The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-08-21
REEF At
RABBIT ISLAND
Steamer ManChuria Went
Ashore at High Tide During
Heavy RainStorm.
PASSENGERS STILL ABOARD
SCENE OF ACCIDENT NOT FAR
FROM HONOLULU.

I
Steamship company's steamer EIanchu
ria in on the reef at Rabbit island
The ManchUria struck bow on dur
ing a heavy rainstorm about 4:5O
o'clock this morning. She was consid-
erably out Of her course.
Rabbit island is a small speck in the
sea close to the windward side Of the
island Of Oahu, on which Honolulu is
located. The coast quarter here is I'M
usually dangerous owing to the on
shore seas.
The steamer lies about 800 feet from
the main shore There are from two 70
three fathOms of water here, and about
six fathoms aft The tug Fearless and
the Interisland steamer A Cummins
nave gone 10 the scene. Agents OF the
Pacific Mail Steamship company at
Honolulu are on the Fearless.
Struck at High Tide.
It was high tide when the Manchuria
struck. An officer who has come ashore
expresses the opinion that the vessel
car be 1oated at high tide tomorrow
morning at about the same hour she
struck
There is no danger of any loss Of life,
but it is feared that the steamer will
Dc otIlOuSly udl0dReQ.
a large crowd Of natives is on the
shore at WaimanalO watching the Man
churia. The passengers can be seen
crowding the decks, and il is believed
they may be landed there and brought
overland to Honolulu. The sea at pres
ent is smooth.
May Be Due to Earthquake.
One report circulated is that the
watch on the steamer mistook Rabbit
Island for Molokai island, and the
theory is advanced that it is possible
the recent unusual tidal phenomena
and currents attributed to the Valpa-
raise earthquake may have affected
the course of the vessel and thrown her
off her reckoning. The vessel is fifteen
to twenty miles off the course from the
usual route between Oahu and Molo-
kai.
1t was total darkness when the Man
churia struck the rocks. but there was
no panic on board. Where the steamer
went ashore is close TO Makapuu
point, where the last congress appro-
priated 100000 for a lighthouse.
Arranging for Help.
The revenue cutter Manning and the
Interisland steamer Maui have gde to
offer assistance. Automobiles are going
over tho Pail road and may bring back
the passengers If they are landed. Of
ficers of the vessel are coming here now
to arrange for help.
The steamer lies on an even keel AMI
is not trying to get off by the use Of her
own engines. There are very sharp,
DrOtrUding rocks on the coast where
she lies.
The position Of the Manchuria is not
believed 20 be one of immediate dan
ger. The Kilau, the largest of the In
terisland steamers, has gone TO join the
fleet at the scene of the disaster.
Launches are going from here around
a portion of the island to bring passen-
gers u this city Governor Carter is
among those who have gone in autOmO-
biles 10 bring friends TO their homes
Some Of the passengers. including Cen
eral Smith, the new governor general Of
the Philippine islands. and the mails
viii be brought to Honolulu at once.
A detailed report received overland
from WaimanalO says that the Man
churia has not yet made any water.
Mistake of Captain.
Captain Saunders mistook another
point Of land for Makapuu point. He
saw land ahead shortly before the yes
sci struck and reversed the engines at
full speed. but it 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 forward and twenty
seven feet aft. SOundings show the
depth Of water forward 70 be twenty
feet and twenty-five and one-half feet
aft. The vessel is on very fast. BY
emptying her tanks she was raised
some. and at $40 a. m. the tug Fear
less began an attempt TO pull her off,
hut without result Other Stea mprS
are now placing two lines aboard. and n
united effort TO floae the big steamer
will be made.