The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-01-22
'SSTERSR|P OF v
oregon DESTROYED
Vessel Chartered TO Bring Nj
tfates To Honolulu Burned
In South american Port


Coincident with the report that the
motor ship Oregon, on her maiden deep
sea voyage, was saved from total
wreck 270 miles. from Oahu by the
timely arrival Of the Matson steamer
Lurlihe early Sunday morning comes
the report that the motor ship Port
land, a sister ship Of the Oregon, has
been destroyed by fire.
The Portland was under charter to
bring a cargo Of about $500 tons Of
nitrate to Honolulu for the Hawaiian
Fertilizer Company. No details have
been received regarding the destruc.
tion Of the Portland, other than that
she has been burned, probably at An.
tafogasta, Chile, where she was to have
loaded the nitrate for. Honolulu.
Meager reports received yesterday
by Castle & Cooke from Capt. Peter
johnson, commander Of the Lurline,
state that 1t was with much difficulty
q line was gotten to the Oregon, which
was wallowing helplessly in heavy
sea, when the stricken motor ship was
reached early Sunday morning.
The fact that the Lurline left Kahu.
lui az tnidaight Saturday night instead
of waiting for the break of day may
have been another factor which saved
the Oregon from total loss.
Tanker May Tow Oregon
Messages received from Captain
johnson, Of the Lurline indicate that
he may mot have to tow the Oregon
all the way back to Honolulu as he has
been in communicatiOn with the stand.
ard Oil tanker s. J. O'Neil, whose mas
ter has volunteered to take over the
lSshipwreck tow as soon as he overtakes
the Lnrline.
When the Neil wirelessed the Lur-
hne, the two vessels were about forty
hours apart and local waterfront men
think that the change in rescue vessels
should be made early this morning.
1t is also estimated that the Stand
ord Oil tanker with the wrecked ship
should reach port late this afternoon.
I Word that the Lurline would not be
forced to return all the way to Homo.
lulu with the Oregon was received
with satisfaction by banana shippers
who had placed what they termed an
experiment shipment aboard the Lur
line, This was a consignment of ba-
nRnas which Il was hoped would be
Just ripe enough for the market when
they reached San. Francisco.
Much Damage Sustained
l. 81, nAnnrka f,c... A. A.. .
besides her engines being disabled and
her deck cargo lost, overheard, her
Witches were totally wrecked. This
report is taken as additional proof of
the severity Of the storm which was
encountered by the motor ship.
30 many Of the new motor ships
have put into Honolulu in distress
eight OF, ten in number, that there is
much speculation among mariners as
TO the cause of their disasters.
"Not properly fastened" is the way
most OF the seafaring men sum up their
conclusions regarding these new wood
en- vessels which are being rushed to
completion to replace other shipping
which IL is desired to use in the At.
lantic. or which has already been di.
verified there. -.
"They are not stiff enough in the
after, end to- bear the weight of en-.
zines. The green wood buckles and
this throws the shafting of the en-.
gines out of line which completely dis.
ables them. Then, there is not enougI
fastening" says one navigator of tie
new vessels.
Portland's Experience
1t is pointed out that the Portlan I,
which has just been destroyed by f.,
somewhere along the South Amcricnr
coast, was forced to put into Balbo.
for two months to repair damng.
caused by her engines getting out OF
order
ANOTHER explanation given for the
trouble which none of the new MOTOR
ships seems. to escape is that the en-
gineers on the ships are not familiar
enough with their engines, and Mat
before they become 50 disaster over,
comes the ships.
The Portland, like the Oregon which
is being towed into Honolulu, had new.
or made n transpaeiac voyage, although
she did take a cargo of lumber from
the Northwest to South America. /
The s. J. o Neil, which is expected
to tow, the Oregon to port, although
owned by the Standard Oil, has a car.
go consigned to the Union. ,'Oil Com,
pany here. She is making. the voyage
to Honolulu under direction of the ma
tional shipping board, as fuel oil was
badly needed here to relieve n short.
age. She is a new Standard Oil tanker
PaaanflWH lannokal l.,