The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-02-01


noon the Zealandia left for San Fran
cisco and later in the day the Sonoma
departed for Page Page, Auckland and
Sydney.
The Sierra was looked for during the
day from the Colonies, but did not put
in an appearance. The waterfront was
very lively all day with the getting
away of three trans-oceanic boats, the
of the great freighter Cali
fornian at the Railway wharf, the US
ual hustling among Island steamers
and the loading, unloading. ballasting
and shifting of the deep water sailing
vessels and little Island craft in port.
Every flag in the harbor was half
masted yesterday out of respect for En-
glands dead Queen The flags on the
custom house and at the naval station
were also at half-mast. as indeed were
all the flags in town.
Tried to Beat Sonoma.
It has been learned on very good au-
thority that the Togo Kisen Kaisha
Hongkong Maru left San Francisco
with the idea of beating the Sonoma OF
the Oceanic line down to Honolulu. IL
is understood that the captain of the
Maru had received orders to leave the
Sonoma as far behind as possible. The
Sonoma and the Maru sailed from San
Fra ncisco within an hour of each other,
| the Maru sailing before the Sonoma.
Very severe weather was experienced
for the first two days out and both YES
sells were obliged to reduce their speed
during that time. The Maru did her
level best, it is said, to give the Sonoma
the go-by, but the Sonoma passed her
VERY soon after the open sea was reach
ed and not only kept the lead all the
4 way to this port but arrived seVerai
hours ahead of her If reports are cor
frect and the Maru was racing the So
mona. the American boat proved her
self to be far superior to the japanese
Vessel. 1t has been said that the Marus
!couId beat anything in the Pacific When
lit came to speed and it was not very
Hong ago that the captains OF the Hons-
kong Maru, the Nippon Maru ana the
America Maru received orders to make
the best possible time in crossing the
ocean and to allow nothing to go ps
them. 1t is almost certain that thf
Hongkong Maru raced the Sonoms
from the Coast on the last trip, al
though the officers of the japanese boa
lclain that they had no inducement t
hurry the vessel, carrying no mail o.
passengers for this port. The Ameri
lean boat made a good record for her
self at any rate-5 days and 20 hour
Twas splendid time between San Fran
cisco and Honolulu, especially when l
lis taken into consideration that it wa
3 the Sonoma's first trip to this port an
that she experienced heavy weathe
for the first day or two out and wa
), forced to travel to the jingling of sloI
:. bell. Waterfront men are happy in tn
fact that we have now American boat
D in the Pacific which will probably brea
, all records just as soon as they nav
been in service long enough to shak
themselves together and for the officer
and men to become well acquainte
with their charges AS soon as IN
Sierra and the Sonoma and the Yer
itura-the three splendid new vessels
the Oceanic Steamship Company-haS
found themselves. they will probably
surprising this part of the world Wit
their performances
Tiger Shark Captured.
1t is seldom that the ferocious tig'
shark visits these waters, but when
does take it into his head to journe
1
generally remembered for. a long tin
afterwards.
Three plucky little Japanese fishe
men. away off Koko Head in a fra
fishing craft, on Wednesday morniT
r faced death in a horrible form whe
y they desperately defended themselv
from the attack of one of these mo-
sters of the deep.
IF If had not. haef1 for the presence
mind of one of the little brown me
iwho was on watch at the time while
. comrades slept, the probabilities a
ag that the three men would have bet
s. lmade an end of there and then.
The fishermen had gone out beyol
;, Koko Head in their desire to secure
:, larger catch than usual. 1t was abo
daybreak and man by the name
Wada and another fellow were aslet
while the third was on watch to S
that all Went wei. Suddenly t
slumbering men were aroused by t
frightened shouting of the one
watch They Immediately were on [
alert and saw the Waterman point
with trembling finger to where
A water was behaving in very pecull
II manner off the port bow. 1t was e
III dent that some big fish had be
hooked, and the men suspected rig
T. away that they had hold of sha
"a But it was some little time before tn
OK realized the nature of the beast whl
was cavorting with such angry en-
gy at the end of one of the stro
lines which had been left out o.
~ night to capture whateverer chose
i bite and argue with the hook attach
Ill The first idea OF the men was
haul in on the line, but as the ga
was making such a fuss they gave
maneater his head and let him pull
he wanted to. Wada stood ready w
a harpoon to send death to the sns
as soon as ever he showed enough
3 his body to receive the point OF
4 weapon. Had the men realized u
4 the catch was one of the famous I'll
i sharks. they would have known u
& as soon as the fierce brute espied
1 craft he would make for 1t in the
! tempt to upset the boat and capt
its occupants. The tiger shark d
not wait to be attacked, but starts
fight himself every time.
1t did not take the men very it
5 to know what they were dealing WI
& however; the shark must have caul
! sight of the boat, for, instead
] making away, he headed for the o
/ ! in no pleasant frame OF mind.
] 3 Voc not noticed until the shark