The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1906-09-04

Upon receipt of the news by wire,
which was supplemented with report
by the conductor Of the inward morn
ing train, derived from japanese fish
ermen who had seen the transport tax
ing the reef, all possible activity was
exercised in sending assistance to the
stranded vessel.
Captain Humphrey telephoned in
structions to the revenue cutter Man
ming, working at the Manchuria wreck,
to leave at once for the succor Of the
stranded transport on the opposite side
of the island. The Inter-Island Steam
Navigation Co. dispatched the steamer
Claudine, Captain Parker, and Spree
kels' tug Fearless, Captain OLSON, was
also ordered to the rescue. These two
powerful steamers were both on the
way between and $3.50 O'Clock. The
Manning left Waimanalo about 1880
and arrived off Barber's Point at 2:55.
Later the Inter Island steamer Helene
was sent out to bring in the passen-
gers. which she did early last night.
CAUSE OF DISASTER.
There was only one explanation Of
the cause Of the Sheridan's stranding,
which was that she was huggtng the
shore too closely. Captain Peabody
assumed the sole blame. 1t Is wei
known in Honolulu that the great Pa
cifc liners give that quarter Of the
island wide berth, holding well on
until they can make direct line for
the Honolulu harbor entrance. When
the Sheridan struck the night was
beautifully moonlit, the weather fine
and the Barber's Point beacon brightly
shining.
EXCITEMENT IN TOWN.
Naturally, following the stranding Of
the splendid Pacific Mail liner Man
churia but eleven days before upon the
opposite side of this island, the disaster
to the Sheridan caused public excite
ment in Honolulu doubiy intensified.
Yet 1t was not more intense than the
seriousness Of the event justified, for
1t was believed, not without reason,
that the lives on board the Sheridan
were in more peril than those on board
the Manchuria before the latter were
safely landed. The transport was in
q worse position than the liner, with
bottom more rugged, surf more violent
and distance from shore greater.
While the vessel is still in peril at
this writing, together with her officers
and crew whose duty keeps them on
board, 1t is great satisfaction to BIO
able to record that the Transports
passengers were all safe and snug in
Honolulu at early bedtime last night.
It is pleasant, too, to have received
late reports of hopeful nature rela-
tive to the prospects of floating the
vessel early this morning.
THE SHERIDAN HISTORY.
Originally the transport Sheridan
was the British merchant steamer
Massachusetts,. She was acquired by
the United States Government for the
transport service in the Spanish-Amer-
lean war and has ever since been the
crack transport of the fleet. For q
ong time she has been on the Army
transport route between San Francisco
md Manila, with Nagasaki coaling
port and Guam and Honolulu calling
tations. Captain Peabody has made
he round voyage as her commander
many times.
The Sheridan was built In Belfast,
Ireland, in 1899. She is of 1878 tons
TOSS and 1854 net, constructed Of
teel. Her dimensions are 445.5 feet
ength, 1872 feet breadth and 80 feet ,
epth. Standing her in good stead for +,
UGH perils as her present one, the
meridian has double bottom and five
Z naHs Hs NAN auanahsAgDaRs.
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