Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-03
SURVIVORS Of
SHIPWRECK ARE
VISITING PORT
ExiIes, Numbering Half Dozen,
Wrecked on Barren Isle,
Are in the Sonoma
SPOT IN FRIENDLY GROUP
WAS MECCA FOR LOST MEN
May Proceed to the North In a
Sailing Vessel Out of
Honolulu Harb0r

Victims of shipwreck. starvation and
exposure on tempestuOus seas when
weeks we're spent on a small, isolated
and uninhabited islet in the South Pa
cific, six seafaring men, who were en-
rolled as members of the crew of the
American schooner S. T. Alexander
today reached Honolulu as passengers
in the Oceanic liner SonOma. Three
of the destitute seamen will probably
remain here to await a ship that will
carry them to the Pacific coast OF the
United States.
Exiles were these men on the desert
coral atoll called Tafu, one of the
smaller spots of land in the Friendly
group, when it was decided that Capt.
j. Lorenzen and five men, with a
Japanese cook, should set out in an
open boat for Fiji, about 500 miles
distant.
Piecing out their scanty stores of
provisions with limited catches, of fish,
turtles, crabs and a few sea birds.
the remnant of the schooner's crew
was reduced to pitiful stage by the
time small British steamer called
at the island and took them away to
an Australian port. IT,. -. L
Skipper brought Relief.
Capt. Lorenzen arrived at Suza ait.
er terrible experience. He got into
immediate touch with the owners of
the vessel and arranged for the relief
of the six men left behind at Tafu.,
A steamer in the Australian coastal
trade was despatched to the spot, far
removed from the regular track of
passing liners. Mere dead than alive,
the men were taken on board, given
treatment and some days later they
were turned over 10 the American con-
sui at Sydney Through the govern
ment arrangements were completed
for their return to an American port.
Today the seamen were told that
they might be given berth in one of
several sailing vessels at Honolulu
that are about to proceed to the North
Pacific coast. Three members of the
crew of the Alexander elected to re-
main here.
The schooner is reported to have
gone ashore off the reef-lined shore
Of Tafu on the night of September II,
following terrible storm. A gale that
reached the proportions of hurricane
practically denudei the vessel of its
Iast vestige of sail. Much of the deck
cargo of lumber went over the side. Il
, With officers and crew making up
4 total otis persons and only a. 16-
loot boat at their disposal, Capt. Lo-
renzen was obliged to resort to heroic
measures. He called for volunteers,
1ne party to stay behind at the little
island, while the others took a de-
cidedly long chance OF destruction and
1eath in a voyage across hundreds of
miles of the Pacific in a vessel barely |
equipped to accommodate one-half the
number.
The Alexander sailors state that
hey were treated with every consider
ation while awaiting ship at the Brit !
sh port. They are warm in their
praise of the activity in their behalf |
displayed by the representatives Of |
the American government
The Alexander is declared to have
become total loss. Some of the lum-
Der had been washed ashore at Tafu !
and the neighboring islands, and it
nay be salvaged, provided a small :
schooner is despatched to the scene of |
he wreck before another storm re- -,
moves the vessel to deeper water.