Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-12-10
WIRELESS NOW
FOR COOLH SHIPS

! Jun UUULlL Jill ]
The need for wireless telegraphy
on ships carrying more than a few
passengers is capably discussed by a
writer, signing himself 1olanthe,r in.
The September issue Of the Nautical
Magazine. The author 10 evidently
an7individual connected with the East
ern interpret trade, and he applies his
remarks specially to the conditions of
the collaborating business OF China
and India. In the course Of the arti-
Gle he says: Too much cannot be said
in regard TO the praiseworthy action
of the United States government
whereby they have made ii compul-
sorry for all vessels trading to their
ports, having 80 or more persons on
board. to be fitted with wireless tele-
graphy. and the writer hopes that our
own government will shortly realize
the urgent necessity for legislation
reinforcing the equipment Of British
vessels with an installation capable
Iof communicating over a distance of
at least three or four hundred miles.
Especially Is such law required in
1.-THE. case of vessels engaged in the.
emigrant and coolie trades, such yes-
sells often leaving port with from 1900
Ito 1900 people on board. In the lat
tier. granted the majority are only
lcoolies, still even coolies are human,
and as such are burdened with souls.
also family ties, ETC., which render
their lives as precious to some one
as those of the passengers on the big
liners, which lines, needless to say,
Iare equipped with the latest and most
Iup-to-date wireless installations. Were
lthey not, the management would soon.
perceive decided falling on in their
bookings in favor of some more go-
ahead company.
IA Local illustration.
There is an enormous trade be-
tween China and the Straits Settle.
ments, as many as 10000 to 12,000
tcoolies leaving one port in China for
the Straits. lin month, and nearly as
many vice versa. The route these yes
sels traverse is notorious for bad
weather, the N. E. monsoon raging
fiercely for nearly half the year. blow
ing gale for days at a time. then the
remainder of the year sees typhoons
of frequent occurrence and great vio-
lence. Still these ships are allowed to
lput to sea with their 1900 to 1000 pas
sengers and no special precautions
adopted by government for their well
| fare and safety.
The writer pictures the terrible
consequences that would ensue were
a vessel of that class to become dis
abled in mid-ocean and drift about till
her limited stock of provisions and
water were to run out; and he goes
on to instance we1Eremembered
local case of hardship. 1t was only
the latter part of last November the
steamer Glenfalloch left Singapore for
Hongkong, having on board some
eight or nine hundred persons, and
was fourteen days overdue before any
news of her reached the world She
broke down in the China sea, but
with the aid of sails. tarpaulins, avn
ings, etc, she managed to reach an
anchorage in Gaalong hay, Island of
Hainan, the northeast monsoon and
currents being favorable. But having |
reached haven of safety their
troubles we're by no means at an end, |
for their was no assistance. to be had
there, nor even means of commune |
eating with any other place, so the
captain was forced to attempt making |
After several days, and suffering in |
Vulnerable hardships. he reached the !
town Of Hollow, from which place he
was able to telegraph for help and /
Communicate with his owners. and /
agents Had this vessel been fitted |
with wireless she would have been in /
touch with shore stations all the time,
could Immediately have called for
help, giving her exact position, there
by saving time and expense, relieving
the anxiety of thousands, and reduc-
ing the risk of lives to minimum
Typhoon Warnings.
Wireless would be great asset in
the dangerous typhoon season, as by
its means vessels would be warned of
the movements of these storms and I
be enabled to navigate SO as to avoid
them or seek shelter till they had
passed, or in the event of being
caught in one would have means of
communicating with the shore, or Z
with other vessels, so that in he
event of disaster, II assistance was
not in time to save all hands, in all
a great number would be
picked up and the accounts of vessels
leaving port never to be heard tell
of again would be a thing of the past
In the China sea alone great many
vessels have suddenly disappeared
with a large number of people on
board, like the steamer Caarterhonse,
which was lost some years ago. She
put to sea, was caught in a typhoon
within twenty-four hours of leaving 7,
port. took over thousand coolies and
other passengers to the bottom, and
is by. no means the only one which
has disappeared so suddenly.
We, can only hope that, il our own
government does not shortly take
No. 4