The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-12-26
Big Freighter Ashore at
Buoy One.
FAST IN SIXTEEN FEET
Fortunately She Does Not Block the
Channel Hence the Gaelic
Can Get Out.
prom saturday,s Adyertlserl

tFrJm Saturdays Advertiser)
The British steamer Algoa. recently
chartered by the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company for the round trip be
tween Hongkong and San Francisco
touching at Honolulu, ran on the reef
near the spar buoy at 1920 last night
and remained fast. She left Hongkong
In charge OF Captain Hansford on No
yember 23d with a full cargo, including
o. mn 'ors Cor this mort She was
sighted off Barber's Point at about .
IA nd at slow speed approached
the harbor, but keeping too close in
shore for her great draueht. struck the
reef. as stated. AS soon as the yes
cells condition was apparent. both the
Flew ard Tronrois were communicated
with and they were made ready to pro-
coed to her assistance. The Eleu, bear
ing Messrs. Rose and Suhr represent
ing the insurance company and the
steamers agents respectively, proceed
ed to the scene at 1913 this morning
ard the lroquois got away half an hour
later.
An Advertiser reporter went out TO
the scene OF the trouble and found the
Algoa aground on the extreme Waikiki
side OF the channel, striking the reef
in sixteen feet OF water. She was
pointing in the direction of Manoa
valley. her bow rather high. so that
the 2O-foot mark was easily discernible.
The sea was smooth and the vessel re-
manned rigidly in her position without
any perceptible list. She struck dur
| ing high tide, and unless the tugs Iro-
quois and Eleu can pull her off the reef
before low tide sets in considerable
damage may be done. An investiga-
ton of her hold showed no signs OF
leakage.
| One of the ships officers stated that
the captain had intended to anchor
outside for the night, and slowed down
as the opening of the channel was
rea ched. While waiting TO find an an
chorage the bow swung around and
struck on the reef Az she was going
at slow speed and did not go on the
reef hard, il Is thought that the vessel
may he pulled off After striking, the
lprorellers were kent going at full speed
astern. but the ship did not bulge an
',,oh The of1"ars do not feel alarmed
ana are confident the Algoa can be
slid back into deep water by this after
noon.
Whatever may have been the cap
ltain's intention, 1t is very certain that
he completely missed the entrance to
the channel. At the time the vessel
struck no pilot was aboard. Pilot Nc
Cauley reaching the shin soon after
She carries 2.2i0 tons general cargo and
mails for Honolulu; also 9.614 tons car
90 for San Trancisco and overland cit
les; also 521 cases OF opium, valued at
s22S. G53. one of the largest and most
valuable cargoes ever cleared for San
Francisco.
The Algoa measures AIS feet over
all. has 5S-foot beam and 35-foot
morlded denth. She is built of steel
ard Is fitted throughout with all the
latest improvements. electric lights,
etc. She has triple evanston enPlnes
and was built at Sunderland. England,
in 1896. and is one of the largest
freight steamers afoat. having dead
weight carrying capacity of / 200 tons.
She steams eleven knots. She Is com
manded by Cantain +. G. Hansford;
! A. Lockett, chief officer: w. Brown.
second officer; j. G. Vickerstaff, third
officer; A. S Edwards. pnrser; H.
Aud, chief engineer; Joe Cook, first
engineer: J. Davies. second engineer:
IL. ]. Summers. third engineer. The
crew Is comprised of II Europeans and
C5 Lascars, sailors. She has expert
enced boisterons weather all the way
from Yokohama.