New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-23
IN THE MISTs OF THE PACIFIC.


PEscADERo-AMoNG THE COAST wHALERs OF
CALIFORNIA--ONE OF THE GREAT RANCHos
THE WRECKS AT PIGEON POINT AND POINT
AMMO NUEyO-EMBARCADER0 OF PIGEON
POINT.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 1.-THE population of
Pescadero does exceed 800 souls who depend the
lumber mills in the great redwood forest the dairies the
grain and potato ranches and Summer visitors from San
Francisco for life and trade. The heavy fogs and cold
raw winds unfavorable to grapes and other
fruits but potatoes thrive wonderfully, and extern.
sively cultivated on the rich bottom lands around the
town. Half the ground fruit" consumed In San Fran
cisco comes from this section Of the coast An old
chero tells me that for ten years the average
price OF potatoes has been q % per 100 ID, and the
usual yield from 100 to 125 bags at 125 each per acre.
Thedgging done by native Caliornans greasers
Land In the great ranches back the road TO Spanish
Town is worth about $40 $50 per acre. but the potato
lands this town worth 500, or even more
few old California indians work in the fields quite faith
fully after their fashion, but of the old hands equal
the Chinaman "year out and year in" Much lumber Is
hauled from the mountains and, with potatoes grain
and vegetables is shipped for San Francisco from the
embarcardero at Pigeon Point miles south Of Pesca
dero.
AMONG THE wHALERs.
My stay In Pescader0 being limited, mine host OF the
swanton House volunteered Californianke to take me
down the 10 the sights six mile ride over
open rolling country devoted chiefly to grazing brought
us to Pigeon Point famous place for wrecks, and a
depot OF the coast whaera 1t gets its name from the
wreck Of the Carrier Pigeon, noble clipper ship which
dred in here night in the Winter Of 1854, and
shattered pieces upon the terrible reefs running out
from the foot OF the bold promontOry Here the high
headland are clustered dozen cottages, Inhabited
by the coast whaers and their families These men are
all " Gees"-Portuguese- the Azores or Western
Islands They are stout hardy looking race, grossly
nj ann TheV w0r hard and
are doing well in business As we rode mp two long
sharp single masted boats with oddookng sails, shot
out On the Point by the side of fagstaffs on
which signals to be hosted to guide the boats in
their pursuit erouched two OF the party with their sea
glasses ntently watching the boats and sweeping the
horizon
Are there any whales about oh, yes, plenty and the
speaker handed us his glass About three miles out
large school Of the black humpback species sporting
In the nearly smooth sea- rising TO the surface to blow
showing their black backs and going down again among
the sardnes on which they feeding The boats
out with sails set and do not take in their canvas until
a whale is harpooned. II new school is discovered
the boats sgnaled by the party on the Point Look
ing through the glass the boats running for diff
ferent whales. All hustle and excitement on board
the harpooners standing the bows ready to strike and
every man at his post. One Of the signal men could
speak little English and thus soiloquiZed for our ben.
eft {" l. blow blow One close herd starboard boat
Carraho now he run 70 son OF sncoOk how he run ;
dam he Believe myself he get away" Then carried
away by his feelings be proceeded TO curse in good Por
tuguese, honestly and squarely for fifteen minutes.
Tired OF watching at last started of TO see what
else there was Of interest at the station. When we
turned evening, the boats were far down on the
edge the horizon and had apparently fastened 10
whale while another large school was playing unds-
turbed within half mile Of the shore The trypots were
placed on the other side OF the Point and there found
n ~ huav oil from heaOs of
blubber ready cut up from q huge humpbaek whale !;
hukes and wreck lay on the beach below. They were
dripping and fairly saturated with the OIL and every
thing around was in the same condition. The sinking
fluid had run down the face OF the blum
20 the waters edge and the whole place was
redoent of the perfume. row of casks filled with OIL
testified to the success OF the business The tryers told
us that they had cut up whales already this season,
and had killed and lost 10 more. The Fall season
usually begins in October but this year the whales mad
come down from the Arctic regions a month or SIX
weeks earlier, and business had opened good. Last
year they caught only two humpbacks the rest being
California grays This year thus far the whales killed
have all been humpbacks. good big fellow will yield
100 barrels OF OIL but the average is perhaps 49, Whale
fishing is carried in this manner at San LUIS Obspo,
Monterey and other points all along the coast down TO
Cape St. Lucas On the hill noticed pile OF the bab.
Der scraps from which the oil had been boiled which
are used for lighting fires TO guide the boats home on
dark nights. HT
THE EMBARCADERo AT PIGEON POINT. I
There are no real harbors between san FRANCISCO and
San Diego about 400 mules SOUTH and very few places
where vessel can In the farest weather run alongside
wharf to load or unload At Pigeon Point there is semi
circular bay partially sheltered from the northern Winds
but the heavy swes rolling in from the southwest pre-,
vent any wharves being erected Ont ABOUT zn yaIus
from the shore il nigh mOnumentlike rock rising TO
level with the steep rock OluH winch nan lnvloses sno
bay From the blur TO the top OF TINS rock stretches
40 Eqnf
rounding tho reef into the sheltered cove uhder ms
hawser and casts anehY Der Sargo ed from her deck
load by load run up into the ar 30 10 l1 leeb then
hauled In shore and landed upon me Top Oh ihe Jun
bes dairy products &c, DC, are IN ike manner run out
and lowered at the right moment upon Tue yesse Heehs
out TO till IL Is over This system Is IN extensive use
along coast though In places lighters and tugs
are employed TO load aud unload. IS
THE WRECKS PIGEON POINT AND POINT AMMO NtENo.
This part of the coast has terrible name, and may
Point is Point Ammo Nueyo New Year, Inc shore pc
tween bends inward aud all along black reefs of rocks
rear their ugly fangs like wild beasts watching for their
prey. current sweeps III from POnt Ammo NueIO To-
ward Pigeon Point anu On bs sS OF Point
Nuevo desert island OF three or four acres Oh sh
and rocks favorite resort OF sea lions and sea os
ON this island the u g. Government proposed to erect
lighthouse this session. but the owners OF tae S ted
sioOOe for deed OF t--they bought the whole grant
originally for about $4,000 ana nave reaILeu nIoc n
sum from partial salesand so IL was decided 70 p
E for $1,000 5000 ' ,o.n a. ,o,.
The most noted wrecks hereabouts have peen s lol-
lows: The clipper ship Carrier Pigeon oil ttvO o y,
BOSTON wrecked ut Pigeon Point IN the ms tha 30
the vessel and cargo being total loss tue rev
escaped The ship Sir John nrankh rned 90 RIo d
gaaero lost az Point Ammo Nuevo four years ago. Cap
,s,u mate ami N of the crew drowned g. The
Ss. ,rnn ha,L Cova from Newcastle with coal and
wrecked between tho two points two years
No dsngsr Was inspected IN this ease until III the
a. 100 ~ ,he night tho vessel supposed to be 40 niles
of shore was TO- be among the breakers ro ss
M ~, the deem water beyond, and went down III an
Instant carrying with her "a people, including three
, mman Two men g. aud q boy half naked;
Nannnhed and exhausted cast upon she rocks ana
phJ a yaneh the only SURVIVORS OF the 80 souls on