The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-12-28


sane, some stopping for jewelry, ap-
parel. etc. No one knew at the time
the cause of the dreadful shock and
the terrifying alarm; besides the ship
had been brought TO a full stop; the
storm was furious, the pillows were
raging, TO which was added the sus-
pension of the huge boiler, dangling
halfway down the starbOard side Of
the ship, an ugly sight TO the fright
ened passengers. But of this latter
feature the gazing eye was soon re-
lieved, the cordage having been cut in
twain and the massive boiler allowed
TO drop to the depths of the ocean and
become subject to the inspection" Of
sharks and deep-sea monsters. Mean
while some OF the briny tribes were
dining on potato salad, compounded of
spuds and onions which had been
washed from deck TO sea, sack after
sack-at least what did not remain roll
ing about in the water on the passen-
ger deck to remind us that something
had happened in our latitude. The
cause of all this trouble was that the
ship was heavily overloaded forward,
which compelled her to stick her nose
into the sea where she had no business
in such profound depths.
The fact is, there should be some ma
rine law regulating the matter of over
loading, particularly on the passenger
decks. Such a condition of cargo under
which our vessel left port could not
have shipped on the Atlantic seaboaTd.
But at this moment our danger has
been lessened, the greater part of our
tonnage of coal having been shifted
aft all of the natural elements be-
ing favorable, the nose of our ship al
lowed to sniff the air in place of the
brine.
But, meanwhile, we were retarded
about one day and four hours. Slug
gishly for three long days we pIowed
the ocean, hating, doubtful, and 10
some fearfuIly. For three days the
telegraphic news from bridge" to en-
CINE room was repeated over and over:
Ahead, - Half" SLOW" stand by"
stop" For three days the water ran
continuously in the scuppers from
stem to stern, while our clever boat
took the shipping seas like a defiant
whale.
This much, however, l have to say:
IF the logician Aristotle instead Of
making in one of his famous facetious
syllOgisms, one go to the ridiculous
conclusions that all men are liars lie
had turned his logic loose on traditions
with the rational conclusion that all |
such are lies the traditional perennial |
placidity of the Pacific Ocean would |
have been in furious evidence for the |
past few days; and the rhymical name |
of our ship, Monowai (still water), |
would be universally adjudged fabri-
eating misnomer belying her boastful
pretensions Nevertheless, things were
not destined to be always thus, and
both sea and ship have put on their
best behavior and redeemed in our
eyes their accredited glory. Following
the three days of unpropitiOus weather
came Monday morning with a gracious
sun and perfect calm. kissing the an
CRY sea to sleep; tumultuous sea-
born means and groans were turned 10 ,
gentle soughing in winds that smooth
ed down the wrinkled care-worn face
with a heavenly anodyne both sweet
and restful.
Did | say sunrise a moment since;
sunrise on that Monday morning afore-
said? Yes. But now as then let me
cover my lips with the palm of my
hand, and only address the depths OF
my soul in dumb speech, 'let my right
hand forget her cunning and let my {
tongue cleave to the roof of my
mouth" and let my pen become as a
frebrand snatched from the lambent
mouth of the Kilauea ii. e., however, 1
after that have visited those volcanic s
regions) if ever l attempte to describe
fully that mid-ocean sunrise on the
peaceful bosom of the Pacific Novem-
Der 18th. A D. 1896. Such was the
pollychromatic gorgeousness and al |
most supernatural glory that our clever ?
MonOwai realized the beautiful ideal of
"a painted ship on a painted sea-
Such magnificent spectacular views
come not often to one of average life,
and if perchance they follow a tidal
wave CD at sea, atone for not little
of the perils thereto accompanying.
Barring accidents and incidents our
passage to the Hawaiian Islands soon
will have been made and withal replete
with health, pleasure and good spirits.
We set out on the seven-days' journey
with the determination not to allow
many things to pass us, in which we
have succeeded except as to the par I
allels" and "longitudes" and the con- E
tents of several passing deeanters and !
well-loaded walters. But we have met
and yielded to the temptation !
of six regular meals coming daily and
stately as follows: Coffee and a
cracker in the berth at $50 a. M; beef =,
tea at IL a. M; lunch at 1:30 p. m;
tea and nick-nack at D. M, and the
big, initiating, square meal in a round,
hungry place at $50 p. Mall la i
for our ship and her officers,
crew, habits and customs, and for the
most part passengers, are English.
Yes, there was one other item / let
pass in manner, namely, the grand
ball on deck on the night of the 18th,
at which 1 followed the example of the
ship and stood by, while the ball
rolled on" but perhaps for an entirely
reason-seeing that the Mon
oval was carrying the trans-Pacific
mail / entertained a fear that on My
arrival in Honolulu l might be appre
hended for participating in stopping
the British mail, which might be con-
sidered by my good orthodox friends