The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-15
SEA AND SHORE.
Loss of the II. M. S. MOselle Near
Colon.
Attempt at Suicide-Fast Steam service-No-
tice TO Mariners-A Law Point for
Shipping Men.

hHS oLSdlhcl nave DCtu icdlucus uC MU-
selle was on her way from Port Simon to
Colon and struck on the rocky coast during
a dark and stormy night. All efforts to
keep her off the rocks proved futile because
the heavy sea lifted the doomed ship higher
and higher on the rocks every minute.
When daylight came, Captain Rowsell gave
orders to lower the boats and saw his pas
sengers safely in them.
He then ordered the officers and crew to
follow, but he himself refused to leave the
vessel The heavy laden boats reached the
wharves at Colon without an accident, and
then the crew turned their attention to save
the captain if possible. The steamer Avon
arrived in Colon during the day and pro-
ceeded to the scene of the wreck. She re-
NAMED by the stranded vessel for some
time, but as no sign of the captain could be
seen she returned to Colon. The crew kept
up close watch along the shore, and held
themselves in readiness to assist Captain
RowSell should he attempt to reach the shore
by swimming. as the sea was far too heavy to
attempt 10 reach the vessel with boat.
Late IN the evening, however, Captain
Rowsell was seen standing on the rail with
llfe-preserver around him.
He waved his hand to the watchers on
shore and then sprang into the sea. He
made little Roadway toward the shore, how
ever, on account OF the strong undertow
and at last p. Miller, fifth officer of the i'll
fated steamer. fastened rope to his waist
and boldly sprang into the sea. Miller was
tne swimmer and RAPIDLY made his way
toward the struggling man, and would have
reached him, but Captain Rowsell was seen
to throw up his hands and disappear be-
meath the waves. Miller was hauled back
to shore more dead than alive. He was
badly cut and bruised by contact with the
sharp rocks, and it is thought that Rowsell
was fatally injured by being dashed against
the unseen rocks.
AN INSANE PASSENGER.
Among the passengers from Eureka yes
terday on the steamer Los Angeles was j.
c. Holtz Of Eureka. No one noticed any
thing strange in his actions until the steam
er had been several hours at sea and was off
Fort Bragg. Then without warning he
walked to the rail and leaped into the sea.
The cry of MAN overboardw was raised
and the vessel stopped. A lifeboat was low
cred and rowed toward the struggling man,
who was tirst-class swimmer and was using
all his skill to keep on the surface of the
water. To the credit OF the crew Holtz was
picked up within nine minutes from the time
he sprang over the rail. He was returnrd
to the steamer, and after he had been fur
nished with change Of clothing was locked
up IN one OF the state-rOOm5 and kept there
until the vessel reached this city. search
of his clothes brought to light a handbook,
showing that he had $500 to his credit
After being locked up he became very VIC
lent. and as soon as the steamer reached her
dock lie was turned over to a police officer
and taken to the Home for lnebriates.
Holtz is a painter by trade and has lived il
Eureka for number of years.
Outside the heads the weather yesterday
was hazy with a northeast wind, sixteen
miles an hour. The barometer stood 30. %.
NEW AND GRAPHIC.
The Photographic Office in this city has
received new and graphic method of work
ing out aZimuths and hour angles, by which
all use OF tables OF logarithms and calcula-
tlon is rendered unnecessary-a pencil aud
parallel rule being all that is required.
u sing the latitude declination and altitude
the azimuth is promptly found. and by the
use of tile same functions on other lines the
hour angle. G.. w. Littlehaes, the author,
who is the assistant in charge of the
Division of Chart Construction, has spent
much time in the production of this chart
and vouches for its accuracy within the
necessary limits of exactness required and
possible at sea. IL will certainly be appre-
ciated bv the navigator as simple method.
1t Is unofficially reported that after the
first of the year the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company will establish fast steam service
between this port and Panama touching
only at the principal ports en- route, dis
patching a steamer from San Francisco on
the 5th, 18th and 18th of each month. On
the 18th q steamer touching at all ports will
also be dispatched.
1t Is expected that the steamer Sunol will
be given the berth at WaShington-street
Wharf heretofore occupied by the steamer
DOnahue. The change will be appreciated
by those who patrOniZe the Sunol, and will
result in an increase of business for that
steamer. 1t is also reported thatthe Donahue
Will receive n thorough overhauling, and be
again used as passenger boat.
NOTICE TO MARINERS.
Robert E. kefkam. Chief Of Division.
Weather Bureau Service. has issued the
following notice TO mariners:
The observer at Tatoosh Island (CGpe Flat.
terry has all facilities for signaling aud reporting
vessels passing thai station, and can see en-
tlrely across the strait in clear weather. All
vessels passing within sight aud flying signals
VIII lie renoted. Reports will be sent over the
Weather Bureau telegraph line TO Port Angeles,
Wash, free. Exchanges or agents can arrange
wi h The telegraph company to have Ihrm for
warded from there. II is the desire OF the bureau
that The station at Tatoosh aud the Government
telegraph line shall be OF The greatest pOssi.
bic use 10 the commerce of Puget Sound and
vicinity.
Directors have been elected by the Mer-
chants Exchange as follows: c. i. Stone
PresidenU, George p. Morrow Vice Presi-
dent. Barry Baldwin. E. RansOme, j. w.
Sperry, William Baehr Jr. and j. NJ. Shot
well, who is also Manager. II. T. Emery
is Secretary and the Bank of California
Treasurer.
Dispatches from London state that the
British bark Iredale, bound from Cardiff to
Santa ROsalia, has returned to Cardiff
through stress of weather
WHAT WILL BE THE OUTCOME?
Shp-Owners and captains are very anx-
ious regarding the outcome of the effort to
make the ship Undaunted liable for wages
OF the three Seamen who died while the YES
sci was in Rio Janeiro. Captain Lewis
claims that the contract ended with DEATH
and he Is willing to pay the amount due up
to that time, as has been the custom at this
port in such cases. The law relating to the
subject is not very clearly defined, and the
Federal courts in Massachusetts and also in
North Carolina many years ago decided that
the death of the man ended the contract
while a court in Pennsylvania decided
that the heirs of the dead seaman are emil
tied to receive full pay to the end of the voy-
age, as II the man had lived to be paid Off
AS the amount i'll this case is quite large
one, the case will have to be decided by the
Circuit Court and clearance papers cam OF
be Issued TO CAPTAIN Lewis until the deci s.
ion is rendered, in spite of the fact that his
ship will be ready for sea on Thursday.
The MONDAY Rock bell buoy has gone
ndrift, but will be replaced at the earliest
date practicable, when due notice will be
published of the fact. In the meantime
nayigators should be extremely cautious in
approaching the vicinity of this rock, which
lies hidden. with nothing to indicate It's
position.
CAPTAIN Minot, formerly Of the ship Olym-
pia. has been appointed to command the
bark Wakefield, vice Captain Howes, who
was severely injured by cable-car a few
days ago.
MOVEMENTS OF VESSELS.
The moves yesterday were the James
Drummond to Folsom street, Star of Aus
tra to the seawall, Oakworth to Port
Costa. Helen Mar to the Union Iron Works,
Conqueror to the Oil Works. King Arthur
to Vallejo street, Sirius to Howard No. l,
Lucknow to Oakland and the Glengarry
from Port Costa to the stream. To-day the
Knight of st. Michaels will come down
from Port Costa, the Tropic Bird will 20 to
Mission No. l, the Battini Accama into the
stream, the Dunnerdale to the Union Iron
Works. the Star of Russia and Blue jacket
to Port Costa and the Commodore, Mercury
and Tam O Shanter tow to sea.
Arrivals were confined TO the steamers
Rival and Noyo from Fort Bragg and the
Los Angeles from Eureka.
Departures were the whaling-bark Triton