Honolulu Republican, Volume IV, Number 498, 16 January 1902 — GERMAN SHIP AGNES ARRIVES FROM HAMBURG [ARTICLE]

GERMAN SHIP AGNES ARRIVES FROM HAMBURG

WAS SIX MONTHS ON HER WAY First Mate Dies at Sea and His Body is Consigned to the Deep—Agnes Brings a FuII Cargo—Sad Incident of the Voyage. The German ship Agnes, Captain Hemke, ended a long voyage of 151 days from Hamburg, Germany, when she made fast to the Irmgard wharf last evening. Like many other vessels that have become acquainted with Cape Horn, the German ship Agnes brought a story to this port, a story of hard times, rough weather and contrary winds, culminating with the death of the mate. The Agnes sailed from Hambury 162 days ago. On August 6 she went ashore on the river Elba and was floated on August 8th. On August 14 she passed Dungeness, North Germany, and on August 15 her voyage had fairly begun. Across the English channel and the Atlantic ocean she had fine weather and fair winds, although occasional squalls were encountered. When she arrived off Cape Horn it was winter. For two months the Agnes fought the elements and ploughed her way slowly along. The cold was intense and the crew suffered greatly. The mate took sick and for two weeks was between life and death. On the Bth day of December he expired and was buried at sea. The consignment of his body to its watery grave was the saddest incident of the voyage. The crew, composed of old sea dogs, gathered after by the gangway where the body, sewed in canvass, was lying on a table. The captain, a venerable old gentleman, took his place in front of the table facing the ocean. The sails were set aback and then the captain read the prayers for the dead according to the ritual of the German Luthof their officer, and while the flag was wrapped up around the bag, four sailors tenderly lifted the dead body of they rofficer, and while the flag flying at the peak was being lowered as a sign of respect, they consigned the body to the blue waters of the Pacific. The Agnes is a full rigged ship and has a general cargo for Honolulu.