The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-12
FOR
The OREGON
Fate of Famous Ship
Undecided.
INJURY is VERY SERIOUS
If the Weather Remains Fair She
May be Saved by Hard
Wcrk.

Wcrk.
LONDON, July IA special dispatch
from shanghai, dated June Goth (Satur /
day. states that all on board the United
States battle ship Oregon which went
ashore in the Cuff of PechiIi, have been
saved. There is some chance that the
vessel may be fioated.
The point where the Oregon grounded
is fifty miles west northwest of Chefoo.
Taku is $50 miles west of Pinnacle Rock,
where she struck. Pinnacle rock is
about twenty feet high and lies
three ana two-thirds miles south OF
Hawk Island, and about a mile and a
quarter north northeast of the island OF
Siao Lu Shan. The rock is encircled
by shoal and shouId not be approach
ed nearer than three cables. According
1 10 the photographic Bureau officials,
there is a strong current of from three
TO FIVE knots speed always prevalent in
I this vicinity, an this fact, together
with the dense fog that prevailed at the
| time, greatly enhanced the danger of
| navigating the Oregon. The officials of
/ the Hyu4 ographer's office say there is a
great rise and fall Of the tide at that
point about ten feet, end il is possible
| Lhat the Oregon may be lifted in this
| way and set afloat without assistance.
Captain Wilde's statemeAt of the in
juries sustained by the Oregon is
| scarcely sufficient to enable the naval
constructors here TO form a definite
| opinion as TO the prospects of saving
the famous ship. They say, however,
hat the ship probably can be saved If
The weather does not become rough, but,
Unfortunately, this is the season of
storms in Chinese waters.
DEPARTMENT IS FEARFUL.
WASHINGTON, June 20.-The Navy
Department entertains the graveSt
iears that the famous battle ship Ure-
yon, which is aground off How he ISL
) md will be lost TO the navy. Secretary
.ong. however. hopes that the condition
f the vessel is not as bad as the reports
indicate.
Inc navy Department is doing every
hing TO send relief to the great battle
ship. Admiral Remey acted promptly
lie ordered the Zafiro, which was al
cheefoo. to proceed at once TO the Ore
son, and the Iris has also been ordered
the rescue. The construction experts
ay that as the hull has been penetrated
~ rock. many plates viii be tori
way il the vessel is draggeu from hei
present position.
Although the place where the oregon
S aground is described as Pinnacle
Rock, the Official chart of the Hydro
raphic office does not show any sucf
ock in the Chang Shan channel, which
3 south of How Re Island. According
o the photographers, the Oregon wa
standing on about the usual course, an'
: % blame is yet apparently chargeabl'
Captain Wilde.
According to Captain Wilde, the mail
injury is very serious. The naval con
;tructors believe the rock on which TIL
fessel struck near frame 19 has actua' !.
-on Through the double bottom of tn
shi, Il projects aboye il. In case tn
Sessefis floated she viii be taken t
Port Arthur or Nagasaki to be place.
in dry dock. The Oregon cost the Gov
srnment S6,575,03275. She was put il
commission at San Francisco, July Il
1896.
WASHINGTO I, June 3O.-a4,er al
examination of the plans of the battl
q ship Oregon in the light of her com
d handing officers report, officials of tn
& Navy Department express the opinio
that If she struck at high tide she can
lot be saved. The Oregon anchored o.
: account of fog, at point just north o
pinnacle Rock, waiting for the fog I
lift. The current sets in very swiftly a
this point. ana IL is presumed that tn
:, anchor dragged, as Captain Wilde re
/ ports that when the boats sounds
around the ship there We're 'at leas
i've and q half fathomS." This sound
ing indicated that the ship was NOV
ing toward the rocks clearly shown o
1 the chart supplied to the Oregon. Whe
| the weather cleared Captain Wilde mus
! have appreciated his danger and at
. tempted to escape from it.
II have an idea" said one of the of
icers, that when the order TO hos
battle ship toward the rock, and befor
her engines could give her Roadway sh
struck"
Mr.. WI, the Chinese Minister, said tc
day that this particular spot was
] graveyard for shipping.
So far as officers of the departmer
4 are able to plat the position of the shi
! with the incomplete information &
, hand, they beueve that the Orego
= must have been carried by the currer
: 9ast-southeast, and that the tide mu:
= have been at its flood. In this ever
. there is danger that the ship will sett
on the rock, ripping a still larger no
in her bottom, making 1t impossible Il
her to be floated.
The difference between the rise an
fall of the tide at the point where til
Oregon lies is six feet, so that If ST
struck at high tide she has incurred a
added danger. Secretary Long mao
this statement to me this afternoon:
II grieve for the Oregon as I woul
IL one of our best naval men were hui
md in danger. There is almost a sen:
If personal loss. i am still hopeful thu
:. she can be saved and lowed into Po
Arthur
WHAT BUILDER SCOTT SAYS.
SAN FRANCISCO. July Irving J
Scott, the builder of the Oregon, We
= greatly grieyed when he learned of II
, nishap to the famous fighting machin
he Is hopeful, however, that more a,
curate information will show that IL
vessel is not in such a bad way as 81
aas been reported. and that wit
4 prompt assistance she can be saved.
Much will depend" said Mr.. Scot
on the condition of the tide at the tin
she struck. If the mishap occurred
ow water. i am confident that /
ightering her guns and ammunitic
= here Will be no difficulty in floating h.
off at high water.
THE hole in her side above the doub
bottom is not serious: that can be cas-
y corked. The holes in her bottor
lowever, may prove serious if both Il
utter and inner bulls have been pierce
| The fact that q y