Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-11-06
SHIPWRECKED
SAILORS ARE.
EN- ROUTE HOME
Captain of Schooner Alexander
Tells Stirring Story of
Storm at Sea

Suffering from a terrible experience
in which thirst, famine and exposure
served TO bring the dread specter OF
death prominently before five helpless
men in an open boat riding out a
gale In the south Pacific, Capt. J. Lor-
enzen, master OF the American schoon-
ersS. +. Alexander, now q total wreck
on the reef Of ore of the smaller OF
the Friendly islands, with four sea-
men, Is en- route TO the mainland as
passenger in the Oceanic liner Ven.
tura.
The castaways joined the Oceanic
liner at Page Page, after having been
taken from Suya to the American port
daring mariners. Il.
Six seamen, declared to be amply
supplied with food for a number OF
months, we're left behind at Tafu,
minute islet, while Captain Lorenzen
and four volunteers after Intense pri.
walton, reached the outside world and
then made known the plight Of the
men left behind.
The schooner Alexander was the
victim OF one of the terrific hurricanes
which have made the south Pacific at
times place dreaded by the most
daring mariner.
vesseI and Cargo Total Loss.
The vessel carrying about an eighth
part of the original cargo 10 reported
TO have piled high on the reef off the
coast OF Tafu September II. Within
IS hours the vessel was a hopeless
mass Of wrecksge. A pounding surf
assisted IN carrying the schooner near
er the shore. captain Lorenzen stated
20 the Star Bulletin this morning that
himself and men barely escaped with
the clothing In which they stood.
Later by the expenditure of much
labor and at the risk of their lives
they rescued another ships boat and
visiting the battered vessel were able
70 secure a number Of tins Of ,provi-
Eiols and supplies which they removed
% the shore.
The Vessel sailed from Seattle,
Wash, the latter part of July with
more than 100000 feet Of lumber de-
6tined for four ports. throughout the
Friendly islands. The schooner had
called az several islands and much OF
DE shipment had been RATED to It's |
destination when q storm came up
which noon proved TO be hurricane
bringing destruction In its wake.
FIND Uninhsbits6 spot.
The island upon whose shores now
|'cs the schooner Is reported t0I
1e about a quarter Of q mile mi
width and less than three miles in
length. II y covered witH Mxnriahti
growth Of tropical trees, ihcl1ding ba-
nahas. breadfruit cocpanuts, while
giant crabs roam its sandy wastes. Il
q also the nesting place for millions
AZ birds,
captain Lorenzen and his crew OF
10 men remained on this islet for four
days and found no Inhabitants there.
The next island OF any Importance
MAS shout 80 miles away, where II Is |
said several hundred natives, dwell
The men found fish most plentiful and |
hundreds we're caught from which,
with quantity Of salt brought from the
wreck. 4 store OF provisions 10 cover
many weeks was prepared before The /
shipper and four men, who had N0lpn /
(oef6d 60 share his fortune. took to 4
IN 1s1oot boat and began q e00-miIe
foyoge o,the Ujis.
4 TefrlbIs E2ptrlehcs.
For IS hours. Captain I.orbnzen and
The little band or sailors passed /
I1rouTh what he today termed hide
ols Hades, baftI|6r for IIls 81 4 k6't
which carried ypldnes Of water into
rsne1ed Eri's they made lF.ot'e e
slant in1h1atIoQ. they lost much =.