The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-07-13
FOR
THE OREGON
Fate of Famous Ship
Undecided. Ia
INJURY IS VERY SERIOUS
If the Weather REMAINS Fair She
May be S,ved by Hard
Work.

| from shanghai, da .eu June Svth lSatur-
| uay) states that al on board tue United
| states bate snip oregon, winch wehl
ashore in the Gd.f of fechl., have been
saved. There rs some chance that the
vessel may be Heated
The point where the Oregon grounded
| is fifty miles west northwest of Chefoo.
Taku is 100 miles west of Pinnacle Rock.
J where she struck. Pinnacle rock 10
I about twenty-five feet high and lies
three anu two-thirds miles south of
| Hawk Island, and abou, u mile and a
quarter north northeast of the island of
| Siao Lu Shan. The rock is encirc. ed
by shoal and shou.L not be approach
ed nearer than three cables. According
| to the HydrograpnIc Bureau officials,
there is a strong current of from three
| to five knots speed always pceva eat la
| this vicinity. this fact, together
with the dense fog that prevailed at the
| time, greatly enhanced the danger OF
navigating the Oregon The officials OF
| the Hyu. ographer'S Office say there is a
great rise and fan Of the tide at tn At
| point, about ten feet, and 1t is poss.b. e
that the Oregon may be lifted in this
way and set afioat without assistance.
Captain Wilde's statement of the in
juries sustained by the Oregon is
scarcely sufficient to enable the naval
constructors here to form a debate
opinion as to the prospects of saving
the famous ship. They say, however
hat the ship probably can b. saved If
the weather dos not b come rough, but,
unfortul ate y, this is the season of
storms in Chinese waters.
DEPARTMENT IS FEARFUL.
WASHINGTON. June 3O.-The lazy
Department entertains the gravest
fears that the famous battle ship Ore
gon, which is aground off How Ike ISL
and, will be lost to the navy. Secret Try
Long, however, hopes that the Coz dtion
of the vessel is not as bad as the rep Jrts
indicate.
The Navy Department is, doing every
thing to send relief to the great bait
ship. Admiral Remey acted promptly
He ordered the Zafiro, VIII CHI was at
Cheefoo, to proceed at once to the Ore
gon, and the Iris has also been ordered
to the rescue. The co 1struction exp erts
say that as the hull has been penetrat ed
by a rock, many plates will be torn
away If the vessel is dragge,. from he
present position.
Although the place where the ureg)n
is aground is described as Pinnacle
Rock. the otfica. chart of the Hydro
graphic office does not show any such
rock in the Chang Shan channel, whic
Is south of How he Island. According
to the photographers, the Oregon was
standing on about the usual course, and
no blame is yet apparently chargeable
to Captain Wilde.
According to Captain Wilde, the main
injury is very serious. The naval con-
structors believe the rock on which the
vessel struck near frame 10 has actua ly
gone through the double bottom of the
ship and projects above 1t. In case the
vessel Is tioated she VIII be taken to
Port Arthur or NagasakI to be placed
In dry dock. The Oregon cost the Gov
eminent $6,575,032.75 She was put in
commission at San Francisco, July Is,
1896.
WASHINGT~ Y, June 3O.-1...er an
examination of the plans of the battle
ship Oregon in the light of her com
handing officers report officials of the
Navy Department express the opinion
that If she struck at high tide she can
not be saved. The Oregon anchored on
account of fog. at point just north of
Pinnacle Rock, waiting for the fog to
lift. The current sets in very swiftly at
this point, and 1t Is presumed that the
anchor dragged, as Captain Wilde re-
ports that when the boats sounded
around the ship there were lat least
five and half fathoms." This sound
ing indicated that the ship was NOV
ing toward the rocks clearly shown on
the chart Supplied to the Oregon. When
the weather cleared Captain Wilde must
have appreciated his danger and at
tempted to escape from 1t.
II have an idea," said one of the Of
ficers. that when the order to hoist
anchor was given the current swept the
battle ship toward the rock, and before |
her engines could give her Roadway she |
struck"
Mr.. WI, the Chinese Minister, said to-
day that this particular spot was
graveyard for shipping.
So far as officers of the department |
are able to plat the position of the ship
h at,a l.tT .,f1 ton, ~
hand, they beneve that the Oregon |
must have been carried by the current |
and that the tide must |
have been at its flood. In this event
there is danger that the ship wi settle
on the rock. ripping still larger hole
in her bottom, making II impossible for |
her to be floated.
The difference between the rise and |
fall OF the tide at the point where the
Oregon lies Is six feet, so that If she |
struck at high tide she has incurred an
added danger. Secretary Long made
this statement to me this afternoon:
II grieve for the Oregon as would
and In danger. There is almost a sense
OF personal loss. l am still hopeful that
she can be saved and towed into Port
Arthur"
WHAT BUILDER SCOTT SAYS.
SAN FRANCISCO, July Irving NJ.
Scott, the builder of the Oregon, was
greatly grieyed when he learned of the
mishap to the famous fighting machine.
He Is hopeful. however. that more ac-
curate information will show that the
vessel Is not In such bad way as she
has been reported, and that with
prompt assistance she can be saved.
much will depend" said Mr.. Scott,
ION the condition OF the tide at the time
she struck. II the mishap occurred at
low water. am conndent that by
Tightening her guns and ammunition
there wi be no difficulty In floating her
of at high w4ter.
1.-THE hole I'm her side above the double
bottom is not serious; that can be easi-
ly corked. The holes In her bottom,
however. may prove serious II both the
outer and inner hulls have been pierced.
The fact that the forward compart-
ment is flooded need cause no worry.