Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-02-10
men Go
ABOUT AT WILL;
WONDER IN HILO
Officers and Crew Are Not De-
tanned; Vessel is Guarded
After Machinery Wrecked
Especial stsr-BuIIetin oOrrespondenee)

tSpecfsI Star-builetsD CoFresponuencel .2
/, HIL0, Hawaii, Feb. S.-Officers and
men Of the German merchant steamer
O.. J. d. Alters are at liberty al
though the officers and crews of 9th.
.er similar vessels IL Honolulu and
on the mainland, according to ad
vices, are detained in custody of i'm
migration authorities. The captain
was driving about the streets of Hilo
Wednesday AMI the men are permit
ted to come ashore at will.
Hilo people can see no reason for
this since the Alters was wrecked as
to boilers and machinery in a very
complete fashion. f..
Deputy Collector Of Customs Byron
K Baird has declared he has nothing
to say beyond the fact that when he
placed a patrol on the steamer his
duties were ended and he had no or
ders to detain the officers and crew
either on the Alters or elsewhere.
Two deputy marshals and II soldiers
OF the regular army are aboard the
steamer. ~ Et-s-st .sss. ...
OroerS Come 100 Late .ss
Unfortunately the news of what had
happened in Honolulu did not reach
Hilo soon enough to prevent the
wrecking Of all machinery, etc, On
board the o. ]. ID. Ahlers lying in the
harbo... &@ ~
On Monday Deputy Collector of Gus
toms Baird received instructions from
Honolulu to place patrol on board
the vessel and in accordance there
with he had IL men of B Company,
18th Infantry, come down from the
Kiiauea military camp under Capt. Nc
Nab and go on board the steamer, to-
gether with Deputy U. S. Marshal J..
Pierce and o. v. Starter, both of
whom arrived in Sunday last
Work Of Destruction Thorough
On boarding the vessel short eX-
animation showed the damage that
had been done to the equipment Geo.
ID. Russell of the Hilo Iron Works,
together with James K Kennedy of
the same firm were sent for and made
a comprehensive examination of the
machinery, or rather what was left.
They found that the work of destruc-
tion had been carried on in a very
thorough manner. Practically nothing
had been left uninjured. All the valve
chests and ports on all the engines
and pumps were absolutely destroyed,
evidently by large hammer or a
large chisel, willie in many Of the
valves cement had been poured.
Sea-Cocks Found Open
Not satisfied with this and evident
ly in preparation for the scuttling of
the ship, the sea-cocks were opened
and the main yoke of the main in
lection valve stem was so mishandled
that all that was necessary to start
the inflow of sea water to sink the
ship was the forcing over of this yoke
with a crowbar. This was avoided,
however. and guard placed on board,
Capt McNab returning to the camp
that same afternoon.
Relief Guard Arrives
On Thursday a relief guard came
down from the mountain camp and
took the place Of the soldiers who had
been on board since the previous Mon
day. These soldiers are allowed two
hours liberty each Gay, being par
cellej out into squads sufficient to
maintain a comprehensive guard Eend.
ing any further action which might
be taken with respect TO the Germans
still on board he vessel.