The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-12-31
CYCLONE WRECKED HER
OLDEST OF THE ISLAND FLEETS
A WRECK.
Kiauea Hou the Only One of the
Steamers That Was Built Here
Ashore at Waiakea, Hilo.

A whirlwind or small tropical cyclone
is responsible for the latest Hawaiian
marine disaster the wreclIing at Hilo
of the Wilder's steamer Kilauea Hou,
which, while laying at anchor, was sud
denly seized by the storm, twisted
about by it's fearful circular force and
almost lifted on to the beach. The
cyclone came after midnight, without
warning and gave no chance for effort
to resist it.
The Kilauea Hou was the oldest of
the local fleets of steamers and the only
one among them all that was built here.
For % years she has done constant
service between different ports of the
islands. Her end came at last Thurs
day morning, when the she was struck
by the storm mentioned, a small, local
disturbance, but one that produced a
wind of terrible force.
The Kilauea HOu was engaged in
fixing moorings about the island of Ha-
wall. She was in command of Captain
Berg, former first mate of the Kinau,
with Captain Weir also on board. 1t
was Captain Bergs first trip and Cap
tain Weir, besides being engaged in
the work of fixing moorings, was on
hand to assist if the new master needed
help.
No blame is attached to Captain Berg
by the owners of the Kilauea Hou The
vessel appears to have been suddenly
seized in the vortex of a small cyclone
and she was twisted and landed on the
beach before anything could be done.
Within two minutes after the strange
storm struck the vessel engines were
working. But it was not a steady wind.
1t twisted the steamer round with ire
sistable force and though she had the
usual anchors out and the usual amount
of chain she was hard and fast in fifteen
minutes after the squall came.
Boats We're put out at once with a
kedge anchor, lines were made fast to
a buoy and the Helene was sent for to
help. The wrecked steamer was nearly
empty, so that she could not be tighten
ed by throwing cargo over. The Helene
could not pull the vessel off and soon
she sprung a leak that would have
made her sink if she had been pulled off.
Just after midnight Thursday night, or
at 1880 Friday morning, the Kilauea
Hou turned over on her beam ends. and
she was abandoned. The Helene was
still standing by, but no hopes are en-
tertained that the Kilauea Hou will
ever float again, though a good deal
may be saved from her.
The Kilauea Hou was the only steam
er in the local fleets that was built in
the Hawaiian Islands She was launch
ed in 1878, being built by Tibbets and
SorensOn. Koa wood was the material
used. She proved a sturdy vessel and
has stood her quarter of a century of
ing the steamship companies found it
profitable to send to the coast for their
vessels, and this has been done ever
since.
The only other local steamer as old as
the Kilauea Hou is the little Inter
Island Kaena, which has long been laid
off and now lies unusued in Rotten row.
She was built in San Francisco in the
same year as the Kilauea Hou was
built here. Two little schooners now in
Hawaiian waters have outlived the old
steamer. They are the Rob Roy, built
in SO and the Mile Morris, built in
'73. OF the steamers the Kilauea Hou
was the pioneer. The Lehua now heads
the list, having been built in San Fran
cisco in 1879. She is still in the bus-
ness and good for plenty of service
yet.
The last of the Kilauea Hou is on
Waiakea beach. After the wind drove
her shore the Helene tried to pull her
off, but found the task impossible The
Kinau Saturday brought news of the
wreck with a report that there was
no chance of saving the vessel, she haV-
ing been driven far on the sand and
being almost full of water and ready
to sink if pulled off her bed. Officers
and men removed all their things that
could be saved from the boat, and
came to Honolulu on the Kinau
The wrecking of the Kilauea Hou
adds her to a long list of island vessels
that have met the same fate. The
vessels, little and big, that ply between
different ports of he islands, are in a
hard and dangerous trade as the many
careful captains in charge well know
and sooner or later they all seem to fin(
a place for their bones on some wind
driven shore.
The Kilauea Hous loss at this time
is particularly unfortunate, owing t.
Old-timers will miss her, as the oldes
of the fleet and the only one that wal
Hawaiian built.
The Golden Rule Bazaar has just re
ceived the Hawaiian Scenic Calendar