The morning call., 1892-12-27
SAW THE SERPENT
Two LOngshOrenen Cap
ture the rionster,
But the Denizen of the Deep Was Too
Powerful and Got Away From
Them.


one along the city front The men who be-
long to the sailors union are so hard up
they colld not afford to celebrate, and the
non-union men had to pay all the spare cash
they had TO the different physicians around
town to dress the wounds inflicted by the
former.
The result was that most of the men were
sober and the day passed in commonplace
manner.
Christmas day had bad effect on two
longshoremen, although they both said they
had not been drinking anything. They
were both sitting on stringer at Lombard
street wharf yesterday morning railing at
cruel fate that compelled them to pass
Christmas day away from home. They did
not tell any body where that home was but
they rallied just the same.
Suddenly the senior OF the pair saw
movement In the water that looked like an
enormous fish. He seized a rope that be-
longed TO somebody else and ran down the
landing slide, intending to secure the prize
Tor himself. But, his friend also saw tie
peculiar movement and was on hand with a
boathook as soon as he was. Both men cast
their weapons, and one OF them caught the
creature with a firm hold. He pulled as
hard as he could, and soon an enormous
head poked cut Of the water. 1t must have
been very ugly and terrible for both OF the
bold anglers screamed aud elutched at one
another.
They grabbed and screamed several
times, until both lost their balance and fell
into the bay. The terrible head was not the
least frightened. for it waited near by, and
when the men fell in paid no attention to
them.
With some difficulty both scrambled out
and ran to the nearest saloon. They told
their friends they had found a terrible sea-
serpent that had tried hard to drown them,
bnt they had escaped by their great power
and nerve.
The men in the saloon became interested
and went to Lon baTG-street wharf They
found rope and a boathook on the landing
slide. and pulling on the former soon con-
WINGED them that there was something large
on The other end. They pulled strongly,
ball afraid that some monster of the deep
would jump out and devour them. and after
few moments exertion their efforts were
rewarded by the end of large pile coming
TO view. Ii was tightly fastened to the end
OF the line, and there was no doubt but that
was what the men saw and thought il was
sea serpent.
The men admitted that the drinks were
| on them. but they did not have enough
money to pay, so the crowd had to go
| thirsty.
Yesterday was the day on which Christ
mas should have been celebrated in the
proper orthodox style. but tile officers of
| the United States revenue cutter Rush de-
| voted II 10 the services of the Government.
| 1t is about two weeks since the little vessel
| went to Folsom-street wharf to be over
| hauled, but the werk has been very slow
| and she is not yet ready for sea. The eff
| GERS have become impatient and pitched in
| to do some of the work themselves. The
| engines have been changed, SO that it is ex-
| pected they will do great deal more work
| than formerly. When the work of removal
| ton has been completed she will go on a
Trial trip as IL she were new vessel. The
| officers think she has the finest lines that
can be put into a vessel and say she only
| lacks engine power to make her one of the
| fastest cutters afl0at.
The recent storm played havoc with the
| Merchants Exchange signal flags, and on
| Sunday night all that was left was the rem
| nant Of a piece of blue bunting at the top Of
! the pole that tapped in the wind and re-
1 fused to go either up or down.
No one could be found to do the work of
| extricating the precious flag from its peril
| Gus position, so Manager Emory did the
work himself, and his bravery cost him
| several bottles OF champagne and dozen
| rounds of drink for his admiring friends.
The first sailing vessel in four DAYS ar
| rived yesterday. Ii was the schooner Ida
| Schnauer from Tahiti. and she was forty
four days making the passage. The long
| voyage was a succession of storms and
| Gains that kept the men awake most of the
| time, and the vessel bouncing about like a
lump OF quicksilver. No damage was re-
| ported.
The Pacific Yacht Club will give its second
"
January Z, 1893 The event will take place
at the clubhouse at Sausalito, and the de-
mand for Invitations has already become
greater than the supply.
The Monterey took spin along the city
front yesterday. but did not do anything
extraordinary. The bay was in good con-
milton for q trial trip, but she simply went
from the Union Iron Works to Red Rock at
very ordinary rate of speed aud did not
excite much comment along the city front.
Tho pilot-boat Lady Mine was outside
during all the storm, but got in safely yes
terday morning. She was pitched around
like a cork and the waves washed over her
for hours. The forward hatch was washed
of and all the small boats stove In. A
great deal Of damage was done TO small
articles. The whole will cost about $3.50 to
repair.
On Saturday morning Captain Murphy Of
the pilot-boat America was put on board
the ship Parthia outside the heads. but it is
not likely she will get in for a couple of
days.
The Pacific Mail Company's steamer
Coiima was due TO arrive yesterday. but at
midnight had not put In al appearance. 1t
is very likely that she Is outside the heads
and will get In to-day.
The sugar brig Consuelo sailed yester-
day, and also the Gosford. Neither found
!, in