The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-11-23
WRECKED
SHIP is charge
Navy Authorities Order Arrest Of
Master Of Schooner
Churchill

Charges made by members Of the
crew OF the schooner Churchill, which
went aground on October 25 on French
Frigate shoals, that the vessel was.
deliberately wrecked by her captain,
Charles Granzow, with the aid Of Fred
Wilson, second mate, inspired Honolu'
lu navy officials yesterday to cable
San Francisco ordering the arrest Of
Captain Grauzow and his two sons
pending further investigations. Viii
son, who is now at Kahplui, Maui. as
one of the crew of the schooner Char
les r. Wilson, bound for the FIJI IL.
lands, has also been ordered arrested
by special wireless to Marshal J. j.
Smiddy, who is visiting Mani. He Will
arrive here this morning.
Afidavits made by John Wessick,
carpenter Of the Churchill, Otto An
lerson, able seaman; II. Munich, cook,
md Lieutenant Ferris, Y. =. N, plain.
ty indicate that Captain GraazOw de-
iberately destroyed his ship, but
whether for the insurance on it or in
behalf of the German cause has not
been determined. Granzow t. Ger.
nan born. and in view of the fact that
he Churchill, ut the time of the oc.
I WIS ~ NdN ~ VI
,opra consigned TO the British consul
It Seattle, navy officials are art1ious
o ascertain the motive for the chip
destruction. When here Granzow said
le was naturalized American, but; he
vas unable, to show any papers to this
feet. y ~.
MUNICH Arrested Yesterday y,
Yesterday, II. Munich, cook of the
ost vessel, who has been at large since,
lis arrived in Honolulu following the
wreck, was arrested and held as a
witness ON the strength of a sworn
statement made by Otto Anderson,
bile seaman, that Munich saw Captain
iranzaw and his son pour a can of
,arrafn oil into the forward hatch and
ct fire to Il. T.. Ramos, alias Pedro
Romo, is also said by Anderson to be
ware Of this fact. Ramos left for the
cast last week on an oil tanker, and
re may be returned TO Honolulu.
Some of the affidavits in possession
4 naval officers assert that Captain
iranzow was warned of the presence
# land but he made no attempt to
avoid it. Others declare that Gran.
low ordered Second Mate Wilson, just
before the ship was abandoned, TO bore
I hole in the forward batch, pour par
rain on the rags below and set fire to
hem. t.
Threw Bottle Overheard .. N
In his affidavit, John Wissick, ships
,arpenter, states that every day for
week before the wreck, the captain
sook bottle, put a written message
IN it and threw the bottle into the
Yea. It is believed that this was done
in order to give an idea of the loca.
ion of the Churchill if wrecked. .
Lieutenant Ferris, who took a pleas.
ure trip with Captain Rice Of the sam
pan which rescued the crew, confirms
he report that Wilson bored hole in
he forward hatch. His affidavit says
hat he saw the performance and on
lsking Wilson the reason was told
hat he (Wilson) wanted to get some
hing out of the hatch before leaving
the vessel. .... . ..
He also states that Captain GranzOw
tent down into the cabin q few min
ties later, and when he assembled a
Ehiff of smoke came with him. "The
aptain seemed surprised when 1 call.
d his attention to this says Wilson.
Carly Suspicious Aroused .
Even before it was known that the
navy authorities were investigating
he wreck, the contradictory stories told
oy Granzow after his arrival here from
he shoals excited the suspicion of
everal shipping men Of Honolulu. He
said to have told Captain Foster,
harbor master, and Eben Low Of the
Oahu Shipping Co., that the vessel was
not afire when he left. but in spite
of this he has signed an affidavit at the
Bishop Insurance Co. that the schoon-
er was burning when abandoned.