The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1907-04-26
MONGOLIA WAS
BADLY HANDLED

THE surprising thing to me was to
see an Irishman at the head of a
Dutch firm
This portion of an answer by Cap
tain Metcalf on the witness stand in
U. S. Judge Dole's court yesterday
caused an outburst of laughter. II
appears that when the veteran Lloyd's
wrecker went to II. Hackfeld e. Cos
office to consult with the firm about
arrangements for pulling the Man
churia off the reef he found Mr.. Me-
Clanahan, the firms attorney, in ths
presidents office and mistook him for
the president of the corporation.
Captain Metcalf, who is a genial soul,
frequently made smiles tighten the
proceedings by his flashes of humor,
once he made a remark indicating
scepticism of what he read In the news,
papers, and. noticing along with tile
ripple of mirth that followed every,
body else CHANGING at an Advertiser
reporter seated near him, looked over
his shoulder in the same direction ard
remarked comically. II see I've put my
foot in it again"
Mr.. Ballou cross-examined Captain
Metcalf at length yesterday afternoon,
not having concluded at o'clock adj
journment, in the effort to obtain adj
missions that the Pacific Nal people
held the cableship Restorer's presence
and standing by the stranded steam
ship Manchuria. at the Waimanalo
reef. as of supreme Importance.
Captain Metcalf understood the Re,
storer to be at his service under per
diem pay. If he had been asked to
let her go to the stranded transport
Sheridan on the other side of the island
he would have consented. But he did
not recollect having been so asked.
incidentally he was questioned about
the p. M. S. S. Mongolia's stranding at
Midway, his wrecking gear having
betn placed on board the Restorer,
after the Manchuria had been lowed
into port, to go to the relief Of tho
other liner.
AS a navigator he knew about Mid
way and would always give It vide
berth. 1t was a danger TO passing
vessels as We're all the low-iy,ns reef
islands from Honolulu to Ocean Island.
Yet there was no great risk involved
in the Mongolias going 10 Midway
island to land Vice President Ward OF
the Pacific Commercial Gable Co. II
the captain OF the Mongolia had used
the commonest discretion" he would
not have let the steamship go ashore.
There was good anchorage on the west
side of the island where the Restorer
cast anchor when she went to assist the
Mongolia. She shifted to n location
on the south when the wind began to
blow strongly from the west. AS n
possible explanation OF the original
plan for the Restorer to meet the Mon
golia at sea and take Mr.. Ward or and
land him at Midway, Captain Metcalf
said 1t might have been owing 10 obs
jections of the underwriters against
diversion Of the Mongolia from the
regular course.
There was distinction drawn by
sells passing" of which he had testi-
fled and any risk 10 vessels going OF
set purpose TO Midway For another
thing, besides anchorage there was a
light on Midway visible ~ or n miles
AZ sea, ana whenever the captain OF
the Mongolia saw the light he should
have stopped the ship.
All of this erass-eKamination was TO
make Il appear that the attendance OF
the iieslerer on the stranded Manehu,
ria was considered II moment0ns I'm,
horlanfe by The Pacific hail people, as
otherwise they would not have allowed
the Mongolia 10 90 out af hsr course
10 land Ar Ward pn Midway with iIs
perlH
hallau Aara represent the papinn
Commercial Gable Coz llhflanl. and
Kinney Aefanahan : Derby lhe ia
e'he Mali Steamship 90, claimant