The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-10-27

rights on the high seas now that might
must respect. Those shots meant the
last Of the trim little gasoline schooner
Aeolus, which had beaten its way from
the Marshall Islands TO Honolulu, where
Il had expected to find port Of peace
and safety. Instead, she was captured
Just outside the safety line by the grim
battleship HiEen, whose guns last night
sent fourteen shells tearing through the
schooner's hull, setting her afre and
sinking her.
Last nights little bit Of war meant
the destruction Of property valued up
TO seventy thousand dollars. 1t was
also little bit Of night target practise
for the Hizen's smaller guns, grim
hint Of what may be expected from her
should the German cruiser Geier be
detected leaving port, for instance.
Up until long after midnight the
Aeolus burned on the southern horizon,
lighting up the black ocean for far
around and silhouetting tho battleship
that prowled up and down before the
port.
OUT FORTY DAYS
The vessel left the Marshall Islands
forty days ago and has been using her
sails principally In making the voyage.
Captain FredrichFon was not supplied
with a chart Of these waters and made
his way to the Hawaiian group by
means Of small pocket atlas. Last
week he was on the coast Of Hawaii
and at one time was on the point of
making a landing of the Kona coast.
He discovered his mistake and set a
course TO the southeast. on wednesday
he was of Niihau, when he again chang
ed HIS course and finally got his bear.
ings for Honolulu. It is presumed that
he mistook the Hizen for an American
warshfp, owing to its close proximity
to the harbor, and thus easily fell q
prize Of war TO his country's enemy.
FEARED NOTHING, APPARENTLY
The Aeolus, fleeing for a refuge, came
up over the horizon yesterday morning.
She few the German flag conspicuously
displayed, and bowled along toward
the channel entrance, apparently. so
far as observers from shore could motto,
paying no attention whatever TO the
Hizen, watching of tho port.
Her establishment came early. AS che
approached the Hizen a launch, filled
with officers ana men, slIot out from
behind the battleship and ran along
side the schooner. without shot being
fred, or a blow struck, the Japanese
then took possession, hauled down the
German flag and hoisted the Rising Sun
Evidently tie three Germans aboard the
schooner saw not the slightest chance
for resistance. The schooner was tow
cd over to the Hizen, q line put aboard
her and prize crew OF an officer and
mans and the crew Of Lascars and Chi
'nese.
According to information brought
ashore by boatcrew from the Revenue
Cutter Thetis, doing patrol duty of the
harbor, the captured skipper is Captain
Frederickson, who had brought the
schooner from the Marshall Islands, for
the greater part Of the way under can
vas, although the little ship was fitted
with gasoline auxiliary engine.
SHOOTING HEARD ASHORE
The shots that destroyed the little
vessel and which made wreck within
a few short minutes Of property valued
at seventy Thousand dollars, were plain
ly heard in various parts Of the city.
Martin scully, neutrality-suspicious.
1t the custom house, stated that he dis
hnctly heard fourteen shots fred He
said that the Aeolus was towed about
a half mile to the south Of the Hizen,
which played her searchlights on her
ct. ten minutes past eight o'clock the
firing commenced. When the last fash
of the guns was seen from the custom
house, tho Gearchhghts were extinguish-
ed and all was dark. ii,
FLAMES COMPLETED WORK
Two hours later sudden blaze broke
out on the schooner. which quickly en-
veloped what was left of the vessel in
a mass OF flames that illumined the sky
and which could plainly be seen from
various high VANTAGE points about the
city and from the beaches.
The length of time that the Aeolus
burned last night is believed to have
been caused by a quantity Of copra
which was in the vessels hold and
which burns fiercely and long, owing
to the amount of oil contained therein.
Inspector Scully stated that the Aeoins
drtfted about half mile Eva from
where she was first fred upon when the
blaze broke out on her. Considering
the length Of time that expired between
when the Aeolus was fired upon and
when she burst forth In flames, 1t IS
presumed that tho Hizen discovered
that her shots had not sunk the vessel
and that a launch was sent out TO the
vessel with party which fred her.
OFFICIALS CONFER
Collector Franklin sent several cables
to Washington yesterday and was In
conference with General Edwards and
Admiral Moore during the afternoon.
The Thetis still maintains her patrol
on the harbor and launch from the
Higen mado several trips to the city
yesterday, Several officers from the
Geier ventured forth In a small launch
belonging to the cruiGer and visit
was made to the Locksun which is lay
ing Of the entrance of the harbor,
At an early hour this morning the
flames from the burning vessel could
still be seen from tho city, ~