The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-12-26
CAPTAIN BROKOw CLAIMS SHE
WAS IN DISTRESS.
VIII First Have Talk with Govern
ment officials Before Putting in
Claim for Saving the Other Boat

There is likely to be an interesting
technicality arise over the towing Of
the tug Eleu into port by the tug Fear
less, last Tuesday night. In fact Cap
tain BrOkOw of the Fearless says that
he considers that he has a claim for
salvage and, in all probability the ques-
ton of compensation may have TO be
left to the United States court for de-
csion.
There is also a possibility that the
question of compensation may be ig-
nored altogether, if Captain Brokow
can be given satisfactory assurances
that the government tug Eleu will, in
future, be kept from competing with
the Fearless in the towing business. If
such assurance be given he may con-
sent to make the government a present
of his services in towing the Eleu into
port from her ugly predicament last
Tuesday evening Captain Brokow
does not make this statement however
but those who are acquainted with the
local towing situation are inclined to
take this view of the matter.
Il claim" said Captain Brokow, this
morning, that the Eleu was i'm dis
tress. She was hanging onto the stern
of the schooner Susie NJ. Plummer and
could not take care of herself as the
haWser was wound round her propel-
Ter. If the Eleu had not been in dis
tress she would hardly have been play
ing a tune on her whistles asking for
assistance. / consider that we have a
claim on her for salvage. just as we did
with the Dunreggan and other boats
which were ashore. The Eleu had no
masts with which to handle herself
did not under those circumstances,
make any agreement with her captain,
about the compensation but in all pro-
liability, that will have to be settled by
laa lna 10
brought into the court however, l will
first see Superintendent of Public
Works Boyd and Captain Fuller, the
harbOr master, and have a talk with
them on the subject"
Although Captain Brokow has given
no intimation on the subject it would
be highly satisfactory to him to be re-
lieved of the competition by the gov
ernment tug. For nearly a year past
he has had a monopoly, in the towing
business to and from this port. The re.
advent of the government tug Eleu
last week. resulted i'm the Fearless hav-
| ing to stand extra expense in burning
coal to race the Eleu in getting tows
and, in addition, the Fearless lost sew
eral vessels, as the slower tug was able
to get some tows as the sailing vessels
arrived in bunch. In addition to this
! cOmpe tition, the Eleu is claimed by
/ Captain Brokow to have cut the price
of towing, so this is an additional rea-
son for wanting the government YES
! sci to keep out of the business. i is
believed that if Superintendent Boyd
will agree to tell the Eleu to go wa
ay back and sit down" and let the
Fearless alone in the towing business
! Captain Brokow will be willing to re-
! linquish his claim for salvage. Nothing
official is known about this however
for no consultation had been held be-
tween the various interests interested
Tn to this afternoon no claim for sal
wage had been received by the Depart
ment of Public Works, and no action
! had been taken i'm the matter of tn,
| tugs. The subject was discussed thi!
morning at the meeting of the Execu
| tive Council, but nothing was decided
upon. a meeting is being held thI'
afternoon, to discuss the matter.