The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-09-18
MANCHURIA'S
PULL|N c
WRONG

Tho Advertisers correspondent at the
wreck IL more hopeful In his suguries
than are tho agents here. Tho latter
say that the slip mus. be pulled In
another direction from that takcn yes
terday, owing to the fact that tho port
bilge keel ia deeply imbedded in the
coral rock. This involves rearange-
ment Of tho anchors, which may take
quite while.
THE CORRESPONDENTS STORY.
On Beach, Opposite Manchuria,
4:30 p. m, Friday.
The prospects for getting the Man
churia off the reef before tomorrow
morning are exceedingly bright Haul
ing on her own winches last night she
moved fully 100 feet and since then
has moved $50 feet further.
Ever since daylight the vessel has
been creeping back perceptibly and her
stern is gradually Slowing round to-
wards deep water.
Early this morning the Restorer, Man
ming and Iroquois were pulling from
30 to 25 revolutions and the signal
"Full speed ahead was hoisted on
the Manchuria about IL O'Clock.
All the coal has been thrown over.
board and the water is being emptied
out of her as fast rs the pumps can
work. Practically all that is left in
her now is bilgc water.
The vessel stands extraordinarily
high out of the water, particularly by
the stern. She is still pumping out
amidships and when the pumping oper-
ations are completed she will be still
further lightened. The liner has a
tremendous list to port and it looks
from the shore as if it would not take
much to topple her over.
Heavy blasting took place this morn
ing around her stern and hindering
reef has been effectually bulldozed. At
the time of the blasting a large school
of fish was in the vicinity and thou
sands were killed, some Of the ulua
weighing as much as As pounds each.
They will form an agreeable addition
to the ships menu
AT 2:15 this afternoon a change was
made in the towing tactics, the Re.
storer, 1roquois and Manning changing
their positions to get astern.
AT the present writing the three ves-
sells are getting their wires in the water
and will be prepared to pull as soon
as the tide makes.
There are only about $50 feet to go
before deep water IS reached and she
is off the reef. 1t is expected that %he
vessel may be pulled off as soon as the
lines are arranged. The officers of the
ship consider that their hardest work
is over and that as soon as pulling
recommences she will slide into deep
water with comparative ease.
If she should be pulled into deep
water this evening, the work of dis.
connecting the hawsers will be COM
menced as soon as possible and the liner
towed to Honolulu. 1t will take three
or four hours to clear the tackle.
1t is thought that in being towed to
Honolulu she will not make better time
than four knots an hour and it looks
at present as if shs would arrive in
time for Regatta Day feature.
AYRES.
OWNERS LESS OPTIMISTIC.
There was much less optimism shown
at the offices of H. Hackfeld & Co. |
last night than is contained in the fore |
going despatch from the representative
of the Advertiser at the wreck There |
it was gloomily said that from appear
ances the present arrangement Of the |
anchors had proven failure and that |
a new arrangement would have to be |
made before the Manchuria could be
hauled the $50 feet which separated
her from deep water.
The pulling yesterday resulted in the |
vessel being shifted 25O feet when she
stopped moving. An examination of |
the bottom showed that the port bilge |
keel was deeply imbedded in the coral |
and that she was practically imfnovable
further in the direction in which the
hauling was being done.
If these fears are found to be well.
founded it will mean that the strain
will have to be exerted in another
direction and the anchors upon which |
the steam winches of the Manchuria
are pulling and that upon which the
Restorer is pulling with her winches
will have to be picked up and relaid, a
long and tedious job.