Huntsville gazette., 1885-09-26
A MARINE CURIOSITY.

Active Service.
$50 that's the old California, is itp"
soliloquized an old pioneer. standing
on Spear street wharf under the bow
spirit Of bark-rigged vessel, whose
battered sides bore evidence of many
. years struggle against wind and
wave.
"Yes, that's the California" was the
reply from the man in charge of re-
pairing crew who were replank-
ing the forward part of the ship.
''She was the first steamer that ever
entered this port. Her boilers were
taken out of her in 1875, and since that
time she has been in the lumber and
coal trade. with an occasional cargo of
tea from Yokohama. She's an old
timer, tell YOU"
THAT she is. affirmed the other
speaker. 'Well do l remember the
time when she came in here in 49,
how the people ran out in crowds to
Telegraph Hill and Clark's Point to get
. glimpse of the first boat of the Pacific
Mail Company. from which great ben
sfits were expected; how they cheered.
with bands playing, flags waving and
cannon booming. Why, they even
went so far as to get up a general il
Elimination in the evening. 1t was
stirring time--a stirring time"
A reporter who heard this converse
ton, and became convinced that this
was indeed the same ship that steamed
through the Golden Gate on February
2S, 1S49, made inquiries among the Of
acials at the Pacific Mail dock as to
her history. The Oldest employe at
the dock, gentleman who has been
in the service of the company for over
thirty-five years, was referred to as the
ono most likely to possess some knowl-
edge OF the vessels comings and go
ings since her memorable voyage to
this port in 1.-THE days of old, the days
of gold," but he was surprised to learn
that the vessel was still afloat, and said
that it had been so long since he had
heard any mention of the California
that he had "lost track" of her entire
ly. 1t was ascertained, however, that
A. .'B. Forbes knew something concern
ing the ancient craft, and to that gen.
tleman the reporter next made applica-
tion.
II was purser of the California in
1885," said Mr.. Forbes, refectively.
my brother, Cleveland Forbes, who
lied in 1857, was her first captain and
brought her around the Horn. William
II. Webb, Of New York, was her
builder. Webb built the Panama and
Oregon, sister ships of the California,
all constructed for the mail service be-
tween Panama, San Francisco and As
toria. The Oregon was lost in Puget
Sound about eight years ago, and the
Panama was broken up at this port in
1870. The California has survived
them all, for besides being one of the
stoutest vessels that was ever launched
she has been one of the luckiest. The
Fremont and the Constitution are Of
ten given the honor of being the oldest
vessels now running into this port, but
neither of them antedates the Cali
fornia. The Fremont was built in
1880, and the Constitution did not ar
rive here until 1851, or later. The
California and her sister ships were
built under the supervision of naval
inspectors, it being one of the condi-
tions of the contract between the Gov
ernment and the Mail Company that
they should be so constructed as to be
capable of carrying batteries in case
of war, or any emergency that might
arise in those troublous times. The
California left New York on October 6,
i848, and was brought as far as Vel
paraiso by Captain Forbes. There the
Captain become ill, and the steamer
sailed to San Francisco under COM
mand of James Marshall. No one
aboard heard the news of the discovery
Of gold in California until the vessel
arrived at Valparaiso, and at Panama
they saw the first dust and witnessed
the excitement which had extended
to all the western coast. Among
the passengers were many men
who have since become promi-
nent in the history of business of the
city and State. Arriving here, every
body aboard save the Captain and a
seaman named Foggin-who was kept
from deserting BY being locked up in
the cabin-hurried away to the Dig
gings. Foggins afterwards remained
on board, on being given the position
OF chief engineer, at salary of five
hundred dollars month. On her first
voyage from this port to Panama we
were under the necessity of engaging
seamen at wages ranging from two
hundred to two hundred and fifty dol
lars month; the cook, darkey named
George Washington. receiving four
hundred dollars. and the Captain only
one hundred and fifty dollars, he being
under contract with the company to
receive this salary, which was consid-
cred high rate of remuneration at the
time the California left New York. The
steamer ran on the coast line until
1855, when she was superseded by
steam vessels of more improved pat
tern. She was sold in 1860 to Benjamin
Holiday, after lying idle for five years.
For the next eight years she was run as
coaster by different owners. and in
1869 was purchased by Peter Dona-
hue"
1t was stated-by other informants
that Peter Donahue expended one hun
dred and six thousand dollars in re-
pairing the steamer. building new state
rooms on her deck, remodeling her
wheels and other machinery and fittinn