The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1900-12-28

China discovered a hidden reef JUS
loutside the entrance to the harbor OF
Honolulu. The story appeared exclu-
sively IN the Advertiser
The China, it will be remembered, hao
Just arrived from the Orient and II was
while she was approaching the harbal
that Captain Seabury ran across the
reef which had not been known to ex-
ist. The lead had just been cast In for
ty fathoms of water and, suddenly
when the next sounding was made, II
was found that only nine fathorns be-
low the surface there was a hidden is
land, or reef. 1t extended some little
distance, running in a line with the
course taken to enter the harbor and
then ended as suddenly as 1t had COM
menced. in about forty fathoms.
The China had arrived late that
night from China and Japan and
stayed outside the harbor all night.
not coming into port until after day
light An Advertiser representative
went out to the steamer in a char
tered launch and interviewed the cap
tain Of the boat. getting the story Of
the discovery of the hidden reef. which
afterwards came to be known as Sea-
bury's Island.
News now comes by the last mail
from the Coast that the United States
gunboat Wheeling will soon come to
these Islands for the purpose of locat-
ing a hidden reef in the harbor of Ho-
nol1lu
Under the date Of December IS the
San Francisco Chronicle says: THE
United States gunboat Wheeling Is
daily expected to arrive from Seattle.
where the vessel has been repaired.
after many months service in Asiatic
waters and along the Alaskan coast.
Next month. it is reported, the Wheel
ting will go to the Hawaiian Islands for
the purpose of locating a hidden reef in
the harbor Of Honolulu"
There is very little doubt that the hid
den reef which will be sought for by
the Wheeling is none other than Sea-
bury's Island
THE NAVAL RESERVATION.
Gradually the naval reservation Is
becoming the most attractive portion
of the waterfront. For several days
past divers have been preparing for
the placing of the masonry for the sea
wall. Now work has been commenced
on Ala Moana avenue Grading on the
Waikiki end of the road was commerc-
ed yesterday morning.
The chief clerk of the naval station
Arthur l.. Merry. intends shortly to
make photogra phS of all work on the
naval reservation end send the prints
to the department at Washington.
MANY VESSELS TO BE BUILT.
SAN FRANCISCO. Dec 16.-At the
Fulton Engineering and Shipbuilding
Works a steam schooner similar to the
Iaqua is under construction for Chris
tensen & Sudden of this city and will
be completed in April or May. The
vessel will have length of about 200
feet. At the same place two steel
steam launches are being built for a
Russian firm and will be used on the
Siberian coast. Seven or eight COM
pound engines are under construction
also for steamers in contemplation by
various firms and as many more en-
gines are being built at other plants in
this city for prospective steamers The
outlook for new vessels is reported by
builders and shipping firms to be more
fiattering than ever before. numerous
sailing craft as well as steam vessels
being under way or in contemplation
A year hence there will be at least a
score Of new steamers the product of
Coast plants, added to the mercantile
feet of this Western Coast. A notable
addition to the sailing vessels vii, be
the first fivemasted schooner ever built
here. 1t Is now under construction by
Stone Brothers at Harbor View.
GONE TO BUY A STEAMER.
SAN FRANCISCO. Dec, 16.-John
Rosene, president of the Northwestern
Commercial Company. is on his way
east. via this city. for the purpose of
buying large steamer to be brought
around the Horn and placed in the
Alaskan trade next season. The COM
pany has rechartered the steamer Cen
tennial for the same purpose. The new
vessel will be of larger capacity.
SAYS CAPTAIN PROMISED MAR
RAGE.
BERKELEY. Dec. 16.-Mrs. Barbara
Hoffman of West Berkeley threatens
TO sue Captain Martin Johnson of the
steamer City of Puebla for breach of
promise to marry unless he returns to
her quantity of household goods
aiken from her on a search warrant
wo weeks ago yesterday The search
proceedings came up in Justice !
# the Peace EdGar's court Yesterday |
ind Mrs. Hoffman commenced an ac
Ion to recover her property She re- |
ates story of the Captains promises |
o her and of alenated affections. the |
mart of which, however, she processes |
VIII be healed by the return of a few i
household articles.
Mrs. Hoffman was until recentiv
'ohnson's housekeeper. taking care of |
lis home while he was at sea and of !
he Captain himself when he was /
lshore. According to Attorney r. w
5utton of Oakland, who represents
ohnson, she took the articles in dis
ute from the Captains home. He saws
Johnson came home from one of his |
'oyages and found Mrs. Hoffman circu-
ating stories of her engagement to
nm. When he returned from his next !
rip he found his housekeeper declaring
neir marriage to the neighbors and
unning up bills on his account. John
on at once discharged her and. ac-
ording to him, she carried off a large
uantity of his household goods. Two
'eeks ago Marshal Lloyd was sent