The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-08-28
LONELY NIHOA VISITED BY
A SMALL EXPLORING PARTY
A Cnsos Island Inhabited by Tame Birds and
surrounded by Voracious Sharks. Cruise
of the Steamer MikahaIa.


Kauai having chartered the
H. s. y. co. steamer Mikahala
-sss a Trip TO Nihoa, or as it is more
.-5farlv called Bird Island. one of the
and. Of The Hawaiian group, lying
$50 ss5 niles to the westward CT Ho-
.ss.p organized party to leave Ka-
q, me steamer on Saturday after
-, n make a trip to the Island and
RUN Monday.
-b- par,y consisted of the following:
Jlsger. Allan Jaeger, Jno. Nevin,
r. NcCioud. Mr.. Wagner, Nick
r.g-,s. George Klugel. w H. Rice, Jr.,
Fisher. ". W Chamberlain. L.
F-7zbeimer. y. Creig. Thos. Kirnble.
E Church. g J. Rice, Hugh Phelps,
rr 4. Ramsay. Geo. Herriot, P. X.
f9a9 \. Arswaldt, J. Jorgensen. NJ.
Nav. DIT wilkinson. Dick Dias, Mr..
FIgr and two sons and the captain
md 1grser Of the Mikahala.
The party left Eleele, Kauai. about
,5a5ck in the afternoon, touching in
ii Maxwell 10 pick up DR.. wilkinson
7rm there it laid a course so as to
cir the Island of Lehua, thence
sraIrh- 10 the Island OF Nihoa. The
zsalher vas pleasant although the sea
rss little rough. As daYn broke the
Tn peaks Of the Island were seen just
bead on the horizon. Gradually as
he steamer drew nearer the Island
- plainly 10 view and appeared to be
rock rising abruptly from the ocean
I'd about a mile in length by a quar-
= Of mile in width. On three sides
55 cliffs rise precipitousfy from the
ia while on the south side is a small
zy which appeared to be the only
a1iing. The party made for this bay
md reached the anchorage a little aft
i o'clock The sea was somewhat
algh and large swells came rolling in,
fishing into spray against the rocks.
last as anchor was dropped a swarm
sharks came around the boat Cap
ain Gregory, after taking a careful sur
Tsy Of the bay and noting the possible
ssding places, decided to make a
hiding at a bluff somewhat she lered
ton the swells of the ocean on the
Hlka side of the bay. On the makai
2i' n the bay could be seen a short
"a beach. possibly some 200 feet in
5glh but on account of the heavy
isrIls and breakers it did not appear
easbie to land on that side.
Iae first boat. containing Captain
i'5sory. Mr.. Jaeger; Mr.. Klugel and
NJ chamberlain, put off from the
sslner shortly before ten and made
the landing place selected by the
1pAin As they approached the
'ie huge waves rolled against the
e's dash!ng into spray and rebound
e With a strong undertow. The cap
ID ordered the sailors to back water,
-s as the waves carried the boat to
= ,Vch the boatsyain. grasping a rope
Us nand. leaped ashore. Fastening
-s rope ne made fast TO the boat and
- With sailors backing water and the
''l'r On shore pulling the boat grad
4.' H. as the waves rose against the
-' each member of the party leaped
-as second boat, containing the ma
laFf q the party, and most of the
sSase' came up shortly afterwards.
luggage was thrown ashore with
"'lole being caught by those on
Vas above. Most OF the passen-
succeeded in landing without acct
- although one or two, unused to
1sn landing, and somewhat weak
2y seasickness, unfortunately
20 INTO the water, but were saved
-'ose on the rocks without more Sc
results than a drenching. Sever
I44FAs followed in from the
-Iz' 10 the shore and it would have
gf'board. u "
SEA appeared 10 be growing
-7' and the captain decided that
- SN'Sengers stin on board should
!. az ~ mora baggage on account of
5-.-'ll'y OF landing. After the
~. va containing the balance of the
- mad landed it's passengers, the
., climbed from the landing place
I'-Hs on the hillside above. There
~ Used 10 make survey of the
aHo decide where they should
'1n1 on ali sides. darkening the
n, :. BIRDS Of all descriptions.
s,s, ,ls post Of observation on the
= 80 80 slds Of the Island. the visit
Il 81 ~ See every portion of Nihoa,
liiis into parties they decided
zso,. each party in separate di-
a.. sand is divided by several
Fay!nes. In the bottom of
a. mes are lolu palms, a palm
: the natives use In max
10 very similar to the Panama
- IA varieties of small shrubs
s<la1 souadance all over the Island,
tssies- lhderbrush through which
-.'eql' to travel.
r., u the land is such that it is
hal 't I.ble for deposits of guano
Sers ing on the island as the rains
l. 81 nm from the peaks above.
sat inc ocean. On all sides, un-
4 N'e rocks, in the caves and
sbi.,' We're birds. large. small,
Il Iaas. alo spotted. The birds were
q rg--. AFRAID. They circied around
taes, cases attempted to fly in
As the party trayersed the
ss M. s difficult to escape from
u IN NE eggs and young ones.
vi uar. eApi9ring parties scaled the