Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-07-11
TWO SH|PWRECKED CREWS
Brought Into Port To-day
BY SCHOONER N. TURNER
NORWEGIAN BARKS LOST ON MADAM ISLAND

good deal Of sea. Nothing was feared
at this time, because the charts of the
island, according to Captain Doneilson,
say distinctly that heavy westerly
winds are seldom known there.
On the 10th Of May the wind fresh
ened and the seas grew higher. In fact,
both shippers became little uneasy,
but decided to ride It out in the har-
Dor. The mooring buoy here is about
400 feet from shore.
Then the wind hauled around and
came straight from the west, rising
In fury until the ships strained at their
chains and great seas began to roll
over the decks. For three days the
gale rose higher and higher. The skip
pers thoroughly alarmed. attempted to
beat out, but It was impossible in the
gale. Again they dropped anchor and
moored strongly.
On the 18th Of May the gale in
creased to hurricane, still straight
from the west. At II o'clock the moor
ing chains parted. Captain Doneilson
saw the end coming. And gave the
order to make ready the boats. The
anchor began to drag and then all
hope OF saving the ship was gone.
Three boats were hastily launched, pro-
visions hurriedly gathered-so hur-.
riedly that clothing was neglected, and
the captain had no time to save his
instruments-and then the sailors
fought their way to shore. The ten
men reached there In safety. but the
Victor drove on the reef, broke in two,
and the seas battered her to pieces.
The Salamis had better holding.
ground for her anchor. All that day
she rode the storm. In the night the
wind increased. At o'clock next
morning the story Of the Victor was
repeated. The men In the Salamis had
seen the other vessel go ashore and
they worked desperately to save the
bark. but 1t was useless. Again a
mooringchain parted, again an anchor
dragged. and again the wind and sea
drove the doomed vessel upon the reef.
Captain Larson and thirteen sailors
reached shore safely, in as bad
plight as the crew OF the Victor.
The shipwrecked men were cared for
by the inhabitants. Food was scare
but 1t was sufficient. The men had
little hope Of being taken on for
months to come, but they built signal
fires and flew flags OF distress. On
the 18th Of June the watchers saw in
the distance the head-sails of a vessel.
They collected all the available fuel
on the island and piled II on the bon
fire till the flames shot high into the
air. Today on the deck Of the Mat
thew Turner. due of the sailors told
with tears In his eyes Of their gladness
when they knew that their signals
were discovered by the distant ship.
The schooner anchored about seven
miles off the land and sent boat
ashore. On the 18th OF June, twenty.
three days after the shipwreck, the
men were taken on board the Matthew
Turner, and by her brought to this
port.
Captain Doneilson says that both
vessels are total losses. They broke
all to pieces on the reef" he said.
Now nothing is to be seen OF either
Of them. The Victor broke in two
and drifted away, and the Salamis.
after pounding on the reef. sunk"
Both vessels are Norwegian owned
and manned. The home port OF the
Salamis is Porsgrud. She. like the
Victor. was In the lumber trade from
Norway to the Colonies. She left Mel
bourne on February IS. and arrived at