H.B.M.S. HYACINTH. (From the "Honolulu Bulletin," Dec. 14th.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 333, 12 January 1889, Page 3

H.B.M.S. HYACINTH. (From the " Honolulu Bulletin," Dec. 14th.)

H.8.M.-s. ". Hyacinth, Captain Edmund Bourke, arrived in port this morning, eighteen days from Tahiti, and anchored m the naval row between the Cormorant and the Alert. She left- this port October. 3, on a short cruisa. Her destination was the Cook group of islands, five in number, Karotonga, Mangaia, Aitutaki, Mauki, and 'Atiu, which were annexed to the British Empire. " The Union ,1-ack was hoistetl on each island, and saluted with 21 guns. The natives flocked together in large numbcis, and were very pleased with the idea of being under a British protectorate. It is rumoured that a Governor has been appointed, and will shortly leave for the group. The Hyacinth fell in with considerable bad weather during her cruise. On December 4th, she totiched at Maiden Island, and found two shipwrecked crews, in all 24 men. Tney included the master, two mates, and 13 of the German ship Hermann, and eight ef the crew of the Swedish barque Vivg.o, both vessels, having been w rccke<3 on thu island within a short distance of each other.' ' The men wore all bioughfc lo Honolulu, and have been handed over to then 1 respective consult. The Hyacinth had also on board two di&ticpscfl British subjects, namely, one Latcar from Raiofconga, and one Englishman fiom Tahiti, and one American fiom Karotonga. The Hyacinth will piobably remain here two months. Captain Acland, her new commander, has been in Honolulu several weeks awaiting her arrival. . Following is the statement of Captain Binge, of the Hermann, one of the\es?el.s \\ leckcd :—: — I arm ed at Maiden Island with the Overman ship Hermann, on Novmober 24th, from Saw -Diego, Cal., and found theie the Swedish barque Virgo, loading guano for Europe. She had about 700 tons of guano on board. On my arrival the wind was light, S.E., and shifted next day round to the west, bufc this occurs very often between November and March. The barque was lying ,at a buoy moored with a chain from shore and a three-ton anchor with sixty fathoms l\-i«cri chain. The Hermann made ."fast to a buoy, which had only a chain fiom «horc, and we lowered down our big 'anchor (o 45 fathotuF. The ship waf> only a cable's length from shore, a-nd we s-ounded in fiftyLwo fathoms under our bow and had no bottom with ana hundred and twenty tathoms line at the stern of the ship. The Hipl two days, we had light westerly winds and not more biuf on the beach than is generally the ca^c. Then the weather became squally and a veiy high swell made a heavy surf on the beach. The wind was still from west right on to the land, and wo wore so close on shore that ifc was impossible to make ?ail. We tried to lay out another anchor, hut without success. In the oveijine of* the 27th, about 5.30 p.m,, the Swedish bai que commenced to strike, and went into the bteakeis veiy fast. Eight of the crew landed with their efiocts Safely in a boat, but unfortunately the second boat capsized in the surf, and six were drowned (captain, male, carpenter, cook, and two seamen). ' Tnis was about 7.30 p.m. At the ss&ae time wo sounded under the stern of /the Hermann, getting between 8 and 13falh'oms as the ship swung through 2 or 3 points of the compass according to bbc direction of bhe squalls, but she was so close on shore that the rollers commenced to; break under her sternpost. At 8 pun. a very heavy squall set in irom west/and drifted the ship nearer to tho land/ and. at 8.50 g.m. she gave the first stirfke, some chain ran oub, and she went high/up on the reef quickly. The .ship waslyinain bhe middle of breakei s, and to land wifch a- boab was impossible. We managed to get a line on shore and rigged a whip for landing through the heavy surf. The Hermann Avas an iron ship with 560 tons of ballast on board, and we considered there was danger of her slipping down the reef as soon as she should (ill vith water. She was striking very hard amongst tho coral block*, but kept tight over an hour's time, then becamo le-iky and filled very quickly. The crow got on shore through the surf first, and when 1 left the ship, 11.30 pra., the water washed about tlnee feet above between deck, aorf the sea broke over the port rail. Th/nexb week there was nothing but storm an/ hard squalls irom the west, with vory high seek and breakers, but we* succeded in s&ving some provisions and other small thiugs from the wreck, as we expected bo bo cojnpolled to remain on the island till about March, 1889. The Hermann broke up very (fcicldy. The second night the ship parl/d just 'above the top gallant forecastle and the ioromast went overboard. The fourth nighfc tho ship broke again about file main hatch, the mainmast went and only Iho lower mizeijmasfc; standing. The sea waslled right .into th s o wreck~ahd commenced to break up the aftev.parb. On tho 4th December 11. B. M.S. Hyacinth called at the island, and wo wevo ■nil • taken on board far pa«jsage to . Honolulu.— twenty-four menV all told ? sixteen men and qificers from the Hermann, and eight; men from tWVirgo, i C Boraus* 4 / -