The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-04-26
STRUCK ON REEF OFF COAST OF
HAWAII.
Disaster Occurred Last Friday -Ncssel
Broke Square in Two on Saturday
and Becomes a Wreck-Cdrgo Lost.

wall, last friday night, and became Il
complete wreck. The night was clear
and the sea running smooth when the
accident occurred. Capt. Sachs and
Mate Harry Swinton were on the
bridge at the time,, but neither of
them seem to be able to give salts
factory explanation of how the acci
dent occurred.
The steamer struck head on, about
10 o'clock. The engines were unable
to back her off, and within an hour
the water was up tween decks, meas
uring eight feet in the hold Three
pumps We're kept going, but at 1
o'clock Saturday morning the water
had reached the fire room and put out
all the fires. The Helene, summoned
by telephone, arrived at 3 a. M, in
time to save 800 bags of sugar, but
100 bags went down in the steamer,
which had settled upon the bottom
in water that washed over the hurI1-
cane deck. When abandoned on Sat
urday morning the Likelike had been
broken in two by the breakers, and
was fast going to pieces.
The Iwalani brought the officers,
crew and passengers from the wreck
to this city this morning, with the
exception of the first assistant engi-
neer. The officers were: Captain
Sachs. former chief mate; Mate Harry
Swinton, Second Mate C. Flynn, Chief
Engineer Joe Little, Second Assistant
Engineer Kallstrom and Third Assist
ant Engineer Walter Bromley. There
were twenty sailors in the crew. Geo.
| Angus and w. L. Stanley were the
only cabin passengers.
1t is difficult to get at the exact facts
in the matter, but the blame appears
to rest upon the shoulders of Mate
Swinton and Captain Sachs. Capt.
Freeman was the regular skipper of
trouble on the Helene, was ordered on
the latter vessel last trip, leaving Chief
Mate Sachs in command. Sachs mad
made two previous trips as master in
the Likelike, and as Swinton is ia
miliar with the Hawaii coast, he was
sent as first officer.
On Friday afternoon the doomed
vessel left Olowalu for Kuliuiau to fin
ish loading sugar at the latter place.
Second Officer Flynn had the first
watch, being relieved by the first
mate after supper. Swinton was alone
on the bridge until about 9:45 o'clock,
when he was joined by Capt Sachs.
The Lil<elike was then bowling along
under full speed, with all her canvas
set The night was clear and the sea
comparatively smooth. According to
IA statement made by Second Mate
Flynn, the breakers, on such a night,
were clearly discernable at distance
of two miles at sea. AS the land is
very low there, only the line of break
ers marks the shore line.
Swinton, ii appears, suggested that
as the Honoipu light, which ought 70
appear astern, was buried, the vessel
was getting too close in shore. Sail
was taken in, but before the steamer
could be brought about, she struck
on the rocks with terrible force. The
signal to back her was given, but the
engines could not move, as the pro-
peller was fast in the rocks.
Second Mate Flynn was asleep when
the steamer struck on, but, awakened
by the heavy pounding of the vessel
rushed on deck. He found the native
sailors in the boats, making ready Il
lower them and leave the steamer. Il
took some forcible argument to make
them understand that their first dntJ
was to the ship, but they were finally
persuaded to gig the pumps and PIE
pare to save as much of the cargo n
possible. The steamer was pounding
so heavily that it was difficult fot Cn'
to retain his footing on deck when
ever she struck.
Flynn attempted to get into Sh'
hold, but found too much wafer there
1t gained rapidly, guaging eighr fee
/ an hour after the steamer struck. H.,
/ o'clock in the morning Saturday
the water had reached the fire rooul
! and the fires were put out, and steam
p pumps disabled. After that the yes
! sci settled more rapidly.
/ A boat was sent ashore with the pas
sengers, and telephone message sell
E to the Helene, which arrived on tn
} scene at 3 a. IN. She could not &c
, closer than half a mile from the Like
, like, and could only save 300 bags o
sugar before the water came up owe