Dry Dock Deception: A Cargo of Corruption?

In the sweltering heat of Oahu’s August sun, a sinister plot may have unfolded at Pearl Harbor. The Matson steamer, Lurline, arrived in port on August 28, 1912, carrying a cargo of 6,000 tons of structural steel and rod iron, bound for the construction of quarters and the big dry dock. But amidst the hustle and bustle of the harbor, a more ominous cargo may have been smuggled onto the ship. Reports indicate that the Lurline was first reported as ‘recalcitrant’ due to weather conditions, which lengthened the voyage until it was ‘off Koko Head’ shortly after ten o’clock. Was this merely a coincidence, or was something more sinister at play?