The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-04-20

the way. The distance is but 100 miles,
40 you can judge for yourself whether
we had trouble " not when IL took us
ten Saws 10 cover the distance
captain PntE. who f. somewhat,
bald played Joke on himself during
this cruise that he hlames on us. We
loft here without n sugar bowl. Cap.
tain Pitt storm-hat did very well as
the recipient for the sweet stun how
ever so we used that whenever Il was
not In other use. one night Captain
Piltz was aroused by a call from the
men on deck, who said that n big
squall was coming up, He was In his
bunk, but he hastily donned his
clothes, tossing his sugar bowl.hat on
his head The captain was In rush
and he didn't notice that II was full
OF sugar. The next morning. however,
he was pretty grouchy and wanted to
know II we thought he needed any
hair-restorer.
well we finally got to Tanning Is.
land. and the first person we saw was
Willie Greig, the old revolutionist who
was chased away from here in the
monarchical days. Willie was King
his property, through some mix-up.
was disposed of at receivers sale
before he got a chance to make a bid
1t now belongs to Father Rougier, and
Willie Greig, who is known to all the
oldtimers in Honolulu. is managing
the place for him. With him on the
island, besides those at the cable sta
ton about five miles away, are his
mother and sister.
liking Greig came out in his boat
to welcome us. and after we had said
prosit a few times in the good old
style, l went ashore with him.
went up to the cable station from his
place. leaving in a small sailboat, and
sent the first cable back to Captain
Miller. telling him that all was well
and that we would leave for the
wreck OF the Aeon the following morn
ing. My plans miscarried little, how
ever, for the next morning. had re-
manned with Greig overnight = the
schooner was not to be seen. A
sGuall had come up overnight and
she had been blown out to sea. And
for two days / saw nothing Of the
Concord. She had been caught in a
genuine gale, and it was forty-eight
hours before Captain Piltz could bring
her back to the anchorage once more.
when she did come into sight. l
was anxious to get started for Christ
mas Island as soon as possible. 1
wanted Greig to go along with me.
too, but / didn't. say anything to him
about it. He took me out to the Con-
cord in his boat. / invited him on
board, and on board he remained I
kidnapped him, for needed his advice
on the currents and other matters
Ground Christmas Island. He didn't
make very much of a kick about
going.
we anchored off the Old Settle
ment when we arrived at Christmas
Island. For the first time since leav.
ing Honolulu we lowered my little
launch, and prospected along the
coast. We sent divers down in the la
COCA to look for pearl shells, but there
were none found on the first attempt
made. Later on we took the launch
inside the lagoon, and. on sending
down the divers, were rewarded with
six or seven shells, which I brought
home for souvenirs. Where the Con-
cord was anchored was just on the
opposite side of the island from where
the Aeon's wreck lay, and I started
around with the launch to the west
side of the island. l located the wreck.
all right, but there was such a ter
rible sea and current that I found it
absolutely impossible to come near in
a boat. We returned then and de.
cided to walk overland to the Aeon's
wreck.
"On the chart 1t is stated that the
walk across the island at this place
is three miles. / found IT to be over
seven miles, and a terrible time we
had of it, too. Just Greig, my son
and I went across. One of the first
things we saw was wild cat, evil
IDENTIFY lost from one of the ancient
wrecks which we discovered on the IT,
land When we arrived at the camp
where the Aeons exiles were, we
found that an antiquated nanny-goat
had taken possession of the place. And
land-crabs. There were thousands of
them all over the houses.
Just as the British cruiser Cam
brian had reported. there was noshing
but the forecastle head yet remaining
of the wreck in sight from the shore
over this the sea was constantly
breaking with terrific force The cap
tain of the Aeon reported that the
vessel was in such position that she
would never break up. AS a matter
of fact, the sea was a regular batter
ingram that simply slashed the heavy
timbers to ribbons. Along the shore
of Christmas Island there are no less,
according to my estimation, than one
million feet of lumber strewn. And
there are thousands upon thousands,
apparently, of, cases Of Brilliantshine,
the brass polish, scattered along the
beach. l walked down the coast from
the wreck about two miles and a half, |
looking to see IL there Were any of |
the engines which formed part of |
the cargo of the Aeon yet to be found. |
Put there We're none that | located.
1T was on this lonely tramp of mine |
that / found the old treasure cave. |
according to the bearings which had |
been given me by my friend In Homo
lulu. The treasure was supposed to |