The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-26
SOME ONE AT FAULT.
The George C. Perkins Almost
Sunk by the Mineola.
Cut Down to the Waters Edge-The Barken-
tine lowed in and Run on Mission Flats,
No Damage to the Steamer

very serious collision took place about
O'Clock yesterday afternoon near the nine
fathom buoy. and the barkentine George C.
PERKINS was towed back to port and run on
the mud ut Mission flats in order to keep
her from sinking, as she was cut clean to
the waters edge. The vessel that nearly
sent her to the bottom was the big steamer
Mlneola, which left Lombard-street Wharf
about noon, bound for New York.
The Perkins was lowed out by the tug
Sea Witch. and the tug let go Of her near
the buoy. There was hardly breath of
air, and at the time of the collision the
barEentlne did not have steerage way on
her, SO had no chance to avoid the big
steamer, that came down on her stern as
silent as fate. The Perkins was heading
about southwest when the steamer struck
her. Inc sharp bows of the big iron
steamer struck the sailing vessel just abaft
the lore rigging on the port side and
crashed clean through rails. bulwarks and
waterways, tearing away several stanchions
anu knees, also carrying away the port
main rigging and springing the mainmest.
NO IMMEDIATE DANGER.
:, The steamer at once backed away from
the Perklns and lowered her boats, but as
the vessel was not damaged below the
water line there was no immediate danger.
Inc Mineoia took the Perkins in tow and
started with her back to port. She did not
go 1ar, however. before the steel hawser
parted, and then the disabled vessel was
taken IN charge by the tug Etna and towed
INTO port and at once run On the mud in
Mission Bay
Inc steamer escaped with very slight
damage, and when she saw the Perkins well
on her way to port in tow of the Etna she
resumed her voyage to San Diego, her first
port OF call. The Perkins was boarded off
Fort foint by CALL reporter, and from
oaptain Smonsen. who was in charge.
was learned the story OF the collision.
=" We left San Francisco in tow of the Sea
"itch, said he, land the tug dropped us
near the nlne-fathom buoy. There was little
or no wind and We were heading southwest,
put Inc vessel did not have steerage-way on
her. There was no log and it was as clear
as a bell l was below al dinner when thu
COLLISION occurred, and the first thing l
knew heard a crash and the next second
was thrown halfway across the cabin.
CLIMBED ON THE STEAMER.
Il ran on deck at ones and seized ladder,
while the resi- of the crew, thinking no
douDI that We were sinking, climbed on
board the steamer. i then ordered The en-
sign set union down as signal OF distress.
Inc crew Of the steamer. which proved to
Dc Inc Mlneoia. lowered boats and brought
my, crew back again. The hole in the YES
sel,s side extended to within an inch or two
"a WY "".Si CuScp anu III uIucT W sIVt tut
vessel list the port anchor, with as much
OF the chain as possible. was shifted to the
starboard side Of the deck.
So far as 1 could see the steamer sus-
tanned very little damage, as she struck us
square. stem on, Instead OF CHANGING blow,
which might have crushed her bows in. The
Mineola then took US in tow, but the haw-
ser. steel one, parted. and then the Etna
took us I'D tow. At the time of the collision
the crew OF the Perkins was at dinner, with
the exception of the man at the wheel and
tue Lookout, and some of them had very
narrow escape from being killed.
STRUCK BY sPLINrERs.
:" They had seated themselves around the
main hatch, and not six feet from where the
iron bows OF the big steamer came crashing
through the vessels side, so that several of
the men were struck by splinters, and
the tin plates off which they were eating
their dinner were crushed out OF
shape by heavy pieces of the main sail,
which went flying across the hatch 10 the
opposite side OF the deck. With the excep-
ton of the cook, who had his right hand
crushed, the men escaped unhurt, and at
once climbed aboard the Mipeola.''
The crew Of the Perkins state that just
before the collision some one on board the
steamer sang out, Hard DOWN. but
whether the command was meant for the
helnsman on the steamer or the one at the
Perkins wheel no enc could say. 1t was
stated that tie Mineola was in charge of
Pilot Boyd at the time of the accident
Boyd is said to be one OF the most careful
and trustworthy pilots belonging to San
Francisco, and when he returns to port he
may have another version Of the affair
tn tell