The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-06
SEA AND SHORE.
Return OF the West Indian From
British Columbia.
Captain McRea's Version of the Loss Of the
Sadie F. Caller-The Corwin Ordered
to Alaska Forthwith.

Among the arrivals yesterday was the
British steamship West Indian, from Vic
tora, B. c. 1t will be remembered that
when she left here for the north her officers
had quite a battle with some seventy five
coast seamen, who boarded her with the in
tention of taking off the non-union crew,
In this they were foiled, and it was openly
stated that Captain Scott would not be able
to hire a man in Victoria TO discharge the
cargo.
As threatened, not longshoreman could
be had at Victoria to touch the freight, but
the steyedore who had taken the contract
was not the kind of man to give in with
out struggle, and he informed Captain
Scott that he would be ready 10 go on with
the work in the morning. He was as good
as his word, and at the promised time he
was on the dock with a gang Of about fifty
Siwash Indians and the work of discharg-
ing freight began.
To the surprise of every one the men
worked as if they had been at it all their
lives. They were not mOested by the union
men. and after the job was finished the H.
dams told Captain Scott that they would
handle all the freight he could bring there,
as they had never before made so much
money in so short time. The West Indian
came down empty. but it was learned that
there are over 1000 tons of cargo awaiting
her here.
CAPTAIN MREA's VERSION.
Captain McRea of the barkentine Katie
Flickinger states that the published story
claiming to be the report made by him re-
garding the loss of the Sadie +. Caller at
Chignik Bay, Alaska, is untrue. The story
had it that had Captain Young waited Tor
a1YiceS from shore the disaster would not
have happened. McReA declares that there
was no one on shore to give any advice
about the channel as no enc knew anything
about it, The Caller was the first to at
tempt to cross the bar, and the change had
taken place during the winter.
The Fiickinger arrived off the bay on the
day before the Caller. but as Captain Me-
Rea had never been there before he came to
an anchor IN order to wait for Captain
Young.
When the vessel struck the Cinnamon aid
not attempt to take to the boats and no ps-
tolls were drawn, nor were the Chinese
driven below. On the contrary, they did
most of the pumping after the schooner
struck.
Captain McRea also states that the only
persons ashore at the time were the two
left there all the winter To look out for the
canneTy, and they had ample provisions TO
last them until relieved In the spring, so
that the story that they had kept body and
soul together by living entirely on last sea-
sons catch of salmon IS fabrication. The
Katie Fiickinger will sail to-day with sup
plies for the factory, and Captain McRea
says that with what was saved from the
Caller and that on hand there will be more
than sufficient to keep them from hunger
until his vessel arrives.
READY FOR ALASKA.
Captain Hooper of the revenue cutter
Corwin has received orders from Washing
ton 10 have his vessel really for sea in
twenty-four hours, and to take in coal and
provisions sufficient TO las. five months. 1t
is believed that England and the United
States have arrived at some conclusion in
regard to the sealing question, and the Cor
win will act with the Bear in Behring Sea
this summer. The cutter has come down
from Mare Island, but as two of her officers
Will be sent out from Washington she Will
hardly get away for few days.
The Bear, which left Port Townsend in
May for Alaska, had on board seven mem
bers of the United States Geological and
Survey and Geographical Society, who are
bound to Mount St. Elias. They will en-
deavOr to learn the exact height Of the big
mountain and explore the glaciers and
mountain for animal aud vegetable life.
The result of their labors will be made
known in October.
One of the finest steel ships afoat is now
on her way to this port from Greenock. She
is called the Iuvercauld and is 1000 tons
register. She will be followed by still
another vessel, which is yet on the stocks.
The weather yesterday was hay, with
the wind from the west and northwest
blowing twenty miles an hour. The
barometer stood 30.05