The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-21
PACIFIC STEAMER
MAY Be TOTAL LOSS
Big Vessel Manchuria Aground
Near Honolulu
PASSENGERS ALL LANDED
Tugs Have Been Hard at Work But
1t VIII Probably Be impossible
to Again Float the
Vessel.
PASSENGERS ALL LANDED

Honolulu, August 20, $50 p NIT is
general opinion that the Pacific Mail liner
Manchuria, which ran on a reef off Rab-
bit Island before daylight this morning,
is hopelessly aground and may be a total
loss.
When 1t was at first thought that the
steamer could be foated without much
difficulty, all efforts have so far been in
vain, and 1t seems probable that if the
ship is saved, 1t will be effected only by
elaborate engineering operations, possibly
requiring weeks.
She is far inside the reef now and
pounding quite heavily. The steamer is
now seven feet further inland than when
she struck. The tug Fearless, the revenue
cutter Manning and the steamers Kinue
and Maui have lines aboard and are tug
ging at her stern, but are not moving the
ship, though holding her from going fur
Their on the reef.
Cabin Passengers Landed.
The cabin passengers have been landed,
but it will be impossible TO get them all
here tonight. Plantation managers have
thrown open their homes to many of
much trouble except slight panic among
the Asiatics. who made a dash for the
life boats, but were soon quieted. Cap
tain Saunders is quoted as assuming all
blame for the stranding of the ship, as
he was on the bridge and mistoek the
land for Makapuu Point
The Manchuria is a twin screw steel
steamer of 1869 gross tons and $3.50 net
tonnage. She is GOO feet long with a
beam of Ga feet inches and a depth of
81 feet inch.
She was built in 1894 by the Camden,
N. J.. Shipbuilding company.
The position of the Manchura is not
believed to be one of Immediate danger.
The Ki1au, the largest of the inter-island
steamers, has gone to join the fleet at the
scene of the disaster. Launches are go
ing from here around a portion of the
island to bring the passengers to this
city. Governor Carter is among those who
have gone in automobiles to bring friends
to their homes. Some of the passengers.
including General Smith, the new gov
ernor general of the Philippines, and the
mails will be brought to Honolulu at
once.
Reversed Engines Too Late.
A detailed report received overland from
Waimanalo says that the Manchnria has
not yet made any water Captain Saun-
ders mistook another point of land for
Mankapu, when he saw land appear short
~ before the vessel struck, and reversed
the engines at full speed, but 1t was too
late to avert the accident.
The steamer is aground along her full
length and lies broadside to the mainland.
She was drawing twenty-five feet for
ward and twenty-seyen aft. Soundings
show the depth of water. The vessel is
on very fast. By emptying her tanks
she raised, and at $40 a. m. the tug Fear
less began an attempt to pull her off
hut without result. Other steamers are
now placing two lines aboard, and a uni
ted effort to float the big steamer will
be made. The passengers numbering near
1y 200, are being landed at Waimanala,
and most of them will be brought to
Honolulu over the Pail road.
The 800 Asiatics will be placed on island
steamers and brought around by sea. The
Manchuria lies between Rabbit island and
the mainland partially protected from the
swell.
strong northerly wind is blowing and
she has gone further in shore since she
struck. 1t is now believed that she has
sustained little damage, but tightening her
cargo may be necessary to float her.
The tug Fearless has stopped trying to
pull the Manchuria from the reef In adj
dition to all the automobiles in Honolulu