The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-09
Centennial IS REJECTED.
Owners Notified That Der Charter
Has Been Cancelled.
NO REASONS STATED THEREFOR
Charge That the steamer Had Been
Condemned by British and Jap
anese Governments Is Denounced
rs False-Thorough Investigation
cos jealousy Is the Cause.

The steamship Centennial. owned by Pc
ter Larson and others OF this city. has been
rejected al San Francisco as a govern.
n.ent troop ship. after having been char
tered for the voyage TO Manila, and San
Franctsco's inoriinate jealousy OF and ami
mostly toward Seattle are believed 10 have
been the cause of 1t.
The owners OF the Centennial yesterday
received word from Assistant Secretary
Meikeljohn. of the war department, that
the steamers charter had been Cancelled.
The message said that the report Of the
inspecting officers at San Francisco con-
demned the ship as trustworthy. Assist
ant Secretary Me:keijohn's communica-
ton did not give the reasons nor have
the owners been able to get any partieu-
lars from San Francisco. The matter will
be- thoroughly sifted for the owners of the
steamer have been put 10 great ex-
pense. They will insist on the charter be-
ing carried out unless the government can
prove her unseaworthy.
San Francisco has been trying TO hog"
the troop ship business and from the start
has resented the purchase Of Seattle ships.
When the government was considering the
charter of the Empire line steamers Ohio
and Indiana, San Francisco newspapers in
timated that the inspection on Puget
sound would likely prove unsatisfactory.
The Centennial had not been inside the
L.. hN< 4 IS
began to attack her and they have Kept
1t up ever since.
The most serious charge was made. IL is
alleged by Secretary Bragg. of the Marine
Engineer Association. and a prominent
member of the shipping firm of Goodau.
Perkins & Co. II was TO the effect that the
Centennial had been condemned by the
British and Japanese governments. the
charge is said by the owners. 10 be absa-
lately without foundation. Another charge
was that the Sound inspectors were in the
corporation owning the steamer, and had
been prejudiced in their report Inc ar
rangement OF her sleeping aceommodaiions
was objected to by the medical board. ana
would probably have been changed mad Inc
government taken the ship. This would
have taken little time, and the objection
was not of sufficient Importance to cancel
the charter. The stories published against
the steamer however. undoubtedly had Ell
feet with tbs survey board.
James Griffiths general manager or the
Centennial Company. was seen yesterday
By a Post-Iutelligencer reporter. and made
the following statement:
Eve were very much surprised 10 hear
that the Centennial had been condemned
by the government inspectors at San Fran
cisco We know nothing beyond the fact
that she was condemned and cannot learn
from any source what the reasons are
Capt Whitney telegraphed us today from
San Francisco that he could learn nothing
from Supervising Inspector OF Hulis ana
Boilers Bremmngton. who overhauled the
steamer, OF from any other government
officials there. We will certainly demand
that the government keep Its part on Inc
agreement unless they can give reasons Tor
Judging the steamer unseaworthy.
I'VE were very careful 10 have the YES
sci thoroughly inspected before sending
her 10 San Francisco. That Inspectors
BRYANT and Cherry might have every OPP
portunity to examine her hull and decide
as to her sea worthiness, we put her in
the Port Orchard dry dock. The inspec-
tor drilled number OF holes In her iron
hull and found everytl. 1g satisfactory.
Capt. Robinson examined the vessel here
regarding her carrying capacity. condi-
ton and class. He was assisted by Lieut.
Kruse OF the United States gunb0at
Wheeling. The latter was detailed by
Commander sebree and would hardly have
put his name TO the report had he found
anything unseawprtby about her.
There is absolutely nothing In the story
given out by San Francisco people, who
had an object n doing it. to the effect
that she had been condemned by two gov
ernments. She was in the regular ser
wee OF the Nippon Yusen kaisha line
when Peter Larson purchased her. He
had to wait several days before they
could deliver her as she was completing a
voyage She was then called Takasago
Maru. She was used as transport by
with China. The fact that she was built
In 1859 has nothing TO do with the mat
ter. She was then the sidewheei British
steamer Delta In 1876 she was almost On
tire.y rebuilt. The Centennial Il un-
doubtedly a ssaworthy craft and would
have served the government well"
There is some question az TO how much
the government WIFI be liable for N case
the decision regarding the steamers un-
Seawcrth!ness ia not changed. The char
ter was properly signed ard II a mercantile
firm was the party of the second part In
stead Of rnc,e Sam they would De COM
PEELED 70 prove In court that the vessel
was unseawurthy or he liable for the fuli
DO not know what redress they VIII have
from the government
The only benefit the owners have re-
ceived So far 3 that the Centennial is
now under American register bv spec5a |
act OF congress and can engage In coaR;-
wise trade This could not have been
otherwise obtained unless the vessel had
been wrecked ard IS per cent ~ her cost
spent m rebuilding her. The fact how