The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-08-23
WILL GALL EXTRA SESSION mot THE Captains FAULT
THE MARITIME COURT DECIDES
ABOUT THE DUNREGGAN.
Captain Dixon is Completely Exonerat-
ed-Diamond Head Currents That Are
Not in the Charts.

Captain G. M. Dixon of the British
bark Dunreggan was completely ex-
onerated this morning of all blame in
connection with the stranding of the
vessel on Diamond Head reef. The
court, after a complete Investigation,
found that the captain was right in
claiming that his charts were at fault.
1t appears that Diamond Head. cur
rents have not been properly recorded.
This morning another board of sur
vey, consisting of Captain c. j. Camp
bell of Honolulu, Captain Robert Will
hanson of the British bark Woolahra
and Captain Evans Davies of the Brit
tsh ship Republic, made a further ex-
animation of the Dunreggan They
found that it will be necessary to dis
charge all the Seattle cargo of the ves-
sci here, and put the vessel on the dry
dock, to examine her plates. The
board will make an inspection when
this has been done.
The maritime court, which consisted
of British Consul Hoare, Captain
Thomas Corrance of the British ship
lSilmory and Captain Mathew Jackson
of the British ship lakewood, gave in
its findings a complete official account
of the accident. After stating the YES
sells experiences before reaching Ha-
waii the findings tell of the disaster
as follows:
AC lCuIIEBSdh dIIlN6u OIL hOkO
Head, about II miles from Honolulu, at
$3.50 o'clock on the morning of the Sth
of August, 1900 and when she was
abeam of the Head by point bearings
and patent log taken by the master, he
found his distance from the Head to
be "a miles. At $40 a. m. he set the
vessels course west magnetic to pass
1 miles south of Diamond Head. The
vessel was then under top sails and
fOretODmaSt and StaVSail
AT about 9:15 o'clock, when the YES
sci was noticed to be setting in shore,
the master ordered the helmsman to
keep her off and keep the white streak
(meaning the breakers) over the ships
starboard lighthouse, which would place
the breakers about 3 points on the star
board now. This was done, but not
withstanding this, the vessel continued
to be set further in shore until at 9:40
o'clock a. m. she struck on the reef
She was subsequently carried further
in some distance, where she remained
about 20 hours, when she was towed off
and taken into the port of Honolulu,
having then about % inches of water
in her hold.
Shortly before the ship struck sound
ings were taken by the mate who found
fathoms, no bottom, and Immediately
after she struck soundings were again
taken and fathoms found all round
the snip, InC snip DelIlS TO all appear
ance hung amidships.
1.-The court, having regard to the cir
cumstances above stated, finds as fol-
lows:
THAT the master having taken bear
ings when abeam of KOko Head, and
finding the vessel was PA miles distant
fran the Head, acted to the best of
west magnetic, which would take the
vessel l mile south of Diamond Head,
which distance would have cleared all
danger.
THAT the stranding of the vessel on
the reef off Diamond Head was due to
strong currents setting in shore in the
vicinity of the Head, which currents
were unknown to the master, not being
marked on this chart nor mentioned in
the North Pacific Directory.
THAT when the vessel was found to
be setting in shore the master ordered
her to be headed off, but owing to the
current on her port bow she did not pay
off in time, and she struck before any
thing could be done to avoid the cas-
ualty.
"That after the vessel struck the
master did everything possible by set
ting sails to drive the vessel off the
reef but that his endeavors unfortun-
ately proved Intellectual"
Another phase of the Dunreggan mat
ter came up in Judge Estee's court this
morning. 1t was the libel of the own
ers of the tug Fearless against the ves-
sci, her cargo and. tackle for 100000
salvage. F. M. Hatch appeared for
Spreckels Bros. Company, the petition
ers, and Holmes & Stanley and w. A.
Whiting for the vessel, her belongings
and the master.
After a preliminary statement by
counsel, Judge Estee referred the case
to Commissioner Robinson to take
testimony and return the same to court.
It was stipulated between respective
counsel that Mr.. Robinson should give
no verdict or opinion on any part of
the matter. After the testimony is sub
mitted argument will be heard
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