The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-11-21
A RUSSIAN CRUISER NOW IN PORT
The Lena Drops in
From AIeutian
Islands.
fFrom saturdays Advertiser.)

late yesterday afternoon and anchored
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 peculiar his
tory in connection with the recent war
between Russia and Japan. She came
into Hawaiian waters by way of Bar
hers 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 Toyo
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
the red paint being at least ten rect
above the surface. Newly painted ana
with her brasswork and guns brightly
polished, she floats the seas now as
proudly as any victorious warship.
The Lena left San Francisco eighteen
davs ago, She had been interned at
Mare Island for about n year, with her
teeth drawn and under the surveillance
oil American intu-Ol-Ntti' ''s'N 49,
luted 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 capabilities.
she went along the Aleutian chain of
islands and then steamed southward
npain. She put into Honolulu to take
nm three thousand tons of coal, enough
10 make 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
1t is hinted, however, that the Lena
had a double purpose in coming TO Ao-
nolulu. One was to get coal, ana the
other to ascertain how the situation
was in Vladivostok.
II is said also that the crew or the
Lena is not altogether loyal 10 the
Car. for there were rumors OF oiscoh-
tent before the mast while sne was
prisoner at Mare Island. When the
mutiny broke out on the Black sea
warships the officers put close watch
on the I.ena's crew. When the more
recent disorders took place in Russia
a still closer watch was maintained
reporter of the Advertiser went out
IN hoard 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
him. He said the captain and all the
officers were 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 oil-
GERS and her armament but as 10 the
cruise since leaving San Francisco ne
would make no statement, except that
the weather had been rough sometimes
and other times 1t hadn't been
Files of the Advertiser were sent tc
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 Vladivostok. The officers
looked at one another, and made fur
ther inquiries.
"It's well we came to Honolulu and
heard about this" remarked one.
When told that there was a rumoi
of a false Car having risen In Russia
the officers laughed, and said that was
impossible.
"Oh. he's but a pretender," said thu
reporter.
"Oh. they would have a president
rather than a new Gar" was the sig
nificant rejoinder of one of the OH
GERS.
IF there's going to be new Car.
think will try and get the job sale
a large, handsome, well-built officer
swelling out his chest and laughing
Before the Lena left San Francisco
the newspapers stated that severa
men were confined in the brig, and tina
one or two had been sentenced L
death. One newspaper stated positive
ly that information had leaked ou
from the officers that as soon as tn
vessel was on the high seas, two
least of the prisoners, would b
hanged
The reporter asked whether an
hangings had taken place since tn
cruise began. A shake of the hea
was the only response.
''were there any deaths on tn
cruiser"
''Oh, no; just few sick, that's all.
The Lena is commanded by Captain
A Ginter; the executive officer !
Luiet. Commander Cram, his aides be
ing Lieutenants Ivanoff and Zortofi
There are fourteen officers all told an
$50 men. There is a priest aboard. H
is a fine-looking man wearing a cas-
sock and a huge black beard. Fathe
Vasili, the former chaplain, died tn
day before the cruiser sailed and tn
remains were taken ashore at Sa
Francisco
The surgeon and two other officer
have their wives aboard.
Twenty-three guns comprise III
Lena's armament She is of 5000 tor
burden and is 49S feet In length. 81
has "a Belleville boilers. two tripl,
expansion engines and three funnel
She has a speed of IS knots
This ia the first Russian warship
visit the port since the wooden bari
rigged Rasboynik was here about s
years ago.
The Lena may remain here about I,
days. The Russian Consul. Mr. Kiam
is at present out OF the city. but
HaeiSfeld & Co.. with which firm n