The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-01-25
WATERFRONT.
CLAUDINE MIXES
WITH THE DREOGER

The Wilder steamship Claudine and
the channel dredger and it's tender had
a mix-up in the channel yesterday
morning about 5:3s o'clock, which near
ly resulted in disaster to the steamer.
AS it was, the tug Fearless had to tow
the Claudine in, after the passengers
and mail had been sent ashore in the
steamers boats.
The anchor, chain and other tackle
of the mid-channel buoy now hangs
from the propeller of the Claudine as
she lies at her wharf Divers will to-
day determine the extent of the dam
age incurred by the Claudine.
Captain Parker of the CIaudine at
taches no blame to himself for the
mishap, but rather charges it to the
dredger people. AT least, it was while
Captain Parker was endeavoring to
maneuver@ in the narrow quarters of
the channel, partially blocked by the
dredger, that he backed down upon the
buoy and ripped it up.E The whole trou
BILE resulted from Captain Parker try
ing to avoid running down the tender
of the dredger.
Captain Parker made the following
statement of the mishap:
II whistled four times, according to
the requirements, that I was about to
enter the channel This signal is Civ
en- to notify the dredger people in suf-
ficient time SO that they can remove
whatever obstruction there may be in
the channel, to permit vessels entering
or leaving freedom to maneuver. 1t
was then about 5:38 and quite dark.
We went ahead slowly. When near
the dredger, the tender signalled to put
my wheel to starboard and pass to
leeward OF her. When that signal
came I was almost upon the tender,
which did not show up with lights from
my position. She was at that time
swinging around to go close to the
dredger. had no room for maneuver-
ing, and to obey the signal was to run
down the tender. I did what my in
stinct told me-to back, rather than
crush the tender.
when we backed the stern came
full upon the mid-channel can buoy.
One blade of the propeller hit the buoy.
I heard the sound perceptibly, and the
jar was felt in the engine room. The
engineer acted promptly almost at the
same time that I telegraphed Stop
The telegraph pointer retains the same
HOW IndC II UlO IndC
and it will be left in that position for
reference. However. the chain wrap
ped around the blade as it revolved.
The buoy anchor was jerked up and
still hangs back of the rudder.
1--WE let go our anchor and sent theE
passengers and mail ashore in the
steamers boats. Afterward I whistled
for the Fearless and she took the
Claudine in. first to the cattle wharf.
where the cattle We're landed, and then
to our wharf.
cit is my opinion that the dredger
fails to take into consideration that we
need sea-room in the channel The
dredger and tender and piles take up
two-thirds of the channel, leaving us
about sixty feet freeway. AS the
CIaudine has thirty-two feet beam that
leaves only fourteen feet to the clear on
either side. 1t is not enough. I believe
that the inter-island trade is of suf-
fcient Importance that we captains Of
the island boats should be given Gas
much consideration as those with for
eign vessels. The Argyll came in lat
er and was given plenty of sea- ROOM
Among the Claudine's passengers
were u. S. Inspectors of Hulls and |
Boilers Lehrfers and Whitney, who |
were returning from an official inspec- |
ton at Hilo and Kahului. 1t is be- |
iieved that they entertain the same |
ideas, as to the cause of the accident. |
as Captain Parker.
Captains Lehners and Whitney in |
spected the vessels at TIilo and then |
crossed to Maizena, on the Kinau. They |
went across Maui to Kahului, where |
the tug Leslie Baldwin was inspected. |
They will be at their Office in the Stan |
genwald building today, ready to ex-
anime anyone who desires to go |
through the process, or those whom the
law requires to appear before them.