The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-12-09
]. SIS. ALERT LONG TRIP
TWENTY-ONF DAYS OUT FROM
SAN FRANCISCO.
Here to Relieve the Adams-Coal Ran
Low-Twenty-Four Bags Mail-Log
of the Slow Voyage.

Shortly after s o'clock this morning
the S. S. Alert was sighted off of Koko
Head. Two hours later the man
Eanchored a couple hundred yards from
the boat landing.
The Alert has been twenty-one days
en- route. She left San Francisco on
November IS and was compelled to
steam the entire distance. Generally
adverse winds were encountered. On
November 23, five days out from San
Francisco, a heavy northwest gale was
encountered. The ship hove to- A
boat was lost in this gale. Following
came fresh breeze from the south,
which lasted for five days. The last
five days of the voyage favorable trade
winds were encountered. The ship
could have reached Honolulu early
this morning but it laid off last night.
The coal bunkers contained less than
thirty tons, it being necessary to
steam TO make any headway. The Of
fetal log of the ship is as follows:
Left San Francisco November IS.
Had stormy weather with strong head
winds until entering the trades in lat
itude 2S n.
The Alert followed the sailing route
laid down in the November and De-
cember pilot chart, photographic Of
fee.
The Alert brings twenty-four bags
of mail for Honolulu. The officers are
congratulating themselves that the
Alert reached Honolulu before the
Australia.
Commander Franklin Hanford is
commanding the Alert. There are 1876
in the officers and crew. including II
marines.
The officers of the Alert are:
Commander F. Hanford.
Lieut.. T. S. Phelps.
| Lieut.. A. c. Baker.
Lieut.. C. f. Pond.
Lieut.. p. Y. Lansdale.
Lieut.. w. z. Stafford.
Ensign F. i. Sawyer.
Ensign G. f. Gelm.
! p. A. Paymaster w. j. Littell.
! p. A. Surgeon L. w. Spratking.
p. A. Engineer Fl. T. Cleaver.
The Alert is one of the best ships in
the United States fleet. Sne carries
one sixty pound rife, two 9-inch
smooth bores, two 6-pounders Hotch-
kiss rapid fire. two 81 NJ. NJ. Hotchltiss
revolver cannon and two Gatlings.
Immediately after the Alert had
anchored DR.. Brown, of the L. S. S.
Adams, made an official visit to the
new arrival. He was received at the
gangway by Commander Hanford
Adiutant and Captain Schaefer also
called upon the officers for Col. Nc
Lean, of the National Guard of Ha-
waii.
Commander Hanford brings instruc-
tions to the commander of the L. S.
s. Adams. The later will probably
leave for San Francisco on Saturday.
The Alert is manned with a fine
corps of officers. Commander Han
ford is well known in naval circles all
over the world. Lieut.. Navigator A. C.
Baker has been in the United States
naval service for many years. He
and Col. Mclean, of the National
Guard of Hawaii, were at one time of
ficers upon the same man-of-war.
Several of the officers have been to
Honolulu before and they are glad to
see their old friends again. Lieut.. T.
S. Phelps was here with the Pensa-
cola; Lieut.. C. F. Pond with the
Jamestown; Lieut.. w. f. Stafford with
the Mohican; Chief Engineer II. Cleav-
er with the Benecia; Assistant Sur
geon r. S. Spratling with the San
Francisco.
81 am highly delighted with the
prospect of making Honolulu my home
for the next few months at least" said
Lieut.. Stafford this morning. I'm all
my travels | have never met a finer
or more hospitable lot of people. Then
again, the climate of Hawaii cannot
be duplicated anywhere on the planet.
1t is the loveliest spot l know any
thing about"
Nrn MA TC Sn DT INrn