Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-05-05
UNINJURED, ship
EDWARD SEWALk
REFLOATED


entrance TO the harbor OF Kahalui,
for twenty-four hours, the big Ameri,
can ship Edward Sewall, was towen
nto that harbor shortly after three
O'Clock yesterday afternoon, the vessel
having been refloated at 2:45 p. m.
apparently sustaining little or no in,
jury 10 the bottom OF the ship.
Megsrs. John WaterhoIse, repre-
senting Alexander & Baldwin, J. A.
Kennedy, president and general man
ager for the Inter-Island Steam NaVi-
cation Co, Superintendent Sheedy
also of the coasting steamship COIN
pany, Captain Castle, Frank Richard
son, and number of employees return
ed in the steamer Claudine, reaching
Honolulu last evening and bringing
!. complete details of the stranding Of
the windjammer but little distance
to the entrance of Kahului harbor
along about seven O'Clock Saturday
morning.
The first wireless message an
nounciRg the unfortunate plight OF the
Edward Sewall was received at the
office of Alexander & Baldwin Sat
urday afternoon The matter was
then brought before the management
of the firm which represents the big
sugar carrier in these islands At
$3.50 D. m, President and General
Manager Kennedy of the Inter-Island,
was called into conference and at
eight o'clock Saturday night, the
steamer Wailele with Messrs Water
house, Kennedy and salvage corps,
together with powerful gear was dis
patched to the scene.
Story Of the Stranding
Last evening it was learned that
with the assistance of thousand foot.
five-inch steel cable, and line from
the Inter-Island Wailele and the
United States naval tug Navajo, the
Edward Sewall, began to move from
the bed of coral to deeper water.
The return of the party of salvers
yesterday was awaited with intense
interest by a large following of local
shipping men. The Edward Sewall,
with between thirty and thirty-five
tons ballast, reached an anchorage
some distance from the breakwater
on the afternoon of April 29.
(According to the story that reached
there yesterday, Captain Quick, master
of the vessel, while eighteen miles off
Kahului, began to shorten sail as he
came up to a closer anchorage. In
leaving San Francisco, the ship is de-
clared to have been manned by a
green crew OF the entire number,
il is said that but two men possessed
any knowledge of seamanship. Delay
in taking in sail is now charged as
n 81 Al frpo 6rF0l
settling toward the land, and mar
row point of reef, extending into the
open sea about a mile from the
breakwater.
When Captain Quick realized that
his men were unable to- gather in sail,
he then ordered out an anchor. A
strong northeast breeze was blowing
at the time, which, before all sail had
been furled, had caused the lightly
laden sailing vessel to settle into a
berth on the coral
The little tug Leslie Baldwin had
been summoned A line was sent
aboard the Sewall before the big ship
had reached the reef. The Sewall
was then drifting at about seven
knots per hour in the direction of the
projecting land, when it was seen that
other and more powerful assistance
would be required Captain Quick
was then reported as deciding upon
setting some sails, with the expecta-
ton that the vessel might pay off
to some extent.
When the ship became firmly set
tied on the reef. soundings were taken
and it was found that the reading
showed but seven feet of water. The
Sewall reached Kahului drawing but
eight feet, owing to the very small
amount of ballast carried on the voy-
age from the Coast At point little
abaft the midships, soundings reveal
de water ranging from seven to nine
feet. The vessel went on the reef
stern first the bow hanging compare
lively free.
Considerable surprise was expressed
last evening with the return of the
party that the Sewall had escaped
with practically no injuries. A sound
ing taken at several portions of the
ship after the vessel had been brought
into Kahului harbor indicated that
less than two inches of water was in
the hold.
on the reef during the hours of inn
prisonment While a gentle swell pre-
vailed, this caused no damase to the
bottom, so il was stated with the re-
turn of the party. 1t was while the
tide was at its highest that the big
vessel finally gave way to the terrific
strain exerted through her steam
winches, and the block and tackle
brought TO bear upon the new five-inch
steel cable, supplied by the lnter-Is-
land company.
The wrecking gear and equipment
carried to the scene by General Man
ager Kennedy included two reels of
new cable, as well as pair of spec
tally constructed anchors, intended
for this sort of work. The outfit was
imported from the mainland some two
years ago and has been kept here for
emergencies. The steel cable pos