The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-11-18
The Lena Drops in
From AIeutian
Islands.
She Wants 5000 Tons
Of Coal From
Here.

With smoke belching from her three
tunnels the yaeht-like auxiliary Rus
sian cruiser Lena steamed into port
in the stream close to the cable steam
er Restorer.
The appearance of the Russian war
ship caused considerable interest in the
city, for the vessel has a peculiar his
tory in connection with the recent war
between Russia and Japan. She came
into Hawaiian waters by way of Bar
ber's Point and was therefore not sig
nailed. The Lena presented a beauti-
full appearance as she steamed along
the coast and entered the harbor. She
has fine lines, and closely resembles
the passenger steamers of the Togo
Kisen Kaisha type.
AS she swung into the harbor the
Russian flag was saluted by the Naval
Station guns and the salute was re-
turned. The cruiser was noticed to be
quite high out of the water. the top of
above the surface. Newly painted and
with her brasswork and guns brightly
polished she floats the seas now as
proudly as any victorious warship.
The Lena left San Francisco eighteen
days ago. She had been interned at
Mare Island for about year, with her
teeth drawn and under the surveillance
of American men-of-war. She was sa-
Iuted by warships as she left San Fran
cisco harbor. Then she pointed to the
northwest and went up into the Behr-
ing Sea to test her seagoing capa abilities.
She went along the Aleutian chain of
islands and then steamed southwark
again She put into Honolulu to take
on three thousand tons of coal, enough
to make a big cargo for any vessel to
carry. But that is the business of the
Lena She is an auxiliary cruiser, and
was used when at VladivOstok to coal
torpedo boats and cruisers.
It is hinted, however, that the Lena
had double purpose in coming to Ho-
nolulu. One was to get coal, and the
other to ascertain how the situation
was in vladivostok.
1t is said also that the crew of the
Lena is not altogether loyal to the
Gar. for there Were rumors of discon-
tent before the mast While she was
prisoner at Mare Island. When the
mutiny broke out on the Black Sea
warships the officers put a close watch
on the Lena's crew. When the more
recent disorders took place in Russia
a still closer watch was maintained.
A A'reporter of the Advertiser went out
to board the Lena last evening as she
swung at anchor in Naval Row. AT the
head of the gangway an officer very
polite and fluent of English, stopped
MIN. He said the captain and all the
. officers We're busy and could not be dis
turbed Why not come on the NOR
row? He answered questions about the
size of the vessel. the number of sail
ors aboard and the names of the OFF,
GERS and her armament. but as to the
cruise since leaving San Francisco he
would make no statement. except that
the weather had been rough sometimes
and other times it hadn't been.
Files of the Advertiser were sent to
the captain and the officers. and some
of the latter inquired what had taken
place recently in Russia and Siberia
They were told that fatal disorders had
occurred in VIadivostok. The officers
looked al one another, and made fur
ther inquiries.
It's well we came to Honolulu ana
heard about this remarked one.
When told that there was a rumor
of a false Car having risen in Russia,
the officers laughed, and said that was
impossible.
'Oh. he's but a pretender,' said the
reporter.
ooh, they would have a president
rather than a new Car" was the sig
nificant rejoinder of one of the off,
GERS
IF there's going to be new Car. 1
think 7 will try and get the job said