The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-09-03
OUR SAN FRANCISCO LETTER.
Per s. $. s. Alameda" San Francisco
August 20, 1883.
(trom our Special correspondence

(From our Special correspondent
Though only a.few days have elapsed
since the departure of the S. S. Arabic,
there has been ample time for the occur
renee of many events of Importance.
A Chapter of Disasters.
The first, and that which is nearest
home, was the fatal collision between
the Occidental and Oriental Steamship
Company's Oceanic and the Pacific Coast
Company's City of Chester. This oc-
Cured about 9 80 a. m. on August 22d.
The Oceanic was entering port after a
rapid run from China and Japan, while
the City of Chester was outward bound
for Eureka and other coast ports. The
accident occurred inside the Golden
Gate, and off the Presidio, during one of
those very dense fogs that are peculiar
to San Francisco. No investigation has
been held and it is impossible to say
who, if anybody, was to blame. The
Oceanic was in charge of Pilot Meyer
Captain Metcalfe is her commanding Of
ficer, Captain Wallace holding the same
position on the City of Chester. Each
steamer was aware of the approach of
the other, their whistles being plainly
heard, yet the Oceanic crashed half
way through the City of Chester which
sunk in fifty fathOms of water within FIVE
minutes, There was a very strong food
tide at the time, and it is claimed that
this swung the City of Chester round so
that she could not answer her helm. The
nV,i,, h.,l no. nd oh n nj
Chinese passengers besides forty in the
cabin, and the City of Chester carried
about eighty passengers. Fortunately
the Oceanic hung in the gap she had
made in the City of Chester, thus en-
aiding many of the latter's passengers
and crew to climb up on the Oceanic.
Those who were not SO fortunate were
sucked down with the sinking steamer,
whose boilers exploded as the water
reached them, or jumped overheard and
were picked up by the boats and tugs
that were quickly on the spot There
were many acts of herOism and a few
of cowardice, and it is marvellous that
the number OF deaths did not ex-
coed fifteen. Coming so soon after the
similar accident on the Atlantic, between
the Geiser and ThingvalIa, it has Gre
ated universal feeling of horror
EOllOW ing ClOSG upon ILLS ClSdSG0E
came another, the explosion of the
Giant Powder Works at Berkeley. Such
accidents are becoming of almost annual
occurrence, the last one at the same
place happening on August IL, 1887.
Upon this occasion, though the des-
truction OF property was not so great,
there were five lives lost, some of the
bodies being burned and mutilated be-
yOnd recognition. The accident Oc-
Cured in the drying house, where there
was fortunately but a cOmparativ, lv
small quantity of powder
The next disaster to be recorded is a
fearful rainstOrm, extending through the
Southern and Eastern States In Louis
lana there has been great damage done
to the sugar and rice crops, which were
blown down while the buildings were
demolished. The loss to the sugar crop
is estimated at 20 per cent, and from
20 to 80 per cent. loss to the rice crop. |
Fifty coal vessels were sunk and several |
small steamers damaged at New Orleans. |
At Wilmington, Del, there was a ter |
'Itic cyclone or Waterspout, which swept |
before it, including a large
'Olling mill and It's machinery, of which |
nothing was left but the fly wheel. The
storm was also experienced at Wheeling.
Boston, Baltimore, Philadel-
ohia and New York. There was an en-
,rmous rainfall, accompanied by ter
1flc wind. Buildings and bridges We're
Wept away, shipping wrecked, property
looded and lives lost. Off Chester a
ug-bOat was caught in a water-spout
nd Wrenched almost out of shape. At
session almost every boat in the harbor
vas stranded Or sunk, and the Cohasset
'acht squadron was annihilated.
A different kind of disaster is reported
rom Neenah, Wis, where a large paper
nill was burned. The boilers exploded.
hrowing the roof and walls outWards,
filing eighteen persons. Seven more
we're SO seriously injured that they can
ot recover, while a number of others
Fere more or less hurt.
Sugar and Commerce.
In sugar matters there is but little
D report. The New York refneries are
aid to be storing their sugar, in prefer
nee to selling, as they intend to force
rlces up in September when the fruit
ill be canned. The Call quotes raw
ugar at 81 cents in New York, though
his is not confirmed elsewhere, The
larket is very firm both in Europe and
he East.
Sales of Hawaiian Commercial stock
ave been effected at $2I5a.
Oceanic S. S. Company's stock is now
sted and quotations in the Stock Elk.
hange give 1922 bid and $50 asked.
lie company is now regularly paying
lonthly dividends of one dollar per
hare, the amount paid up being $72 SO |
er share.
There has been sharp advance in the
heat markets of the world. Cargo lots
re selling in San Francisco for 81 60 and
| Co.
Donald NJ. Gedge, agent for M. Con
alves q Co, and formerly a resident Of
honolulu, has been granted trade mark
n flour.
U,;+aa c4.