The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-06-09

the boats were showed on. They had
been but a short time from the ship
before the coal gases blew UP, destroy
ing everything OF the decks and send
ing the flames higher into the air No
one was injured. however.
Strong northeast winds and heavy
seas were experienced and within a
short time the dingey filed and the four
men had to be taken into the captains
boat. For two days the weather con-
tinued very bad. on the third and
fourth days. southwest winds, with
| squalls and heavy rains. were encoun-
] tered. After this. the weather shifted
10 north TO northeasterIy winds, with
| frequent calms and smooth seas. In
some manner the three boats got sepa-
| rated during the first night. it is
thought. Captain Gibbons boat was
provided with a sail. and In addition
the men used the oars. For eight days
the crowd was at work and finally. on
the morning Of June s. they arrived of
Makaweli. where they landed.
They met the steamer Mikahala, Cap
tain Gregory of that vessel taking them
in charge. To Captain Gregory Captain
Gibbons expressed the opinion that the
TWO missing boats were steering
course for French Frigate Shoals.
which would have brought them about
900 miles TO the north northwest of Ka-
uai Captain Gregory was then anchored
al Makawei and he communicated with
Captain Tullett OF the steamer James
Makee, at Anahola, apprising him of
the loss OF the vessel and the probable
loss of the mate and fifteen members
of the crew. Captain Gibbons decided
to remain with the Mikahala while his
men were taken over to Wainea, to
await her return to Honolulu.
As soon as Captain Tullett made
known the news in Honolulu the great
est interest was taken in the probable
fate OF the missing men. and Admiral
herrys prompt measures of relief re-
ceived universal praise. 1t was origin
ally intended to have dispatched the
Aibatross Saturday evening for Kauai.
and have her try and speak the w. G..
Hall en- route. as IL was thought possi- |
bic that Captain Gibbons might come
down on the Hall, or else some further
details OF the case might be learned. |
This plan was subsequently altered,
however, to the wiser one of waiting |
until daylight of Sunday morning. when |
the Hall would arrive.
In the meanwhile interesting events |
had been occurring on Kauai and Nil |
4
Frigate Shoals. the two missing boats |
had kept generally the same course
that the captains boat followed. and
the result was that on Saturday. the
day following the arrival of Captain
Gibbons. one of the missing boats ap-
peared of Waimea, while the other
made Niihau safely. AT the time that |
the first boat arrived at Waimea how
ever. the fate of the other boat was |
not known. Not until a whaleboat ar
rived from Niihau with ;he news OF |
the safe arrival was the wherea bouts |
OF the third boat positively known.
Captain Gregory Immediately started |
Saturday afternoon for Niihau to bring
the rest of the crew off with him The |
". c.. Hall did not leave Nawiliwili |
until Saturday afternoon. SO Captain
Sam Thompson received the news OF |
the safe arrival of the missing men.
As soon as the news was received here !
IL naturally ended all necessity for the |
Government to send expeditions in !
quest OF the men.
The Mikahala will arrive here to- J
morrow morning. She is not ordinarily /
due from her Kauai run until Wednes- /
day. but owing TO Wednesday being a :
holiday. she will arrive a day ahead OF
time. Captain Gibbons and all OF his /
crew will come to Honolulu on the Mi 1
kahala and then the further details of
the loss Of the ship and their expert
ences will be learned. None of the va
rious crews appear to have suffered
much. for all of the boats were amply
provided with food and water.
The Fannie Kerr was a fine four
masted British ship, with steel huh.
She was built at Liverpool in 1892 by T.
Royden and Sons. under the personal
supervision of Captain Gibbons. who
was part owner in her. She was 1888
feet in length. 4l.2 fee. beam and 24.5
feet deep. She was 2426 gross tonnage.
223S underdeck and 226s net tonnage.
She was owned by the Fannie Kerr
Ltd. She cost S3T5.09O and
was practically a new vessel One
original feature about her construction
was the fact that her cabin and saloon
had been built amidships, similar to
the ocean steamers.
Captain j. Dover of Honolulu, the
is a first cousin of Captain
Gibbons and is well acquainted with
him. Captain Gibbons is native of
Aberdeen. Scotland. He has been serv-
ng the present company for the past
eighteen years between Liverpool and
San Francisco. carrying grain, and the
present one is the first accident in his
history. The master of the lost vessel
: we'll known in San Francisco and the
disaster TO his boat will be a source Of
much regret TO his friends
When abandoned. the vessel was con-
out OF the track of the ORR
ntal steamships. but she may be sight
q by some of them IL the trades carry
,e- further to the southwest.