The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-03-21
Some Experts Estimate On The
Worth Of a Steamer.
me FAMOUS CITY Of COLUMBIA
She is Sesworthy, say rev Ma
jori,y Condemn me Linen
Light Plant.

The attention of the Supreme Court
was taken up yesterday with expert
testimony as TO the value OF the =. s.
City of Columbia as Il stands to-day
and II Il were broken up.
Mr.. Kindelberger. ships carpenter,
was the first man called. He said that
In his opinion the vessel was all right.
IL could be be repaired and put in
good shape at San Francisco. He said
that the vessel had been bought in at
Seattle by lien holders for $4,000, just
previous her voyage to these Islands.
Russell Colegrove, formerly con
nected with the Columbia. also testified
in regard to the $4,000 paid at Seattle.
In addition to that amount che lien
holders had spent in Seattle about $780,
900 in repairing the boilers. hull, and
other paraphernalia. He would be wui-
ing 20 go to San Francisco in her after
some slight repairs had been made,
with Capt Smith commanding. The
repairing necessary to take her to that
port would cost about $4,000. tie con-
sidered her seaworthy.
Captain Smith was recalled He con-
sidered the vessel seaworthy as she is
to-day. He would advise. though. that
temporary repairs be made on her be-
fore taking her to sea.
w. J. Dyer, mechanical engineer at
the Honolulu Iron Works, had made
an examination OF her machinery and
iron work. He found most of ale ma
chinery in apparently good condition.
He thought there were about 100 tons
OF scrap iron in her which is worth
pound. He did not think that the ma
chinery could he used except as scrap
iron
Capt. c. J. Madsen, of the Falls Of
|, Clyde, had made an examination of the
steamship. He would have paid about
$500 for her. but not more. 1t would
not pay him to break up.
Captain babel, of the Aloha, testified
that he had had some experience in
breaking up vessels. This steamship
as she lay there at present with every
thing might be worth $500 He had
an experience a few years ago with
a vessel which he had purchased on
Kauai. Af;er breaking 1t up the re-
suit was minus s54.
Captain Peabody testified that he
had been a captain for twenty-five
years. He had made an examination
OF the City Of Columbia and consider
ed the hull worthless. He could not
speak as to the machinery.
Capt. Martin had examined the
steamship and had found her in very
poor condition. He did not consider
her seaworthy. He would not give over
$1,000 for the vessel and contents with
a view to breaking her up.
| A.W. Keech, experimenting engineer
ofInter-Island Co, thought that the ma
chinery seemed to be in apparent good
repair. 1t would be good for scrap iron
II taken out. He thought there were
about forty-fve tons of coal in sight. |
He did not believe that the Gynamo |
would bring more than $3.50 or $500 IL |
sold at auction. If it were new and
a man had use for II, 1t might be worth |
$500.
Mr.. Theo. Hoffman, of the electric |
works, testified that he had made an
offer Of 5000 for the electric plant on |
board the Columbia. II it were guar
anteed he might perhaps give $3.50.
CHARLES McLane, marine engineer, |
testified that the engines were in pref
ty bad shape. He thought there were |
about forty-flve tons OF coal on board |
The engines were fit for scrap iron.
The whole vessel needed a general |
overhauling.
Capt. Chas. NJ. Nichol was the next !
witness. He thought that the City OF
Columbia was about the hardest look
ing ship that he had ever been aboard
Of. He did not see the engines or the
machinery.
Jas. Oanhaigen, formerly port stew
ard OF the Inter-Island Co, was called.
He testified that he had been placed
on the Columbia by Marshal Brown,
and had remained on board from De-
cember to February. He said that the
linen on boar. was rotten, mouldy
and full Of fleas and bedbugs He had
made several attempts to take some
OF the linen on deck to dry it, but
each time the bottom dropped out of
the bundles.
The case has been submitted to the