The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-08-12
A PICTURE MAKER
F.G.Eyton.W Walker Secur.
ed 1872 Negatives.
Saw the Place Where he Was Ship.
wrecked-Pienty More Cuano
On Laysan Island.

+. @. EytonWalker was a passenger
on the steamer Waialeale from Laysan
Island, Thursday night. He went as
photographer to the expedition and
took while away 1872 negatives on the
different islands visited by the expedi-
tion.
After leaving this port the Waiale-
ale first made Bird or Nihoa Island but
did not land. A few photographs were
made from the deck of the vessel. On
July 18th, Necker Island was reached
and Senator Wilcox, DR.. Averdam, Mr.
Walker and servant landed and ex-
plored that island for about three
hours. The flag which had been left
by the Captain King expedition some
years ago had been torn from hal
yard, but the staff was still standing.
Not an idol was found. The survey
posts erected by n. B. NJ. S. Champion
were still in position. \ large turtle
was caught which furnished food for
several days for those on board.
French Frigate Shoals were reached
the next day and another landing was
made. These islands are gradually
disappearing and washing away under
the action Of the ocean currents. Just
before reaching French Frigate Shoals.
Senator Wilcox cut himself severely
with a pen knife. He had bar of salt
water soap which he was dividing and
through a slip the knife, which was a
new one, went deep into his thigh to
the bone. This laid him up for the
best part of the voyage and he Is not
well yet.
on July Is, Laysan Island was reach
ed and the barkentine Planter was
found loading guano and Superintend-
ent Spencer busy with the japanese
laborers. The following days Pearl and
IIcrmes Reef was reached, so-called
from the fact thattwo whaling vessels
by these names were wrecked there
q long time ago. The survivors built
a schooner and came to Honolulu.
There were a number of seals disport-
ing on these islands and were very
tame. Some photographs of the seals
were taken by Mr.. Walker.
The Waialeale reached Midway ISL
and. July goth. 1t was on this island
that the bark Wandering Minstrel was
wrecked in February. 1887, containing
Captain +. ID. Walker and his family
and crew of twenty-four men. They
were there IA months and were pick
ed up finally after almost starving to
death by the schooner Norma which
Is now in this harbor. The wreck of
the schooner General Seigel is still to
be seen high and dry on the mainland.
4 letter in japanese was found in a
house which had been erected by the
u. S. Government during a survey of
these islands, containing information
to the effect that in June of this year
a japanese steamer had called there
while passing the islands to seek any
shpwrecked men hat might be there.
Three wingless birds that had been
taken by Mr.. Walker from Laysan to
Midway Island some five years ago had
prOpagated until now there are thou
sands there, more II possible than on
Laysan Island.
More seals were seen on Ocean Island
on which the expedition landed july
2lst. Some portions of the house cree
ted by the Hawaiian Government four
teen years ago are still standing. The
bark Donniter Castle was wrecked on
this island about fifteen years ago.
Morell and Byers Islands do not cX-
list. \ complete search was made by
the expedition for the islands as laid
down on the cart but not sign of them
could be seen.
The return to Laysan Island was
made on July 3lst and while there DIR.
Ayerdam found some new beds of gu
ano which will keep up the supply from
that place for another two years. There
Is fully ten more loads for the barken-
tine Planter,
Captain Mosher who had charge OF
the Waialeaie on this trip brought sew
eral hundred Laysan Island canaries
back with him.