Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1911-01-13
Change IN
MOLOKAI LIGHT
Continued from PAGE ~

| NOOuIlhuCu lIOW rage
flXed light beginning with the first
OF January, according to the captain
is the reason that during a heavy
/ fall of rain and mist, the navigat-
| ing officers on the bridge of the Sher.
man mistook that beacon for the big
light located at Makapuu Point.
The transport Sherman was never
within two miles of any reefs, but
the error in proper determination
of lights caused cold shivers to chase
| themselves up and down the column
OF more than one officer connected
with the navigation department of
the big troopship.
Had we received an advance no.
tice of the change of beacon at Mo
lokal, the threatened danger through
change of course could have been
avoided. We have always known
the Molokai light as a fixed one. A
notification some three months in adj
vance of the change would have APP
pr1sed all mariners that hereafter in
attempting to pick up Molokai light,
flashing beacon must be sought"
Captain Lyman this morning,
among other things, stated:
Thursday opened with strong
easterly breezes and fine weather,
with rain squalls noted about the
horizon, At 1:45 we made a flash
ing white light little on the port
bow. AS we had been having a lit
tie northwesterly current in the las
two days, | concluded that we had
been carried northwesterly of our
course, bringing the light on the port
bow. | have no record of any other
flashing light in the Islands, except
that on Makapuu Point.
Il changed the ships course to
come along the land from light to
Diamond Head. 1t was raining over
the land, SO only small part of the
coast could be seen at the time. We
were about fifteen or more miles off |
when the light was seen, and as we
drew down nearer the light, I saw
a sharp'pointed island, corresponding |
to Manana Island, little to the
of the light. 1t was then
nearly a. m. Thinking it possible
that the ship might be nearer the
land, | sailed directly away from the
land to the northeast for few mo-
ments, then gradually changed the
course again along. the land towards
Diamond Head. TIE land was near
y all covered with rain.
In little while / saw a steam
er's light bound in the opposite di-
'ect1on. 1t was then about $50 a.
n. | was expecting every minute
md wondering why | did not see
diamond Head light, when out of
he darkness on the starboard bow.
lDout two miles away, doomed ND an
sland or key about 100 feet high. I
Knew there was no such island be-
Ween Makapuu Point and Diamond
lead, and as it would soon be day-
lght | put the ships head northeast
lnder a slow bell for ten or fifteen
minutes, then stopped the engines.
In few minutes the rain clear
d and | saw the Island of Maui
head few miles, and Lanai on our
tarbOard, six or seven miles away.
then ran down between Lanai and
lolokai and at about 1890 was at [
ne dock at Honolulu. II
Upon arrival at the dock | found
he Molokai light had been changed |
n January l from a fixed white to
flashing white, which is the same
that on Makapuu Point, though I {
elleve that there is a little differ /
nee in the time of the flashes. !,
opposed that the land on Oahu was !,
'vered with rain, or | should have Il
en the light on Makapuu Point as
ION or before | saw. the light on
olokai. The current had changed r
a southerly direction as we drew a
ear the Islands, a condition which =
have found before. | did not see Il
e light on Mokapu at all, nor anv t,
the high land on Oahu, owing. no
'ubt, to their being covered with !
in. il
1T all shows how easy it is to II
Sc a good ship some times. Eternal u
glance may prevent a devil of
of trouble SOmetimes