The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-19
SEA AND SHORE.
A New Device for Obtaining Light
in Ships Holds.
The Steamer St. Paul Arrives From Alaska
a Heavy Premium offered on the Ger
man Ship J. H. Hustede.

Captain Alexander F. Spear. the steyedore, OF
this city, as solved the problem OF how to light
the lower hold OF vessel without Introducing
fire of any kind, and his method is as simple as
the One used by Columbus TO make the egg stand
on end.
When avessel's matches are of the light comes
down the hold just nnder the hatchway, but the
hold fore and aft of the hatchway Is in deep
gloom. To obviate this Captain Spear uses 4
piece OF white enameled cloth. This cloth is at
tached TO the hatchway above. and the lower end
hanging In the hold is tied 10 any convenient
beam. The light streaming down the hatch
strikes on the white cloth ard is reflected from
II SO that In the fatheSt corner OF the hold there
is ample light 10 Work BY even on a dark and
gloomy day.
Tie ship Florence, which had general cargo,
including case oil. making it dangerous 10 have
candles in The hold, was discharged in this way
without other light. The Guardian, now dlscharg
ing nitrate at Mission No. 2, also used Spears
method to light the hold. Captain Spear has not
patented his device, and there is no doubt but
that the adoption OF 1t VIII tend TO lessen the
risk OF hre on vessels loading and discnargiDg at
this port.
STEAMER FROM ALASKA.
The Alaska Commercial Company's steamer
st. Paul, Captain Erskine arrived at o'clock
yesterday morning from Oonalaska via Nanaimo
and Port Townsend, being three days and half
Long Bridge TO discharge her coal. The ST. Paul
brought seven passengers aud a cargo OF coal
and some seal skins.
Among the passengers were Captain and
Mrs. G. L. Weeks of the steam wbaler Thrasher.
| The captain returned on account of his wife
| being sick and left The vessel IN charge of his
mate. Among the ST. Paul's cargo were about
1000 seal skins which consigned to the
| United States Marshal. They were taken from
the sedlerS Minnie, Ocean Spray and Lille in Inc
| BehriDg last year by The United STATES revenue
| cutters.
The weather was foggy at Point Lobos yes,er-
day. The wind was from The southwest until
noon when II haued 10 the west, blowing then
/ 20 miles an hour. Tie barometer read: O'Clock
IN the morning. %. "a; noon, 1894; O'clock in
| The evening. 1888.
BELIEVED TO BE LOST
The German ship j. II. Huslede left Victoria.
| b. e., 207 days ago Tor London. laden With sal
mon and has moi been heard from since. She
| had on board the largest cargo OF salmon ever
| taken from Victoria in oae ship. Yesterday
| Donald Ross received csblegram from London
| tede had been lost, aud So per cent had been
| offered as premiums on her Insurance. The
| premiums have risen gradually from 90 to So
| per cent.
The Hustede carried no ballast, her captain.
who was very obstinate in The matter. saying
| that she needed none, as she was stiff enough
without IL. 1t was against Tie advice of several
nautical people that she went 10 without bal
last. Other vessels from this Coast have made
longer passages than the Hustede Is out now, and
she may possibly have met with Gains and ad-
verse winds and be good risk YET
a NEW COASTER.
Hall Brothers are building al Port Biakeley
and VIII launch tomorrow bark for the
George L. Smith line OF this port. She will be
named the Albert. Her dimensions are: Length
1877 beam SO &c, depth IA IS feet. She will trade
between here and the Hawaiian Islands and ha We
carrying capacity Of 1900 tons OF sugar.
The new boat float at The foot Of FOLSOM street
| Is now in position and Will prove a great con
| yenience TO shipmasters and boatmen. 1t is,
| however mOOred brOadslde on 10 lie bulk head,
so that every swell of passing tug boats sweeps
| over il and enGangers boats alongside. Chief
| Engineer Manson has promised TO have the float
| placed lengthwayS. at right angles 10 the bulk:
| head, and when that is done There VIII be less
| damage and, the float VIII accommodate more
| boats alongside. he new float has been christ
| eDed R0beIIson'S Landing, after Captain Robert
| son of the brig Consuelo who was the first skip
| per TO land on il, and who set up The champagne
! for the boatmen on The occasion.
MOVEMENTS OF VESSELS.
The steamer Australia came down from the
sugar refinery yesterday and locked at Folsom
| street.
The brig Consuelo went to the sugar refinery
| 10 discharge her cargo of sugar.
The ships Guardian aud L. q. Morse towed to
| sea.
The bark Alden Besse dropped anchor In the
stream.
The bark Canada came down from Port Costa
| and docAed at Harrison street
The bark 5. e. Allen went over to Oakland 10
| discharge.
The Schooner Oscar and Hattie came over
| from Oakland and locked at the oil works.
Iron Works hydraulic dock to-day and dock at
BTUadWay