The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-07-01
BRUTUS Yet LAME
Collier Delays Sailing Of Monitor
For Manila.
ISLAND STEAMERS OFFERED
Claudine and Helene at Disposal of
Uncle Sam-CouId Supply
Fuel for the Voyage.


The Monterey and Brutus were to |
have sailed at p. m. yesterday but at
about $3.50 p. m. the latter vessel sig
nailed to the Mohican to the effect
that repairs had not yet been cOmplet-
ed, but that both the Monterey and
the Brutus would sail this morning
some time.
Grave apprehensiOns are felt among
shipping men generally here and par
ticularly with those identified with
steamer lines, over this expedition 1t
is confidently predicted that the Mon
terey will do the bulk of the towing,
instead of the Brutus. 1T is the GJin-
ion that in purchasing the steamer the
United States Government at least
made a bad bargain. At best the
Brutus is a cripple. There are faults
in her machinery that would require
months Of work and much new ma
terial. Then. while she is a small coal
speed with the monitor in tow was
six knots an hour and then the Mon
terey was turning over" her own en-
gines. In steaming off together the
monitor at all times left the Brutus in
the wake The Monitor is capable Of
making right along eleyel knots, bile
! the PrutEs can DO nc better than -sedt
at her utmost In all circles here that
we're in any way interested there was
comment to the effect that it was a
| pity such a situation had developed.
| There is much at stake. The Brutus
| is likely to break down at any time.
This means great delay, and includes
the serious possibility of the loss OF
the Monterey. The monitor was ready
to leave port on Monday evening last.
A proposal was made to this expe-
dition that would have been accepted
had the commander of the Monterey
thought his action would meet with
approval at Washington. The captain
hesitated several hours over the offer
submitted and finally declined it. Had
there been much more of the delay en-
forced by the inefi1ciency of the Brut-
us. a most remarkable or noteworthy
| transaction would have been brought
about.
No one but Capt Leutze OF the Mon
terey will ever know how nearly there
came to being a pair of inter island
steamers in service for Uncle Sam as
GOLFERS in place of the lame Brutus
The plan originated with prominent
men in the Wilder s. S. Co, Ltd. 1t
was this:
That the steel steamers Helene and
CIaudine would so to Manila with the
Monterey as coal bearers, would carry
total Of / 800 tons Of fuel, would
transfer coal aboard the monitor at sea
! day or night at the rate OF 200 tons III
twelve hours. The Claudine would be
ready with her burden by this evening
The Helene would follow to the South
ward upon returning from her pre5en
trip.
, Cant. Leutze and Lieut. Carlin ques
toned closely. The commander wa
surprised. He was astOniShed, ou
soon became convinced LndC SuCh
contract as suggested could be ful
filled. Lieut. Carlin has been in Sa
moa. He was thirteen months in Ho
nOlulu wheI. the Vandalia was here 10
repairs after saving herself in the huT
Z ricane at Samoa. The lieutenant -ne0
> what could be done with Hawaiian sea
men N surf boats and told Ca,
Leutze that undoubtedly the represeu
tatiOns made could and would be car
ried out to the letter.
- y gentleman whose utterances cor
; cerning steamboaung in the Island
generally and particularly in regard
the work Of such steamers as ID
Claudine aud Helene, spoke Of the Ou
lined undertaking with fun assuranc
He said that the two vessels coul
carry net o. more than 1000 tons {
coal for the monitor and could mar
the trip direct to Manila. However, 1t
the intention to stop at Guam, az
: here may he found a Spanish coal pi
& guarded by a Spanish gunbOat. pc
haps. This gentleman said that cre7
Of twenty to twenty-five Hawana.
4 would be placed aboard the Claudil
q and Helene and that with the sug.
or surf boats carried they would ha-
no trouble at all in handling to Il
monitor 2e0 tons Of coal IN tWel