The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-11-28
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Unfolding slowly in Judge sloss' de-
partnaent of the Superior Court is a
tale OF i search Of the islands of the
Southern Seas for pirate treasures. The
story smacks Of the romance of the days
when the galIeons of Captain Kidd
sailed the deep to stain his century
with the blood of his crimes.
The tale OF this cruise through the
opal seas beyond the equator centers
round the good ship Herman. Loaded
low with provisions, tools and excavat-
ing implements, the Herman sailed
from sydney. Australia, in April, 1903,
her prov presumably turned toward
Papeete, Tahiti. The ship was in
charge of Henry Whelan, agent for
William and Louis II. Mooser, former
w owners of the vessel, who reside in
this city. George n. Sutton navigated
the vessel. assisted by James Brown
and a crew gathered at the far Anti
pOdean port
For weeks they sailed the tropic
main, the captain scanning his chart
more closely as the days went by, for
where the cross that marked the place
where the treasure lay on what was
pictured as an island there was no
island at all, nothing but the sweep
of the salt sea, how deep no man of
that crew aboard even dared TO hazard
a guess. But the hopes of this crew
n. 4
so in and out among the coral islands
OF the region the ship was sailed, but
finally as provisions grew low it was
decided to turn homeward.
Then a storm came up and all Of the
energy of the crew, which had been
held in reserve for the thrilling labor
of unearthing golden pieces Of eight
and ingots of furnished silver
was expended in keeping the vessel on
her keel and the souls of the crew
within their bodies. AS the storm ragged
the crew forgot all about the mystic
treasure island that had lured them
into such dangers and only longed for
land on (which to plant their feet.
So they prevailed upon the captain
to steer his course, not for Australia
and home, but for Papeete, where the
ship could anchor and ride out the
gale in safety. After a long and weary
struggle with the elements the Herman
finally sailed majeStically into the
shelter of the palm isle. and
while the crew basked in the tropic
sun and strolled through the dreamy
village the agent of the Moosers nego-
tiated for the sale of his ship. Finally
he accepted an offer Of $3.50 After
paying off his crew and settling for
incidentals he had $3.50 left.
With this sum in his possession he
returned to San Francisco and ten
dered it to the Moosers, late owners
of the ship. Then he determined his
fee, but the Moosers, ascertaining that
they had not authorized the wild search
for treasure into the South Seas but
had ordered him to sell the vessel be-
fore he set sail from Australia, refused
to pay him. SO he filed suit to recover
the fee he asserts is due him. s.
In their answer to his complaint the
Moosers tell in detail the story of the
cruise Of the Herman in search of pi-
rate treasure and contend that they can
easily prove that they never author
lied Whelan to set a sail on his ship
after he arrived at Australia. AS
Whelan paid the expenses of the fruit
less search for gold out OF the selling
price of the Herman they assert that
not only has he received all that he is
entitled to but 1924 more. For this
latter sum they demand judgment
against Whelan.
Both sides will be given fuller OPP
portunity today to explain their va
rious contentious, and then Judge Sloss
will decide whose cupidity it was that
caused the Herman to abandon the
cause of commerce and turn her prov
toward the land the chartmaker said
was the stronghold of ancient buc-
caneers.-Call.