The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-10-08
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Apparatus Handling y nia
cargo

Messrs. Hackfeld & Co. were in
formed by Capt. Seabury of the S
S. China that the S. S. Belgic wa,
still on the sand beach between Su
saki and Mera Head, near Yokoha,
ma. Heavy seas had sprung leak,
in the big liner, and pumps had
been in operation since the night
after she stuck. From the first,
hopes have been entertained of saw
ing the Belgic, and the China re.
ports the prospects, at her leaving,
as even more encouraging.
As soon as the Belgic began
making water, the work of saving
the cargo was undertaken. $500
bags Of flour, sea-damaged, was
sold on the 23rd to japanese for
70 cents bag, which was consid-
cred a good price in the Yokohama
market. A part of the flour is not
damaged. 500 tons of good cargo,
principally flour, was taken from
the vessel on the 2sth. There was
still GOO tons aboard which was
probably taken off on the few days
following.
Regarding the stranding of the
Belgic, the japan Gazette has this
interesting information:
News brought up by the Wor-
lock is Of a more hopeful character
than was generally expected after
the report that the Belgic was max
ing water. We are now in posses
sion Of details of the salving opera
tons since nth inst, when, it will
be remembered, Captain Forbes, at
the request of Mr.. b. c. Howard
and with the permission of the pres
ident of the n. Y. X, went TO the
stranded vessel. On that day. we
are informed. the Belgic was strand
ed on a partially sand beach be-
tween Susaki and Mera Head, and
was lying broadside, at distance
Of about $50 feet off high water
mark, and about three-quarters of a
mile southwark of the spot where
the Tokyo-maru stranded. Six
anchors were laid out and the wires
hove taut by the afternoon Of the
18th.
'On the following day a good
beginning was made, and the YES
sells head, by heaving from s a. III.
to 4 p. m, had been moved sea-
ward from N. IS deg. w. to N.
62 deg. W.; but at this stage the
sea increased and one of the best
wires parted at 4:4o and heaving
had to be abandoned. By 9 p. III.
the surf became so heavy that the
vessel, which was nearly ahoat,
commenced to roll heavily and
thump very violently, and laid so
much strain upon the ropes and
bollards that the bollard OH the
port side snapped off by the deck
and the ropes on that side
then sheared the port
bulwark for distance of
about 6 feet, at the same time I'M
shipping from its socket the port
cat davit. The only thing that
could be done under the circum-
stances was to slack away all ropes
and so allow the vessel to fall back
again upon the beach, this being
the only: means left of saving ship
and tackle. Previously no water
was reported in any part Of the ship,
but the heavy humping during the
night Of the 10th and early on the
morning Of the 18th casued her to
leak and at daylight No. I hold had
S feet and No. hold II feet. All
other parts, engine and boiler
spaces, were still dry.
On the 10th Sept, the day be-
fore the China sailed. the Gazette
said:
Notwithstanding the gloomy
representations in some quarters,
we are assured on the authority Of
those who should be in the best
position to know that the Belgic
will be got off without much dam
age"