The San Francisco call., 1909-10-10
DAZZLE NATIVES,
BUT WRECK SHIP
ON JAGGED REEF
Loss OF Ocean Queen Said to Be
Due TO Wish to Show ISL
anderS Bunting
Vessel Was All BeIight With
COIOrs in Honor of King
Edwards Birthday

When the biz, new Norwegian steam
snip ocean Queen struck on a bare
reef OF the island Of Makates. in the
Psumotu group last september 10. there
was started an investigation that viii
result in rigid inquiry before the
Norwegian consul. Henry Lund. in the
Marine building tomorrow morning az
1880 o'clock. and end. perhaps IN q re
fuszI on The part Of the insurance com
psnies 10 pay for the vessels loss.
Exclusive news II the wreck was
published in The Call last Wednesday
The captain and crew. accompanied by
John T. 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 bUsi-
ness circles.
FAR OUT OF THE COURSE
The ocean Queen was magnificent
vessel built N England within the
yesr She was operating among the
islands in the interests Of the PACING
phosphate company and when she
struck the reef was flying all her dress
Of gay flags IN honor OF King Edward $
Birthday This feet and desire Z
exhibit the steamer ia her holiday at
tire 70 the gaping islar jers, IS said 70
he the reason for her .css- The ocean
Queen was far out OF her course when
her high pressure ecceutric rod Jarnuled-
fs- around on the lee shore OF Aakatea
island. where q settlement lay. instead
of o. the weather shore Of the isle
nGOULE
10 witness the bedecked vessel
chief Engineer 7. Nilsson has fled a
reDort OF the wreck with Consul Henry
Lund- and Captain Johannessen Ike
wise has fled with the consulate MS
version OF the affair The reports DO
not agree in many particulars, and II
i this fact or which the insurance
couupsufes have taken cognizance-
Their representative may be present
- the hearing tomorrow, and they Will
szrry the fght into the courts OF NOT
way. under which Tag the steamer
operated. II the showing IS that care
lsSsuess caused the wreck
UNDERWRTTERS TAKE NOTICE
John T. Arundel. deputy chairnls n
or the phosphate company, supports
his &C ptain in making the claim tflat
the eccentric rod bent, and. with the
engines thus rendered useless. caused
the steamer 70 drift helplessly before
the wind and on the strong current
on the reef. where she sank m zoo
farhoms OF water. diving down stern
first 70 the very bottom SUI the m
surznce companies VIII point out that
ne Ocean Queen had no business 10
% where she was, that she sighted
land first on the other shore, and
there was 10 land her cargo. They
viii intimate strongly that Arundel i
with the captain because probably he
n "a
Queen around the island 10 display =
her bunting 10 the village OF Maumu
The Ocean Queen Is the second
sres u1er Captain Johanuessen has lost
The first one, the lnzar- As lost OF .
reef several years ago. while operat-
ing in the employ OF the Pacific phos-
phate company This IS the second
time also that the eccentric rod on
rra Ocean Queen bent, the first time
being when she was making her trip
10 Tahiti from NOrTay, taking course
that took her 10 Honolulu from the
Csr south and then back 10 Tahiti on
rue first occasion, however the
steamer was far out on the ocean
between Ocean island and Hawaii, and
within Z half Gay the rod was strai ght-
eued When the rod jammed OF
Mskatea. however. the big steamer was
close 10 shore. and within 20 minutes
she was pounding on The reef
PILES Up on REEF
The steamer left Pspeete September
I5 and sighted the shore Of Mskates
on which she was 70 land her cargo
IT o'clock the next morning She
psssed around 70 the east side Of the
island. flying her gay flags, and, when
past the settlement Of Msumu the rod
bent and the engines stopped, about
1880 e. m Within 20 minutes the
vessel was on the steep reef At
O'Clock IN the afternoon the captain
ordered all 10 leave, via the boats, and
At IN the evening the steamer, having
rounded several holes In the sides and
bottom. slid OF the reef into the sea
Natives roiIed all night rowing &c
Tahiti. from which place the schooners
Sussune and Cholita were dispatched
70 bring OF the crew and the pasSen-
gers among whom were Arundel his
TWO daughters, Lillian and Sydney, his
sister IN law, Miss whitley, and his
secretary. H H Jay Returned to Pa
peete. the passengers took passage OF
the Mariposa- They viii give testi-
rnony At the inquiry tomorrow morn
ing
The Ocean Queen was furnished like
: Yacht. Her gross tonnage was 3.1Ss
her net tonnage, 1875, and her length
$50 feet
The steamer had a carrying capacity
OF 900 tons She cost sz50,oeo-