The Hawaiian gazette., 1894-09-21

II had been laying of shore, as
did not want 10 get abreast Of Oahu
until the next morning. We were
hove TO, and when we were within
three miles of shore, / concluded it
was time TO get around. l started
to wear ship, but was caught
by the current, and grad
ually carried in shore. All the
time 1 expected the ship to get around
but the current was too strong, and
before / knew it she had struck. AL
most Immediately she got of the first
rock, and still thought she would get
out of danger. But in few minutes
she struck again, and soon settled,
listing heavily 10 Iort.
Al have mSde the same maneuvre
probably twenty times. l thought /
knew the islands, and it took me
twenty-three years TO find out that
didn't"
There has been, both among the sea-
faring men Of the town and those who
visited the scene of the wreck, con-
siderable adverse comment on the
fact that Captain Wolters did not
drop his anchors when he found his
ship was 80 close in shore. Several of
those who saw the wreck, and they are
men who should know what they are
talking about, claim that, had he let
go one of the anchors, his ship would
have swung round, caught the wind,
and have now been safe in port. They
all realize that il is very easy to say
afterwards Just what should have been
done, but nevertheless it does seem
peculiar that q man of Captain VOL
ter's experience should have fallen
such an easy victim. The captain ex-
planned this by saying that had it not
been for the current he would have
had plenty of wind to carry him away,
and that he thought any minute
his vessel would veer around and
be practically out of danger. But she
didn't, and is now irretrievably lost.
Captain Wolters is a man about
fifty-five years old. He has been
sailing to the islands since 1871,
twenty-three years. This is the
first ship he has ever lost. He is
considered the Commodore of Hack
field & Company's fleet, and is q man
in whom the company has every con-
fidence. The first ship he ever brought
here was the Elsie Wylie. Since that
time he has had command of the old
c. r. Bishop, and the II. Hackfeld.
A few years ago, he gave up going TO
sea for some time, and superintended
the building of the Company's ships.
When the Wilcox was completed, a
little over two years ago, he was given
the command of her, and brought her
here on her maiden voyage. The un-
fortunate trip which ended Tuesday
evening was her second and last.
At present no one knows just what
will be done with the wreck. 1t is
more than probable that it will
be sold at auction, though there is a
possibility that it may be disposed Of
at private sale. Just what it would be
worth to buy her is at present moot
ed question, although the general
opinion of those who have seen her
seems to be that $500 would be
enough, if not too much. All the per- !
ishsble portion of the cargo is entire
ly ruined. 1t contained, among other |
things, a large consignment of Christ |
mas goois, which being delicate,
would not pay to even try and save. |
There was also considerable galvan-
ALCh ilOD III AhC NoA6 81 eN-SS-
lying in salt water, will be of no use
whatever. The only part of the cargo |
which, in the opinion of most people, |
it would pay to save, is about five hum
dred cases of liquor. These, of course,
if not broken, would not be damaged |
by the water.
Captain Wolters claims that the
vessel as she is, is worth at least 1
5000. He says her keel is still un-
broken, as is shown by the solidity of
the masts, which rest Oh the keelson.
The captain owns one e-sixth of the
vessel, which is insured for $4,000, |
and which he says is worth $4,000.
He will probably go to the Coast on
the next Australia, and then on to his
home in Germany, after seeing his
owners. The crew will be p-id off
here. They can demand about four
months wages in advance, as they
were engaged for the voyage. All
matters OF that kind, however, will
be settled by the German Consul.