The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-02-14
DISMASTED IN FRIDAY NIGHTS
STORM.
Barely Escaped Going on the koko
Head Reef-Signals of Distress I'm
needed by Two Passing Steamers.

The American barkentine Arago,
which sailed last Friday for San Fran
cisco, was towed back into port this
afternoon in very much disabled
condition, by the Wilder's steamship
Lehua. During the blow on Friday
night her foretop gallant, main and
mizzen masts were carried away, and
she drifted helplessly, so close to the
breakers off Koko Head that Capt.
Greenleaf gave up all hope of saving
her. Signal lights were hoisted, and
one steamer in passing, answered
them. Another steamer that passed
must have seen the lights, but neither
answered the signals nor attempted to
approach the distressed vessel.
The Lehua picked the Arago up al
most in mid-channel, about 6 o'clock
this morning. Capt. Andrews saw the
barkentine's colors reversed, and
bearing down on the vessel took it in
tow. 1t was slow work, as the Arago
not noted either for speed or towing
qualities. The steamer accomplished
the task all alone, however. Capt.
King went out in the tug Tleu and
offered assistance, but Capt Andrews
replied that he could manage the
tow alone. The disabled vessel was ta-
ken down to Sorenson's wharf, where
she will be tied up until Capt. Green
leaf can hear from her owners.
Capt. Greenleaf was so distressed
over the condition of his vessel that
he did not care to discuss the accident
this afternoon. 1t seems, however,
that the Arago cast off from the tug
about o'clock Friday afternoon, and
Capt. Greenleaf chose to go through
the channel. About p. m. an unex-
The Arago was under storm canvass,
but the terrible strain, as she pitch
ed forward, was sufficient to break
the lashings of the foretop gallant
yard, which in falling, carried away
the top sail yards. The combined
weight of the yards carried away the
top gallant mast, and ,le whole
wreckage fell so as to cripple the main
sail yard, and leave the ship in irons.
The wind was then blowing a gale,
and the sea running terribly high. An
hour later the main mast was broken
short off at the deck, and in falling it
carried the mizzen mast away, except
ing about fifteen feet above deck. On
ly one mast was left, and that was
crippled by the falling wreckage.
In the meantime the ship was help
less and was drifting rapidly toward
the rocks off Koko Head, then scarce
ly four miles distant The night WAS
black and the thunder storm then at
its height. Capt. Greenleaf had given
up all hope of saving his vessel when
steamer was discovered scarcely
four miles distant. Blue lights were
burned, but the signals were not an
swered. This must have been the
Waialeale. for Capt. Parker reports
having seen signal lights. Later anoth-
er steamer passed, but while she an
swered the signals, did not go near
the wreck.
By the greatest of good fortune-by
a kind Providence as the captain him
self expresses 1.-THE Arago just
cleared the point, and stood off in the
clear water. She was so crippled that
she could not tack, but by dark last
night, Capt. Greenleaf got so could
manager her little better. She was
taken in tow by the Lehue this morn
ing.
The Arago is believed to be all right
below decks, as she is not taking any
water. Capt Greenleaf says he will
not do anything with her until he
hears from her owners, the Simpson
Lumber Company of San Francisco.