The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-01-26
CLAUDINE MIXES
WITH THE DREDGER

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 1t 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 Claudine at
taches no blame to himself for the
mishap. but rather charges it to the
dredger people. At least, 1t was while
Captain Parker was endenvoring to-
maneuver in Nthe narrow quarters of
the channel, partially blocked by the
dredger, that he backed down upon the
buoy and ripped it up. The whole trou
ing to avoid running down the tender
of the dredger.
Captain Parker made the following
statement of the mishap:
Il whistled four times, according to
the requirements, that 1 was about to
enter the channel. This signal is CIV
en- to notify the dredger people in suf
ficient time 50 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 5:3S 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. 1 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.
1 heard the sound perceptibly, and the
jar was felt in the engine room. The
engineer acted promptly almost at the
same time that 1 telegraphed Stop
The telegraph pointer retains the same
position now that it did at that time,
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.
I'VE let go our anchor and I sent the
passengers and mail ashore in the
steamers boats. Afterward / 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.
1T 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
Claudine has thirty-two feet beam that
leaves only fourteen feet to the clear on
either side. 1t is not enough. believe
that the inter-island trade is of suf-
ficient importance that we captains Of
the island boats should be given as
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
We're u. S. Inspectors of Hulls and
Boilers Lehners and Whitney, who
We're returning from an official inspec
ton at Hilo and Kahului. 1t is be-
lieved 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 Hlo and then
crossed to Makena 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.