The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-14
SEA AND SHORE.
The EImbank MiraculOusIy Es-
capes a Waterspout.
Coast Survey Steamers in the Creek Mcintosh
Relieved From Shore Duty-Burial ofa
Seaman at Sea.

port yesterday after a passage OF eighty
days from Newcastle, N. 5. w. While on
the passage the ship had a miraculous es-
cape from destruction.
Early on the morning of February 9th,
while it was hardly daylight, those on deck
were startled by hearing loud noise, which
seemed to be approaching the ship. and to
their horror beheld monstrous waterspout
coming straight for the ship at railroad
speed.
The crew were spellbound. Destruction
seemed inevitable and nothing could be done
to avert the threatened disaster The watch
in the hunks below were alarmed ana the
men quickly came on deck. Some ran 10
lower the boats, but were stopped by the
officers, who saw that even if the boats were
launched they could not shove of from the
ship in time.
THE ROAR WAS DEAFENING.
The roar OF the a dvancing waterspout was
now deafening and it was within halt mile
of the ship, which was lying becalmed, not
even having Steerage way on her. On came
the immense pillar of water. sQuirming and
twisting like gigantic serpent towering to
the clouds. 1t had approached to within
200 yards of the ship when, with crash
like falling mountain, it burst.
Hold on tor your lives" cried the cap
tain, and the next instant the ship was
struck by the heavy swell, causing her to
roll like an egg-shell in a hurricane off Cape
Horn. Tons of water came over the rail
and flooded the decks. almost sweeping the
men off their feet.
But the danger was over, and the crew
breathed frCer ms it began 10 clear up the
decks and coil up the ropes thrown from
the pins by the rush OF the immense body
of water. In a short time everything was
ships shape again, and of the terrible danger
that threatened the ship the black cloud
rolling away TO the westward alone re-
manned visible.
LAID UP IN THE CREEK.
An important part of the United States
Navy lies in Oakland Creek. sheltered from
the fierce storms that sweep over the bosom
of the restless Pacific. Off the narrow
gauge ferry-slips lie the two coast survey
steamers Macarthur and Gedney. The Nc
Arthur has been up along the coast OF Ore
g0n during the summer on survey trip,
and returned to this por. four months ago;
since then she has been moored in the Oak
land Greek. The vessel needs no repairs,
either to hull or machinery, and Is simply
waiting for fac weather TO 90 north again
and resume work. the vessel has full
crew on board, thirty-two in all, ana will
leave for the Oregon coast about the middle
of April. The Gedney has also been in the
creek during all the winter but has her
lull C4CM VI lIll ~ -tloi NV luCA Oi uodlu' hoLC
is in command vi Lieutenant Helms, and
will leave for the northern coast about the
FIRST OF next month.
HIS SHORE DUTY Is OVER.
Lieutenant Il. Dix Bolles, U. S. n, has
been ordered to take charge OF tue Hydro
graphic Office in this city, vice Lieutenant
Ii. 2. Mcintosh, whose term OF shore duty
has expired. During the time Lieutenant
Mcintosh had been in charge OF the office
he has made many friends among the mer-
chants and shipping men, to whom the office
is OF invaluable service in supplying charts
and nautical data. Several innovations were
also introduced. the most important OF which
was the publication Of the resume.of ship
masters reports OF meteorUlogiea lH bserYa-
tons in the Pacific, intended to supply the
place on this Coast filed by the North At
lantic Chart on the Eastern cast The
Lieutenant also labored for several years to
secure an appropriation for the publication
of a monthly North Pacific Chart, but TO no
purpose Ills departure will be greatly re-
GREETED by all those having business with
the Branch photographic Office.
The British ship Stanley, from London to
San Francisco. was caught in the heavy
gale on the coast of England and put into
Plymouth with most Of her sails blown
away and several of her crew injured.
The wreck of the bark w. Il. Godfrey and
her cargo have been sold at auction for $40.
BURIED AT SEA.
Edwin Il. Peters, native of Rockland,
Me-, and seaman of the ship Florence.
which was tOwed into port yesterday, was
buried at sea on the 14th Of January. The
poor fellow was taken sick five days before
with hemorrhage of tile lungs, aud in spite
of all that could be done for him died on
the 18th. The remains were sewed up in a
hammock and with weight at his feet, in
the presence Of the ships crew, were con-
signed to the ep
TIE British ship Elmbauk, 80 days from
Newcastle, N 5. W., has a cargo of 2507
tons of coal. The American ship Florence,
129 days from Baltimore, also coal laden,
has 2342 tons, aud the British ship Brocadale
IS days from. Newcastle, n. 5. W., brought
1886 tons.
Tue ships Llewellyn j. Morse, Earl of Zet-
land and Montgomerysh lowed down
from Port Costa and anchored in the stream.
The ship Dunbritton went UP to Port
Costa 10 load.
WEATHER OBSERVATIONS.
The weather at Point Lobos at o'clock
yesterday was thick, wind southwest.
miles; at 9 o'clock f0ggy, wind west,
miles; at noon foggy, wind west, II miles;
at o'clock haZy, wind northwest, "a miles.
At o'clock yesterday the barometer stood
1920, at noon 30.18, at o'clock 1910.