The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-05-21
NEARLY WENT TO BOTTOM Mr.
NARROW ESCAPE OF STEAMER
MAUI LAST NIGHT.
Struck a Rock Near Molokai Light
house and Had to Return to Homo
lulu for Repairs.

About 1O:SO o'clock last night the
Wilder company's steamer Maui, Cap
tain sachs, struck on rock off the
Molokai Lighthouse and sprung leak.
After ascertain1ng that the damage
was not so great as to render 1t unsaIe
to travel any distance with the boat,
Cptain Sachs decided to return to Ho-
nolulu. He came along at slow rate
of speed with two pumps working all
the time keeping the vessel afioat and
reached here early this morning and
docked at the old Fishmarket wharf.
The exact extent of the damage can
not be determined until the vessel goes
on the marine railway. That the ves-
sci did not go to the bottom was sim
gularly fortunate for it is thought by
her captain that she struck on pinna-
Gle rock.
The Maui left here yesterday after
noon at 8 o'clock for Paauhau, Ookala,
Kukaian, Laupahoehoe and Papaaloa
with big cargo and IL negroes who
were going to one of the Hawaiian
plantations. In spite of the fact that
there were several wenches aboard the
good luck which is said to follow
lady of color was unable to cope with
the dread number 10. The vessel was
making full speed when she struck the
rock. Fortunately it was glancing
blow as was shown by the fact that
rock struck the vessel on the starboard
side just aft of the engine room and
about two feet ABOVE the keel The
vessel scraped along for about twelve
feet before she got clear of the rock.
About seven frames were badly bent
and some sort of a hole was made in
her plates for the vessel began making
water Immediately The rock hit just
abaft the rear bulkhead of the engine
room close to the crank alley. The wa
ter began to come into the vessel quite
rapidly and two pumps were set at
work 1t was not long before Chief
Engineer Renear perceived that the
vessel was not making water any fast
er than her pumps could cope with, so
Captain Sachs decided the best course
to pursue was to return to Honolulu
in order that the vessel could be re-
paired.
There were some aboard the vessel
who did not control their feelings how
ever as the colored passengers We're,
for a while in mortal terror that they
were to meet their DOOM About half
4 dozen of them commenced to pray,
while the women were wringing hands.
others wanted to lower the life boats
and make their way to shore. When
the crew assured them tnat there was
little danger of the boat sinking the
praying was left off and the crowd took
the matter good naturedly.
A board of survey was called and
y they examined the vessel this morning.
but it was impossible to determine
the exact nature of the damage or its
extent. The freight on the vessel will
be discharged so that she can be placed
on the marine railway to undergo re-
pairs.
1t is. not entirely clear where the Maui
struck. Captain Sachs says that the
vessel was about three quarters of a
mil nj q WI oh
hit. 1t was not shoal he thinks but
sharp pinnacle rock which was not
on the charts. On the other hand it is
said by other steamship captains who
navigate in that vicinity that the shoa
stops very close to the light house, sc
if Captain Sachs is mistaken about the
distance from shore it was upon the
regular reef that his vessel struck. The
Maui will go on the marine railway to.
morrow morning.