The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-04-25

When Hawaii was shocked with tbs
awful tale Of suffering Of the survivors
of the American ship Eclipse aban-
doned at sea, on January II, thou
sand miles from here. the last had
probably been heard Of that iII-starred
vessel, though her ghost may rise in
investigations now taken up by the
mainland Federal authorities. follow
ing a-.idavits Of her sailors here as to
the bad condition of her boats. But
whether or not the last has been heard
Of her. there are few here, if any,
familiar with her unlucky record, or,
if they remember the incident related
below, they have failed to identify ii
with the vessel recently lost.
The loss OF the Eclipse. says Shipping
Illustrated Of New York, has awaken
ed a flood Of interesting yarns. Many
strange happenings befen the Eclipse
before she went TO the bottom. One
of the most mysterious occurred sew
eral years ago and within a hundred
miles of where she was lost.
Coal-laden, she was bound from
Newcastle to Honolulu. she lost the
trade wind December and the next
day opened up with one Of those
scorchingfy hot Gains for which the
Pacific is noted.
During the forenoon watch there was
the faintest suspicion Of a breath OF
air and dire heat hung over the yes
sci. Every available sail, even to
three skysaiIs. was set to- WOO the
sulky. weak draughts, but the sea
seemed to be in the deepest sIumber.
At noon all hands were sent to din
ner, there seeming 10 be nothing to
do until the wind gathered strength.
The sailors were at their meal about
fifteen minutes when a report as of a
discharged cannon was heard and the
mate tumbled out on deck to see what
had happened. He saw that the miz-
gen royal was split from head to foot
through the bunt. Puzzled as to how
such thing could happen he bawled:
the nlizzen royal. Lively!" John
Nicholson. able seaman, with the repu-
tation Of being the first aloft, went UP
the ratlines TO the dizzy height. As
soon as he was planted at the head of
the topgallant sIlrouds the mate went
below 10 resume eating. He told the
captain the mizzen royal had split.
The captain would not believe him.
90
something uncanny about it that I
don't like" said the mate.
The captain went up to see for him
self and had about half assembled the
companionway when there was a con-
vulsive shake of the Eclipse's hull, a
noise as of many cannon discharged at
once, great cracking of wood and
the captain was shot back into the
cabin in q spasm of the ship. Unhurt,
he rushed on deck with his officers
behind him. All hands were crowding
out Of the forcastle with looks of won
der and astonisment.
The main royal mast, broken at the
hounds or cap, was dangling with the
skysail and royal yards and their sails
swaying like a pendulum The back
stays and shrouds Of the foremost were
pal AEQ as NEpQSA tIicAE u pipe Cldy
and thirteen sails. including the fore
and mizzen royals, were torn into rib
bons. Braces, sheets, halliards and
reef tackles were torn asunder, let
ting down or otherwise releasing the
yards and sails. Block shells, sheaves
and strops We're broken or parted and
turn buckles were torn out
And there was nothing in sight in
that awful calm TO indicate what had
caused all this horrible mess. The
waterways were filled.
And Nicholson. where was he? He
had last been seen at the head of
the topgaIlant shrouds. Now he was
nowhere to be seen.
In a crippled condition the Eclipse
managed to reach Honolulu.
Great underwater experts and ma
riTIe surveyors puzzled their heads and
wrote papers by the wholesale but il
was never agreed as 10 what had hit
the Eclipse.
About the New York Maritime Ex-
change this is the way they settle II.
John Nicholson was the only man
who saw what happened and John
Nicholson cant tell.