The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-10-22
WRECKED SHIP
BY SHOWING OFF
Steamer Ocean Queen Put In to
Display Her Bunting and
Went Ashore.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 10.-When
the big, new Norwegian steamship
Ocean Queen struck on bare reef Off
the island of Makatea, in the Paumotu
group last September &c. there was
started an investigation that will re-
suit in a rigid inquiry before the Nor
wegian consul, Henry Lund, in the
Marine building tomorrow morning at
1880 o clock, and end, perhaps, in re-
fusal on the part of the insurance COM
panies to pay for the vessels loss, says
the San Francisco Call.
Exclusive news of the wreck was
published in The Call last Wednesday
The captain and crew, accompanied by
John L. Arundel, active head of the
company operating the steamer, ar.
rived yesterday from the scene of the
wreck on the Oceanic liner Mariposa
from Tahiti. With them the wave of
controversy that swept the far south
sea isle has invaded official and bust.
ness circles.
Far Out of the Course.
The Ocean Queen was a magnificent
vessel, built in England within the
year She was operating among the
islands in the interests of the Pacific
phosphate company, and when she
struck the reef was flying all her dress
of gay flags in honor of King Edward IS
birthday. This fact, and a desire to
exhibit the steamer in her holiday at
tire to the gaping islanders, is said to
be the reason for her loss The Ocean
Queen was far out of her course when
her high pressure eccentric rod damned,
far around on the lee shore of Makatea
island, where a settlement lay, instead
of on the weather shore of the isle,
where, however, there were no people
to witness the bedecked vessel
Chief Engineer Il. Nilsson has fled a
report of the wreck. with Consul Henry
Lund, and Captain Johannessen like.
, wise has filed with the consulate his
version of the affair. The reports do
not agree in many particulars, and it
= is this fact of which the insurance
companies have taken cognizance.
: Their representatives may be present
!, at the hearing tomorrow, and they will
= carry the fight into the courts of Nor.
way, under which flag the steamer
operated, if the showing is that care
J.. lessness caused the wreck.
> Underwriters Take Notice.
John 7. Arundel, deputy chairman
!. of the phosphate company, supports
his captain in making the claim that
g the eccentric rod bent, and, with the
engines thus rendered useless, caused
the steamer to drift helplessly before
the wind and on the strong current
II on the reef, where she sank in 200
fathoms of water, diving down stern
first to the very bottom. But the in,
n surance companies will point out that
the Ocean Queen had no business to
be where she was, that she sighted
land first on the other shore, and there
was to land her cargo. They will in
innate strongly that Arundel is with
the captain because probably he gave
a the order that sent the Ocean Queen
n around the island to display her bunt.
e ing to the village of Maumu.
# The Ocean Queen is the second
h steamer Captain Johannessen has lost
# The first one, the Ingar, was lost on a
n reef several years ago, while operat
ing in the employ of the Pacific phos
10 phate company. This is the second
N time, also, that the eccentric rod on
4. the Ocean Queen bent, 'the first time
/ being when she was making her trip
" to Tahiti from Norway, taking course
n. that took her to Honolulu from the
V far south and then back to Tahiti. Or
,f the first occasion, however, the steamel
was far out on the ocean between
Ocean Island and Hawaii and within
-, half day the rod was Strengthened
:! When the rod jammed off Makatea
- however, the big steamer was close t.
:. shore, and within twenty minutes sh
:, ~ was pounding on the reef.
40 Piles UP on Reef.
n. The steamer left Papeete Septembe
ID 10 and sighted the shore of Makate
to on which she was to land her cargo
IN at Z O'Clock the next morning. Sh
passed around to the east side of tn
he island, flying her gay flags, and, whe
he past the settlement of Maumu the 70
Of bent and the engines stopped, abou
~. 1890 a. m. Within twenty minutes tn
,s vessel was on the steep reef. AT on
os O. clock in the afternoon the capital
I'd ordered all to leave, via the boats, an
IL, at eight in the evening the steamer
- having pounded several holes in tn
ca sides and bottom, slid off the reef int
~, the sea.
va Natives toiled all night rowing t
~ Tahiti, from which place the schooner
Susanna and Cholita were dispatche
y to bring off the crew and the passer
y" gers, among whom were Arundel, h
re- two daughters, Lillian and Sydney, h
Gu sister-in.law, Miss whitley, and h
CT secretary, H. II. Jay. Returned to Pi
peete, the passengers took passage @
the Mariposa. They will give test
mony at the inquiry tomorrow NOR
rI ing
e The Ocean Queen was furnished iii
yacht, Her gross tonnage was S,1s
at her net tonnage. 1875, and her lengt
$50 feet.
ho The steamer had carrying capacit
of 1900 tons. She cost $250,000.
he oo..,.ono o,,,,,o-