The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-06-04
AS TOLD BY
A HEROINE.
Story of the Wreck of
the lOIani.
MRS. W00OMAN'S TALE
Brave Woman Who Endured Hard
ships Narrates Experiences
After Collision.

When the Hawaiian bark Ioiani was
SUNK In mid-occan by steamship Argus
some weeks ago. Mrs. woodman, the on
~ woman aboard. proved herself n genu-
me heroine. The following from TN, yIa-
wall Herald is her own story of tho
wreck:
Among the passengers on the Iolani
from Hilo were STR. and Mrs. woodrnan.
Mrs, Woodman II n sister of ~. r. Soulc.
and before her marriage much OF her life
was spent upon the sea with her father.
who was captain. This was her first
experience In a wreck ana her escape
with the other passengers from aIr,ost
ertaln death is marvellous Writing TO
ner brother while on the Steamship Ar
gus, the steamer that sunk the Iolani
hts. Woodman says:
You may. before YOU get nv letter
hear that We have only memories OF Ha-
Wait LETT TO us. all else lying at the bot
tom of the blue Pacific I'm the Inflated To-
Wednesday evening We had a Ray time.
captain Mcclure got out his banjo and
we sang until I'D O'Clock. quite late for us
was nearly asleep when / heard the
torward bell ring quickly several times
said, I believe we ar,s going to nave
a colision, and getting out OF bed look
II out OF the port hole. Right along
slne was oig ship the mizzen mast near
out. and put on some clothing and went
Iut on the main deck Just as the stern
u a ship IN ballast ctme down on us
n.idships. went bach and put on my
rubhers and when I got on deck nlynin
We had slid backward under her stern
ind abe had como doWu once more on US
Our atarboard how--asd was clear As
ihe came around and crossed our stern
'aptain Mcclure got out the megaphone
and asked the name OF the vessel: Ar
gus. Is your steering gear damaged?
q m Huf l. In ~ fuN.fr.
fWercd that he believed not. He was
hen asked " he wanted the ship to lay
" unth morning and the captain, believ-
inE our vessel safe, answered'No.'
In moment the vessel was out of
HEht In the fog. After little talk I
went below and noticed-Or thought
lid-that the main deck shipped n good
ieal OF water on both sides; so, going to
ny room. I put on more clothing. and
Just then Mr. Woodman came in ana
asked " was getting ready for bed.
snd no: that 1 would not go to bed until
I found out ~ the Iolani was making
my water. Mr.. Woodman left and In n
few minutes returned with request 10
inish dressing and come on deck as
tuickly as possible. "a the vessel was
lnking. 10 was so dark In the room
hat l could not find my shirtwaist. so
put on Mr.. Woodman's coat and my thick
loat over a. Then I picked up my shawl
and got out all the gold we had. about
SO, and sailed forth, picking up Benson
captain McClure,s son, on the way.
The main deck was awash then. and
he men were getting out the port boat
and putting In provisions. IL did not
tcom any time after we struck. Captain
Mcclure sent up several rockets, which
I was afraid would not go above the fog
ut they al. lie put Benson and I ir
the boat before she left the skids. and
launched her as quickly as possible and
when she struck the water she was high.
~ than the Iolanis rail. Everybody
Jumped for her, Mr.. W. had TO jump into
the water. Just catching the boat ra J.
aud the captain pulled him In. There was
no plug In the boat and the Iolani wa.