The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-11-23
TRANSPORT HANCOCK
ASHORE IN JAPAN
IN A PRgcARIous POSITION on
THE REEF IN THE IN
LAND SEA.
Has Congressional Party on Board
German War Ship Goes to Assist
anes-Transpot Sheridan to the
Scene.


The United States Army transport
Hancock went ashore on the south
side OF the strait OF Shimonoseki and
remains there The bottom is sandy.
A German gunboat Is assisting the
Hancock.
The Hancock is the third United
States transport TO meet with a mis-
hap in japanese waters recently. First
the Sheridan. having on board a mum
Der OF returning troops and file Con
gressional party which has been Wis
iting the Philippine Islands. was de-
tanned at Nagasaki by a broken tail
shaft Her passengers were trans
ferred 70 the Warren. which sailed
from Nagasah November Sd. Two
days later the Warren sustained dam
age which made il necessary TO return
and dock at Nagasaki The Hancock
vas ordered 10 proceed from Manila
to Nagasaki and take on board the
delayed passengers. and il was ex-
pected she would sail from the port
named November 18th for San Fran
cisco.
The Congressional party is com
posed of Senator Bacon of Georgia
and Representative Mercer of Ne
braska. Smith OF Illinois, Burieson of
Texas. De Almond of Missouri. Dris-
coll of New York. Gaines of Tennes-
see, Greene OF Pennsylvania and
Weeks OF Michigan.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-Orders
were cabled from he War Department
today. directing the quartermaster at
Nagasaki to utilize the Sheridan to
bring the passengers of the Hancock
TO the United States.
SAN FRANCISCO. Nov 1.-THE
whisper that there was Jonah voy-
aging somewhere in West Pacific wa
tiers is being repeated with more as
surance now that the report has been
received that aground in the inland
sea lies the Hancock. sent to take OF
the troops from the Warren, also
ashore near Kobe. and which had in
turn been previously sent out to take
of the troops from the Inflated Sheri-
dan. which about a month ago crept
into Nagasaki like crippled bird.
Local army men were disposed to
look on the disaster cheerfully and
were 10th to believe that any lives had
been lost. for. so far, in spite of re-
peated accidents 10 transports in Pa
cific waters. lack has attended crew
aud passengers. Orders are strict
from this department for transports
to avoid the inland sea in coming and
going from Nagasaki, as currents are
treacherous. islands and reefs many,
and typhoons often blow in this pic
turesque and irregular body of wa
ter, where there are several points so
narrow that a ship could not SO much
as turn round in case of accident.
II is common thing, however, for
special permission to be asked and re-
ceived from Washington TO take dis
tinguished visitors around by way of
this route. on what is known far and
wide as the most beautiful voyage IN
the world. To the fact that she had
United States Senator Bacon and wife
aboard is attributed the Warren's per
ilous voyage and its more perilous
ending: but it is believed that the
Hancock's passage through the sea
was due to her desire TO make good
time, as it shortens the voyage from
Manila to Kobe full day.
The Hancock is one of the best and
largest of the army transports and
was purchased by the Government in
July. 1898, for a price said to be APP
proximately $4,000. The vessel was
built in 1879. and in the following year
was the fastest ship afioat, holding
the record for an Atlantic passage.
She was then called the Arizona. The
Hancock is $50 feet in length, 40 feet
broad. SO feet deep and has gross
tonnage of STAT. Although surpassed
in speed by many other newer steam
ers the Hancock is still considered
fast. and has made record trips to
and from Manila Captain Harry
Struve is master of the Hancock.
Since coming into the hands OF the
Government the transport has under
gone many improvements Unlike
some of the other large transports,
the Hancock has only one propeller,
but her engines are of exceptional
power.