The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-03-19

LITTER a voyage Of 80 days the
III Olympic. Captain Gibbs, reach
II ed her destination al 8 o'clock
yesterday morning. AS everyone
knows. fears have been entertained.
for week or ten days past. regarding
the safety OF the vessel. By some it
was feared that she had gone down
completely. Others said that she had
probably Jeen blown out Of her
course Still others hazarded the opin-
ion that she had met with some mis-
hap and would turn Up in time. The
last theory was the correct one. as
the condition OF the Olympic shows.
The bark set sail from San Fran
cisco on the 18th of February. with
hold cargo OF general merchandise
and a deck cargo Of brick and several
head OF fine bulls There was nothing
tc mark the voyage from the ordinary
until the ninth day out. when, in about
latitude 30 north. longitude 150 west,
in what appeared to be an approach
ing storm. the vessel was strucK by a
whirlwind. Fortunately, sai had been
shortened and the damage that was
done bad as II was. was not so gen
eral as il might have been. The tor
nado struck the Olympic at eight
o'clock at night and the darkness add
ed TO the confusion that ensued.
For two minutes only the bark was
in the terrible whirlwind, but that
short period OF time so demoralized
the sailing gear, that II almost doubled
the sailing time of the staunch craft
The vessel. as soon as Captain Gibbs
was able 10 control her. was hove to
and run before the wind. This car
ried her back over her course
more than one hundred miles, but
there was no help for IT, To nave gone
ahead was impossible under the cir
cumstances.
Upon investigation. IL was found
that two seamen were washed over
board One OF tlem. Frank Anderson.
was saved but only after repeated at
Eempts Twice he was dropped back
into the water bv his comrades. The
third time he was drawn on board.
more dead than alive. The second
man. Frank BeLiander. who was in
the rigging at the moment of disaster,
was blown overheard and not seen
again. Il is presumed that he either
became entangled in the sailing gear,
or else was knocked insensible by the
fall Anderson is still weak from the
effects of his experience. He may
40 20 the hospital for treatment.
Upon investigating the condition
Of his ship, Captain Gibbs found that
his hold and deck cargoes were in
tact. but up above things were in
sorry shape The main upper topsail
had beeh carried away and. in order
20 spretH canvas. il was necessary to
FISH TIT was also necessary TO fish
tk1espanker gar The mizzentop was
blown away as clean as though II had
been cut with an ak The foretopmast
and foretopgallantmast was gone with
all its spars The lower masthead was
Also blown overheard. On the main,
the gallantmast and spars were carried
into the sea likewise the ,opmast head
and lower mast head.
For two days the vessel went with
the wind. after which she was in such
a condition that she cou.d navigate.
How well she was repaired with jury
rig may be Judged from the fact that
the bark made two hundred miles one
day. The canvas carried the vessel
in her dismasted condition consisted
of a foresail. mainsais. main lower top
sail. main upper topsail. spanker. Jig
ger sail and jigger -opsail.
Upon the Olympic was large con-
signment of machinery for the Hawai-
ian Electric Company. Had the cargo
been lost, il would have required
year or more to duplicate the order.
Strange TO say. no part of the deck car
co was injured by the falling debris
The wind was blowing so hard that
everything was carried clear of the
vessel.
The manner in which the ship was
handled after the accident reflects
great credit upon The seamanship OF
Captain Gibbs, who is greatly relieved
TO be in port again with his charge.
The Olympic viii be fitted out anew
before she sails for the Mainland
again. 1t win cost $4,000 and. require
six weeks or two months to- restore
the vessel 10 seaworthy condition.