The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-10-09
GAVE PRISONERS
THE L|FEBOATS
Manning Crew Greeted With
High Praise for Conduct
Under Danger.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29.-Wit
her keel rent and torn so badly tina
her failure to sink surprises all o
board, the revenue cutter Manning lie
in the bay, preparatory to going int
dry dock for repairs that will tax
about two months and cost a larg
sum.
The crew, for the first time in
month, breath easy and recall the dan
gerous and thrilling experiences the,
went through when the vessel went OF
the rocks between Latouche and Mid
dleton islands at the southern entranc,
of Prince William sound. The damage
was SO great that there was vile
scramble for the most valuable pos
sessions and preparations for a swim OF
two miles to shore.
Though the officers and men feared
the worst, they maintained such coo
exterior that sixty-three- japanese
prisoners, captured while seal poach-
ing, were moved to extravagant praise
of American sailors. Had not the
crew restrained the Japanese they
would have jumped into the sea during
wild panic that seized them. But
the japanese had greater reason for
gratitude and laudation. Every boat
that was available was lowered and
the prisoners landed, while those of the
crew who remained on board worked
like Trojans to build life RATS for
themselves from the trimmings of the
ship.
Lieutenants Joynes and Shea and
Midshipman Davids told the story yes
terday. Lest the tale of the sea prove
not salty enough they borrowed, and
are keeping for themselves, the hoodoo
superstition of the TO castle. All that
went wrong occurred while a cross
eyed man, who is No. 13 on the ship Is
paper and was shipped on Friday at
Honolulu, was on board and since he
left there have been fair winds and
smooth seas.
On May 25th last che Manning, u
der command of Captain John c. Can't
well, sailed from Honolulu To do police
duty at the Alaska seal fisheries and
arrived at the destination on june 2.
On July 2 two japanese sealing
schooners were seized and sixty-four
men, found fishing inside the maritime |
limits, and the crews were made pris- |
oners. On August 8, under the di-
rection of Captain F. II. Munger, COM
mander of the Bering Sea feet, the
Manning started with the schooners
and prisoners to Valdez, Alaska, where |
the United States District Court was
in session and six men were convicted
and sentenced and one of the sehooners
held as liable. The commander of the !
released schooner testified that his men
fshed inside against his specific in
structions and was roundly thrashed by
the crew after leaving the courtroom.
Just after daybreak the cutter
reached the channel between the two
islands. Lieutenant Shea, the naviga-
tor of the cutter, was on the bridge. |
He was sailing a perfect course when
suddenly the vessel went on the un-
charted rocks. 1t was Jared from
stem to stern and groaned as if it were
going to pieces.
Terrorized, the Japanese screamed
and ran madly about the deck, clinging
to officers and men until the scutter list
ed so far TO port that there seemed to
be no hope. The japanese resigned
to the inevitable, gave the (,
three claps of the hands to
summon the aid of Buddha, and broke
for the sides to leap into the sea. They
were driven forward and restrained
only by the greatest effort.
Investigation showed that the dam
age was great and at once the port
boats were lowered and the prisoners
sent ashore. So great was the list to
the port side that the starboard boats
could not be lowered and the crew
was ordered to strip the decks and
make life RATS and the work of repair
was begun. But when the tide was at
food the vessel foated and all speed
was made back to Valdez, where re-
pairs sufficient to permit of the voy-
age to San Francisco were made.
The crew of the Manning consists of
81 men and aine officers. They are
to give expression to their
of Captain Cantwell, who
was notified yesterday that he was re-
lieved from command of the Manning
so that he may go north again on an
other cutter. Lieutenant Joynes will be
in command
CAPTURED BY RUSSIANS.
City of Papeete, bktn., from Ok