The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-05-22
DIED ALL ALONE.
Weird Story of a Coral
Island.
HANS HOLSTEIN'S FATE.
The Sight That Met the Eyes of
Ships Grew.
AN UNCANNY" EXPERIENCE.
The Overseer of Laysan Island Found
Dead and Deserted in the
Governors House.
N UNCANNY EXPERIENCE.

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hull that lies lOw-like in the water, scarcely
showing enough of her sides to Justify q
man without spygass judging of her
possible tonnage at Il distance of five miles.
Her skipper, CAPTAIN Jamison, is fully as
unromantic as is his boat, and for this
reason the people of Honolulu declare
that the captain cannot be romancing
when ne tells his story OF the terrible
voyage of the brig from Newcastle to port.
The PAvenir arrived at Hawaii on The
14th of May, or one day before the steame r
Gaelic sailed for San Francisco. The
Gaelic arrived here Yesterday morning.
! When the steamer left the island every
body was chatting about "Jamison's
yarn" and rightly enough, too. for the
| doughty commander really did spin a
wonderful narrative. The cabin passen-
gers testified 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 10 HIM when he stepped ashore was !:
How did you faro during the voyage
What delayed youY
1.-The elements" answered the captain
adverse winds, heavy seas and nasty
weather, that drove us out of our course
| and kept us ont SO long that we ran short
| of provisions"
Tue enough; the brig had come near
being wrecked Twice she was thrown
on her beam ends, and part of her cargo
had to be jettisOned. She made nearly
203 miles by the log under bare poles, her
crew being obliged to give all their atten-
lion 10 the pumps, the vessel leaking 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
Captain JamisOn trimmed ship as best be
could under the circumstances with
damaged rigging and wateT-soaked cargo
and headed toward Laysan Island. He re-
membered that Hackfeld 81 Co. of Homo
lulu had only recently sent a force of
japanese labOrers and a German ov6rseer
10 the reef to look after their interest.
The company Owls the island. which is
something similar in its formation 10 Clip
peTtOn Island, only 1t is much larger than
the latter. The Laysan guano deposits are
owned by the Hackfelds and, it was Hans
H0ltSteiD, well-knOwn young German of
Honolulu, who was chosen by the firm to
stand guard over their claim.
Captain JamlSOn remembered that Rol-
stein had only few months previously
been sent to the reef aud that the place was
stocked with years provisions for ten
men. The PAvenir's lockers were as
empty as sailors purse, not even Il
pound of beans being left to form the basis
Tor meal. There were few bags Ot sea
make Laysan or die of starvation on the
open ocean.
The brig dropped down on Laysan
anchorage late one evening. Ii was not
what might be called dark night, for the
stars were out in multitudes and a mere
rim of a moon shOne with sufficient luster
to make navigation comfortable In and
among the outlying rocks near the shore.
The island had been blessed with Gov
ernor, Mr.. G. d. Freeth, but tue gentle
man had been away at Hawaii for some
months. Before hs left he caused to be
erected square bamboo and matched
house just under the brow of the hill,
facing the eastern end of the island. Near
this gubernatorial mansion was a row of
huts, used by the japanese contract la
bnrers and a st0r6hOuSe.
There was not the sign of light about
Laysan when Captain JamiSOn and his
starving crew viewed il from the decks of
thN brig. Not even the little lantern tower
near the Governors house gave any evil
dence o. the presence of a lamp. Jamson
ordered his gig cleared away, and with en-
feebled arms and gaunt hunger-pinched
faces he first boatl0ad 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 ~, the windows; all
was as silent and dismal as the grave.
The sailors reached the laborers' huts
and opened a door. leading into one of
them. The room was empty. as likewise
were the apartments in the butts in the
balance OF the row.
lantern had been brought ashore in
the boat. Captain Jamison sent for it.
and while the men waited they COM menced
to grumble and look frightened, for they
were growing superstitiOus.
When the lantern was secured and
lad IN
Governors dwelling. He paused on the
threshold, holding the light above his
head. His men covered behind him, like
pack of frightened schoolgirls - Jack
avoids anything uncanny.
The outside blinds to the windows of the
house were closed. The door was shut,
but not locked. The captain placed his
hand upon the knob and opened it, He
peered into the darkness. but could see
nothing. Taking a few steps forward and
holding the light above his head he made
his way to another and inner door and
opened that.
fearful odor assailed the nostrils of
the party, and for moment they fell ba k,
not daring 10 venture farther. Captain
Jamis0n gathered courage, held up his
light and peered into the room.
A horrible sight met mis- eyes.
Seated at q table, one of its hands rest
ing upon il. was the corpse of Hans Hol-
u,
resting easily IN cane chair. The
eyes were staring vacantly into space.
Captain Jamison and his tars lost no
time in getting back 10 their ship They
did not return to the house until the fol-
lowing morning.
Hans Holsten had died, no one knows
how, but his death must have been nat
ural one, for the German had evidently ex-
pected aud prepared for IL. On the table
was a letter addressed to Governor Freeth.
and will beaueatning to certain persons
in Hon olulu all personal and other prom
erty owned by him.
Holstein had removed his watch and
placed it. together with a small sum of
money, near the will A thorough search
Of the island was made for traces of ihe
ten Japanese laboTers, but none could be
found. The mystery of their disappear
ance and the cause of Holstein's death was
not solved.
HoIs;ein's body was buried on the island
Such provisions as could be found in the
siorehnuse were taken on board the brig
and Captain Jamison ordered all sails SET
for Hawaii. He brought the letter. will.
watch and money to Honolulu and Their.
turned them over to Mr.. Freelh.
There IS not a man on the l'Ayenier who
would stop at Laysan Island again for all
the money in the United Kingdom.
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