The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-10-02
ANEGAWA DID
ALL SHE COULD
FOR MONGOLIA
(From Saturdays Advertiser.)

(From Saturday
Passengers arriving yesterday on the
transport Buford from Midway and
many of the members OF the Mongolia
crew tell indignant stories OF the
treatment given the stranded liner by
the Japanese training ship Anega wa,
now in the harbor. whose captain
they accuse of refusing aid and OF
steaming away from Midway. leaving
the Mongolia to her fate. These
stories are doubtless given in the best
OF good faith and in sincerity, but
they are not substantiated by the evil
dence of those best acquainted with
the situation on the Mongolia during
the time the Anegawa was standing
by and are contradicted and explained
1 away in a statement given the Adver-
tiser last night by Captain Hanabusa,
of the Anegawa.
The only passenger aboard the Mon
golia when the Anegawa was attempt
| ing to render aid to the liner was
Captain C. F. Klitgaard, of San Fran
cisco, who had been asked to stay
with the crew and assist because of
| his special knowledge of wrecking,
Captain Klitgaard expressed the opin-
ion last night that a serious wrong
had been done the Anegawa by the
publication of the stories given by the
Mongolia passengers.
CAPTAIN KLITGAARD's STORY.
II was in the position of practical
outsider at the time and could look
at the matter from the viewpoint of
the Jap as we'll as from that of the
! Mongolia officers" said Captain Kilt
I'D go, H. 4
up is that the Anegawa gave all the
assistance that could have been ex-
| pected. She stood by and made an at
tempt to get a line on to us. She
offered to take on our passengers and
crew If we wanted it done and only
left after her hawser had fouled on
| the coral and was broken. If it had
been the Jap ashore and the Mongolia
or any other steamer which had ap-
/ preached her l do not think they
would have done any more. A captain
dare not risk his own ship except in
case of danger TO life and the Ane-
gawa's captain satisfied himself that
in this case everybody was safe
GAS an American citizen I do not
like to see the injustice that the pub
/ LEGATION of these stories has done. Re-
garding the insults to Captain Porter
and to Mr. Rennie, the purser, 1t
should be remembered that these men
do not speak much English and may
not have intended to express the idea
that their words conveyed"
CAPTAIN PORTER SILENT.
| Captain Porter was asked to make
a statement last night but did not wish
to do so. II am in trouble enough
now without getting into more" he
said
CAPTAIN HANABUSA EXPLAINS.
Captain Hanabusa was reluctant in
speaking of the matter last night.
saying that he thought 1t was due him
| in fairness that Captain Porter issue
denial of the stories. That he had
not done so was an inference that he
believed them and If that was the
case he, Captain Hanabusa, did not
wish to say anything more in the mat
| ter. He would not under any circum-
stances. involve himself in any con-
troversy.
After it was pointed out to Captain
Hanabusa that a statement from him
might be the means of explaining
away what was evidently misunder-
standing, he gave the following state
ment of the movements of his vessel
while at Midway.
I'm the first place." began the Japa-
nese captain, "if these stories they are
| printing about the Anegawa and her
| crew were correct, / am liable to a
| heavy punishment from my superiors.
| Captain Porter ought to remember
that, even If he does not want to be
| interviewed in the matter because of
his trouble and his desire to keep out
| of print
Now I will tell you what we did at
Midway and why. In the first place
the reason why we did not come d.
rect to Honolulu from Japan was be-
cause we wanted to, see the Midway
ping there, but wished to approach
within sight. On the evening of the
18th. as we approached land we saw
a large steamer ashore signalling for
help. So steered close in, within two
miles of her, taking the greatest pre-
cautions and letting go the anchor in
deep water. By this time the Mongo-
liza was signalling for us to send a
boat which we had intended to do.
1T was o'clock when we anchored
and dusk when boat and an officer
left the ship. on the Mongolia he was
| asked If the Anegawa was willing to
help to pull the Mongolia OFF, The Of
! ficer was not authorized to make any
arrangements but promised to carry
any messages to me. He asked about
| the passengers and was told that they
10 MI 4 avn raApHr