The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-03-12
Men Swan on Deck.

The Kinau. which arrived from Hio
and way ports on Saturday, brought the
news of the arrival of the American
Hawaiian steamship American at Hilo
from Kahului. The big freighter was
one and half days making the run
from the Maui port to the chief port
Of the Big Island. Her trip was an
unusually rough one and she had wa
ter on her decks most of the time.
1t is seldom that it happens that a
man is able to swim on the deck Of
a vessel in these ATTITUDES, but such
was the actual fact aboard the Ameri-
can.
The American sailed from Kahului
last Wednesday morning, supposedly
bound for Lahaina. She arrived at
Kahului on the End instant from Ho-
nolulu. and is the largest vessel which
ever visited the Maui seaport She
dropped her anchors in the mauka part
of the harbor and was engaged in load
ing sugar on the Bird. 4th and 5th in
Istant. When she sailed from Kahului
on Wednesday she intended to go to
Lahaina and remain there until the
rough weather was over and then re-
turn to Kahului to complete her cargo
of sugar for New York. But she did
not return to Kahului and on Friday
last she turned up at Hilo where she
is now taking on sugar.
1t is said that custom house people
are puzzled as to how the American
can clear from Hio, for the Hilo Of
ficer cannot clear her for the Sc. 100 bags
of Wailuku, Spreckelsville, Paia and
IHamakuapoko sugar which she receiv-
ed on board while at Kahului. When
the American first arrived at Kahului
she intended to take $4,000 bags of su-
gar, but owing to the rough weather
she lacked IA, 400 bags when she sailed
from Kahului
On the trip from Maui to Hawaii the
American encountered terrific north
east gale. The sea was exceedingly
rough and great waves broke over the
sturdy vessel.
One of the officers of the steamer XII
nau, who heard the story of the Ameri-
Gems experience from one of the great
freighter's crew, said that the big YES
sci did not seem to be in the least dis
turbed by the tremendous seas. 1t was
necessary, of course, for her to travel
at reduced speed and she was a very
| long time on the short journey from
KGhului to Hilo, but she was as steady
in the water as rock and dug through
tine huge waves, Notwithstanding thei"
heavy blows, as unconcernedly as II
they were nothing more than baby
white caps. But what she boosted in
steadiness and Indifference to the wa
ter's pounding she could not claim in
comfort. The water washed her decks
from stem to stern and she behaved
more like a whale back than anything
else.
Wave after wave, more after the pat
tern of waves of the stormy Atlantic
han the gentle" Pacific, crashed over
her bows and spread themselves the
lsngth and breadth of the ship.
AS tons and tons of green seas We're
hurled upon the Americans iron decks
faster than they could find their way
back to the deep through the scupper-
holes, there was almost constantly n
vast amount of moving, powerful wa
ter on the forward deck.
l. Officers did not venture off the bridge
| unless it was absolutely necessary
/ while they We're on duty Men were
swept off their feet and hurled from
one side of the vessel to the other by
| the force of the sea, which had things
! its own way forward for most of the
| day and a half it took the vessel to
go from one island TO the other.
At one time it was necessary for
the officers on the bridge to throw lines
to members of the crew who had been
/ caught by the heavy seas which board
, ed the ship, and which came very near
carrying the men overheard. The sea-
men We're actually swimming in the
, water on the forward deck in their eff
! forts to reach something upon which
! they could get hold and make them
! selves secure.
| No damage was done to the ship and
none of the water found its way below,
/ as everything was as tight as a vault.
] The American was in this port re-
| Gently and took aboard some sugar at
the Railway wharf, She then pro-
ceeded to l\ahului TO complete loading.
/ From Hilo she viii go to New York
via the Straits of Magellan She can
take aboard sugar very quickly. II Is
said that at Kahului she loaded 1900
| bags OF sugar I'm one working day. The
! Californian, her sister ship which pre-
coded her on this run, ana which IL
| provided with the latest patent winch
e. took aboard over 10000 bags OF
/ sugar In one and une-half working
days
The big freighters ~ the American
/ Hawaiian line are splendid vessels and
/ are without doubt the finest freightcrs
| which We're ever IN these waters, The
/ company Is building nine vessels, and
/ has three more lon View.
Much has been said on The water
. mont from time Coz time concerning the
/ wages paid thr crews ~ these boats
and ihr food which ls provided A
I good deal uf adverse criticism has been
uUDaHIuuri hy stories spread around hy
/ luHu who have deserted from the calf
/ iHruIHn ANA American ben this port Tho
. M,t ls lhat mo urWs arr paid las Wrll
] Hs Hrr ihe s"lWru ~ amy HthHr freight
steamships Aui fhlt Ihf mHA provided
Is hrHrr ihHU IF usually served aboard
I ruHU vessels a. tnr .rrW