The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-04-26
GREAT STEAMSHIP =.
disabled AT SEA
:. Calls FOR HELP
Watson, Vessel Manoa HurriedIy
Despatched To Assistance
... 49,. -, 49,, Of Helpless Graft
SABOTAGE SUSPECTED
: ~ BY LOCAL OFFICIALS
Propeller Drops Off Leaving Ship
At Mercy Of Wind and Wave
Until Aid Arrives

Totally disabled through loss Of her
single propeller last Wednesday,. noon
I q hirge transpaei6c Steamship is al
I the mercy Of weather conditions over
800 miles from Honolulu. The Matson
steamer ManoH was despatched at Ave
0 clock yesterday evening, under or
ders to reach tho distressed shin ms
soon as possible. 81
Censorship restrictions prohibit the
giving Of the name Of the disabled yes
sci or her position, as it is not definite.
ly known her condition is not the result
Of a German plot, and berause she
wOuldsbe Q helpless prize for boarding
party Of the enemy.
The disabled steamer left Honolulu
less than week ago, after securing
bunkers here. She has no passen gers
aboard, but is loaded with very valu.
able cargo.
Following receipt Of n call for help
from this ship, a conference Of govern.
ment officials and Honolulu shipping
nrn was held. At first it was deter,
ndned to send the Union oil tanker
Lansing, which Is now at HiIo, TO the
aid 5of tue vessel. But later con
ferenee decided that she Gould be
reached sooner by the Matson steamer,
which at first the government was
backward about divertinV from her
schedule, as she is a mail and passen.
ger carrier, and badly needed at this
time to take out sugar cargo.
Is Totally Disabled ..:1
In the wireless call from the damaged
ship, d special request was made that
the position and name of the steamer
be not given to the public, although no
details were given as to the cause Of
the accident The only thing specified
regarding her condition was that she
was totally disabled.
, An estimate made by shipping men
is that the Manoa will be able to reach
the big, helpless, steamer within less
than three days, and that she may be
able to return here with the wreck in
tow in six or seven days.
! One of the advantages, it is explain.
cd, lin sending the Manoa on the rescue
voyage, instead Of the tanker Lansing,
is that the Matson steamer can make
faster time, is better equipped with
heavy towing machinery. and Honolulu
is nearer the disabled vessel than HiIo.
Besides the Lansing might have had to
come in here for fuel before leaving.
shipping men differ in their predic-
tions as 70 whether the ilhnage to the
disabled vessel Is by desikh'6r aceideGt.
From the wording Of the message call
ing for help 1t is believed the steamers
propeller is entirely gone, or "dropped
off, as they put it, If this is true.
they argue, the tail shaft Of the =, $s,i
must have broken of.
Sabotage Suspected ""s
Some argue that the damage to the
vessel has been caused by the war enc,
mics of the county who have assured
the temporary tieing up Of two vessels
by cunning sabotage. Others contend
that it is merely another faccident Of
the sea, which has rendered the >vesseI
helpless 50 far from ahyhport.
Salvage of the STEAMER from ~totaI
loss depends upon the 'cohtinnation Of
the present good weather conditions,
the shipping men say. IF there should
be a storm they fear the vessel might
founder, as there would be no way Of
keeping her out of the trough of the
sea. This is because the STEAMER has
only "stumps" for masts, Besides her
wireless poles, and il would be impossi
BILE to get up sufficient sail TO give her
Roadway before a storm, it is explained.