The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-02-25
SURPRISE WAS WRECKED
DRIVEN ASHORE ON KOLOA REEF
FRIDAY.
First Boat Lowered Was Driven Away
From Vessel and Part of Crew Left
to Fate.

According to the advices brought
from the Island of Kauai yesterday by
the steamer James Makee the gasoline
schooner Surprise lies a wreck on the
reef just outside of KOloa harbor. The
vessel was blown ashore last Friday
afternoon by a heavy southwesterly
gale that came up with sudden force.
The Surprise was under the command
of Captain Nystrom an experienced
navigator in these waters. She was
ladened with lumber and general mer-
Chandise, a considerable portion of the
lumber being consigned to Koloa. Cap
tain Nystrom had the lumber unloaded
and RATED to the shore Friday his
vessel lying near the reef, just outside
of the harbor. A strong wind sprang
up from the southwest about o'clock
in the afternoon and increased in vol
umn. Captain NyStrom realized that
his vessel would be far safer further
from the reef so he decided to get away
at once. According to reports however
he stayed long enough to unload some
more lumber. BY 4 o'clock the blow
had increased in volume to a gale
which began to force the schooner
toward the reef. Captain Nystrom had
the engine go ahead at full speed but
the storm was so great that the boat
made no Roadway. When he found that
the vessel was being slowly driven on
the reef, the captain had the anchor
dropped but the wind was strong
enough to drive the boat inside and
drag the anchor. For two hours this
fight against the storm ragged but final
ly about o'clock, the vessel went hard
aground on the reef.
| She soon began to make water
showing that a big hole had been stove
in the bottom. Big waves commenced
breaking the vessel and it was soon
evident that the crew must take to
the boats.
First Mate Schultz, the second en-
gineer and ten of the japanese crew
lowered the leeward boat and sprang
into her Schultz had barely stepped
in before the waves swept the boat
away from the Surprise An attempt
was made to return to the side of the
vessel in order that the Captain and
the five remaining members of the
crew could get aboard but the wind
and waves We're too strong and after
Vainly struggling for some time
Schultz saw that it was impossible and
signalled to the men to pull ashore.
They could not make a landing at Ko-
loa so they went twelve miles to Ha-
namaulu where Schultz found the
steamer James Makee To Captain
Tullett of the Makee, Schultz explain
ed the plight of the Surprise and the
dan" Of the captain and the rest of
the crew,
After the leeward boat was swept
away Captain Nystrom, the chief en-
gineer and the four members of the
crew managed to launch the windward
| boat and make land at Koloa as the
storm had subsidized somewhat. Cap
tain Nystrom telephoned across to
captain Tullett of the Makee that
Schultz had deserted him and the rest
of the party. Tullett explained the real
cause of the matei not having waited
for the captain. When Captain Ny
strom left the vessel most of her cargo
was in the hold and it was likely that
she would soon begin to break up as
pieces of her keel and rudder were
washed ashore. The Niihau is reported
to have gotten a line to the wrecked
boat and attempted to pull her off but
she was too hard aground and could
not be budged.
Further details of the wreck can not
be secured before the arrival of a boat
from Kauai. The directors of the Ha-
waiian Navigation Company which
owns the Surprise will meet and de-
termine what course TO take regard.
ing the vessel. If it be deemed wise
an attempt will be made to pull heI
of the reef and save her. The fac
that she appeared to be coming apart
indicates that the vessel will not b,
able to keep afioat If taken into deer
water. The greatest confidence in thC
judgment Of Captain Nyst ON ia ex
pressed and his report OF the accident
is awaited with interest. The vesse
was of about $50 tons and was full,
insured.