The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-03-29
THE KENNEDY IS
LOST ON LAySkH

Sending government supplies TO Mid
way is about as hazardous an occupa-
ton as pole seeking. Another vessel
has been wrecked on the way to the
cable basis in mid-Pacific and her Of
ficers and crew are here, thankful that
they escaped with their lives. This is
the little schooner c. Kennedy, which
started from Honolulu, February for
Midway via Laysan Island. The men
who were rescued from Laysan Island
by the gunboat Petrol. which went out
on a hunt for the missing schooner, are
Captain Max Schlemmer Mate Charles
Krohn and Second Mate j. a. Green.
Besides these officers the Japanese
crew of six men was brought back.
Mate Krohn of the C. Kennedy tells
the following story of the schooner's
luckless voyage:
I'VE sailed from Honolulu February
and arrived off Laysan al noon on
Saturday the 25th of February. There
was a heavy gale and a high sea was
| running. On Monday night we drifted
out of sight of land. Strong westerly
winds were blowing. We again made
Laysan on Thursday, March 2. We
landed our stuff, took on extra water
and fuel and made preparations to go
to Midway.
ION Friday, the 3rd, we sailed for
Midway. There were strong, variable
winds, generally westerly, and heavy
seas. AT about $3.50 we struck on the
southwest corner of the island. There
was a strong tide setting inshore at
the rate of about three miles per hour.
The schooner had all sails set when
she struck. We lowered the sails and
put a boat over the side. Big seas
broke over the schooner and upset the
boat. Mr. Green and l were left
aboard because we had not gotten in
the boat when it upset. ALI lost their
effects. The people in the boat We're
thrown out and We're washed ashore
over the rocks. Green and L watched
our chance and between the seas got
on the rocks and walked ashore.
The schooner was abandoned and
on Sunday, as the wind and sea had
abated somewhat we started to sal
wage cargo. We saved something more
than half the cargo, more or less dam
aged, or course naturally the nOuT.
hay and other such cargo was spoiled.
Captain Schlemmer and l recovered
our instruments, though in somewhat
damaged condition. All our personal
effects We're lost, The schooner is lying
high and dry on the beach with the
bottom ground out of her. She is a
total loss
The men were very indignant at the
published remarks of local Captain
who stated that none of the men were
navigators. Mate Krohn at least had
a license and has been mate on the
island steamers for two years and
has been on other vessels for a num-
Der of years. The Petrol passed Lay
san on the 18th of March on her way
to Midway but it was too rough for
her to land. On the 23rd she returned
and took off the men. Some Japanese
were left working on the island
The loss comes as a severe blow to
Captain Schlemmer and his mates as
the schooner was not insured. Mate
Green had invested all his savings in
the Kennedy and lost everything but
a dilapidated suit of clothes The 9TH
er men saved little more out of the
wreck. Just what their future plans
will be is not known but Captain
Schlemmer viii probably attempt to ar
range to send another schooner to bring
over the guano that is waiting on the
island.