Honolulu Republican, Volume IV, Number 504, 23 January 1902 — BRITISH SLOOP OF WAR CONDOR IS NOT YET HEARD FROM [ARTICLE]

BRITISH SLOOP OF WAR CONDOR IS NOT YET HEARD FROM

Definite information about the sailing of the British sloop of-war Condor, from Victoria for Honolulu, was received by the Ventura last night and is of a very alarming (haracter. The Condor left Victoria December 2d, for this port, in company with the Warspite and on the following night. December 3d. a terrible gale prevailed. The two parted company off Flattery, but a letter received from one on board the flagship states that the vessel had a terrible experience, and that her officers had grave doubts of living through the storm. One of the guns was wrenched from its mountings, and, rolling about the decks with the pitchings of the vessel. increased the danger to the men. The construction of the Condor would handicap her in a heavy sea. she being of the type of well-decked ships, very high forward and aft and very low amidships. The Condor carried about 140 men. and is a brandnew ship, this being her maiden commission. The Sheerwater. destined^

for this station, is a sister ship, and they are regarded as suitable for the' Pacific service, where sails can be so much employed. She had ample supply of coal for her voyage, and even had she been obliged to resort to her canvas she ought to have reached this port rfcthis month, as the record sailing time troni Victoria to this port is eighteen days. VICTORIA. Jan. 10.—The British sloop of war Candor sailed from Victoria for Honolulu a day after the collier Matteawan. which is supposed tc I ave gone down in the fierce gale which prevailed the fo”owing dav. Latest advices from Honolulu re' the war ship thirty-two days out. Cap tain Flint, senior officer of the station expresses great anxiety %s to her fate. He hopes, however, that thj* delay is due to a shortage of coal and ,h3» she is making the end of her voyage under saii, but even in that ,*'veni siie would have reached Hono-

l iulu before Tanuary 3d. the date of the latest - *s. as sailing vesesls i uhich left here since her departure ) have arrived there. The Condor is defined in the British i Admiralty list as a screw sloop. She • was built at Sheerness, and was launched in 1898. She is of steel, and ■ sheathed, and her tonnage is 9V). She i! is 180 feet long, has 33 feet beam, an 1 ; draws 11 feet 6 inches. Six 4-inch quick-fire guns and four 3 pounders | constitute her armament. Her speed . is thirteen knots. Her full comple- , ment of men is 130. and the last Admiralty list gave her the following officers; Commander. Clifton Sclater; lieutenants, James B. Mason. Hay Winthrop and Henry T. V. Proctor; surgeon. Thomas H. Hartley; assistant paymatser. William H. Franklin; gunner. Arthur D. Aburns; engineer. , George J. P. Ditton. The Condor was commissioned at Chatham on November 1. 1900. and practically all of her present crew joined at that time. ‘ •