The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-02-02

HILO (Hawaii), Jan. 2S.-What last
week was one of the best steamers
belonging to the Wilder's S. S. Com
pany is now nothing but lot of shiv-
cred wreckage, scattered along the
coast from Hakalau to East Point.
While the Kihalani was loading
sugar at Hakalau last Friday after
noon, strong north-westerly wind SET
in. Captain Lane, of the Kihalani, al
once saw that it was going to be more
of breeze than he wanted to en-
counter where he was, and made pre-
parations to get out.
The Kihalani had out an anchor
ahead, stern line to the buoy, and a
breast line to the wharf. The captain
took in the breast line, told his second
mate to stand by the stern line and
pay out as the steamer moved ahead
to the anchor. Captain Lane signaled
the engineer to go ahead, and began
taking in forward anchor-chain at the
same time. Just as the steamer was
directly over the anchor the engineer
appeared on deck with the informa-
tion that something had fouled the
propeller, and the engine was power
less. 1t was the work of but a moment
to discover what the trouble was. The
second mate, on hearing the jingle
bell, supposed everything all right,
and, instead of following orders and
paying out the stern-line as the vessel
went ahead, lie let the line go with a
run, slack and all, and it dropped on
the propeller.
Immediately Captain Lane slackeneG
away as much chain as he dared, with
the hope that he might be able to hold
on; but the wind by this time was
blowing a gale, the anchor dragged,
and in q moment more she was on the
rocks, about 200 feet outside the land
ing. The first bump on the rocks
seemed the signal for a frantic rush
for the boats. The captain tried to get
the boat containing two engineers and
five sailors to take a kedge-anchor and
line and drop it outside, with the hope
of kedging off clear of the rocks, but
his only answer was that, if he wanted
to go with them to get in the boat, and
this Captain Lane refused to do, as he
felt confident that, could he prevail on
his men to help him, there was still
good chances of saving his vessel.
The captain asked the engineer
whether or not there was any danger
of the boilers blowing up, and, upon
receiving a negative reply, told the
engineer he would stay where he was.
The first boat put out to sea and headed
for Hilo.
Captain Lane then teIephoned to
Hilo for the Hawaii, and the Hawaii
made a brave attempt to reach the
Kihalani in time to be OF some aid,
but, as the wind had increased steadily,
it was impossible to make much head
way against it, and long before the
Hawaii could possibly have reached
Hakalau it was evident the Kihalani
was doomed.
The Hawaii got as far as Pohaku-
manu-, having picked up the boats
crew off Onomea, then turned about
and returned to Hilo.
The Kihalani sank where she first
struck, and remained there until
about am. on Saturday morning,
by which time she had either dropped
her machinery through the bottom or
had rolled over and it came over the
side, thereby tightening up the hull
80 that it drifted ashore just below the
mill in Hakalau Gulch.
1t appears to be the opinion OF eye
witnesses that, had the officers and
crew kept half as clear-headed as the
captain, and obeyed his instructions
promptly the accident might have been
averted; and sure it is that, but for
the unfortunate throwing of that stern
line, the Kihalani would have gone
out safely, as Captain Lane had his
vessel under perfect control.
The wreck was sold at auction on
Saturday to Captain Fitzgerald.
THE VESSEL WAS INSURED.
The wrecked vessel was recently
purchased from Captain Matson by
the Wilder's Steamship Company and
was on her first trip for sugar. She
was formerly used on the California
coast and was known as the Daisy
KimbalI. Her new owners changed
her name to Kihalani. Sic had $50
sacks of sugar on board when -he went
on the rocks. She was insured for
So, 900.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
On Friday the kihalani was taking
sugar at Hakalau; there was heavy
sea from the north accompanied with
yery strong wind and rain from the
same quarter; the captain saw that
eating UnrSo and WaS