The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-22
DOINGS ON THE
WHITE CRUISER.
The Steam Launch Was Sunk in
CallaO HarbOr.
swamped BY the Discharge of Torpedo-Sui-
eide Of a Marine Guard-soraping
the Ships Bottom.

During the recent cruise of the war-ship
San Francisco to Chile one of her stea IN
launches met with an accident and eleven of
the crew almost lost their lives. This ac-
cident took place while the cruiser was
lying in Callao harbor on her cruise along
the coast. The crew had received orders to
drill with torpedoes and quite large crowd
OF visitors was on board at the time. A
target composed Of number of pork bar
rels dashed together was placed in the
water about 600 yards from the ship, and
the big steam launch, manned with crew
of eleven well-trained men, was ordered to
destroy it.
The order was carried out and so effec-
tive was the work of the torpedo with which
the work was done that the launch and her
entire crew very nearly shared the same
late. The torpedo used was what is known
As spar torpedo" and was attached to
the end of 25-I0ot spar projecting from the
bow OF the launch. Twice the little steamer
circled round the target at a distance of
about 25o yards, and then the signal to at
tack was given. Everybody on board of
dozen of vessels fixed their gaze on the boat
as she headed for the target and rushed to-
ward it at full speed.
RUMBLING SOUND HEARD.
was attached was lowered into tile wa ter as
the launch neared the target, which was sup
posed to represent an euemy's vessel. As
the deadly weapon, CHARGED with seventy
five pounds of dynamite. passed ben cath
the target, n low rumbling sound was heard,
and vast column OF water shot into the
air to height OF over sixty feet. By an
oversight the boat was not backed when
the torpedo was fred, and she rushed right
under the vast body of water and went to
the bottom III an instant A cry of horror
rang out over the bay, and every boat in
the ship was lowered, and pulled as rapidly
as possible to the spot where the unlucky
crew were struggling in the water.
Boats were also lowered from one of he
Peruvian war-ships aud from several mer-
chant vessels, and ut once started for the
spot where the launch had gone down. BY
good fortune every man in the boat was
good swimmer, and as soon rs the first
shock was over they began swimming for
their lives. The entire number was res
cued. though several Of them were nearly
exhausted. Every one bore cuts or bruises
by coming in contact with remnants OF the
demolished target, and it was several days
before they recovered from the effects of
the accident The next day divers went down
and the launch was hoisted to the sur
face and taken on board the ship.
SUICIDE OF A MARINE.
While the cruiser was on her way from
africa to IquiQue Private John Wilson of the
Mariue Guard committed suicide Wilson
bad boen acting strangely for several days,
but as lie gave no trouble and did his duty
all right no notice was taken of him. One
morning, however, when the watch on deck
went below for coffee. one of the sailors
stumbled over man lying in the port gang
way on the berth deck. Thinking it a
strange place for a man to lie down he in
formed the master-at-arms. who procured a
light and on going to the spot was Mortified
TO find Wilson lying in pool of blood and
his throat cut from ear to ear. The razor
with which the terrible deed was committed
was still clenched in the right hand and was
buried with him OH the following day, as it
could not be removed without breaking his
fingers. Wilson had only been on board the
San Francisco short time, having been
transferred to that ship from the Charleston.
A VERY FOUL BOTTOM.
When the San Francisco was ordered In
commission she was placed on the dry-dock
and her bottom covered with two samples of
antifouling paint The starboard side of