Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-01-28

/ pleasure 90 of drinking a bowl of
/ kava made by the old process of chew.
1 ing the root instead Of pounding it.
Off For Sydney.
In due course the regular steamer
arrived at 5 p. M, October /, we de-
parted for Sydney, Australia. distant
| 1,743 mile southwest with a full com,
plement of passengers in the steerage.
Next day we called at Lautoka, 1872
miles from SuVa, to DISCHARGE some
cargo. | went on shore and looked
through the largest and mot up-to.
date sugar mill operated by the CO.
Ionial Sugar company lis nominal ca
pacity is 100 tons dried sugar per day.
1t is constructed entirely of iron and
concrete, and its machinery is very
ponderous. In the storage room I saw
600 tons of dry sugar in bags stacked
uD awaiting shipment. have been I'M
able to obtain official figures of the to
tai sugar production Of these islands
later than 1904. For that year the
amount was 52,137 tons valued at
| e469,391. But I am informed that the
industry has increased since then in
the same ratio it did for a like period
previous to that year which would
make the figures for 1907 fully 80 per
cent greater than those given above.
In Distress.
A few hours after leaving this port
we sighted steamer flying signals of
distre S. As it was getting dark she
sent up a rocket, which was almost i'm.
mediateIy followed by the discharge
of two from our bridge. When we
got near enough we discovered it was
a large cargo boat of the same line,
in ballast, with a broken tail shaft
that had been drifting heIple for 10
days. An officer had succeeded in
reaching land soon after the accident
happened and the facts were known
in Suva. Two small steamers had
been Immediately sent after her and
were out there On the search when we
lighted her After getting as near as
possible a bot was lowered contain
ing the first mate and a crew of sea.
men, who took a line to the other YES
sci. This was hauled aboard by their
team winch followed by a wire cable
from US, but broke before much had
been received. Three times this was
repeated. At last, by using a very
big rope cable, the large steel towing
line was secured. This was shackled to
the end of their large anchor chain
and 60 to so feet Of it paid out. That
great might, together with the 300 feet
of our large steel cable, eau ed it to
sag down into the water and relieve
the great strain when the combination
Of seas caused US to shoot ahead and
the other yes eI to rear back. 1t took
four and One-haIf hours to accomplish
all this, and it was 1920 p. m. before
we started back for Suva Needless
to say, I did not turn in till then. The
night wa clear but a strong wind was
blowing and heavy swell on. It was
stated, at the time we discovered her
a while trying to get a line fastened
to her, that she was all the time drift
ing in the strong current, as listed by
the wind, at a rate of between four
and five knots an hour; and from all
appearances in six or seven hours
longer would have been on the reef
surrounding an island directly ahead.
The men in the rOwboat had hard
time OF it having to pull almost con-
stantly, while at times, when between
the two vessels, they were tossed about
in a manner something wonderful to
me. Then again, we did not drift with
the same speed, which caused us to
keep describing great circles, which
would enable us to get as near as we
could with safety. Some grumbling
was heard from the officers because
the captain insisted that everything
should be done exactly as he said I
reckon as long as hi; ship was in a
dangerous situation and he alone res
pOnsibIe for its safety, he should have
all the say, and the credit for the res
cue when accOmpIi he'd We had a
fine sea all the way to Suva, where
We arrived at noon the mex. day. Aft
er casting off the lire we anchored
and two coal boats came alongside
from which we received 50 tons of
coal to repIenish our bunkers. Then
away for the second time just "a
hours after making the previous start
That night we called at a port on
the west end Of the i land and took
on a quantity of bananas, but were
away before daylight. When morn
ing came we were, out of sight of land
and I was completely turned around,
for we seemed to be going southeast,
directly towards New Zealand while
in point of fact we were going south
west. haven't got over it vet We
approached this coast from the wrong
direction: entered the harbOr ditto
the sun rises exactly where it ought
to set. and what is nor4I ought to be
south
The six day that passed before
reaching this port were uneventfuI.
We had splendid weather and remark.
ably smooth seas, which enabled US to
make some good runs. The be t
one showed 328 miles, or 10 2-3 miles
per hour. One day, minus coat and
vest, I spent an hour down in the en-
CINE room seeing the machinery. This
being a new boat it was all very fine,
very large and heavy. l had no trouble
in passing customs on landing here in
Sydney; in fact, my luggage was not
examined at all, for I gave my gate