The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-09-29

low the deck was also splintered, it was
twisted so hard, and it was made of
iron. Next the two topsail yards came
down, and the royal yards We're parted
and hanging aloft. The breeze on deck
had not increased a bit from what it
was when the trouble began, not
enough wind to blow the hat off your
head. But in the rigging there was a
hurricane that twisted and pulled and
yanked at everything. The twist be-
gan at the gallantmast and swept the
whole length of the bark Well, /
thought the old Pfiuger had met her
match at last.
THE destruction, as / tell you, took
no longer than moment or two; no,
| longer than you can think-not longer
j than two seconds, l am sure. In four
minutes everything was as quiet as a
lamb. But what change for the worse
had been made in that short time! We
had but one weak, wobbly sail left with
which to get back to San Francisco.
The worst danger we feared was from
the mainmast floating alongside. We
knew that we must work for our lives
in cutting the wires and ropes that held
the mast and yards to the bark The
sea was. running very high and the
mast knocking against the ships side
rendered it difficult for US to keep our
fleet. Our axes soon became blunt, and
we made little Roadway. In the mean
time We expected every minute to have
a hole knocked in our side and all go
to the bottom. Should she begin to leak
We would be helpless, as all the pumps
had been knocked to pieces. Two of
the lifeboats had been smashed by the
failing rigging, and these We're lying on
the afterdeck. The two .lifeboats that
}left were standing on the forecastle,
and it was hard work to. swing them
beyond the broken ropes and twisted
wires SO they would be in position to
be- manned at a moments notice. 1t
took nine hours of the most diligent
work to get us free from the masts
and spars with their broken sails. The
lsea was still rough and dangerous. The
deck was under water all the time, and
we We're in tight fix all round. Final
ly when she quieted down bit, we set
about the work of getting her back to
port, but it was awful slow. We could
not go to San Francisco; it was toe
great distance. We would give out.
1T was very strange, but the good
old ship was still as sound as a nut
and there was no leakage. AT first
when / saw the helmsman knocked over
the wheel 1 thought the rudderS was
broken. but 1t was not. Well, we steer
: ed for Santa Barbara, and on July l.
, I'VE made Point Conception. At O'Clock
in the morning of July 16 we encounter
LED the steam schooner Greenwood
which towed US into the port at Santa
; Barbara. Telegraphing to Frisco fol
a tug. the Relief came and took US tt
San Francisco. So here we are, ant
here we shall remain for at least three
J months to get IN good repair You car
put it down as strongly as you can tina
We do not like typhoons..'
How do you account for the singular
mishap, captain?"
No one will ever know, but in my
, opinion 1t was a whirlwind that tool
our masts away. The wind was in thu
upper sails, and was not felt on decl
! at ell. There was no sign of wind OF
. weather before or afterward. 1t wa.
: one of the most curious sea experience
> on record, and 1 give it up -
STEAMER MIKAHALA. :,
: The steamer Mikahala arrived yes
:. terday morning from Kukuihaele witt
6,272 bags of sugar for F. A. Schaefe
. & Co. Purser Christian reports as fol
a lows: Weather on Hamakua and Kon:
. coasts fine, but no rain. Mauna Lo;
! Twas discharging at Punaluu Thursday
Sugar as follows: H. A. Co., 1000 bags
: A. H. Co., 2,S4S; H. s. Co., $780, P. S
; NJ, $780, Total Of l0.52S bags"