Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1899-04-19
A NIGHT ON HALEAKALA
Msjer NickerSon Has an Experience
Long TO be Remembered.
Reminded Of Night on The Field Of Geltsys.
burg-Wounds That Made Themselves
Felt After Many Years.

special duties pertaining to his
Office, has been under instructions
to utilize as much as possible Of
his spare time in investigating the
present and prospective food sup
ply of the Islands, in 80 far as it
might be made available with the
army rations.
His fret trip made in December
last embraced the Island of Ha-
wall. The second trip covered the
southern and eastern sides of Ka-
uai, and was made in March ulti-
mo.
Owing to anticipated changes
which the captain has requested,
ana has reason to believe will soon
take place, it was his intention to
have made the third trip to en-
brace as much as possible of the
island OF Maui, leaving here via
the "Claudine" on Tuesday and
returning by the came steamer on
Sunday morning following. When
about ready to start it was found
that the captains presence here
might become imperative before
he could have returned; and as
his chief clerk, Mr.. Nickerson,
had accompanied him on his
former trips, he decided to send
him accompanied by Professor
Hanna, another employee in his
Office, who is an excellent photo
grapher. Mr.. Nickerson was
formerly an officer of many years
experience in the regular army,
and is quite generally known here
by one of the many military titles
he has worn-that of Major.
Notwithstanding the limited Pc
riod OF time in which the work
was to be done, 1t was thoroughly
accomplished though not without
serious results to the Major, the
incidents of which it is the pur-
pose OF this paragraph to mar
rate.
After landing at Kahului Major
Nickerson arranged by carriage
and relays of saddle horses 30 that
on Thursday his party had reach
ed the upper end of the mount tain
dairy, and Haleakala ranches;
within a few thousand feet
of the great Haleakala crater.
Therefore instead of sleeping in
the cave as had been intended he
pushed on to the summit with the
intention of spending the night
there. He had already begun to
feel the serious effects of the high
altitude and when the party had
been there a short time he became
very ill.
The Professor with the nineteen
had gone some distance away to
get some unique views of the
crater and as the majors illness
increased 80 rapidly, he took his
shot gun and fred a number of
cartridges to bring them in with
the intention of seeking q lower
level with all possible despatch.
But they had gotten 30 far away
that when they returned it was
nearly dark.
In the meantime the Majors
illness had become quite serious.
1t seemed almost impossible for
him to breathe at all ;and the inter-
mittent action Of the heart, violent
at one moment, and nearly imper-
equitable the next caused him in
tense agony. Besides a great black
cloud had developed them and q
drizzling rain began to fall.
The house which some good Sa-
marian built at the summit
few years since is now rooAess
and therefore unless 80 far as
protection is concerned; but it
was impossible to move until
morning.
The ledge OF rocks under a
projection of which their blankets
were spread, afforded little or no
shelter; the intense cold and
steady rain all combined to make
their beds of scoratic rocks, as un-
comfortable as could we'll be ina
gined.
The Majors illness continued
throughout the night and to use
his own words he was thoroughly
convinced that q man who has
had a half an ounce of lead
through the lungs in close proxi-
nifty to the heart has no right to
be trying to transact any sort of
business, or even trying to view
one OF the wonders of the world,