The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-12-04
WHARF AND WAVE
Survey Steamer Pathfinder Takes
Her Station Here.
NIPPON MARU'S PASSENGER LIST
Ohio and Indiana In Port-Hancock
and Puebla Saii-Deaths Of
Sailors on CIaudine.
NIPPON MARU'S PASSENGER LIST

The Pathfinder, of the United States
Coast and Geodetic Survey, is in port
from her maiden trip around the Horn
via San Francisco, from whence she
sailed November %, and is now riding
at anchor in the harbor near the United
States tug Iroquois She was built by
Lieutenant Lewis Nixon, under the i'm
mediate supervision of Rear Admiral
Philip Hichborn, the Chief Construct
or of the United States navy, TO fulfill
conditions requiring strength, stability
and good sea-goirg qualities. She was
designed for service primarily in the
Aleutian Islands, for which none of the
other vessels of the Geodetic Survey
were fitted and is considered the finest
craft in the service. She was launched
December Z. 1898, at Elizabethport. n.
j. From there she went to the New
York Navy Yard, thence TO Washing
ington, for stores and then to Norfolk.
leaving the latter port for her station
at San Francisco on June 10th, where
she has been stationed for some months
past.
The Pathfinder made the trip around
the Horn by easy stages, visiting
number of South American ports. She
had good weather and an almost I'M
eVentful voyage. At Pernambuco an
incident occurred that promised some
exciting features but ended quite tame
ly. Tacit permission had been secured
from the authorities to locate a mag
netic station in the harbor A party
set out in the launch and measured UP
to Fort Brum, small blockhouse. The
sentry. however, understanding that
relations were strained between the
United States and Brazil, mistook the
Pathfinder for war vessel that was
attempting to take the fort He sound
ed the alarm which brought the officers
of the fort to the ramparts, and no
of explanation could quiet their
fears and the officers of the Path
finder, who were engaged in the peace
ful pursuit of science, were driven
away. The next day, however, ample
apologies were made by the authori-
lies, and the magnetic station was du-
y
igerence.
The officers engaged in the United |
States Geodetic Survey are not naval |
officers, although many of them, before |
this service. have held COM |
MISSIONS in the navy. 1t is difficult for |
he bespangled authorities of the
South American republics to compre- |
lend this distinction.
Are you not a naval officer?" one of |
hem asked of Captain Perkins. while |
he Pathfinder was anchored at Lima. |
Il am not. replied the captain.
But how do you sail your ship"
She is propelled by steam"
'Ah, but | mean how do you navi- |
gate herr"
"Oh. we manage to shift along some
vay"
You astonish me-" commented the
maZed official. DO you mean to tell |
ne that any but a naval officer can
navigate United States vessel?"
The absence of armament on the
was also a cause of ill-con-
ealed disdain among the foreigners
Who were met on the cruise. This Will
,e remedied in the future. however. as
he Pathfinder is expecting to receive
N armament of four 1-pound guns. In
act, she could be made ready in very
hort order TO form a valuable addition
o the United States navy; her franz
ng being heavy and her decks strong
nough to support the weight and
hook of guns. and the interior ar
angements of such design that only
light alterations would be required to
hange them from the commodious
partments of a craft belonging to the
'oast Survey TO the business-like
quarters of man-of-war.
This new vessel is s16S feet long OIL
he water line and 1876 feet inches
ver all. with an extreme breadth of SO
Get 8 inches and mean draft of water
Il 13 feet, her displacement being, with
oal and stores aboard. S75 tons. She
: equipped with triple-eXpansion en-
line and is capable of a speed of 1t
.nots an hour. All the homework
nd interior fittings are of first-class
and exquisite in taste and
nish. So trim and fit is the Pathfind
T that J. Harvey Ladew, a member of
he New York Yacht Club, took her as
he pattern for his unique yacht, hand
ONE and newly finished at a cost of
POO. 1000. in which he will cruise
round the world.
The following are the officers of the
Frank VALLEY Perkins