The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-08-25

Captain Wrler decided to try and reach
Ijaysan Island in them. In his own
boat the skipper had his wife, his boy,
the second mate, three sailors and four
Japs. In the other Mr.. Lorentze, the
mate. had the remainder of the crew
Captain WiIler had the navigating in
struments in his boat and the mate was
given instructions to follow him: AT
night a bright light was burned by the
leading boat so that the second one
could see the way.
Then for four days and three nights
the party experienced many hardships.
All of the food got soaked with salt
water before 1t could be consumed by
the tired, exhausted and hungry cast
aways Captain Willer steered his boat
for sixteen hours and then dropped off
to sleep from sheer exhaustion. In ad-
dition to other hardships it was soon
found that the leading boat was leak
ing and two persons had to work every
minute of the day and night in bailing
out water.
But the weather was fine and occa-
sionaIly the spirits of the party were
revived. On one occasion the two boats
engaged for a whole day in racing.
Ever possible advantage of the wind
was taken by both boats. Sometimes
one and sometimes the other boat
would lead but at the end 1t was said
that Mr.. Lorentze's craft had the ad-
vantage.
Just at sunset time on the evening of
the fourth day in the boats sailor
spied the Laysan Island light. There
were some wild scenes of joy and all
efforts were made to get the two boats
to the shore before the night set IN.
When everyone had clambered safely
ashore they were met by genial Cap
tain Schlemmer, the king of Laysan,
who gave the ship-wrecked people
hearty welcome and made their stay OF
six weeks onFthe island very pleasant
one. The whole party needed the six
weeks rest badly to recuperate them
selves from the great hardships. they
had been through before the rescue
steamer arrived.
Mrs. WilIer said yesterday: 81 didn't
worry much. The Captain has been
over there many times and he knew all
about the bad condition of the Cey-
lon. I knew he could get US out OF
it all right. The bad part of 1T was the
sitting up in a leaking boat for that
long time. We couldn't lay down ana
when we wanted biscuit to eat 1t was
full of salt water.
1.-The newspapers said that the Japs
were nearly starving on Laysan. They
were not for they still had plenty OF
rice left Then they have four COWS
there and they give two full pals of
milk every day. The cows have got
very fat since they were sent over
there. The water around the island
abounds in the finest fish have ever
eaten. They are also very plentiful
Wild birds, such as duck, can also be
secured in plenty and these make very
good living. Mr.. Schlemmer also had a
fine lot of canned goods and all these
things taken together would nave kept
the crowd on the island for many
months"
The Ceylon is probably all broken
up long before this time. Pieces of her
wreckage were cast up on Laysan ISL
and during the time that the ship
wrecked party were there. The last
seen of the vessel was when the Cap
tain and crew abandoned her. AT thai
time the deck of the Ceylon was about
even with the water.
The rescue steamer Hanalei made the
run down TO Laysan in three days
She remained at the island for a weeB
during which time she discharged hel
cargo of provisions and shipped cargo
of guano. Captain Schlemmer ane
about fifteen Jap laborers returned OF
the Hanalei. 1t is quite probable thai
the Hanalei will make another trip tf
Laysan Island within few days.