by stray balls, either, but were
aimed directly at the little coal craft.
The story, which is OF interest, as told
by Captain Brown, may be briefly
summed up as follows:
The Oimaru left Newcastle last fall
with load OF coal for Rio de Janeiro.
She rounded the Horn and sailed up the
Brazilian coast, arriving at Rio bay in
December. The rebellion was then at
its height, and Admiral Da Cana was
practically in control of the harbor.
His men-of-war were in a position to
sweep the bay, and covered the docks.
Not a man dared put off from shore
without the insurgents knowing who he
was, where he was going, how long he
was going to stay, and his busin ess.
The movements OF merchantmen in port
were also, at that time, practically at the
discretion of Admiral Da CANA.
When Captain Brown entered with
his load of coal on his way to the dock
he had not proceeded far when he was
ordered to halt. This command he
obeyed and promptly let go his anchor.
For several days the Oimaru lay al
anchor, and the bombardment of the
city continued in slow and aggrava
ting manner. But it was at best not
safe. Bullets and grape shot were con
stantly whistling around, coming from
both sides, and every once in a while q
shell would go Sizing and fixing by
just over the Oimaru and near enough
to give the sailors thereon feelings OF
weakness and weighty discomfort.
The position getting a little too ho
Captain Brown hit upon the old ides
of stealing his way to the dock. 81
Selling an imaginary opportunity III
drew anchor and started forward
Then he received something which per
suaded him that he did not want to e
in at all. 1t was volley OF musketr.
from one of Da Gama's war vessels
The balls whistled all over the deck ant
through the rigging, one piercing thu
ventilator near which several sailor
were standing. Captain Brown ordered
the anchor down, and it went dow
quicker than ever before.
This made the skipper of the Oimarr
mad and he went to see Admiral d,
Cana and demanded the reason for tn,
volley which had been fired across hi
decks and reason why he nigh
not proceed to tine dock. The rebe
officer received him very cordially, bu
informed him that he could not procee,
to the wharf as his cargo was for the us
of the enemy which was then beinl
beseiged. He took Captain Brow
through the vessel, showed him hi
guns and treated him like a prince, bu
sent him away with little or no com
fort.
After that episode Captain Brow
held his position, not able to move les
he receive another volley from tn
watchful war vessels. In the NEAR
while Admiral Da Cana returned til
call of the captain and was received q
well as might be on the Oimaru. Cal
tain Brown was very attentive to tn
rebel commander for more than on
reason at that time and the two becam
quite well acquainted. But as fo
reaching the dock Captain Brown coul
not to save the life of his shil
He tried it several times and was stoppe
short by volley of musketry. One {
these balls struck into the skylight ov,
the captains quarters, and many tim
the sailors on deck had narrow escap,
from being shot.
At last, of course, the stand taken |
foreign powers threw open the way
one of the docks and Captain Brow
squeezed his vessel in, but not until
had lain three months in the bay und
cross fires.
Then it was that yellow fever brol
out among the ships at Rio. All aboaI
the Oimaru, except three, were strick'
down with the terrible disease. Ca
tain Brown himself lay in the hospit
at deaths door for three weeks, and
the meantime five of his crew had die
AS quickly as possible he put to sea al
soon after the sixth man died aboa