The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-07-14

The nature of the irregular and
treaCherous currents which sweep
around the reefs and shoals in the re-
gion of Laysan Island is wildly shown
in the protest executed in the matter
of the insurance on the stores carried
by the bark McNear on her last and
final trip for Laysan Island Although
the vessel was not insured, the stores
were. These were valued at about ST.
200, and the insurance company and the
owners have about adjusted the loss at
something like that figure.
The statement of Capt. Andrew IL.
Johnson, the master of the McNear, in
the protest as to the circumstances Of
the loss of the vessel is as follows:
"On May 4, 1900, bark McNear struck
on Dowsett reef, in latitude 20 "a
north, longitude 100 40' west. On May
Sd the ships position at noon, / found
to be latitude 24o L north, longitude
1862 ga west having experienced
strong current setting to the south
ward; shaped my course to west by
north. half north. which would bring
me thirty-three miles south of the
aforesaid reef. but found a current hav-
ing set me to the north, there being
a strong irregular current around those
reefs.
at s am, May 4, I abandoned the
ship, there being twelve feet of water
in the hold, and the ship lying over at
an angle of 90.
"On account of having so many pas
sengers on board, it was impossible to
save any stores, and at daybreak we
launched the boats, and landed on Lay
say Island on May 5, at $3.50 p. M
The Nc Near sailed from Honolulu
April 2S in command of Capt. Andrew
H. Johnson, with crew of nine men,
a cook and cabin boy. and twenty-one
passengers, nineteen of whom were Jap
anese laborers for the guanO deposits
of the island. The other passengers
were Fred Luers, an engineer to take
charge of the steam launch in use at
the island, and eX-Capt. A. Spillner,
who went as a luna in charge of the
Japanese. Henry Goulden was the first
mate of the vessel, and John Nadine
the second mate.
When it was determined that it was
necessary to abandon the vessel, Cap
tain Johnson sent those aboard away in
the following order, at daybreak follow
ing the disaster, which occurred just
after midnight. Boat No. 8, a dingy
went first in command of the first
mate with three men. Boat No. 2, reg
ular ships boat, went next, in command
of the second officer, and contained
fifteen souls. Boat No l left last, IN
command Of Captain johnson, and car
red sixteen souls.
The boats were all so crowded that
nothing could be taken of the personal
belongings of the men. Provisions and
water for a week were crowded in, and
course set for Laysan Island SO
crowded were the boats that constant
baling was required to keep them free
from water, and the men were con-
stantly wet through. AS night came on
boats numbers and 3 were taken in
tow by Captain Johnson's boat so that
they would not get separated in the
darkness. The next morning the boats
hove to, to wait until noon, so that OBJ
servation could be taken to determine
their position, so that they should not
pass their destination, Laysan Island,
which lying low, is not readily seem
From the observation made at noon;
Captain Johnson calculated that they
were five miles to the northward of the
island and at a distance that would
enable them to reach it about o'clock,
if all went we'll and the speed they had
made should be maintained. He order
ed sharp lookout kept, and offered a
reward of s. to the man who should
first descry land. James Little of the
second mates boat won the reward,
sighting Laysan Island shortly after 6
o'clock, Just as the sun was setting, the
light coming horizontally over the
ocean at that time giving the best con-
ditions for seeing objects lying low on
the horizon. About o'clock the light
from the lighthouse on the island was
sighted. The boats were to the north
ward of the island at this time, and
followed the line of breakers around to
the land at the southwest point of the
island. They landed at $3.50 o'clock that
night, May 5, having been in the boats
over thirty-seven hours.
They were received and welcomed
most Hospitality by Captain and Mrs
j. r. Spencer. Everything was done
for them that could be done. They
We're made welcome, and all that the
island could afford in the way of COM
fort was theirs There was no scarcity
of sustaining food, though with such an
addition to the population unaccompan-
led by the expected stores there were
no luXuries.
Captain Johnson and the other officers
of the McNear, speak in the warmest
praise of Mrs. Spencer's kindness and
efforts in their behalf.
The Ceylon arrived June 8, and de-
parting June %, brought the ship
wrecked crew and passengers back to
! Honolulu.
Captain Johnson expects to sail by
| the Alameda for San Francisco next
| Friday.