No. 246.
Mr. Peirce to Mr.
Fish
No. 98.]
Legation of the United States of
America, Honolulu,
January 18, 1871. (Received February
15.)
Sir: I have the honor and the pleasure to inform
you of the return to this port, on the 14th instant, of Hawaiian steamer
Kilauea, bringing Commander Sicard, officers and crew of the late United
States steamer Saginaw, wrecked at that island, as reported in my dispatch
No. 93. The number thus rescued is eighty-eight, including eleven men of the
contractors’ party, previously at work at Midway Island. All have arrived in
excellent health. No casualties have occurred, except the four persons
drowned by the upsetting of the boat at the island of Kawai.
Inclosed herewith is a newspaper slip, Captain Long’s account of the
Kilauea’s voyage to Ocean and Midway Islands. Also copy of a letter
addressed by this legation to the Hawaiian minister of foreign affairs,
expressing thanks for the prompt and valuable aid rendered by the government
steamer, as aforementioned, and requesting an account of the expenditures
incurred for that object, with a view to their reimbursement by the United
States Government. No reply to it has been received by the legation. But
Captain Sicard, at an interview with the minister of the interior, held at
request of the latter, was furnished with the account of disbursements,
amounting to about $2,900; twenty-nine hundred dollars for nineteen days’
services of the steamer, and which will be paid immediately. No charge
whatever would have been made by the Hawaiian government for the Kilauea but
for its straitened pecuniary resources.
Commander Sicard, with the officers and men of his command, has concluded to
take passage to San Francisco in the mail steamer of the 28th instant, and
not in the United States vessel Nyack, as mentioned in a previous dispatch
as being his intention.
The body of John Andrews, naked, drifted ashore at Kaliki Kai, Kawai, on the
afternoon of December 20, and was buried in a suitable manner at Hanalei,
the following day, in a grave beside that of Lieutenant Talbot and William
Muir. They repose, in a beautiful, picturesque spot, on the rising slope of
a hill which overlooks the charming valley of Hanalei, with a view of the
ocean beyond.
I am, &c.,
No. 1, (with dispatch No. 98.)
[From the Hawaiian Gazette of January 18,
1871.]
THE TRIP OF THE KILAUEA.
Mr. Editor: At your request, I take pleasure in
giving a brief account of the trip of the Kilauea to Ocean Island, for
the relief of the crew of the United States steamer Saginaw, wrecked on
that Island. By direction of the minister of the interior I assumed
charge of the expedition on Monday, the 26th of December, and, as you
aware, sailed on the afternoon of that day. During the first four days
we experienced very light winds, so light in fact that the speed of the
vessel was considerably retarded for the want of a proper draught in the
furnaces. On the night of 31st December we took strong trades, which
freshened by Sunday, January 1, into a severe northeast gale, with thick
weather and rain. On the night of January 2 the vessel was hove-to for
twelve hours, with a view of sighting Midway Island. I had been unable,
on account of the thick weather, to obtain meridian observations for the
two days previous, and therefore,
[Page 550]
although aware by my reckoning that we could not
be a great distance from the island, was unable to define its exact
position. On the morning of the 3d, the weather being favorable, I found
by observation that I was to the leeward of Midway Island, and, being
anxious to reach Ocean Island that day, the vessel was immediately
headed for the latter island. The were, on this day, so unfortunate as
to be unable to obtain a meridian altitude, and at 2 o’clock p. m., by
double altitudes, found ourselves twelve miles to the northward of the
island. The course was at once changed for the island. At 3.45 p. m.
sighted the breakers on the reef which surrounds the island. The next
object sighted was the flag-staff which had been erected by the crew of
the Saginaw, the island being so low that it was not visible from the
masthead until long after the surf and flagstaff were seen. At half-past
four we had reached sufficiently near the island, and, as the anchorage
was some five miles along the reef from where the vessel approached, I
thought it prudent to lay off until morning, having, in the mean time,
communicated with those on the island by dipping the flag and firing
rockets, to assure them that we had come to their relief. On the morning
of the next day, 4th of January, we anchored at the mouth of the lagoon,
(a boat from the island having previously come off to the vessel.) After
sounding for some distance around the vessel, from a boat, to assure
myself of the safety of the anchorage, I went on shore, finding every
one there, fortunately, well, and rejoiced is hardly the expression for
the state of their feelings for the timely relief. I found them on
rations of one ounce of flour or beans, and seal-meat, or sea-fowl,
(albatross,) besides the few fish they were able to catch in the lagoon.
During the 4th and 5th we were engaged in taking the crew and their
baggage, stores, &c., on board. The articles saved from the wreck of
the vessel were not considered by Captain Sicard or myself as of
sufficient value to warrant the detention which would be necessary in
shipping them.
On the 5th, as the last boats were coming off from the Island, the
schooner Kona Packet arrived. None of the stores were transferred from
her, as there was amply sufficient on board of the steamer. Captain
Sicard directed the captain to return to Honolulu.
On the evening of the 5th we got under way from Ocean Island, and being
uncertain of the quantity of coal necessary for the return trip, thought
it expedient to take a quantity on board at Midway Island, where we
arrived on the morning of the 6th. During that day and the following,
with the assistance of the Saginaw’s crew, we were enabled to get forty
tons of coal on board. Fortunately we were able to leave on the evening
of the 7th, as I was assured by those who had lived on the island that
the strong westerly wind which we experienced the next morning would
have kept us there for at least a week. Our passage from Midway Island
was extremely pleasant, having had favorable winds and good weather. We
sighted Kauai at 11 a. m. on the 13th, and reached Honolulu at 4.30 p.
m. on the 14th, having made the passage from Midway Island in seven
days, and the whole voyage in nineteen, passing over a distance of two
thousand three hundred and fifty miles, and being detained at Ocean and
Midway Islands four days. The average speed on the voyage was six and a
half knots. The best day’s run was two hundred and thirty miles.
Yours, truly,
THOS. LONG.
On the arrival of the Kilauea, on Saturday afternoon, the esplanade
presented a scene seldom witnessed. An immense crowd of people, anxious
to learn the result of her mission, congregated on the wharf even before
the steamer entered the harbor. As she neared her dock, the crowd,
unable to control their feelings at the sight of the weather-beaten
faces on board, gave vent to hearty cheers, which were returned lustily
from the steamer. The inquiries as to whether “all were saved” being
answered in the affirmative, cheers were again renewed. The crowd did
not disperse until after the rescued crew had safely landed on terra firma. The whole party, including the men
who had been stationed at Midway Island, numbered eighty-eight
persons.
No. 2, (with dispatch No. 98.)
Legation of the United States of
America, Honolulu,
January 17, 1871.
Sir: The Hawaiian government steamer Kilauea,
having returned from Ocean Island, bringing Captain Sicard and the
officers and crew of the late United States steamer Saginaw,
unfortunately wrecked on that island, I have the honor and pleasure, in
behalf of my Government and those individually who have been so timely,
humanely, and nobly rescued from further peril, to present their
grateful thanks for the use of the Kilauea, and the successful result of
her voyage.
As Captain Sicard is desirous of settling his accounts, anticipating an
early departure, I have to request that you will please furnish to me an
account of the items of
[Page 551]
expenditure incurred for the voyage of the Kilauea, together with the
proper vouchers for the same. To avoid unnecessary expense, may I ask
you to cause such articles to be returned as were not used and that were
purchased on that condition?
Other articles may perhaps he taken hack by consent of sellers, after
allowing them a small discount or a commission.
It is desirable to receive the several bills of parcels, showing net
amount due thereon, and the expenditure or purchase authenticated in the
usual manner.
Renewing assurances of high consideration and great regard, I am your
excellency’s obedient servant,
His Excellency C. C. Harris, His Hawaiian
Majesty’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
No. 3, (with dispatch No. 98.)
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Honolulu, January 24, 1871.
Sir: In answer to your letter of the 17th
instant, and in accordance with your request therein made, I am directed
to inclose herewith an account of the items of expenditure ($2,965)
incurred for the voyage of the Kilauea, approved by the minister of the
interior.
Hoping that the same will be satisfactory, I have the honor to be, with
the highest respect, sir, your most obedient servant,
His Excellency Henry A. Peirce, Minister
Resident of the United States.
