The morning call., 1891-06-19
SEA AND SHORE.
The French Bark Valparaiso
Safely Towed Into Port.
Wreckage RepOrted-Arrivals and Departures.
The Alert and Mohican Have Gone North
Belt Railroad Ties in Place.

On Monday, the lotn lDSE5 Ino blitlsu
ship Clan McFarlane, Captain Rankine
master, arrived in this port from Hamburg
with cargo of merchandise. In his report
of the voyage, which was otherwise I'M
eventful, Captain Rankine stated that he
had spoken the French bark Valparaiso,
then 223 days out to this port from Shields,
England, on Saturday, June 18th, in latitude
go north, longitude 1929 west
Captain Raukine only mentioned the bare
fact of having spoken the Valparaiso; but
he had hardly landed before rumors were
very numerous that the Valparaiso had
been sighted on fire, and that she had so
signaed to the captain of the Clan Me-
Farane, though he had not deemed 1t worth
while to make any mention OF 1t here.
Captain Rankine, when questioned, refused
to give any other information than that con-
tanned in his official report about the Val
paraiso.
The rumors about the fire on the Val
paraiso were however so strong, and, as it
subsequently proved, we'll founded, that
three of the SpreckelS tugs-the Vigilant,
Relief and Alert-at once put out TO sea
with the hope of picking up another rich
salvage prize.
ARRIVAL OF THE VALPARAISO.
French captain, who was supposed to be
but a poor English scholar, Captain Ma
haffey Of the tug VIgilant, as being most
fluent speaker of the Flench language, was
chosen as a sort OF admiral OF the tug heet,
with special instructions TO have the prefer
ence in giving the Valparaiso the first line.
This move was apparently carried out fully,
for about noon yesterday the Nigilant came
in putting over the bar with the Valparaiso
in tow.
Off the sea-wall the Vigilant cast loose
and the Valparaiso anchored ItseemS that
the estimate of Captain Mahafey's lin
guistcaI prowess was all at sea, for
though the tug brought the information
ashore that the Valparaiso really had had
fire on board. Captain Mahatfey was unable
to give any details, because, as he said, the
NaIparaisU'S captain could not understand
him and he could not understand the captain,
As TO how he ascertaned that there had
been fire on the Valparaiso he declined to
make known, but the third assistant galley
scraper of the tug says that 1t was by the
NalpaTaisO's captain showing Captain Ma
haffey several chunks Of cindered coal with
a few pieces Of the mizZen bOT catheId, all
charred and scorched.
CAPTAIN LEONNETTE's REPORT.
After the Valparaiso had come to anchor,
her commander. Captain lAeOnnette, re-
ported officially at the Merchants Exchange
that on June eth, in latitude 81 % north,
longitude 1872 so west, he discovered that
the cargo was on fire near the main hatcn.
Two planks were cut in the deck and water
was pumped on the burning coal. The crew
worked three days TO bring the ire under
control, and owing TO the heat could only
work three hours the first day.
1t was necessary TO JettisOn 80 tons OF
coal The Ire was finally controlled. The
Valparaiso put into Valparaiso. hoping to
find d good market for her cargo, but the
unsettled condition OF affairs there prevented
doing so, and she proceeded TO this port
and made the trip from Valparaiso IN sixty
two DAYS.
She shows no external signs Of damage
The Valparaiso is consigned with her cargo
of 1900 tons Of coal TO Eugene Thomas "
Co, who stated that they had no fur
Their information concerning the fire than
that already given By the captain in his Of
fetal report.
BLOWN IN WITH THE BREEZE.
at 9 o'clock yesterday morning the wind,
which at o'clock was blowing from the
northwest at a 6-mile gait, put on squirt
and increased 10 q miles an hour, and at y
o'clock to % miles, rate that was main
taiaed all through the afternoon. The stiff
breeze brought in quite number Of ar
rivals, as follows; Schooners Arthur j,
Pioneer, Lila and Matte, and Hayes, from
coast pointS; schooner Salvador. % days
from Kahului; British ship Socotra, 1873
days FROM Cardiff; bark Andrew WEIGH,
from Honolulu. and sly steamers. Point
Arena, Gypsy, Pomona, Humboldt, Celia
and San Pedro, from coast points.
The departures yesterday were: Steam
er Santa Cruz, for Port Hartford schOOnerS
Mary Bidwe.l, Ell Parke and Challenger,
for coast points; bark Bonanza and ship
Yosemite fJr the Sound steamer Alexander
ii for the north.
The Oakland ferry steamer Piedmont has
been laid of for repairs, the Newark taking
her place. 1t will take some six months TO
have the Piedmont ready.
DANGERS TO NAVIGATION.
Captain Dixon of the schooner Lizzie
Colby reports to the photographic Office
that on May DIST, III latitude 10o % north,
longitude 1889 81 west he passed piece OF
the side of vessels timbers above water.
1t was three feet high, and looked like
very dangerous thing for vessel to run
against. Also, that Oh June 9Th, in latitude
34' II north, longitude 1922 40 west he
passed the mast Of a square-rigged vessel
with lower top aud tOpgallant mast all at
tached. 1t fioated very light, ard looked as
if 1t had not been in the water a very long
time.
The British ship Riverside, at Liverpool,
reports that on her passage from this port
she encountered a hurricane on April 28th,
In latitude 2S' SOUTH longitude 20 west, and
was thrown on her beam ends, filling lee
deck and losing some sails.
The ties for the belt railroad have been
laid from Pacific TO Francisco streets, and
laying down the rails recently received
from the East was commenced yesterday.
IN SIX LANGUAGES.
The high fence around Section A, in
front of the old Oakland ferries landings,
is being painted in order to prepare it for
advertising uses. The first inscription on
the fence is a large sign, announcing to all
that Jesus is coming soon" This state
ment is made in no less than six different
languages, English, French, German, Ital-
ian. Norwegian and Spanish. The sign at
tracts much attention as it is Immediately
in front of all passers to the ferry.
The United States steamers Alert and
MOhican left yesterday for the Behring
Sea and with the Thets and Corwin, which
left on Wednesday, will endeavor to enforce
the sealing regulations proclaimed by the
President.
The North HarbOr Police Station is re-
ceiving its annual cleaning up The force
Of trustees" from the Central Station is do
ing the work.
HarbOr Commissioners.
At meeting Of the State Board Of Har-