, 1878-03-30

UNEMPLOYED SEA CAPTAINS IT there
is one business more than another that
appears to be overione on this coast al
present, it is that of the men who 60
down to the sea in ships. At almost
every port on the Sound may be found
seamen or steamboatmen working at
other kinds of business, simply through
inability to procure employment at their
regular vocation. Particularly is this
the case with the latter class here in Sc j.
attic. where almost every other person
one meets is, or has been. captain of n
| steamboat. There are said 20 be from
100 to 130 unemployed sea-captains in
the port of San Francisco at the present
time. and nearly all connected with the
Pacific coast, the Mexican and Pacific
Island trade. They are largely COM
posed of those who have been mates
and who made one or more voyages as
captains. Now that times are dull and
vessels demanding shippers are scarce
they do not like to go back to the posi-
tlons of mates. but wait and wait for
thoir chance to get on tie poop in SUI
preme command once moie. There are
some, however. says the Chronicle. who
are very willing to so as first mates, and
watch eveay opportunity to get the po-
sition. Macy captains lave been idle
from six to nine months. hoping to get
command. and were compelled at last
TO act as first officer, or even as second
mate. A thoroughly reliable skipper,
an able seaman and navigator. waSked
up and down along the city front for
six months. and finally thinking that he
had all he wanted OF lendlubber' s
life, shipped as first mate on schooner
going up the coast. Wages of sea cap
,ains average about 800 per month,
some getting $75 and some $3.50. The
wages paid to the Sandwich Islands is
less than that to Tahiti. Samoa or the
other islands south Of the equator, be-
cause the trade does not pay SO we'll.
On an average vessel will make five
trips to the Sandwich Islands, four to
the Society Hands, and three to the
Samoan group in the twelve months.
The South Sea trade is popular with
young captains. and among them there
| is quite an emulation to make the FAST
est trips. The married captains pre-
fer the coast trade. because they can
see their wives and families more fire.
quently. They are as a class more se-
date than their tropical fellow skip
pers but they are oil royal tars, and a
pride to our merchant fleet.
SUNK AGAIN. regular peri
odicai sinking OF the steamer Wenat
has occurred. In this respect the
/ Wenat is unusually unfortunate-for
within the past six months she has
either snnk or ran on snag at leas t
three or four times. She went up
to Rowland Smiths place on White
river yesterday, to get thirty tons of
potatoes for 7. G.. Wilson. of this
city, and while coming down the
Duwamlsh river last night she ran
on some sunken piles opposite Conk-
ling's place, bursting o hole in her
bottom and sinking her Immediate
ly. Word was sent to this city and
the steamer Comet went up to her
assistance this afternoon. The spuds
will probably not be much injured,
as their immersion will not material
ly damage them and they can be
easily dried. They we're intended
for shipment to San Francisco.
where at present spuds command an
unusually good price. The frequent
accidents of this nature occurring to
the Wenat are not in any degree
due to the incompetency of Capt.
Bailey. who is acknowledged to be a
very careful pilot, but it is well
known the Wenat is an unusually
hard boat to handle in swift water.
when heavily loaded. She will
doubtless be got off again without
much difficulty.
PREsENTAT1oN.-On Saturday last
the employees of the Tacoma saw
mill gave Mr.. Ackerson pleasant
surprise, in the shape of presenta.
ton of o solid silver card case o1
beautiful design, on which was an
inscription to the effect that the ar
tlcle was presented to Mr.. and Mrs.
Ackerson by the employees of the
Tacoma mill company. as token Of
their esteem and regard. Mr.. Ackel-
son and his wife, says the Herald,
will leave Tacoma for San Francisco
upon the next ocean steamer, and
will probably not return for eight
or nine months, and the employees
/ of the mill sought this opportunity
of expressing their regard, thinking
the occasion and the memento would
be the subject Of pleasant recollec-
tion by their esteemed employer and
his wife. Mr.. Ackerson goes below
to look after the San Francisco
branch of the business during the
absence of Mr.. Hanson in Europe.
MIR. Ackerson and wife went down
on the North Pacific this morning
to take the City of Panama at Vic
toria.
How IT WAS DeNE.-We published
an item on Tuesday in relation to
the appointment of three children
from one family to free scholarships
in the University. In order to pre-
vent any misunderstanding as to the
facts, we publish the following ad-
ditional items in relation to these
appointments: Jennie Hancock was
appointed on December Sd. 1877, by
Hon. VIM. Korter; Willie Hancock
was annninfed on DecemLnr 9th