The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-08-09
CAPTAIN HAMlET'S
OFFICIAL REPORT

a very interesting report OF his visit
TO the Island of Bisnansky, one of the
| Hawaiian group, where he rescued a
Japanese subjects and brought them
| to Honolulu. He says: THE Thetis
left Honolulu May S, 1904 and on June
u stopped at Laysan Island where we
found an old schooner loading with gu
ano. on the morning of the 18th we
anchored off Midway. on the morning
of the 10th the Island of Lisnansky was
sighted and approaching it slowly
along the coral reef to make a lee an
chored on the west side about three
miles off shore shortly before S a. IN.
The ships surgeon, an interpreter, a
petty officer and boats crew were
taken. and we landed about 9:20. When
We landed two of the Japanese APP
preached US timidly, but as soon as the
Interpreter told what our business was
they called the rest to come uD and
all came rushing up. The leader or
| manager stated there We're II of them
and all were in good health. After a
letter from the Japanese consul, which
| which was obtained from the officer
at Honolulu, was read to them and they
fully understood that all were to leave
| the island everyone wanted to shake
hands with the surgeon myself and
crew and they danced around like hap
Ply children to express their JOY, which
| seemed genuine We made at once
for the camp about three-quarters of a
mile off on the east side of the island
and we found it to consist of four
| thatchedroof shacks, one about 20X20
feet. and also for storing food, one,
12x4Ofeet, for sleeping and also for stor-
| ing food, one. 12XSO feet for sleeping
and storing and one, 12x4O, used as a
general cook house.
Through the Interpreter l was in
formed that they had been on short
rations for some time and that there
was only 600 pounds of rice and a few
beans left, and that they had prepared
to live on dried terne meat. quantities
of which We're shown to me. | soon
| made 1t plain to the manager that the
sooner and quicker the transfer of the
whole party of ~ was made to the
ship. the better, so the rice was put in
five bags we had brought with us and
| carried across the island and the first
load and their baggage reached the
vessel before noon. | sent note to
the executive officer to use what boats
he could during the afternoon to con-
tnue the transfer | remained at the
camp with the interpreter and two of
the crew to see the things packed up
and moved, and the manager allowed
the 81 men remaining to cook all they
could to eat for the midday meal Fires
under three large pots in the cook
house We're soon started and the rice,
the remaining beans and some fresh
fish We're quickly prepared.
Chop sticks had either fallen into
disuse during the short ration period
or the men had been in the habit of
all eating at one time for dozens of
| pairs of sticks had to he improvised
for this last meal | was offered some
of the food, found it very palatabe and
ate it to the sport and enjoyment of all
the camp. All had a good meal and
not more than half of what had been
cooked was eaten. Some of what re-
NAMED was carried across the island
and eaten during the afternoon while
they We're waiting for the boats to
come in. l asked what was to be done
with the dried terne meat. They looll-
ed at it with some disgust and | was
told that it was only provided against
starvation and that no one would eat
it now, and it was left at the camp.
when | was informed and shown
that there We're several hundred pack
ages of dried birds and wings, some
being i'm large cases, | decided it was
impossible to get them across the is
land to the ship in any reasonable time.
SO | told the manager to let them re-
main for the schooner to take and left
a notice in Japanese on a board nailed
to one of the shaCks and in a box fast
ened to it copy of the consul's letter
and full statement in regard to what
had happened that day. The transfer
of the men and their baggage was ac-
complished during the afternoon and
the Thetis hove anchor and started
back the same evening.
I'VE found that the island was very |
nearly as laid down ON the charts about |
n mile long by three-quarters of mile
wide, covered all over with a tough |
grass growing by the black ternes which
have habit of digging down for sew
eral inches to make their nests.
"A lookout station had been built by
the Japanese on the east side of the is
land to attract attention of any passing
vessel when the food supply was run
ming short, and white cloth had been
hoisted at the top. This l left standing
as it could do no harm.
The weather on the cruise has been
variable, sea mostly rough on account
of the strong northeast wind, and the
japanese could not remain below decks
at all. 1t made them sea-sick, and as
they filled up the available space on
deck 1 Had to suspend quarters drills
for the time they have been here. As
soon as the Japanese are landed ] shall
At once set to work taking in coal and
stores and get the vessel ready for the
trip TO Dutch Harbor, Alaska"
Builders and Traders,