The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-08-16
COULDN'T FIND
LAYsAN ISLAND
(From Wednesdays Advertiser,

(From Wednesdays Advertiser
Forty-five days from the time she
sailed from Honolulu bound for lay
san Island for guano, the schooner
Luka, Captain c. Olsen, returned TO
port yesterday morning reporting that
she was unable 20 find the island and
leaving a wondering populace to infer
that the isiet had disappeared beneath
the waves as the result OF some awful
seismic disturbance or that Captain
Olsen was, to express it mildly, of his
reckoning.
About Friday afternoon Of this week
Honolulu may hear from the U. s. S.
IroQuois at Midway. by cable. and then
learn whether Laysan has been swal-
lowed by the sea or Olsen is dead
reckoner."
When the Iroquois left this port last
saturday afternoon in command Of
Captain Carter, she was under orders
from Admiral Very, commandant of
the L. S. Naval Station here. to visit
Laysan Island and then proceed to
Midway and. also. to visit all islands
in the vicinity of either for the purpose
~ aSSC4 NIGllCI OF uOI IlGIe
had been any wrecks. The Admiral's
instructions were that Il any distressed
seamen were discovered they were to
be relieved and II 1t should happen
that there had been a wreck and there
were more survivors than the Iroquois
could bring back. they were to be left
provisions to last until help could be
sent from here.
1t is calculated that the Iroquois
reaches Laysan Island this morning,
always supposing. Of course. that the
d d'sappearance of the island Is a
dream, and from Laysan the Iroquois
would go to Midway, possibly arriv-
ing Friday. From Midway, as is usual.
the Iroquois will cable Honolulu. re-
porting on her trip so far and il any
thing has really happened to Laysan
Honolulu will have official knowledge
of the fact very soon.
Early yesterday morning the water
front was aware of the fact that the
Luka had returned from trip of
forty-five days without having once
seen land. At first it was thought
that some joker was passing around a
yarn, but Captain Olsen of the Luka
was seen and he seriously reported
that he had arrived where Laysan is
land should be by rights and, 10,
the island was not there.
The Luka reached where Laysan
should be- on July and cruised over
and about and around the locality for
twelve days without getting glimpse
or even a smell of solid earth.
T,,Y,- = . a.
and Honolulu, taking 26 days to make
It against constant contrary winds and
4 succession of squalls that was al
most disheartening.
According to the Japanese crew of |
he Luka there was more than the con-
rary weather to weary and worry /
heir souls, for they felt that they had 4
ieen ghosts, that they had passed over |
he grave of an island. One Jap de-
,lares that on nearing the, supposed To-
.at'on of The island a deep and muf-
led roar was heard, as of some ter
ific submarine convulsion. 1t must
lave oeen an echo of the sinking of
he island, following out the Jap's idea.
And, more than that, he noticed that
he moon rose in peculiar haze of a
;hostly nature and there were light
ling flashes and blotches streaking and
Iaubing the heavens and making awe
ONE the marinescape. One of the
hree Japs who were being taken to
-aysan as laborers became mysteri-
usly sick, though it was observed that
e never missed a meal, and he was
noIose ana preoccupied, as one pos
essed oy melancholy spirit full of
vii visions.
A NJ. Brown, who represents the
wners of the Iuka, of whom Max
chlemmer of Laysan Island is. one,
aid yesterday afternoon, smiling, that
e believed Laysan would be found in
ne usual place. He has sufficient con-
dence in the existence of the little I
uano isle to remove Olsen from COM ;
lsnd of the schooner and replace him
y Captain Rosehill of large local fame
'ho recently resigned the command of
ack London's famous ketch Shark.
rown announced that, under Rose
ills command, the Luka would sal
,morrow again for Laysan.
CAPITA n. Olsen thought his chronom-
ter might be off somewhat, but an
of the instrument yester-
ay by Redhouse proved it to be prac-
cally all right.
One of the japanese crew claims to
ave seen lights on the island about
lie time the Luka was due TO pick it ,,
p. The captain headed the schooner .
" the lights. but no land was sight
/. The lights disappeared. The Japa- ,
ese believe the island has sunk and
aptain Olsen doubts it's existence. ,
mother of the crew says he distinct !
: saw Laysan and then heard the ter ,
BILE rumbling and saw the lightning :
ashes and the island was not there
hen the schooner approached.
Laysan Island is, or was, thousand
Iiles northwest of this group.
1AIIlADI H0r ;