The morning call., 1891-05-09
SEA AND SHORE.
The Tam o. Shanter Strikes on
the Potato Patch.
She Is Towed OFF and Run on Mission Flats to
Prevent Sinking Work Begun on the
New Crulser-Wreck of the Premier.

The coal-laden ship Tam o. Shanter. from
Nagasaki for this port, came very nearly
being wrecked at an early hour yesterday
morning. She attempted to enter the
harbor without the aid of tug-boat, but the
wind died out aud she drifted on the four
fathom bank known as the Potato Patch.
There was very little sea at the time, or the
ship would have been a total wreck. As
soon as she struck the bank signals of dis
tress were made and were seen by the tug
Wizard, which at once went to her assist
ance. In the meantime the Tam o. Shanter
was pounding away, and the crew was
ordered to the pumps.
The vessel began TO leak badly and 1t
was soon found that her pumps would not
keep her afioat. As soon as the tug came
alongside she took the hawser and began
the work OF towing her off the bank. This
was speedily accomplished and the Wizard
headed for the harbOr with the ship in tow.
The crew stuck to the pumps. but in spite
of all the men could do the water gained
very rapidly, showing that the vessel was
badly damaged. The water poured in so
fast that by The time she had reached
Meiggs Wharf there were eight feet OF
water in her hold and she was fast settling.
1t was therefore decided to run her ashore
on the mud in Mission Bay to prevent her
going TO the bottom. This was done and
then the Wizard, with her powerful pumps,
was pa. to work, but still the water gained,
and 1t was found necessary to run the snip
broadside on into the mud. This was also
accomplished after some trouble, and the
tug resumed her pumping. The cargo Will
have to be discharged into lighters before the
extent of the damage can be aSeertalned.
This will be done as soon as possible and
the ship placed on the dry-dock.
NEW wAR-sHIPs
The managers of tue Union Iron Works
do not intend to let any grass grow under
their feet, for no sooner is one ship of the
ways than the work Of laying the keel or
another begins The day after the very
successful launch of the coast-defense ship
Monterey the ways on which she was built
were made ready to receive the keel of
Cruiser q, aud the work of construction was
begun. Mr. Scott told CALL reporter yes
terday that the masts, boilers and windlaSS
have been put into the Monterey, and work
on her is being pushed forward as rapidly
as possible. The ways are being prepared
on which the big battle ship Oregon Will
be built, and by the first Of next month her
keel will be laid. Mr.. Scott could not say
when the Monterey would be ready for the
trial trip, but it is safe to say that she Will
be ready some time before her guns are here.
THE PREMIER TOTAL WRECK.
A dispatch was received in this city yes
terday from the captain of the schooner
Premier, which sailed from this poIt on
February 18th for Bristol Bay, Alaska, that
she has become total wreck. No further
particulars were given other than that the en-
tire crew was saved. The vessel was 366 tons
burden and was built in Port Ludlow in
1876
The following coal-laden vessels arrived
in port yesterday: Steamship San Pedro
from Tacoma with 1000 tons, ships Oriental
from Tacoma, Tam o. Shanter from Maya
saki with 2O65 tons and the bark Aureola
from Departure Bay with 1900 tons. The
Oriental proceeded up the river direct.
The weather yesterday was haZy with
the wind from the northwest, blowing
twelve miles an hour. The barometer was
stationary at 30.00
The following named vessels lowed to sea
yesterday The w. j. Davis, Spokane and
James A. Garfield.
The ship ST. Francis came down from
Port Costa aud anchored in the stream.