The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1866-04-07
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
SATURDAY, APRIL

800 II Il =
The arrival of the KiLauea, on Wednesday
morning, under steam, was a most agreeable
surprise TO all. The fact that, after lying on
the reef there over two months, she has been
got off into deep water, nearly unharmcd,
seems almost a marvel. Yet she has returned
to port apparently in good order, and her ma
chinery working 50 well that she obtained Il
speed Of seven and a half knots on the passage
hither. The credit Of getting her off from her
rocky berth is due to Mr.. L. l.. Torbert, who
purchased her ut the auction sale. and who, in
his efforts to save her, was prompted by personal
interests, and no doubt ambitious to perform a
feat not often done. The mode in which he set
to work to raise and remove her into deep water
is SO original that we have requested an account
for publication, which sc give in his own words:
Ma ED,TaE In answer to your question as TO
how ! got the hiateg oil. / would say that l found
her lay ing. as the surveyors reported. three hundred
and ten tlthoms inland. on the reef. from where
she first struck, and forced up by the violence Of
the storm leaving her bow in fifteen inches water
and her stern i'll three feet. the steamer having
made 4 channel through the coral about two and Il
half deep. as she was forced on.
The plan in getting her off was 10 make eight
large boxes. open at the top, each twenty-three feet
long by twelve feet four inches wide and six feet
three inches deep. -Four OF these were secured on
each side Of her with the top part of them about
six inches below her ballast water line, by first
securing strong cranes wellbolted through her sides
and secured by keys inside, ana then sinking the
boxes. having first dug away the coral to the depth
of four feet at low water on each side of her. and
bringing them under the cranes. and then battling
them out dry. These gave a lifting'powcr of about
siXty-four tons for each foot in depth they were in
the water. They drew about three feet six inches
each, and consequently. allowing for the weight of
the boxes lifted about two hundred tons in all, or
equal to about seventeen hundred barrels of casks.
This raised the vessel up about three and 4 half
feet above her ballast line. leaving her to draw six
feet three inches aft and four feet ten inches forward.
We were now obliged to keep her exactly in the
same channel in going ont that she made in coming
on. for many of the rocks were within two feet OF
the surface at low water for two hundred fathoms
seward of her. and some dry at lowest tides. This
was no easy task. but just at the right time the
captains of the whaleships at anchor at Kawaihae.
came oil with some boats crews and assisted Us
through the highest place until we were safely at
anchor outside the reef.
We were four hours from the time we got the
boxes in place until we were all clear outside. only
touching lightly a few times at first starting. We
hung the rudder-cleared away the boxes-got up
steam-and found the machinery all in working
order. and here we are again.
Allow me here 10 thank those captains who as
sisted in getting off the hila,ea. They were Cap
tains Barber of the Ocean. Casino Of the Congress.
Hunting Of the Funny, Thomas of the Hartia.
and Hawe> Of the lilo. /. I. ToEBEET.
Honolulu. April 9TH, 1866.
The parties engaged in the enterprise had the
advantage of working in comparatively smooth
water. But this novel mode may be sometimes
of service in reScuing vessels stranded or ashore
IN any position where they can be got at so as
to apply the lighters, provided the vessels are
not bilged.
The question Is now asked whether the
hiiquca viii not resume her old route and ser
vice? We understand that the Hawaiian Steam
Navigation Co., which possesses the exclusive
of running inter-island steamers till
1874, declines to purchase her, but is willing
to permit her to be run by any parties till it
obtains y steamer Of its own. This certainly Is
fair offer, and if the parties who saved the
KHqIeq are ready To assume the risk, it will not
be long before she can be sent to sea, rs no grca,
repairs are supposed to be needed. She Will be
hove down next week, her hull and copper
examined, and if in the condition anticipated,
we ought 10 have steam communication resumed
with Hawaii ere many weeks. If run under