The morning call., 1891-08-04
SEA AND SHORE.
Return Of the Wbaler Mars With
Rudder Injured.
Fears for the Schooner Misunderstanding
Passengers to Vallejo-A Big Glut Of
Pears-The Charleston.

Among the few arrivals in port yesterday
was the whaling bark Mars. She came
down for repairs, having struck bank,
supposed to be Sea Otter Bank, about $50
miles from Alaska and carried away all
her rudder pintles. AS these repairs could
not be made in the Arctic, the bark was
compelled to return to this city for repairs.
Tie rudder was slung with chains and
wire rope. but the vessel steered so badly
that it took her twenty-five days to go $50
miles. The Mars put into Sitka. where she
was repaired sufficiently to bring her to this
city. As the result of her cruise since she
left this port, she brought 430 barrels of
oil and 1900 pounds of bone, besides $50
barrels of oil which she put on board the
bark Northern Light.
She captured in six weeks nine right
whales, and seven of these in one week.
The first was captured on April 30th, and
proved very tough customer to handle.
Before it gave up the ghost it capsized one
boat. nearly drowning the entire crew, and
towed another boat over fifteen miles away
from the vessel. Even after bringing it
alongside the bark the trouble was not
ended. and before the fish was cut in the
donkey engine broke down, and the work
took nearly twenty-four hours, as it had to
be done by manual labor.
A TARTAR ENCOUNTERED.
On June Sth four boats were lowered
and started after big whale not far from
the ship. He was not asleep, however, for
no sooner did the first boat come within
reach of his tail than he struck it a blow,
lifting it clean out of the water, smashing it
like an egg-shell and leaving the crew
foundering in the water. The men were
picked up by another boat that was close by
when the accident happened.
After this display of its power, the big
fish seemed to enjoy the sight of the
smashed boat, as he lay with his nose close
to it for some time. He soon found he had
other business on hand, however, for the
mates boat crept up alongside and sent a
harpoon deep into its body. This was
rather a surprise to his whaleship, and he at
once threw his tail in the air and started to
explore the deepest part of the ocean.
The line ran out like liChtn ing. and in the
excitement one of the crew, sailor named
Thomas, native of japan, had his foot
caught in the coils and went over the side
OF the boat like a flash. The shock was SO
great that the boat upset, and the rest of
the line, tub and all, was taken down by
the whale. The men chung to the over
turned boat until picked up, but neither
MISSING SCHOONER.
Fears are entertained for the safety of
the schooner Pannonia, which sailed for
this port from Jaluit in the Marshall Isl
ands. The little vessel has been out ninety
six days, and as the average passage is only
forty-fve days, her chances for safely COM
ing into port are not the most promi sing.
The Pannonia is owned by J. Knowton of
this city, and was practically rebuilt about
one year ago, and then chartered for a
cruise among the Marshall Islands by An
drew Crawford, the ship-chandler. The
schooner was commanded by Captain Lud-
low, and carried crew OF eight men, all
told. When she sailed for San Francisco
she had good cargo on board, and had as
passengers several missionaries who had
spent several years at the islands, and were
coming home for a much-needed rest.
Most Of the shipping men have given the
schooner up for lost, but Mr.. Crawford ha S
strong faith in the ability of Captain Lud-
low, and still believes he will bring his yes
sci into port.
A SHARP BIT OF PRACTICE.
For some time the steamer Herald has
parture from this city to Vallejo, and in
consequence not a few of her passengers,
tired OF waiting, would walk ashore and
reach their homes by the rival steamer
Sunol This was not at all to the liking of
the Southern Pacific Company, and when it
was manifest that the steamer could not
leave on time yesterday, the company sold
tickets to Vallejo Tor % cents and sent tile
passengers up on the train. which left at
4:30 o'clock. The Herald lay al her berth
nearly two hours after her advertised sail
ing time and people continued 10 hoard her,
and all received ticket to Vallejo for %
cents. watch was kept on the rival
steamer, however, and no sooner had she
left her berth at Vallejo street at o'clock
than the sale Of tickets was at once stopped.
AN INCREASE IN BLooD-MoNEY.
In order to show its numerical strength
and the scorn felt for the Chamber of Com
merce. it is stated that the combination of
boarding-hOuSe masters is about to raise the
blOod-money charge from $40 to $780, The
combination argues that sailors are scarce,
and 1t is no ones business what it charges
so long as the sailors do not kick" and,
moreover, 1t will charge as much as it
pleases. OF course this blood-money comes
out Of the sailors pockets, and if this thing
goes much further the sailor may have to
pay n bonus for shipping. and then work
the ship to her destination for nothing and
furnish his own ratlons.
Private Gdvices from Oonalaska give the
seasons catch Of the whalers up to July
18th as follows: Northern Light II. Mars
9, jessie Ii. Freeman 4, John p. West 5,
Lydia 2, Stamboul /, Tamerlane 4. Belve-
dere Q, Alice Knowles 3. Abram Barker 2,
Orca 2, Narwhal 2, Balaena /, William
Lewis none. 1t is also stated that Captain
Montr0SS, OF the Dark william BdyllSs, died
on his way to the Arctic.
THE CHARLESTON AT SANTA CRUZ.
A dispatch from Santa Cruz states that the
United States cruiser Charleston reached
that place yesterday morning at 10 o'clock,
and came to an anchor. Her stay at Santa
Cruz will be Short and therefore she may be
expected in this port at any time. What
her future movements will be is not known,
but it is thought that after coaling and TAX
ing on provisions she may be ordered down
to Honolulu.
The French war-ship Dubourdieu came
down from Mare Island and anchored
off Vallejo street Wharf soon after o'clock
yesterday afternoon. She is ready for sea
and will leave for Chile in day or two.
GLUT IN PEARS.
JacksOn-street Wharf is again crowded,
but this time II is with pears of all varieties
on the wharf and more coming in every
day. There is little or no demand for the fruit,
and what to do with it Is pulling the COM
mission men. There is movement on foot
to enlarge the space on Jackson street
Wharf by carrying the bulkhead fence out
to Pacifc-street Wharf, aud thus gaining
additional room that is now but little used.
The weather outside the heads yesterday
was thick, with a southwest wind blowing
twenty miles an hour. The barometer
stood 1885.
CHARTERS REPORTED.
Among the charters reported yesterday
were the following:
British bark Lanarkshire 79i tons, now
at New Westminster, wheat from Tacoma
to Cork, United Kingdom, Havre or Ant
werp; private.
British bark Gwalla, 1908 tons, wheat to
Cork, United Kingdom, Havre or Antwerp;
81 5s 6d-rechartered by Balfour, Guthrie
IL Co.
Schooner Francis Alice, 125 tons, ship
building material from Puget Sound to
Alaska-chsrtered by ID. McPhee.
Schooner Robert Levers. 696 tons, now on
the sound, lumber thence to Honolulu
chartered by Pope 81 Talbot
Barkentine Klikitat, 469 tons, now on the
sound, lumber thence to Honolulu-char-
tered by Pope e. Talbot.
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES.
The following vessels left port
yesterday: Steamships Coima for Panama,
Newsboy for Navarro, Columbia for As
toria and Walla Walla for Victoria. The
barkentne City of Papeete towed to sea,