The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-10-31

Five or six long pulls, half a
dozen strong pulls and a few pulls
altogether, and the Miowera stayed
just where she has been for some
time passed. Mcdowell and his
plans for floating the wreck had
gone under, and it was evident to
all on board that this failure must
mean the practical abandonment
of this particular way of moving
this huge hull.
All his men slept on board Fri
day night, and at 5 o'clock Satur-
day morning Mcdowell came out
in the steam launch, and saw that
everything was in good working
order for the trial, that would have
made him about ten thousand dol
lars richer had it succeeded. When
a few minor matters had been at
tended to, the engines got to work
upon the chains under the
stern, intended to lift that
part of the ship from the reef.
For minute or two all went well,
and then, snap went some of the
tackle, and repairs had to be made.
This was the case with every sue
cessive trial. Just as it would
seem that everything was all right,
some rope or pulley would break,
and time was lost repairing the
damage. About 7 o'clock the at
tempt was abandoned, and the
contractor came ashore.
Mcdowell was seen last evening,
and asked how it happened that
he had failed.
"My tackles and gear were not
strong enough for the work to be
DONE" said he, although if more
time were allowed me, 1 am per-
fectly sure that l would succeed. 1
have more and stronger chains,
ropes and blocks, and that is the
only difficulty to be obviated. 1t
seems hardly fair to hold me so
close to my contract. Of course,
Saturday afternoon at 5 o'clock
was the limit of my time, but I
thought that l surely could get a
slight extension at least.
"This failure has ruined me
financially. The total expenses
have been about $4,000, of which
$4,000 have been paid. Apparatus
such as is required for floating a
ship like the Miowera is very ex-
pensive. Those samson poles cost
me 1915 each. and there were six
of them.
81 think that Captain Metcalfe
will succeed, especially if the wea-
ther is good. His tackle is much
larger and stronger than mine, and
there is no reason for his falling"
A bond of $4,000 was put up to
insure the owners against any in
jury to the vessel.
During the heavy southerly wind
of Saturday night the samson poles
and other tackle became loosened,
and were a constant menace to the
ship by pounding against her sides.
They were all cut loose and
foated around the ship, some being
picked up by natives. Mcdowell
says that he will bring suit for
damages to recover their value.
The last clause of the contract says
that he shall remove his tackle
from the ship after the trial "as
soon as requested" No such re-
quest had been made him when the
samson poles and other things were
cut adrift, except by Captain Met
alfe,and Mcdowell does not acce pit
his authority for making it.
Much sympathy is felt for the
contractor on account of his fail
ure. Of course, all the sympa-
thizers were sure from the first that
the plan would not be successful,
and each thinks his own pet
scheme the best, but one and all
are sorry that Mcdowell has failed.
A copy of the contract that Nc
Dowell was working under follows:
[CoPY].
AN AGREEMENT made this 18th day
of October, A. d. 1898, between James
Stott, master of the British S. S.
Miowera of the port of London, now
lying stranded on the reef at the
entrance of the Honolulu harbor
hereinafter termed the mastera(of the
one part, and Arthur Mcdowell of
hereinafter termed the
contractor) of the other part:
Witnesseth:
a. The contractor agrees to re-
float and salve the above mentioned
vessel, and for so doing to supply and
employ at his oWn expense, all steam
tuggs, lighters, labor, labor appli-
ances, apparatus, pilot, and other