Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-02-06

lamar n tn" t"rminnIiDn II II
U"t<o" fl"gxhip Nnt&o"i0, at
hr""n. f.. u. T"Hn"U, m0n0g
ric"cd M" hi<tmy n the Mat
LDIrx:
In 1871. Captain Matson first con-
sidered entering into the shipping
trade with the Hawaiian islands. and
built the schooner Emma Claudina
The Emma Claudina was small
schooner with a cargo capacity of
about 300 tens. In the early part OF
the year 1852 she made her first Voy-
age TO Hilo, and made about six com
Dlete voyages during that year The
Let profits realized from the business
Tor the year were about $500, and
those associated with Captain Matson
advised him to quit. but he thought
otherwise and continued his enter
prise.
The Emma Claudina continued in
the trade until the year 1885. when
she was sold. In the meantime, he
had arranged to build the brig Lurline
and to carry on the business while the
Lurline was building, he chartered the
brig Salinas, Of about 400 tons capa-
city. This brig was lost on the Hilo
coast, and he then chartered the bark
Julia Ford, of 800 tons capacity. The
Lurline was completed in the early
part of 1887, and cleared from San
Francisco for Hilo on her first voyage
on June 16. At this time the charter
Of the bark Julia Ford was given up.
The Lurline was profitable from the
comm encement, and the business be-
gan to grow in a satisfactory manner,
the Lurline constituting the entire
fleet.
Fleet Is Augmented
THE business was developing in
such a satisfactory way that in 1888
the bark Harvester was purchased,
with q capacity of 900 tons. In 1890
the schooner Annie Johnson was add
ed to the fleet, her capacity being
100 tons. This vessel has cntinued
N the trade to this day, and has been
changed recently to a schooner rig.
q Elm 1898 the bark Santiago, of 400
tons capacity, was added. In 1896 the
Llrline was sold, and early in 1897 the
bark Roderick Dhu, of $500 tons cana
city, was added to the fleet. In 1898
the Falls of Clyde was purchased, ca
pacity 2700 tons, and in 1900 the ship
Marion Chilcott, of $500 tons capacity,
was purchased.
"All these vessels were separate
partnerships owned by Captain Matson
and his associates. .Ats.E.. 49, ,4..,.F...
: "By this time, steam Transportation
had begun to dominate Pacific Ocean
commerce and Captain Matson, always
looking to the future, realized that the
days of the sailing vessel were num-
bered, and in consequence, on Febru-I
ary, 8. 1901, the Matson Navigation
taking over the fleet of sail
ing vessels which had heretofore been
operated under the partnership sys'
tenn. At this time the S. s. Enterprise
was purchased The vessel was re-
built and cleared from San Francisco
for Hilo on her first voyage on March
20, 1902.
The next addition to the fleet of the
Matson Navigation Company was the
ship Monterey, which was rebuilt as
an oil tanker. In 1905 he purchased
he S. S. Hilonian, which was refitted
by the Newport News Shipbuilding &
Drydock Co., and arrived in San Fran
cisco two or three days after the great
earthquake and fire Of 1906. Shortly
hereafter she was dispatched on her
'irst voyage 10 the islands by way OF
Seattle. Her itinerary was San Fran
cisco to Hilo, Hilo to Honolulu, return
o Hilo, and thence to San Francisco. |
Direct Coast Service
"In July, 1907, the Marson Nayiga'
ion Company appointed Castle 4
Cooke, Limited, its agents in HonolulE
and the Hllonian was dispatched from
San Francisco to Honolulu direct, an
living here on her first voyage in July |
If that year. This was the inception
If the direct steamer service Of the |
Latson Navigation Company between
San Francisco and Honolulu. The de-
'elCpment of the company since that
lay has been fairly rapid.
In January 1908, the company alb |
;orbed the Planters Line Shipping !
company, which operated a line OF |
sailing vessels between San Francisco
md the Hawaiian Islands. Their fleet
Of Bark Andrew WEIGH.
ark R. P Rithet. bark Geo. Curtis.
lark Mohican, bark Gerard c. TObey.
lark Amy Turner, schooner w H.
bark St Catherine, ship Til
lie E. Starbuck. ship Hawaiian Isles,
nd ship Fort George.
Since the acquisition of these YES
els they have all been sold except
ng the banks Andrew Welch, r. P.
Iithet and MohiCan, which, with the
Annie Johnson, now constitute the
ntire sailing tonnage of the COM
any.
In 1908 the S. S. Lurline was COM
leted d, and made her first voyage to
he islands, arriving at Honolulu via
lilo in June. In November, 1908, the
IS. Hyades was chartered and ar
ived at Honolulu on her first voyage
n December In 1909 the S. S. Will
elmina was built and arrived at Ho-
olulu on her maiden voyage in Feb