The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-05-12
BRIEF STOP
OF RANGER

Graceful as a millIonaire's steam
yacht. the U. S. S. Ranger showed her
bow around Diamond Head yesterday
noon, swept down the beach stretch
and hove to in the harbor entrance.
ten days from Mare Island navy yard.
Within a short time the trim little
cruiser was alongside Naval Dock No.
/, shifting later to Dock No. 2, to make
way for the transport Sherman. Prep
arations for coaling were begun imme
diately and men were busy all after
noon putting fuel into the cruisers
bunkers. She sails this morning for
Cavite. Manila Bay, p. /.
The Ranger left Mare Island on April
3Oth and had a splendid run down, not
attempting to hurry but averaging 235
knots a day. She has orders to go at
once to Cavite and will not stop here.
calling only at Guam between here and
the Philippines. 1t is expected that the
ship will be turned over to the Philip
pine government to be used as a train
ing vessel for the Nautical School at
Manila.
The Ranger has a most interesting
history. Built at Chester, Pa, in 1878,
she was one of the first iron-built ships
in the navy. 1t is said that she is in
as good condition today as when she
first was launched. During most of her
career the ship has been attached to
the Pacific station, doing much survey
work on the Mexican and South Amer
lean coasts and also in Alaskan waters
During the war with Spain she was
stationed at San Diego, California. far
away from the scene of hostilities yet
somewhat important post on account
of the persistent rumors that the Span
| iards had purchased one or more war
vessels from Chill or Peru and were
preparing to make a raid on the almost
unprotected Pacific Coast. Later the
ship went to Panama where she pro-
tected American interests during the
revolution just previous to the one
through which the isthmus gained its
| independence. For two years the
Ranger has been out of commission.
The most exciting incident in which
the Ranger figured occurred off the
| Guatemalan coast in Central America
when the ship was under the command
of Lieutenant Commander, now Admi-
raj Reiter. 1t is an odd coincidence
that Admiral Reiter passed through
| Honolulu but Tuesday on the Korea
going to command the squadron of
which the Ranger may be a minor
part The story is something in this
wise.
| A politically ambitious citizen of GU
atemala. General Barrundia by name,
was defeated in an election for pres
ident. AS is the custom with those who
are defeated at the polls in Central
American countries the disappointed
general got up a revolution which was
promptly crushed by the government
troops. Barrundia became fugitive in
Mexico with price upon his head. Not
long afterward he desired to make a
trip to Panama and took the Pacific
Mail steamer Colon. 1t was learned
that as soon as the steamer called at
a Guatemalan port the police would
proceed ON board and attempt to take
Barrundia forcibly from the ship. Sec
rotary of State Blaine gave orders to
1t Com. Reiter of the Ranger which
was then stationed in the port in ques-
ton, protecting American interests, to
protect Barrundia and not allow him to
be taken from an American ship.
Soon after, the Colon arrived at San
Jose de Guatemala and was boarded
by the police and Barrundia, resisting
arrest, was shot down. Reiter was
blamed for his inaction, Blaine con-
tending that he should have gone to
sea and taken the man off before the
Colon reached port. An attempt was
made to have him cashiered but a
court-martial completely exonerated
him. The case has become famous one
I'm international law, the question in
volving the right to remove a passen-
ger from a foreign ship in port.
The Ranger is a third rate cruiser.
She has a single screw driven by a
horizontal engine. Steam is furnished
by four Scotch boilers. Her horsepower
is 1000 and her maximum bunker capac-
ity 225 tons. There are no guns on the
ship at present. Her tonnage as she is
now is 100. The vessel is barkentine
rugged. In her hold is a shipment of
ammunition for the Asiatic fleet.
The officers of the Ranger will be de-
tached as soon as the ship reaches Ca
vite and will join other ships of the
squadron, relieving officers who have
furloughs. The Rangers officers are:
Lieut.. Com. L. II. Tillman, Com
handing, Lieut.. Com. Geo. r. Evans,
executive officer; Lieut.. Com. H. NJ
Jensen, navigator; Surgeon Rodman
Paymaster Alkire, Midshipmen Coffee
Ogan. Newton, Oberlin and Blaisdell.