The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-05-21
May Compel lnter-lsland To Keep
Searchlights On AN Land
ing Boats -.
RESCUE WORK HAMPERED
BY DARKNESS ON WATER
inquiry BY Commission Develops
Heroism In Efforts To Save :.
Human Lives

Shall OF shall not the Intcr-Island
Steam Navigation Company be com,
PEELED 10 keep continual starlight play
IN boats lowered from the company
ships to land passengers at night at La,
haina, Maui, and other island ports,
where passengers are sent ashore BY
the smatl-boat methodf "
This is question which the public
utilities commission has taken up for
sohition.s II was discussed at consider
able length at the last meeting Of the
commission, attended by Chairman
Charles s. Forbes a1d Commissioned
Alexis j. Gignoux. Decision was de,
ferred until another meeting, to be held
at call of the chair. ~ 4
Darkness Hampered Rescue Work
The question arises over the drown,
ing of a Chmaman and a Japanese
woman off Lahaina on the night of
May l., when boat with eight or ten
passengers, put of from the steamer
Kilauea, capsized. The records Of the
coroner s inquest over the bodies Of
the victims showed that at the time of
the eapsizing of the boat the little
craft was in intense darkness and that
his fact INITIATED against the boat
crew in rescue work. This same evi.
denee was bfought out in a hearing held
BY Commissioner Gignoux on board the
Kilauea on May 8, at which time all
the members OF the boats crew who
were in the capsized boat testified.
Could See Nothing
All testified it was dark and that they
did not see either of the two persons
who were drowned after the boat
turned over when hit by heavy swell,
Master +. M. Berg testified he did not
know anything was amiss until he saw
red light burning on shore. Then he
turned on his searchlight and sent re-
lief boat off. 1t came back and re-
ported the accident. Another boat and
an officer was sent off to the rescue.
rhe two bodies were recovered later.
Commissioner Gignoux Is firm in his
belief that steamers should play tights
on all boats carrying passengers sent
ashore. Forbes is inclined to the same
opinion, but is not so emphatic. Com.
missioner Williams is out of the city
and did not attend the meeting.
searchlights Binding
On the other hand, witnesses are not
unanimous in the belief that the play.
ing Of searchlights would be best
Some contended that the strong light
would blind and dazzle them. At any
rate, it will take at least another meet.
ing to settle the question.
Incidentally the investigation brought
out several feats of bravery by the
members of the ships crew Which
manned tho boat when it turned turtle
All were native. lIawaiians and experts
in handling shore boats. All reported
Gather rough weather.
Baby and Girl Rescued
Huki, the boatsteerer, testified TINT
when the boat overturned, he grasped
Dne man and helped him onto the keel
Of the eapSized oat. In the darkness
he found a Japanese baby and young
girl and helped them to safety. ThfI
he dived under the boat, where h,
found woman aud baby and brought
them up to the surface and placed then
on the boat. He declared he was il
the water nearly two hours and stayed
until the rescue boats put OF from the
Silauea arrived.
Other Brave Deeds
NOcpanO testinGd that he tried tC
ave some of the passengers, but that
me of his legs gave out and he swan
ashore and hollcred for help"
Lipano rescucda Japanese and helped
Tim onto the overturned boat. He was
emphatic that searchlight would
| nave been beneficial. MOki assisted o
,-oung woman TO the boat and ther
swan ashore. Cmauma saved the life
| Of q Chinese,