The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-10-08
PLAN FOR CHINA AND PEKING TO
EXCHANGE SIGNALS.
How General Manager Schwerin was
to Learn of the Outcome of the
China Registry Case.

China Registry Case.
! The big steamships China and City
of Peking are supposed to have met
somewhere in mid-ocean last Tuesday
and to have held intercourse, both by
! signals and by boat, in order to in
form General Manager Schwerin of
the Pacific Mail Company, who is on
board the Peking, of the outcome of
the China's registry case. 1t was alb
solutely necessary for Mr.. Schwerin
to know whether the China had Sc
cured her register before he left San
Francisco on the extended trip he
had planned. Having determined to
leave on the City of Peking, which
was to sail from San Francisco on the
same day that the China was schedul-
ed to leave here, it was necessary TO
arrange some plan by which Mr.. Sch
werin could secure the desired in
| formation. If the China had not Sc
cured her register, it would compG-
cate matters so that he must return
to San Francisco, but if she had he
could continue his voyage.
a very pretty play was arranged be-
| fore Colonel Macfarlane left San Fran
cisco. Captain Fisher of the City of
Peking figured out the course the
China must take to meet his own YES
sci in midocean. 1t had to be figured
very acucrately, as the slightest err
ror might leave the vessels far apart.
General Manager Schwerin then wrote
an order to Captain Seabury of the
China to steer the course designated
by Captain Fisher. and Colonel Mac
farlane handed the order to Captain
Seabury upon the arrival of the China
here. The instructions were for Cap
! tain Seabury to steer mercator's
course. If the steamships met during
daylight hours the China was to dis
play all her bunting and signals in
dicating whether she had or had not
received her register. In the event
of the vessels meeting in the night
rockets were to be fired from the deck
of the China to indicate victory, and
blue fire in case she had not secured
her register.
In any case, whether the vessels
met during the day or night, the Chi
ma was to lower boat. and transfer
to Mr.. Schwerin on the Peking his ia
panese and Honolulu mail and dispat-
ches. If the China had not secured
her register, Mr.. Schwerin was to be
transferred in this boat back to the
China and return to San Francisco.
his family continuing their voyage to
this port, to remain until he could
come on and Join them. OF course. If
the China had won her case, Mr.. Sch
werin would continue his voyage.
When Captain Seabury received his
instructions here last Saturday he
| Tn tnI 10 ~.
vessels would probably meet on the
China's third day out from this port
practically in md-ocean, as the sail
ing day or the respective steamships
was Saturday, the 2nd, and the China
was, as usual, on time. Captain Sea-
bury further expressed the opinion
that the meeting would take place in
the afternoon. if the Pekirg was at
her best, or in the evening. if she was
travelling at ordinary speed.
: This is probably the frst instance
on record of an arrangement for two
, steamships to meet in r;id-ocean on
the Pacific. and the outcorle of the ex-
pertinent will be watched with inter.
est by all shipping men as well as by
the public at large. It will be a gay
sight. AS the Peking is surely expect
will soon be known.
General Manager Schwern is on n
tour of the Company's agencies here
and in the Orient. and Colonel Mac
farlane stated positively that his visit
is of no special significance to the Is
lands. He is accompanied on the voy-
age by his family, Mrs. Eilicott and
two or three others. The party VIII
remain in this city from twenty-four
to forty-eight hours. according to the
amount of business to be transacted
and the sight seeing to he done.
1t has been learned from Colonel
Macfarlane that an arrangement has
been made for Mr.. Schwerin to meet
President Dole and his Ministers TO-
morrow. II will be purely a formal
call and will have no political signifi-
cance.
The ladies of the party will be en-
tertained at luncheon by Mr. and Mrs.
llackfeld tomorrow, and afterwards
will he driven in carriages to the Pail
and to other points of interest about
the city. Colonel Macfarlane is in
hopes that the surf on the Waikiki
beach will be running high enough To
give the visitors canoe ride. as they
have expressed a great desire to try
the famous Hawaiian pastime.
The City of Peking will be held in
port during Mr.. Schwerin's stay in
the city, and he and his party win
continue their voyage on her to the
Orient.