The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-09-19
STUCK ON THE ROCKS.
THE G. n. WILCOX WRECKED OFF
MOLOKAI.
Deserted in thirty Minutes After the
Accident-L eaking-Boats to
the Scene.

The bark G.. n. Wilcox, Captain
Wolters from Middlesborough to Hon.
olulu, struck on rock off Lac Keilio,
Molokai, at $3.50 o'clock Tuesday after
noon and is now probably a total
wreck. The vessel was 1870 days from
Middlesborough and the captain
thought to lie off for the night and
come in this morning.
The weather was fine, the day clear
and good breeze was blowing. Some
of the sails were set and others were
clewed up. While weighing ship the
Wilcox struck on blind rock and rode
up on an even keel.
The forward compartment began to
fill with water at once and when first
seen contained at least thirteen inches
and was filling rapidly. The vessel be-
gan humping as if she would go to
pieces in few minutes.
The crew became very much fright
ened. The vessel was filling and if she
had floated off the rock they felt sure
she would go down with all on board.
The captain wanted to stay with his
ship, but the crew to a man refused to
remain.
At 6 o'clock, or Just thirty minutes
after the vessel struck, the boats were
lowered and the men put off toward
Honolulu. Two natives We're down on
the beach and witnessed the departure.
One of the boats was in charge of
Captain Wolters and the other of the
first mate. They pulled together for
several hours across the dangerous
channel, or until about midnight, when
the captains boat took the lead. 1t got
in at o'clock this morning and was
followed in an hour by the other boat.
The wreck is considered unfortunate
on the captains account, as he has been
coming to this port for the last twenty
years. He told Mr.. +. A. Schaefer this
morning that there was no uncertainty
as to his position or bearings. He con-
tinued moving and lacking off the
point in position taken more than
once before. An under current had,
however, drifted the vessel further
inland than was customary, and the
accident occurred on the tack.
When the vessel was made ready to
tack she turned with difficulty, though
when the rock was struck her speed was
sufficient to ride her well on it, where
she stuck fast
The captain has no hopes of saving
his vessel. He says she is certainly a
total wreck. II not already to pieces
and can be gotten off, she will immedi-
ately fill and sink, as she has a hole in
her bottom and was making water very
fast when the crew deserted her.
The G.. n. Wilcox was 1870 days from
Middlesborough yesterday. This is the
second trip she has made to this port,
having left here only about one year
ago. She was brand new vessel and
! the pride OF her owners, who are all, by
the way, in Germany. The crew took
great pride in her, and when she went
on the rocks, was cleaned up as neat as
( yacht.
Her cargo consisted of HOO tons of
| coal in the lower hold and consgn-
ment OF general merchandise consisting
principally OF wines, fine liquors, dry
goods and some small cars for plantation
tramways.
The bulk of the cargo is consigned to
Hackfeld * Co., though M. Phillips &
/ Co., f. A. Schaefer and others are inter.
ested Messrs. Phillips & Company had
on board 1852 boxes of dry goods which
they would prefer to have in stock than
at the bottom of the sea.
The G. n. Wilcox was German yes.
sci, and was built in Glasgow by Lufen
g. Company in 1892. She is valued at
S75. 600 and is supposed to be insured
The cargo is covered by insurance. The
crew consists of nineteen men, includ
ing the captain, all of whom came tc
! the city in safety this morning.
The crew tell a neat little story which
confirms all the slurs that have evel
, been heaped upon the ominous rat
They say that when the vessel started t.
pull away at Middlesborough all the rat
aboard deserted the ship and made fo
, shore. They assert that they knew
e something would happen before thei
: destination was reached. When off tn,
, Horn, however, severe storms were EN-
Z countered, and they concluded tina
r. those constituted the trouble of whicl
\ the rats had forewarned them. Tn
a accident off Molokai will make thos
sailors watch the actions of the little ra
u as they have never done before.
. No dogs and only two cats wer
aboard the Wilcox; and with thi
o single exception no animal RENAME
e with the wreck.
e At S:45 this morning the tug left fo
a the scene OF the wreck. Mr.. F. A
Schaefer, representing the Breme
d Board of Underwriters, J. A. kim
II Minister of the Interior and Nj
: Wolters, representing the agents of I'll
1t ship. Messrs. IL. Hackfeld & Compan
/, went up with Captain Rice on the tul
i Besides these the captain of the Wilco
,e with his crew returned to the wreck.
a Several extra hawsers were take
t. along in case it should become advisab
, or possible to draw the vessel off Il
ID rocks, and four or five expert natl
lg divers were taken along, If the sh
has not gone to pieces when the Il
arrives, and it is possible to keep h
=, pumped out, she may be lightened al
an attempt made to pull her off.
y. The supposition is, however, that s
Ia is stil on the rocks and filled wi
49, water, in which case the efforts OF t