The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-12-12
Steamer City Of Columbia Once
More in Port.
UNDER HER OWN STEAM
Crew Clam oring for Pay Capt.
Minor Man Of Troubles.
Suits in Prospect.

Inc ulSdo!tU STEAMER lily OF COlum-
bia showed her stern against Brewers
wharf yesterday about noon, just
twenty-four hours from Hilo She is
still in command of Capt. Minor, who
has had charge of the unfortunate craft
ever since she left Seattle, August 23rd
Chief Engineer Turner, Purser Baker
and all the former officers and crew are
still with the City of Columbia, for the
best reason in the world. They can't
get away from her. For as soon as
they can get the wages long due them
they will leave instanter, so they say.
There is full wages due them, and a
few dollars doled out to each man is
all they have received for their now
nearly four months service
j. P. Jacobsen, who represents the
owners Of the steamer has been in
Hilo some weeks past, trying to adj
just matters, and came down on the
Kinau Saturday night. United States
Vice Consul Boyd was also a passen-
ger ON the Kinau, for he it was who
brought matters to a head, eliminating
in the removal of the City of Columbia
from HilO harbor to Honolulu. Once
here things will proceed to payment
of the $12, 900 which is said to be due
the officers and crew. This may be ar
ranged without resorting to law, since
the United States Consul has shown a
commendable spirit in handling the
affair. Capt. l.. H. Turner, who repre-
sents a large portion of the insurance
which covers the steamer, was on
board the City of Columbia and will
also prove an interested party in the
coming contest.
The trip of the City of Columbia
from Hilo was without incident and
made in exactly the time intended.
Underneath the joint of the main
steam pipe leading from the superheat-
er to the engines, which has been the
chief cause of the City of Colum bias
pilikia, a brace or horse has been con-
structed. 1t was found that the move
ment of the deck timberS overhead,
wfrich caused the pipe to sway, would
prevent any safe anchorage there, and
the horse or brace now supporting the
pipe rests upon the iron work below.
The City of Columbia seeking Hilo
instead of Honolulu as a harbor of
refuge on November End was the cause
planned that the steamer Centennial |
was known to be there and it was de-
sired that the news of the City of
Columbia'S disaster should go to Sc |
attic, whittier the Centennial was
bound, Immediately. Since the arrivel |
of the City of Columbia in Hilo there |
has been a continuation of the troubles |
which have beset the hooded steamer |
for the past four months. The ghost |
did not promenade and the crew got |
weary. The few dollars in the purSerS |
strong box soon gave out and the
of Hilo have been supplying |
the ship under the hope that the own
erS would come to its financial rescue |
by next steamer" the funds would ar
rive-but they never came. Last Mon |
day evening there was climax and
Capt Minor went ashore and called
upon the authorities of Hilo for assist
ance in quelling a mutiny-as he
claimed When the two boat loads OF
policemen got aboard everything was
quiet and, like General Somebody's
army, they then marched back again
This incident increased the friction
which has been going on between Capt.
Minor and the crew. The men claim
that there was no cause whatever Tor
Capt. Minor calling on the police.
They had only asked for the three
months pay due them and had not re-
fused duty They claim that they have
been anxious that the City of Column
bia should come to Honolulu and that
Capt. Minor has constantly opposed
such a move and it was only on the re-
quest of Capt. Turner, Of the under
writers, that Minor finally consented
to leave.
The pumps are being run by the
donkey engine and no water is gaining.
1t is coming in about an inch am hour,
so there is no trouble in keeping her
dry The biggest leak is just around
the packing of the shaft at the stern,
where there is quite a little stream
percolating in. It is possible that the
City Of Columbia could reach the coast
with proper repairs to the deck sup
porting the steam pipe and some of the
| braces for theaboilers which have brok-
en- loose from the dead wood to which
they were attached.
Capt. Fitzgerald, port surveyor and
pilot at Hilo, was with the City OF
: Ill, II ;,,% hn