The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-08-05
WAS NEARLY A
YEAR AT SEA

Buffeted by angry waters from with
out and menaced by fire within, the
American bark Willscott, her masts
splintered and her hull battered, slowly
crept down the Southern California
coast and made the port OF San Diego
on July 10 after a voyage of 1853 days
from Baltimore. The Willscott Is con-
signed to this port via San Diego and
has had one of the most eventful voy-
ages in the history Of the sea. She
was picked up off Point Iona by the
lowed into San Diego harbor. After
discharging a cargo Of coal at that port
she was towed to san Francisco by the
Red Stack tug Sea Rover on July &C.
After being repaired at that port she
will proceed to Honolulu.
The crew of the unlucky bark were
all well although worn out by their long
voyage and We're overjoyed to once
more be on terra firrna. AS they have
nearly a years pay coming TO them 1t
would be surprising if they did not cele-
brate, though at last reports none of
them had gotten into trouble. The fol-
lowing interesting interview with the
captain appeared in the San Diego
Evening Tribune:
Captain Macloon, the commander of
the Willscott, is one of the Oldest
mariners in the merchant marine, and
has been following the seas for nearly
sixty years. When seen on board the
ship tonight, he said that the trip just
ended was the worst in all his expert
ence, and one of the worst he had ever
heard of. There We're many times
when l thought the ship would never
live to see port said the captain.
After leaving Philadelphia we had II
fair run until we We're rounding Cape
Horn when we struck a severe snow
storm, accompanied by a hard wind.
The weather was bitteUly cold and as
fast as a sea would break over the
deck the water would freeze. The en-
tire deck sides of the ship and the rig
ging was one mass of ice, and it was
almost as much as a mans life was
worth to pick his way along deck.
During the worst of the storm the main
topmast and the foretopmast snapped
short, and brought all the sails and
rigging to the deck where IL lay a mass
of tangled and frozen wreckage. The
crew Immediately commenced to cut
away the wreckage, but what with the
fierce storm and the ice, the job was
difficult one. our condition was such
that il was impossible to proceed, and |
decided to beat back to Port Stanley
as the most available port in which
temporary repairs could be made. We
We're four weeks making Port Stanley,
and during nearly all of that time the
snow storms and high winds continued
almost without intermission. shortly
before reaching Port Stanley smoke was
noticed issuing from the hold and a
hasty examination developed the fact
that the cargo had become overheated.
AS soon as possible after reaching port
we commenced discharging the cargo.
Three hundred tons We're discharged
before the danger was past. After
leaving Port Stanley we encountered
nothing but head winds. During the
last month our greatest danger has
been from a possible lack of provisions
and only the most careful economy en-
abled US to reach port without running
out. All Of the officers and crew have
suffered a great deal, but we are all
thankful that sickness was not added
to our other misfortunes.
News of the destruction Of the Amer
lean sailing vessel c, Bemont of Phila-
delphia was brought by Capt Macloon.
While lying at Port Stanley the Bemont
arrived in port with "A cargo OF coal
and after making few necessary re-
pairs and taking on part of the cargo
of another Vessel which was there, put
to sea. Twenty days later she returned
TO Port stanley with her entire cargo
ablaze. All efforts to put out the fire
We're without avail and the vessel was
beached. The ship was almost entirely
destroyed and will probably be a total
wreck