Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-06-18

Immediately after his arrival in Tur
key Admiral Bucknam won the sui
tan's favor by his honesty, thing SC
rarely found in the imperial encourage
Of the old regime. Il was the custom
OF European shipbuilders to get from
the sultan as much money as possible
for ships as worthless as his officers
would accept For example, the sui
tan paid for one ship the sum OF 81 i,
$4,000, of which 81 .OOO, 900 was pocket
ed by his own officer. only $45o,000
going to the contractors.
On several occasions Admiral Buck,
nam. who was sent to Europe TO re.
ceive these vessels when ready for
delivery. refused to accept them until
material changes had been made,
bringing the craft to contract require.
ments. BY his scruples he won for
himself no friends among the ship
builders Of the particular government
which had the monopoly of Turkish
contracts. 49,. ~-s... .. .......
Appointed Pasha. -. -. -. ....,...
On one occasion note from the en-
bassy of that country suggested that
the builders Of a new vessel would pre-
fer some one else IL receive the ship
In reply to their note Capt. Buchanan.
or Bucknam Bey. as the term goes
in Turkey, became an admiral and
pasta. VII. -.
On voyage out from the Atlantic
with one of these new vessels Buck.
nam once made a hit among the Mo
hammedans by tacitIy refusing to sa-
lutte the French flag in Algerian wa
tiers. The Ottoman government has
never recognized the French occupa.
ton of Algeria, and for that reason, If
for no other, Turkish ship had never
before put into an Algerian harbor.
A breakdown of machinery obliged
Buchanan late one evening to take ref
uge in the port of Algeirs, when by
careful timing he entered the break
water before daybreak Three times
the French commander of the harbor
ports sent word in polite French fash
ion that he was ready to return the
Turks salute. Receiving no salute, he
was probably forced to conclude that
the habitual incapaeity of Turkish war.
ships included the inability to fire their
guns. ..... =.
In spite of the good government
which the French have given to AL.
giers the Mohammedans there mani
tested an extraordinary enthusiasm for
the ship of the one great Moslem pow
er over which the great caliph Of Islam
still continues to rule. ~. 49,
They came out in thousands in small
boats to see and touch the vessel.
Frenzied men sometimes almost
swamped their boats. Long before the
hour, when visitors were allowed
aboard the ship these turbaned, long
robed Arabs. clad in white, drew along.
side to kiss the vessel and take up
TASKS of sacred water from close to
her side. ""..= f.. .-.....
During the day they crowded her
deck, facing Mecca and praying, and
sometimes individuals could hardly be
persuaded to leave the ship at night.
The news spread to the interior, and
pilgrimages we're organized from as
far inland as three days journey by
camel At last the excitement grew
to such pitch that the French author
tiles feared the effect upon the tribes
back toward the Moroccan frontier,
and an order was issued that no more
natives should visit the ship.
Saved Salvage Money.
On this same occasion Buchanan
Pasha saved the sultan considerable
sum of possible salvage money. The
ship was able only to come in sight
Of the harbor of Algiers and anchor
with her own power; the propeller
could not be moved again in either
- 49, ....&....
When coal contractor came out in
his tug to bid for the ships coal sup
ply, Buchanan told him that he would
take the coal if the tug would help
him little in moving the ship into
harbor. The fellow went alongside
and, unknown to himself, towed the
ship in. Bucknam kept even his pilot,
a native and probable friend of the
coal man, ignorant of the ships con-
dition, having informed the engine
room to answer the pilots every sig.
nal. ...