The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-09-18
MARINE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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The offenses against the American
quarantine regulations which resulted
in the holding UP Of the Kasato Maru
and the Ameril Duperre under the yell
low flag while in the harbor appear 10
be the outcome of a price cutting COM
petition between the two vessels. Inc
Kasato Maru cleared from Hongkong
for Callao and Japanese way ports
having no intention OF making Homo
lulu a port OF call. On arrival at Yoko-
hama orders were received by Captain
Finer to take ON freight and passen-.
gers for this place, the advertisements
Of the Chargeurs Reunis having at
tracted many immigrants to that port
through the low rates quoted and CIV
ing the Togo Kisen Kaisha chance
to get in on the business by meeting
the rates.
But when the freight and passengers
were taken on there was no further
bill of health secured, when as mat
ter of fact the port Of departure OF
the vessel was then Yokohama ana
not Hongkong. What would have been
the proper course to pursue according
to the American regulations, would
have been to disembark all the Hong
Kong passengers and have the vessel
inspected and certificated by the Amer
lean officials at Yokohama.
For this and because there had been
death aboard during the trip the
vessel was held in quarantine. although
the penalty incurred through the
breach of the regulations has been re-
mitted by the acting Collector OF Gus
toms.
The case OF the French steamer is
somewhat similar, her original port OF
departure having been Shanghai, from
!. where she brings a clean bill of health
The certificate is OF somewhat doubtful
value, however, as 1t states that the
vessel was not fumigated on departure
and does not, vouch for the purity o.
the provisions and water aboard. IL
also states that the vessel lay at the
Shanghai wharf without rat guards Oh
her cables. s4
The Japanese passengers aboard
were taken off to Quarantine island
yesterday and the vessel continued on
her voyage last night. AS she carried
no freight for this port 1t was not nee
essary for her to undergo fumigation
although doubtless this will be requir-
ed at San Francisco The Kasato Maru
also sailed last night for Callao.
PRINCIPAL WITNESSES DEAD.
The action commenced by Sorenson
Lyle against the Pacific Mail Com
pany for work performed In connection
with disentangling the wire hawser OF
the dredger Pacific from the propeller
of the S. s. Siberia has revived interest
in the $4,000 suit for damages the
steamship company has brought against
the dredger people and the startling
feature of the case that all the prin-
eipal witnesses for the Pacific Mai
have died suddenly since the suit was
entered. Captain Smith. who was In
command of the big vessel at the time
was found dead in his stateroom while
the vessel lay at the dock in Hong
kong. having evidently taken his own
life by cutting his throat, a broken
razor being found beside his body
Chief Engineer Feguson, shortly after
wards, was found dead in the engine
room with his neck broken. having evil
IDENTIFY fallen with the fatal result not
ed. O'Neil, the chief officer OF the yes
sci at the time, has since died. sue
eumbing to sudden attack of pneu-
( monia while in San Francisco. Thus
the three most essential witnesses for
the steamship company are gone, al
though their dispositions are on file for
use in the case.
CURRENTS AND WRECKS.
The loss OF two great ships-the Man.
churia and Sheridan-so closely follow
ing each other in the Hawaiian archi-
pelago indicates some probability OF
recent changes in the bed of the sea
in that vicinity of a magnitude suffi-
cient to cause changes in the currents.
There is nothing improbable In such a
belief The seismic disturbances of the
last two years on the rim of the Pacific
may very we'll be connected with
changes occurring in the bed of the
ocean and which will ultimately be
proved by soundings.
The Manchuria and Sheridan were
navigated by experienced and capable
officers and yet were both entirely OF
their courses when they struck. The
daily determination of the position OF
ship at sea occurs at noon, and there
had been many hours. in each of these
eases, for the ships TO be DETECTED by
\ unknown currents, with no possible
means of discovery by the navigating
efficers II they had been further Out
at sea no harm would have been done
for at noon their position would have
been disclosed. 1t Is highly probable
that any changes which have occurred
have been In the vicinity OF islands al
ready existing and can easily b.
imagined to be of magnitude of which
there is no example in historic times
on any continental area.--san Fran;
cisco Chronicle.
4 URGES SURVEY OF VESSELS.
Port Warden spaulding. of Seattle
believes that 1t should be the duty o
the harbormaster OF all cities to surye!
sailing vessels which call at port. HI