The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-06-23
THE HANALEI RETURNS
FROM MIDWAY AND GUAM
weather continues he expects to sight
Midway early tomorrow morning.
LAND IN SIGHT.

Midway early tomorrow morning.
LAND IN SIGHT.
Wednesday, April Goth, at sis a. m,
the joyful news of land on our star
board bow quickly spread through the
ship and all the passengers appeared
on deck to obtain the first look at
lonely Midway" At this early hour
very little could be seen, only a few
breakers. At a. m. we could make
things out more distinctly and We
could see the Midway Island, simply
a few miles of sand, with few small
bushes and reef of coral rocks around
it with the exception of an entrance
in the northwest part. Much excite
ment was caused by the discovery of
two masted vessel at the northwest
part of the Island, which we at first
thought was wreck, but as We APP
preached nearer we fotnd that the
schooner was at anchor in the har-
Dor and proved to be the Japanese
schooner Yeiji Maru and from what we
can learn she has been here some
time. The vessel carries crew of
thirty-eight men, and have been kill
ing birds, etc.
At s a. M we anchored in Seward
roads, about two miles from Sand ISL
and, and at 1884 a. m. Superintendent
Mr.. Colley accompanied by Captain
Piltz of Hanalei and Mr.. Coath the
Guam Superintendent landed in small
boat, to decide upon the best place for
the landing of our supplies, etc, etc,
after which they returned on board
Hanalei and we commenced landing
our lumber and supplies.
DISCOVERY OF MIDWAY.
The Midway Island was discovered
by Captain Brooks of the Gambia in
the year 1859, who took possession Of
them for the United States, and they
have since been used by the Pacific
Mail Company who intended to form a
depot here for their trans-PaCific
steamers, instead of using Honolulu.
The reef encircling Midway Island is
eighteen miles in circumference, aui
without an opening except on the
western side At the northwest point
is small patch of breakers, few
detached rocks, and then commences
n compact coral wall about five feet
high and from to 20 feet wide, which
continues for 1-2 miles to the south
ward and eastward when it loses Its
uniformity of surface, and presents a
line of detached rocks, very little more
than a wash
For 1-2 miles to the southwark,
there off the center of Eastern Island
the rocks dip under water, but reap
pear two miles to the westward
whence they again show as a contin-
uous wall for about 1-2 miles to the
westward and northward, ending there
and forming the south side of the en-
trance to Wells Harbor. This entrance
is about ga mile broad and from its
northern side to the northwest rocks
there Is bed of coral with from one
to sixteen fathoms, showing above
water in one place, with occasional
breakers. The northern, eastern and
southern portions of the reef are steep
to the rocks. The bottom is visible in
two places only, near the northeast
and the southeast points where the
soundings are shown on the chart
There is very little vegetation on the
Island, and the glare from the sand
is very trying to the eyes. The OBJ
servation spot near the southwest end
of the Island is in latitude 90 degree
10 min. % sec. N, longitude III deg
90 sec. % min. w.
I WELLS HARBOR.
Wells Harbor is formed by gap II
the coral reef and is roomy and safe
with the entrance open TO the west
ward, and 250 yards wide where mos
contracted. The bar which is wei
within the entrance and on which
there is no swell during the trade
winds is narrow and has an uneveI
bottom of coral rock and small sane
holes. Its depth varies from sixtee'
TO twenty-one feet. but changes so of
ten and suddenly as to make it un
. safe TO count on crossing without get
ting cast OF eighteen feet. Insid
the bar the depth for anchoring Il
from five TO seven fathoms. whit
; sand, the harbor Is therefore only II
for vessels drawing less than eighteei
feet Vessels of deeper draft must III
in Seward Roads, picking out a sand!
bottom 10 anchor on.
FISH lNEp GAME.