Honolulu Republican, Volume IV, Number 503, 22 January 1902 — AMERICAN BOAT IS HELD OP BY BRITISH VESSEL [ARTICLE]

AMERICAN BOAT IS HELD OP BY BRITISH VESSEL

United States Craft Disabled While About to Leave Ibis Harbor. REFERRED 10 DISTRICT IIIOMEV But Still the Eagle and the Lion Bask in the Warm Sunshine of Peace. Propeller of Dr. Cofer’s Launch Ran Afoul of Submerged Line Connecting English Vessel With the Wharf—Doctor at First Wanted British Commissioner Notified.

A very interesting story has just leaked out on the waterfronl in regard to what, by a slight stretch of tae imagination. might have resulted in that most improbable of things, a war between the United States of America and Great Britain. The story is occasioning a great deal of amusement and the matter is laughingly discussed from all standpoints by the frequenters of the places where the windjammers and all manner of craft tie up. It seems that a few montns ago, while a British vessel was anchored in the stream, near to the entrance to the channel. Dr. Cofer, the head of the United States Hospital service in this Territory, had occasion to go outside of the harbor to visit a vessel which was lying off port.

Launch Mysteriously Stops. Dr. Cofer ordered the which belongs to the Quarantine department and in it proceeded from one of the navy wharves, bound for the transport outside. The doctor was in a hurry to get outside, as there was a case of sickness aboard the transport which was said to be of a suspicious character and the vessel was bound o lie outside until it was ascertained that the illness was not of a nature which would require the ship to be placed in quarantine. He ordered his boat man to hurry and sat back in the stern, enjoying a good cigar, while the

little boat proceeded to cut tne water in the direction of the channel. Suddenly the launch made a motion as if she were trying to stand on her head, a bucketful of water splashed in over the doctor’s white trousers, his cigar was shaken from between his lips and the doctor himself was almost thrown from his comfortable seat. The launch had come to a sudden stop, nor could she be forced ahead, although the man in charge was doing everything in his power to find out what was the matter. Propeller Fouls a Line. For perhaps five minutes D% ®ofer and his boatmen were at a loss to know what kept the launch from going through the water. Finally, examining the propeller, it was found that the screw had become wound round with a heavy line. The line had been lying just below the surface of the water and it had been unnoticed by the man in charge of the launch. There was nothing to do but cut the line.* This was done. Then the launch had to be paddled back to the navy wharf with an oar. that the tangled piece of line might be disengaged from the screw. Dr. Cofer was not in the best ci spirits at thus being delayed and was naturally very much vexed by the accidental wetting. He knew the transport outside was waiting for him and coaid not make a move until he went aboard. He also realized that considerable time would be lost before the line could be taken from the launch’s screw. British Ship is Blamed. Investigation developed the fact that the Mae which had become entangled in the blades of the launch, belonged to the British ship which was lying in the stream, near the en trance to the channel, the line lying loose from the bow of the vessel, hidden beneath the surface of the water of the harbor and attached at the

other cad to tb*- Pacific Mail wharf. Tr> British vessel ha.l only »jst arI rived and she had not yet completed i’making fas* The line to the fharf i »a,- appa» <nt!y about to be used in warping her from her temporary position. I>r. Cofer made sure that the line of the British ship was the cause of the delay of the stopping of the lanarth-n there were a few things doing for awhile. The captain of the Brit h hip was informed that his . lino rad held up the United States Hospital service launch, with Dr. Cofer aboard. The Britisher was very sorry, and said so. and hunted up the mate of the vessel and talked to him in a loud voice for a long time. The , mate said he was not,to blame and sought out the second mate and gave him a ple< e of his mind concerning criminal carelessness. The second mat** took it out on the crew and said they were a blooming lot of land lubbers to allow a line to block the harbor and hold up the United States launch. Doctor Pushes the Matter. In the meanwhile the doctor went out to the transport, the line having been disengaged from the launch's screw, and. after satisfying himself as to what the nature of the sickness was, rteurned ashore to at once seek ont United States District Attorney Dunne. Dr Cofer told Mr. Dunne how the launch had been interfered with by the line of the British ship, delaying him in the discharge of urgent duties aboard the transport. Dr. Cofer insisted that Mr. Dunne, as United States Attorney, immediately lay the matter before the British Commissioner. that the latter gentleman might at once take what steps were necessary toward investigation and satisfaction. This is about as far as the story goes, for the waterfronters know little beyond the fact that Dr. Cofer urged Mr. Dunne to take the matter to the British Commissioner and that the matter was finally allowed to drop. Dr. Cofer changing his attitude under the influence of the eloquence and learned reasoning of the astute District Attorney. How the Story Leaked Out. United Stales 'District Attorney Dunne will have nothing to say in regard to the story and Dr. Cofer is, not telling it generally. The story leaked out on the waterfront one day last week through an eye witness of the event, who had recently heard of the matter having been taken to the District Attorney. The waterfront sea lawyers have been discussing the possible result of the' affair if it had been taken to the' British Commissioner, and that gentleman and the American authorities. by some stretch of fancy, had come to a misunderstanding, i According to these wise ones, the . British-American war would have ■ commenced right in Honolulu harbor. ; British seamen and Yankee sailors ! would have gone at each other with belaying-pins and capstan bars, and Americ an and English business men would not have been able to pass in 1 the streets without taking a shot or 1 two at each other. People would have s stopped drinking English breakfast p t»a and Bishop Willis would have 1 ‘ been imprisoned in a dungeon with the Rev. Alexander Macintosh.