The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-06-17
Schooner Retriever Nov Tied In
a Safe Haven.
Has BEEN OUT 1903 DAYS
Dan Vida Aboard as q SaIo.-
Owner Brown Came Sy Steamer.
Intere sting Voyagr.

In the snug little cabin OF the
staunch schooner Retriever. from
HOngkong, which moored to Fishmar-
ket wharf at sunset last evening.
champagne was flowing. There was
solid contentment even in the granite
paving stones which innoCently stared
up through the hatch from the hold be-
low and on the faces of the bronzed
sailors satisfaction cleaned. For
through Filipino batteries, Formosan
pirates and the dreadful typhoons of
the China Sea has the brave two-stick-
er passed during the past three
months. And ID. r. Vida, one OF the
able seamen on board. is our Danny"
who sailed away from the Orient for
an experience on the ocean blue. He
has passed through all the hard trials
of sailorman and can reef top sail
and box the compass with any Cf the
crew. He looks fine. Down at the
wharf all his friends were waiting for
him but, preferring his duty to the
good home so near, Danny" remained
on board. He will be paid of" like
/ the rest of the crew today and will be
welcomed by his many friends ashore.
| He is strictly business, as indeed are
! all on board.
| The Retriever arrived not uneNpect-
eddy. One hundred and three days is
| a long time for any craft to take from
Hongkong. The old bark Velocity for
many years piled between this port
and Hongkong and averaged fifty.
though she has been as high rs ninety
days There were people who said ma
/ lTriN hi roo hnT lnrr
trips happened. But that's neither
here nor there. The Retriever is not
the Velocity. She is one of the swift
est of her class ard her history is in
terestipg.
Three years ago ]. w. Brown. who is
well known in this port. bought the
Retriever of scientific expedition
which had fallen to pieces in Borneo.
It was headed by the distinguished
savants Professor Hitler and DIR. Fur
Miss (3rd) of the Pennsylvania Univer-
sity and the dyaks or the wildmen OF
that famous archipelago had given
| them chilblains. Upon the purchase
being completed Brown took the Re
, triever to Hongkong and completely
overhauled her for the China coast
! trade, where she remained until the
present voyage.
| Hongkong was left on March 3rd and
| the northern extremity of LuZon was
sighted soon after, owing to adverse
winds. At this time owner Brown was
on board. He determined to land In
I.uZon to secure a new main-top mast
in place of the one blown away in a
frightful typhoon the day before. Com
ing close in shore the Retriever des-
cried rampant manned by natives
with the red flag of the Filipinos and
a white flag of truce surrounding the
same. At this time the British ensign
had not been hoisted at the peak, bu
/ a shot from the battery brought 1t III
/ in a jiffy. Nondescripts were seer
tumbling into the bark catamarans oil
the beach with the evident intention
( of boarding the schooner. 1t was
moment of peril. No means OF defens
was on board the vessel. which la,
peacefully at anchor. Not momen
was to be lost. With anchor weiShe
the men awaited a horrible death, hop
{. ing that kind providence would wal
a wind for their deliverance. 1t came
and with it yells of chaSrin from tn
: baffled natives. who saw in the Httl
|. schooner a prize which no one woul
know about but themselves.
For weeks to come the disable
I schooner tossed about in one of III
dreadful maelstrcius of the China sea
Landing at last in safe harbor o
, the Formosa coast the needful repai:
we're made. owner Brown going ashoI
10 return to Hongkong to take passas
:, by q liner for the final destination
~ the Retriever He arrived here son
time ago and has anNiously awaitt
! the coming OF his craft and cargo. ~
= sides the granite paving stones the IL
triever has also a lot OF heavy tea
furniture.
The Retriever was built by Car
Snow. we'll known in the Pacific ocel
for his large sealing and whaling ve'
lures in Yokohama in 1886. She IS
9S.5S tons and 20 feet beam. She W,
a sealer for many years in the Arcu
DO and is fitted with cabin accommodate
for 4 large force of men. Capt Far
~ er. who is in command. was in the y
w iental trade in command of steam
at the time when steamers We're q no
90 city on the Japanese coast. Besides
W cook and steward the Retriever ca
sz ries crew of seven, all Europeans.
She will remain in port for scr
time as owner Brown Is undecided
to her future movements. There "
quite a crowd at the wharf looking
tbe famous schooner last evening a
q today the crew. including our Damn
J will have shore leave for a Chani
after their long and perilous voya'