The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-10-10
j. (. s. OLEAANNDER
IS A REAL JONAH
Lighthouse Tender Recently Here
Is a Picture Of Bad Luck.
AGAIN NEEDS REPAIRS
AFTER LEAVING HERE LAST
WEEK 1T WAS DISCOVERED
THAT CYLINDERS ARE
BADLY CuT-HAS
HAD MANY MIS-
HAPS.
AGAIN NEEDS REPAIRS


The United States lighthouse tender
Oleander is again in trouble. The
boat will be at Memphis within lne
next day or two, but not on her own
powe.
When near Point Pleasant, on her
way down to Memphis from Cairo, Il
was found chat something was wrong
with the port engine. investigation
revealed the fact that the packing
rings in both high and low pressure
cylinders were broken, and that the
cylinders were cut to such an extent
that further use Of the boat ON her
own power was deemed unwise.
The boat was run down to Caruth-
ersville, Mo. where orders were re-
ceived from Commander Vail to have
it towed to Memphis, where he would
Join it and have the repairs made as
quickly as possible.
From the day the boat left ST. Louis.
about two weeks ago. until 1t reached
Point Pleasant, the machinery worked
all right Near the latter place, the
engineer, j Kinross, noticed that
there was something wrong with his
port engine and made an examination,
which showed that the packing rings
in both cylinders were broken in eight
places, and that the cylinder was cat
to such an extent that further use
would work great damage. Capt
Thomas b. Good, who was in charge
Of the boat, ordered II TO run TO Car
uthersyille arriving there on Oct. s
about o'clock.
From what is known of the break
ing of the packing rings of the Oleaa'
der, no blame is attached to any Of
the officers or crew, but to the faulty
construction of the rings--they either
contained defect or the tempering
was uneven, the latter causing crys
utilization and breaking.
1t Is believed that the repairs can
be made on the boat, and that the
cylinders will not require being taken
to a machine shop. In the opinion OF
some officials here the repairs can be
made in a week.
Commander Vail is expected to join
the boat here. That he will make i
full investigation of the trouble with
a view OF fixing the responsibility is
practically assured. In the meantime
the repairs will he continued with all
possible speed. that the boat may con.
tinue on down the river. The lights
below Memphis need attention and
there Is no other boat that can be
pressed into service
Bad Luck Record.
Tho Oleandcr is boat with rec.
ord that has caused nearly every man
on the Mississippi river to give 1t the
name OF Jonah" The boat has been
a series Of mistakes. accidents and
changes from the time the plans were
first drawn. The boat has brought bad
Inch to all who have commanded her
In addition TO the commanders
whose transfer or resignation have
been more or less due to the Oleander.
the superintendent of construction.
Sam Mcknight, was retired by one Of
the commanders for personal reasons.
The plans for the ,Oleander were
originally drawn in the office of tho |
United States lighthouse board in |
The Iowa Iron works |
was given the contract for the boat |
which was to replace the old Joseph |
Henry. Soon after the plans were /
given TO the contractor. the then com. |
mander of the Sixteenth district. for
which the boat was intended, ordered
some changes. From that time on
there was series OF alterations to
srit the personal ideas of each new
commander of the district. Lastly
came Commander Vail. who followed
Commander Nelson. The latter refns
ed to accept the boat. because 1t did
not come up to the specifications OF
the contract. Then followed a wran.
gle between the government and the
contractors. special constructor
from the navy department beJg sent
to Memphis to settle the trouble.
There were so many additional
changes necessary when Commander |
Vail took charge of the Oleander that
he first actual inspection trip was de.
aged for some months.
The first trip showed very plainly
hat the buckets. lanses. shaft. and.
in fact. the whole wheel of the boat
was too light New buckets and arms
/