The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1907-10-11
CAVE PRISONERS
THE L|FEbOATS

San fhANClSCO, sept. 2y.-Nitl
her keel rent and torn so badly tina
her failure to sink surprises all OF
board, the revenue cutter Manning lie.
in the bay, preparatory to going into
dry dock for repairs that will take
about two months and cost large
sum.
The crew, for the first time in 9
month, breath easy and recall the dan
gerous and thrilling experiences they
went through when the vessel went on
the rocks between Latouche and Mid
dleton islands at the southern entrance
of Prince William sound. The damage
was so great that there was a wild
scramble for the most valuable pos
sessions and preparations for swim of
two miles to shore.
Though the officers and men feared
the worst, they maintained such a cocl
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. Is on the ship s
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 the Manning, I'M
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 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 9, under the di-
rection of Captain F. NJ. Munger, COM
mander of the Boring Sea fleet, 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 schooners
held as liable. The commander of the
released schooner testified that his men
fished inside against his specific in
struetions 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 perfect course when
suddenly the vessel went on the IN
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 cutter list
ed so far to port that there seemed to
be no hope. The japanese resigned
themselves 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
we're driven forward and restrained
'nly by the greatest effort.
Investigation showed that the dam
lge was great and at once the port
boats were lowered and the prisoners
ent ashore. So great was the list to
he port side that the starboard boats
ould not be lowered and the crew
vas ordered to strip the decks and
make life RATS and the work of repair
vas begun. But when the tide was at
IOod the vessel fioated and all speed
Tas made back to Valdez, where re-
airs sufficient to permit of the voy-
ge to San Francisco were made.
The crew of the Manning consists of
l men and nine officers. They are
repairing to give expression to their
dmiration of Captain Cantwell, who ,
-as notified yesterday that he was re- /;
eyed from command of the Manning
} that he may go north again on an
Their cutter. Lieutenant Joynes will be
in command.
EASTWARD TRIP.