The morning call., 1892-09-29

Thesehooner Nicotine also will winter in
their cNmpany.
The Newport is commanded by Captain
Porter, ant the Karluks captains name S
Smith.
But the great news brought by the Bertha
was from the lOle steamer Mary D. Hume,
which left here hirty months ago and mas
remained in the AIctic Ocean ever since.
That vessel left Dutch HarbOr oD Sep
tember %, three days ahead of the Bertha,
and she carries the most valuable cargo
which ever left the far north.
Cal tain Ben Tilton OF the Hume sue
ceeded in making the greatest catch ever
known in the history of wha1ing fleets.
During his stay in the north he has cap
tured not less than thirty-eight whales,
thirty-six Of them being bow heads OF bone
whales.
The value Of this catch is estimated at
over $500, 900, ana its immensity is creating
much talk among the whaIers.
Captain Tilton's phenomenal success is
largely due TO his perseverance.
He is the only captain who remained two
successive winters IN the Arctic, and his
persistency has found its reward. for his
personal share of the profits will amount
TO about $50, co.,
He would receive a larger amount, but
that he has a contract with the owners, the
Pacific Steam Whaling Company, which
guarantees him a salary and limits his per-
As a rule whaling captains work for
shares OF the ''lay" or catch only.
When the Hume passed the first winter in
the Arctic she was accompanied by two
other vessels, the GTampus and the Mary Il.
Thomas.
The three ships remained there to try an
experiment
The place where they were stationed was
the mouth Of the Mackenzie River, and it
was hoped by them that in November they
would catch the " hales which were rushing
down the river TO reach the ocean before
the great annual freeZe-up.
The Hume caught twelve whales the first
winter IN that manner, and the Thomas also
had good seas on, but the Grampus made
failure Of the experiment
Captain Illt0n, having done so well one
winter, decided TO remain one more season,
although the crew rebelled and be had to
fght against their mutny.
When the Grampus returned here there
were stories of Captain Titon's cruelty To
his men set stioat, and it was said that he
harnessed tbem to sleds and made them do
dog duty.
But the men in the shipping line who
knew Tilton did not believe these reports.
They SAID they were sailors yarns only,
and old Ben Tilton knew what he was
doing.
Their Judgment is DOW verified, for when
the Mary ID. Hume appears in this port Ben
Tilt0n will be the hero of the day.
Captain Anderson of the Bertha was seen
last night at his residence, 121 Francisco
street, and he said TiltOn is the happiest
skipper that ever sailed the ocean.
His crew is also lubllant, for there Is not a
man among them whose share will not
amount to at least $500.
On whaling vessel everybody work on
shares.
The bigger the catch the larger the remun-
GRAFTON.
When the Hume's men walk the streets of
San francisco, after being away from all
civilization for two years and halt, they
will have their pockets lined with gold.
Mr. Kennedy, the first mate of the
Bertha, says that for twelve months the
men on the Hume were completely shut off
from any communication with the outside
world, and for the same period they never
saw the face OF any white men except those
on board OF their own ship.
1he Hume Is expected hourly, and the
only reason Why she di0 not arrive here be
fore the Bertha is because she has a very
Poor quality Of coal on board.
The value of the Humes cargo as given is
only an estimate, and, as matter of course,
depends entirely upon the prices the bone
and oil she carries will bring.
She has 10000 pounds of bone, having
sent $4,000 worth Of that article down
last year.
Besides that she is loaded to her fullest
capacity With oil and other whaling prod
uce
1t is quite likely that Captain Tilton's
pig success will induce many other Captain !
10 winter In the Arctic hereafter.