The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-02-18
DISASTER TO
THE DRYD0CK
(Continued from Rage onc)
A MASS OF wRECKAoE.

A MASS OF wRBoKAGB.
The cribs in each section were prac-
ticaliy fve-story skeleton buildings
formed Of hugo tim0ers bolted toBotn-
or and carrying iron pockets loaded
with pig lead TO sink them beneath ths
water 70 rest upon low concrete piers.
Upon tho top story Of this threesecdoa
framework railroad tracks ran; upon
them were also pumps, dynamos, en-
gines and machinery Of all descriptions.
The great tubes through which con
crete was tremied 20 the bottom where
the divers spread the material, and a
mass OF chains, tackle and gear of ev-
cry description occupied other portions
of the top or roof of the suuken struc-
lures. Each section was 200 feet long,
making e00-foot length with parti-
lions between each section, the whole
surrounded by sheath piling.
Upon this structure the workmen
were engaged at their usual tasks, al
though considerable attention had been
given to the lowering of the water level
in section two. Thirty-six feet Of water
had been pumped and there was about
seven more to remove Below this the
white concrete showed, the first time it
had been revealed since the work be-
gan.
The work had been accomplished af-
ter years of patient study, and the con-
cretng of the bottom, which had been
attended with many difficulties and APP
parently insurmountable obstacles, was
a success at last.
Congratulation Not Sent.
Admiral Cowles, commandment of the
Honolulu and Pearl Harbor naval sta
tions, had been apprised by the naval
engineers that the new concreting meth
cd tried out in section two was success
full, and the admiral had prepared u
cable message to the navy department
at Washington informing the officials OF
the successful exposure of the concrete,
but had decided to hold it until even
ing before filing it at the cable Office
Engineer +. b. Smith was all smiles
yesterday, but these faded when the
corner at the junction of sections two
and three on the Eva side of the basin,
was seen to move.
Instantly those watching the work
knew that the dreams of success had
been shattered and in four minutes
their fears had become realities.
"It is the most complete wreck
, pin or Smith. cit is complete col
lapse of the entire work and we are
back Just where we began.
, "However, and note of determi-
d. nation was present in his tone, eve will
start to clean the debris out and start
again.
: Re-begin Work at Once.
Admiral Cowles stated yesterday af-
, ternoon that the engineers would COM
mence this morning to develop a new
plan of Tremying the basin. A full
account of the disaster was cabled to
the navy department, including the In
formation that the work of redemption
= would also commence Immediately. The
! first message which the admiral had
9 prepared was not sent.
There is not a part of the eoO-foot
long crib structure which is lett un
: damaged The derricks toppled into the
!. basin, the pumps sank beneath the sur
face; railway tracks look like the dis
torted meanderings of nightmare
:. huge beams are twisted, torn and spin
,. tered An ice breakup in a river o.
!. a jam of logs is a symphony of quietud'
g alongside the mass of wreckage in thu
IS drydock basin. Only the powerhous'
/ and concrete bins on the shore remain
!. intact and these were far enough bacl
+ from the edge of the basin to be on
t. of the danger zonel
!. When the mass began to crackle anC
!. rend marines at the barracks, and mel
r working in the yard, dropped thei
- work and ran toward the basin in tim
to see the dock workmen rushing t.
! places of safety. Two locomotive
IL, arih
9 were saved as the engineers, at the frs
I warnings threw the throttles wide opel
A. and raced the engines off to terra firma
4 OF the movable property on the crib
these were the only items saved.
Story of Engineer.
"The water in section two had bee
"a pumped down thirty.siX feet, Z" said En-
L. gineer Francis B. Smith. ave wer
e. within seven feet of the bottom
Sunddenly the third section started t
Id sink, and that was the first intimi
X, ton of the impending destruction t
thee middle section. The whole stru'
y, ture in section two started to rise jus
II. as a ship would bob up from the WI
d. ter.
"Then the water came from unde
ia meath, bursting up from the bottom Ink
o. tmrty-foOt lengths, were drawn up VIII
concrete heads upon them just as
L. they had been pins stuck in a PHI
IS, cushion. II was most cOmpiel
I'm breakup.
No Divers Escape in Time.
~ 1.-THE divers got out just IN the mic
- of time, The men were warned an
-, everybody rushed ashore like lot
np rats. There was absolutely no time
49, set of the dynamite TO break the wat
ie' gates TO Hood the center section
rs order 10 give weight TO hold the VOL
es' down Nothing held. The botto
ar came up with the concrete studdil
On, the heads Of the piles, and the wal
Il, eayed IN The piles We're broken az
l., splinteIei as they came up aud becan
r. Involved IN the great mass " wree
IN, age topping down from above.
nd Upon The shore watching the pTogTe
ok, Of the pumps were making ON d
water boz section Two, about thT
eb. Q clock, we're AT, aud Mn y.
II. prlteharl OF Woodhuli, lllinoisi Al
hn. W l.. Howard OF Honolulu and b
DE father, T. a. Hare The FIitchaT
ii Dad sreu about Everything ln tbs
!, lHniu lul the dydnrk They 40