Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-07-20
ScUTTLING SHIPS Is
NOT LOST ART
Many Cases of Late Years Call
for the StricteSt of
Legislation

In OLD udys the crime OF SCullilHS
ship for the purpose of swindling
marine underwriters was punishable
BIZ death, and Captain Cooling. of the
brig Adventure. which he eoolly sank
off Brighton Beach on a calm, sunny
day, is only one of many who were
brought to justice and hanged for
dastardly- work of this kind
1t might be supposed that in these
DAYS of submarine cables and wireless
communications the scuttler was ex-
t.nct, but the contrary is proved by
the recent case of a certain Welsh
steamer which appears to have been
oxerinsured and deliberately sunk.
The fact Is that. so far from ship.
scuttling being an extinct offense.
there have been so many cases of the
kind during the past few years rs to
render special legislation necessary,
and last year bill was introduced
into Parliament by the president OF
the board of trade ito prohibit gam.
bling on loss by maritime perils.'
The bill had nothing to do with
legitimate insurance, but sought to
prevent person without an insurable
interest in a ship from effecting a
policy upon her. As Mr.. Churchill
pointed out, such an Individual had
rcthing to gain by the safe arrival of
the vessel in question, but could profit
only by her loss. Therefore he ma
turally desired her loss. and it was GER
tain that in some cases members OF
crews had been bribed to effect such
losses.
The special case which began the
agitation for the abolition of these
gambling policies occurred in August,
/ 907, when large Cardiff steamer
fcundered during perfectly fair wealth
err in the Grecian archipelago.
At the inquiry is was stated that the
shin was worth G12,000 only afioat,
hut a24,000 at the bottom of the sea. |
The court found that her captain
showed no desire to save his vessel,
but abandoned her permaturely. His
certificate was suspended for 1Si
months and the judgment was ordered
to be sent to the public prosecutor.
The annals of Lloyds are full of
cases of swindles or attempted swim
dies. In one case ship which was I
to have on board a cargo OF
valuable copper ore and which was In
sured as such. went down some IL
miles from our Southern coast. Pos
sibly by some miscalculation ON the
part of her scuttlers the depth In
which she was sunk was only some
10 fathoms. Lioyds set divers to work,
and found that the valuable "ore' con-
sisted of bad metal. The owners claim I
for heavy compensation was hastily
withdrawn.
The case of q certain bark was an
other in which the swindlers badly
oyerrated themselves. The skipper,
who was part owner, loaded his ship /
with cargo Of entirely Walueless tim
her and sailed away. Arrived at con-
yenient distance from land he gave his
crew a key Of rum, and as soon as
they were all hopelessly intoxicated I
to bore holes in the bottom
of his ship.
The wretched crew. awoke to find
their ship half full of water, and
though they worked hard at the
pumps, were soon forced to take to
the boats. The waves were breaking
oyer her deck las they rowed away,
and the captain, no doubt, congratulate
ed himself upon the success of his
rascally plot. But imagine his dismay /
when, within "a hours of reaching /
land, a steamer arrived with the bark
in tow! Her cargo Of worthless timber
had kept her afioat.
AS soon as she was locked no few
er than fifteen holes were found in her
bottom, and the natural result was
that her skipper was promptly arrest
ed and brought to justice.
One result Of this form of crime is
that the premium charged by the un.
derwriters varies, not so much accord
ing to the seaworthiness of vessel Is
in regard to the reputation enjoyed
by her owners.
An Atlantic liner belonging to one
Of the great firms can be insured for a
whole IL months for 4 or 5 guineas |
per cent, while a tramp steamer may
have to pay double these rates.