The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-25
FOULED In A SQUALL.
The Alexander McNeal and the
HeSperides Collide.
They Come Together With Loud Crash-Ri
ging, Rails and Bulwarks Carried Away.
Tugs to the Rescue.

A heavy squall swept over the harbor
soon. after u O'Clock yesterday morning.
The bright glare Of a blue light was seen
on board a ship lying away off Meiggs
Wharf. This was followed by several
rockets flying skyward in rapid succession.
plainly showing that some ship was in dis
tress and in need of assistance.
The signal was responded to by several
tugs, among them tile Vigiiant with a CALL
reporter on board. The tug quic ky ran
down to where the distress signals had been
seen.
DRAGGED HER ANCHOR.
The signals were sent up from the bark
Alexander McNeal and the ship HesperideS..
During the heavy squall the ship Hesperides,
lying to windward of the McNeal dragged
her anchor and drifted broadside Oh, right
across. the NcNears bow.
The two ships came together with a loud
crash that caused the sleeping men on board
both vessels to get out on deck in hurry.
The grinding and crashing of the ships was
terrible, as, driven down by the force of
wind and tide, the Hesperides pressed
against the stem of the McNeal. and it
seemed as if before assistance could arrive
she would be cut in two.
WHERE SHE WAS STRUCK.
The Hesperides was struck in the after
part Of the fore chains on the port side, and
so severe was the blow that her rail and
bulwarks were torn away, and nothing but
the Heavy iron waterways saved her from
being cut to the waters edge.
The jib-baOm, figurehead and bobstays
of the hLcNeal were carried away almost as
soon as the ships foued but not before she
had carried away nearly all the port fore
rigging, and most of the lower fore rigging
ou the starboard side of tho Hssperides
a : q this IA lotyar snif
yard followed with a crash, and the heavy
yard parted in the slings and hung by the
running gear.
A CLOSE CALL.
STAND clear for your lives % rang out a
voice loud and clear, and the crew of the
Hesperldes ran ait to escape the wreck of
the IuretOp galant-mast as it came down
from aloft. Then, as if satisfied with the
damage done the wind died down, and the
haH-scared crews had time to see what was
the matter:
A hawser- was got on board the Hesper-
ides from the tug Active, and the task of
separating the foUied ships was begun
Finding the undertaking too much for d
single tug, the Nigilant also took a rope
from the ship, aud by the united efforts of
both boats the ships were dragged apart.
MORE DAMAGE
1t was deemed advisable TO S lip the anchor
of the Hesperides and orders were given by
the captain to do so. In unshackling the
heavy. chail-cable the shackle got turned
around. and as. the chain ran out caught in
the hawse-pipe and:nearly tore it out OF
the ship, Almost three hours were spent
clearing il, after which the ship was lowed
to safe berth and the other ANCHOR let 90.
OUT .oF LUCK.
The Hesperides has been rather unfor.
tunate since coming in from sea. The
large stone lighter that broke adrlft from
| the sea-wal Sunday night drfted down Oh
her and carried away her quarter boat or
the port side, almost tearing the davits out
of the shin -