The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-11-11
Huge Naval Vessel
Anchors Off
Harbor.
Feared to Bring Vessel
Through the
Channel.

Had Molokai been removed from its
firm foundation on the lava rock to
the outer end of the channel which
leads into Honolulu? No, it could not
be Molokai, as that island is not for
titled, and this mass sticking up out
of the water seemed to be brist1ing
with guns. 1t might have been puz-
pie to many, but the thing that loomed
up on the horizon was really the United
States first class battleship Oregon,
with Captain Burwell in command and
as fine crew of five hundred men as
ever manned ship of the line"
The Oregon, after ten days passage
from San Francisco. arrived off the
port about noon yesterday, but al
though the pilot advised the captain
that the harbor would safely house the
big warship, he declined to enter and
brought the ship to anchor very close
to the end of the channel.
Captain Burwell was in jolly mood
when reporter boarded the warship.
He said he would have liked to enter
the harbor, but that his battleship was
worth more than ten cents, and that
he could not take any risks with her.
"You see," he said, eve are SO big
that we are clumsy so far as small
harbors are concerned. The vessel
cannot be steered so easily as cruiser
like the New York. We draw twenty
eight feet of water and we are about
as wide as the channel, so that it
would be almost impossible for us to
get in without tug boat on either side
of us, and then it would be risky. And
battleships are not entering harbors
like they used to. They lay outside
where it is very clean, and still they
strive to get as close to the port as
possible. We are now closer to the
landing in Honolulu than we were to
those in San Francisco.
"Of course, if it is too rough to coal
out here tomorrow, we may go into the
harbor, but would prefer to coal out
side, for then all dust blows away
quickly, and leaves the vessel in a fine
state for visitors. I want Honolulu
; people to come out and inspect the
Oregon. I've got a lot of boats and
launches here, and will haul as many
$s I can out to see the vessel, but Of
course / cannot take the whole town.
What I cannot take, your boats inside
will bring out. We will remain here
for two weeks, and there will certainly
be enough fine weather so that every
one will find some opportunity to come
out. And mind you-everybody is
welcome.
1--WE did not hurry on the voyage
from San Francisco We took plenty
of time and did great deal of drilling.
We are going in for new system OF
drilling-that of making the objective
of all drills the pointing the gun, for
it's the gun that we must handle in
time of difficulties
The Oregon is now in good condi-
ton, having undergone extensive re-
pairs at Puget Sound. But this battle
ship has always been in good condition
and has made records for herself ever
since she was launched. Her part in
the SpanishAmerican war will be
recorded in history. for she made
most exciting run around Cape Horn
in order to be lin at the finish OF
Admiral Cervera's feet at Santiago.
Her record is fine one, and though
she has spent over ten years in COM
mission as a battleship, no one has
come forward to say that she is worth
a penny less than the 1922, 900 the
United States expended on her con-
struction. The vessel is in fine fight
ing trim, and should any difficulty
occur on the Asiatic station after this
monster arrives there she is sure to