Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-28
OLD ECLIPSE
in new ROLE


The Inter Island gasoline steamer
Eclipse, which for years graced the
local ''rotte nrow" and finally was
dispatched to the Orient, there to
enter the trade as supply vessel for
a large lumber company operating in
the southern Philippines, has bios
somed out in a new role, that of a
motor driven craft, and the first of
its kind in Philippine waters.
The Eclipse was withdrawn from
trade between Honolulu and island
ports: owing to the expense attached
in running the boat An opportunity
was oppered to dispose of the craft
at fair figure and the venerable
Eclipse was fitted up for the long
voyage across the Pacific. Now
comes report from Manila that the
Eclipse has more than made good.
The oil burned Eclipse, Captain
Helbig, the largest vessel ever
equipped and operated with crude oil
in the Far East has had her trial
trip at Manila and proved a surprise
to her owners and the engineers who
made the installation. She has a ca
pacity for carrying 100000 feet of
lumber or 10000 cubic feet
The steamer formerly a gasoline
schooner in the coasting trade of
the Hawaiian Islands, boosted the
largest gasoline engine ever used at
sea, a IT'S horsepower Hercules ien-
CINE. About two years ago she was
purchased by Captain Helbig and J.
Frank Mcdonald, brought to the Phil
ippines, and sold to the Insular Trans
portation Company, compised of prom
inent business men of Manila AS
gasoline schooner the Eclipse did not
pay, and last April it was decided to
order an oil burning engine.
The trial trip started at the light
house at the end of the break-water
and extended to San Nicholas Shoals,
13A knots distant. The run was
made at SO knots an hour, a most
satisfactory showing.
The remarkable advantage of the
oil engine is its simplicity and small
cost of operation, this size, 100 horse
power, only consuming about ton of
crude oil GA pesos a toni in "a
hours.
The engine is the largest of its
kind ever installed in the Far East,
although Bolinder engines up to 500
horsepower are in use for marine
purposes.
Boom In Japanese Shipping
There is much activity in Japanese
shipping according to reports that
reach this city. During the last six
months there has been decided seer
city of tonnage to meet the demands
of the cvoastal and oversee trade.
The shipbuilding yards were working
at high pressure, but in spite of this
it has been found necessary to 90 out-
side the country and buy steamers
from foreign firms. The prospects
indicate a continuance of these con-
ditions for some time The big ship
ping firms in Japan have all they can
do to keep abreast of the times. 1t
is wonderful development and all the
more surprising when one considers
the limited resources of the country.
The coast trade is growing every
month, while the deepsea service will
soon be of such magnitude as to call
for the building of extra steamers
Can you say as to the number of
steamers bought from English owners
lately?" was asked a japanese ship
ping man.
NO, not quite, but fancy about a
dozen steamers of varying tonnage
have gone east within the last six
months some for the coast and
others for the outside cargo trade"
They were not passenger steam
erS?''
We'll, no; you see the Japanese
companies build their own passenger
steamers
| PASSENGERS BOOKED