The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-09-08
WERE
ALL WRONG
CAPT. CURD OF BRITISH SHIP JU-
TO ATTEMPT WRONG PASSAGE.

Short of provisions and with a tale of
general hard luck, the British ship Ju-
teopolis, Captain Curd, arrived off the
port Saturday afternoon, 1873 days out
from Iloilo, Philippine Islands, bound
for Delaware Breakwater with a cargo
of sugar. The trip is probably the most
eXasperating in the history of her mas
ter. There is excellent reason for his
| feeling annoyed for he started out with
excellent hopes of making a good pass
age
Captain Curd took rather an unusual
course. He went down by the Caroline
| Islands expecting to catch the south
west monsoons and get run across the
Pacific and catch there a good slant of
wind that would enable him to round
| Cape Horn in reasonable time. Instead
of finding what had been expected
Gains or adverse weather We're eXpe-
rienced. The vessel was becalmed be-
low the Caroline Islands, went north of
| the equator for a couple of days, got
south again and was becalmed off the
Solomon Islands Fearing that he would
be unable to weather the Solomon ISL
ands, aptain Curd decided that the on
| ly alternative was to work north again
and make for Honolulu, as his prOvi-
sions We're running short Since July
| 10 the vessel had been making her way
| from Ill north Lat. 1927 east longi-
tude to Honolulu.
Captain Curd says that his trip can
serve as an excellent warning to other
ship masters. Comparatively little
! seems to be known about the particular
section of the Pacific in which the Ju-
teopolis sailed. According to the charts
and English Pacific Directory, a good
passage can be made during the months
of June and July, by going down by the
Carolines and by following about two
degrees north of the equator, a good
passage can be made as the southwest
monsoons are blowing at that season of
the year. The American charts of the
Caroline islands also say that easterly
currents and westerly winds are en-
countered. None of these We're met
with and the charts and directions Were
found to be entirely at fault.
After Captain Curd left Iloilo, his
vessel went up almost as far north as
the Volcano islands. He found himself
getting off toward Japan. He could moi
get through the China Sea, so he de-
cided to try the Caroline passage as the
monsoons almost invariably blow al
around the equator. Every direction
was at fault, however, and for a time
il seemed as if the vessel would drift
around and all hands starve to death
| Captain Curd will make a report of his
experience to the Meteorological offic'
at Washington. HN will be able to Civ,
considerable new and important infor
nation on the subject for he contends
that the directory and chart are wrong
He made the mistake of trying tina
passage.
The only thing sighted during tn
voyage was a derelict burned to the wa
= ters edge in Lat. $50 north, Long. 147.1
east. This was sighted on June 16, Cap
tain Curd took his vessel close to tn
{ derelict but was unable to make out he
| identity. The wreck had apparent,
been timber ladened and was burned t
the waters edge.
The il teopolis did not come into tn
haI Dor, but is lying at anchor off tn
! port. She will lay in supply of pro
visions and get away for Delawar
! Breakwater this week. She has a carg
of 1892 tons of sugar. The vessel be
longs to the Standard Oil Company
The vessel is very foul.