The morning call., 1891-09-14
SEA AND SHORE.
Remarkable History of the Amer.
lean Ship Mercury.
The Steamer China Breaks the Pacific Ocean
Record Lively Race Between Boatmen.
Crowds View the Big Shark.


patched up at Freemont-street Wharf. She
cuts sorry figure lying alongside the crack
steel ships of the present age, yet at one
time she was the pride of her owners, and
the man who commanded her was looked
up to with a great deal of respect. 1t is
over forty years since the Mercury slid off
the ways into the Kennebec River at Bath,
Me-, and was fitted out for the Western
ocean trade. For many years she was one
of the finest packet ships carrying the stars
and stripes. She was in the line plying
from New York to Liverpool, and during
her career carried many thousands OF emil
grants across the Atlantic.
When the Civil War broke out she was
one of the first merchant ships chartered by
the Government to carry stores to the varl-
Gus points south for the different armies and
the war-shipS, and more than once came
very near being captured by the rebel ves-
sells.
During the fall of 1864 she left New York
laden with stores, and had only been ten
days at sea when she was sighted by the
famous Confederate cruiser Shenandoah.
There was stiff breeze blowing at the
time, and as soon rs the character OF the
strange steamer was discovered the crew of
the Mercury made deternlned effort to
escape
The Shenandoah was equally determined
to effect her capture, and started after her
with all possible speed. The chase began
about noon, and if the Mercury could hold
out until dark she would have good chance
of giving the rebel steamer the slip by
changing her course.
AN EXCITING CHASE.
As night drew on tie wind increased TO
half INT the daring cOmmauiPr lUDg
on to every rag Of canvas in hopes of es-
Gaping from his relentless pursuer.
The Mercury tore through the water with
the lee rail clean under, and 1t seemed as if
the masts would go over the side every
minute by the immense pressure Of the
C!oGd Of canvas, while like bloodhound on
the trail the black hull Of the Shenandoah
dashed along in her wake. The night
proved unfaYoraole 10 the Mercury, as
full moon shone out all night aud the
steamer had her in full view.
The only thing to do was to trust to luck
and hang on TO the canvas until the Shenan-
doah gave up the chase or the sticks went
over the side.
nearer than when the terrible race began
and was tCo far away to use her guns on the
fleeing vessel. The wind was fTom the
northwest and was taking the Mercury
away to the south, but she was too far off
the land to sight any of the Union gun
Among the cargo Of tie Yankee ship was
large quantity of powder, and this was
slowed III the forehold. The daring Yam
kee captain said nothing to any one of his
purpose, rs he left the deck in charge of his
chief officer with orders to sail her for all
she was worth until his return to the deck
Taking a hammer in his hand the brave
fellow wa soon down below, and look OF
inquiry crept over the faces Of the crew as
they heard the captain hammering at some
thing down below.
READY TO BLOW UP THE SHIP.
He was soon on deck again and his next
trip was to the galley, where be ordered the
cook to keep big fire in the range and have
his shovel handy,
This done he again took his station aft
and gave ali his attention to his ship. " She
holds on like our shadow" said the chief
officer to his commander, referring to the
rebel steamer. and If the sticks go or the
wind slacks up she will get US sure"
She viii never get this ship while l am
alive" said the captain, with a grim smile
on his face, but he did not say anything of
his plans.
Luckily the wind held. and after a hard
chase of three days the disgustod rebel
commander gave up tbs chase. aud hauled
eff to look for easi,r game, and the Mercury
reached the Union fleet in safety.
Not until The hatcheS were taken off to get
out the cargo did the mate realize what the
captain meant when he said that the ship
would not be captured while he was alive.
During the short time he was below the cap
tain had stove in the heads uf the entire
upper tier of powder kegs, and had the
steamer Overta6en him would no doubt have
blown his ship out of the water before he
would have allowed her to fall into the
hands OF the rebels.
For several years after the close OF the
war the Mercury WAS used as training
ship, and many a man now well known in
the maritime world learned the first rudi-
mentS Of his profession on board her. She
was then used as a collier, and then came
to the Pacific Coast and is now engaged in
packing lumber from Puget Sound, and in
spite O1 her eventful career bids fair 10 last
many years yet.
BROKE TIE RECORD.
The Pacific Mail ST. amer China arrived In
port early yesterday morning after run Of
L days IL hours and 50 minutes from Yoko-
hama, the fastest passage ever made be-
tween the two ports. She brought fifty-slx
packages of mail, and as soon as they were
landed we're started for New York on a fast
train. The officers deny that the ship was
driven to her fullest capacity, and claim that
If pushed the China can make the trip in IL
days.
The China brought II cabin passengers,
IL japanese and 96 Chinese in the steerage.
Among her cargo is S456 sacks of rice. 16,Ol6
packages of silk, 800 barrels OF oil, 551 cases
of curios, 60 packages of Opium and 1069
bales of gunnies.
SAW THE SHARK.
Large crowds OF people visited Fisher
mans Wharf to see the big shark that was
captured in the bay on Saturday by a couple
of fishermen. TIE big fish was placed in-
side the fsh-market and several thousand
people paid 10 cents each to view the mon
ster, and the enterprising sons of Italy
cleared enough money to buy a dozen new
nets in the place OF the one destroyed by
the shark.
A En,1 of,1,9 :; ;,.J. 6
ton chartered the tug Vigilant. and went
out to the Cordell Banks yesterday on
fishing Trip, but up to late hour had not
returned.
The bark Theobald will have new main
deck put into her at Fremont-street wharf.
RACING BoATMEN.
What proved to be a very interesting
whitehall race took place from Folsom
street wharf yesterday afternoon. The
contestants were the Relief, sailed by c.
Peterson, Lurline, sailed by Harry John
son, j. ID. Spreckels, sailed by Henry Peter
jenkins. The course was from Folsom
street wharf around Goat Island TO finish
off the Union Iron Works The race was
won by the Relief, with the Lurline second.
The boats then raced back to Folsom
| street, and the Lurline came in winner by
bout six lengths. with the Relief second.
| The race was for keg of beer and S25.
The British bark Bodrhyddon was de-
| layed several hours yesterday by a foul
anchor. The bark started to sea in the
forenoon in tow of the tug Redmond, but
| on getting her anchor above water it was
| found to DO fouled with the chain so badly
| that she had to return. The vessel cleared
her ground tackle and made another start
| about sundOwn.
BROUGHT TO THIS CITY.
The steamer Los Angeles from Eureka
brought down the body of young man
named Edgar Edmonds, son of Captain
Edmonds, the commander Of Fort Garston,
near Eureka. The young man died few
days ago. and was brought to this city for
| interment.
The movers yesterday were the Theo-
bald to Fremont street, A. G. Wilder to
Mission No. l, steamer Willamette to the
| Union Iron Works, and the Ivy from Port
| Costa to the stream.
To-day the j. w. Mari goes to Port Costa,
| the kilburn comes down to the stream, the
| Pericles goes to the rolling-mills, and the
| Androsa docks at Mission No. /.
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES.