The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-03-13
ADMIRAL VERY
CUTS THE LINE
A Dramatic Scene When the
Iroquois Sailed for
Midway.

There was quite dramatic scene ar
the wharf Just before the Iroquois sail
ed for Midway at o'clock yesterday
afternoon. Admiral Very ordered one
of the lines from the transport Thomas
cut. and Captain Lyman Of the
Thomas, when the order was given
told the admiral that he had been TO
sea for fifty years, but this was the
first time he had ever seen one sea-
man cut another seamen's line.
The affair caused a sensation on the
waterfront, and that it should have
occurred was a matter Of regret to
every seafaring man who heard of It
because Of the very high esteem IN
which both Admiral Very and Captain
Lyman are held.
When the Thomas was made fast
to the Naval wharf at IL o'clock in
the forenoon, in accordance with the
quarantine regulations Of the port
lines were put out both at the bow
and the stern, on the side opposite the
wharf. in order to hold the vessel
away from the wharf the regulation
distance. The stern line was made
fast to a dolphin near the marine rail-
way. 1t was right across the slip out
of which the Iroquois had to back in
getting out of her slip, to start on her
voyage to Midway.
Sometime before the Iroquois sailed,
a megap phone message was sent from
the bridge of the Iroquois to the bridge
of the Thomas directing the Thomas
to take in that line. Captain Lyman
replied that ii was unnecessary to take
il in, but that he would loosen il so
that it would drop to the bottom and
be out of the way of the Iroquois. Pre-
Stunning that this would be satisfactory,
he gave orders to have the line loosen
ed and it was done, something over
fifteen fathoms being paid out so as
to give plenty of line TO permit it
sinking to the bottom.
Shortly before o'clock, Captain Car
ter of the Iroquois again shouted
through the megaphone demanding
that the line be taken in. Captain
Lyman replied that it was not neces-
sary, that the line was at the bottom,
that it had been made fast where 1t
was by the harbor master to conform
TO the quarantine regulations, and that
he would not take it in without the
harbor masters orders; that If the
harbor master ordered it, he would |
take it in.
Captain Carter then sent his execu-
tive officer, Mr.. Kenney, to Admial |
Very, reporting that the Thomas re-
fused to take in line across the slip. !
Admiral Very at once went to the Iro-
quois dock and received Captain Car |
ter's statement of the matter. He at
once ordered the Thomas to take in
the Iihe. Captain Lyman again re-
fused to take it in without the orders
Of the harbor master, maintaining that |
the line was not in the way of the |
Iroquois in any manner whatever. Ad- |
miral Very again ordered it taken in, |
saying that If it was not taken in he |
would cut it. To this Captain Lyman |
replied that no seaman would cut an
other seaman's line. In the mean |
while some one went for the harbor |
master, though it does not appear |
whether either the officers of the |
Thomas or the Navy officers sent for /
him. But before he arrived Admiral |
Very sent out some sailors in a boat |
to the dolphin to which the line was |
made fast, and they cut il with an |
ak at the point farthest away from |
the Thomas. The end dropped into |
The water. and the Iroquois Immediate |
~ backed out. However, as the line |
the same position. that it was before |