The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-02-18

CAPT. WHITNEY RETURNS AFTER
A LONG ABSENCE.
Formerly Master of the Schooner Twi.
light, Vessel that Made Quick
Run Between Hilo and Frisco.

After an absence of twenty years
from Honolulu, his old stamping
ground, Capt. Whitney returned yes
terday as the managing owner and
master of the smart little schooner
Jessie Miner, which brought the first
consignment of big order for red
wood lumber and shingles placed re-
Gently by Levers & Cooke with the
Miner Mills at Eureka, Cal. The en-
tire order is for 100000 feet of lumber
and 100000 shingles. but the Jessie
Miner brought only 100000 feet Of
lumber and 100000 shingles. The next
cargo will be brought out by the Ber-
tie Miner of which Capt. Whitney is
also managing owner, but of which
Capt. Raven is master. The latter YES
sci, a twin sister of the Jessie Miner,
was to have brought the first cargo,
but she had gone to San Francisco,
failed to get charter, and was laid
uD at the time the Jessie Miner sailed
from Eureka.
Years ago Capt. Whitney was one os
the best known of the island traders.
At that time charters were plenty ant
rates high. and money was to be made
in the shipping business. He was best
known, perhaps, as the skipper of the
schooner Twilight, which for a long
time held the record for the run from
Capt. Whitney is doubtful if there are
any "fore-and-afters" now in the
island trade who have or can reduce
the time. The Twilight repeatedly
made the run under twelve days.
The Jessie Miner and her sister, the
Bertie Miner, were built at Eureka
under the superintendent of Capt.
Whitney, who is the principal owner
in both vessels. Both are more or less
known here. They are trim little
'three-stickers, built on graceful
lines, and great freight carriers. The
slow run by the Jessie was due to
heavy weather experienced on the
Coast. All the way down it was sue
cession of southeast and south gales,
and it was not until the trades were
reached that the schooner ran well ON
her westerly course.
"The shipping business is not what
it used to be here or on the Coast,
said Capt. Whitney this morning to a
Star reporter. in the early days any
kind of a lugger could pick up a full
charter in any port she visited. and al
rates that made many men very veal
| thy. What contrast now. ! have
| for eight years. and it commences tC
| look now as if I will have to declare
an assessment to keep my head abov,
water. The Jessie had been idle foi
four months before taking this cargo
/ | have no return charter, and unless
can pick up load of sugar, this triI
/ will prove a losing one. | have {
cargo half promised me, but it is no
certain yet
''In San Francisco harbor the ships
lying idle foot up to nearly 100000
tons register. The Bertie is among
them. Lumber cargoes from Puge
Sound to foreign ports, at losing rates
and sugar charter her or at Manila
after Il long run in ballast, are abou
the only offers. | am not n croaker
but it appears to me that there is M
money at all in the shipping business
now"
Capt. Whitney was master of tn,
famous schooner Karua when sh
went down off the California coast il
1865. He and his crew went withou
food or water for ten long days be
fore they were rescued. He recall
his experience very wildly, even afte
the thirty years that have intervened
and tells most interesting story o
the wreck.