The morning call., 1892-10-31
AN OFTEN-STOLEN BOAT.
Out in the Bay All Night in
the Fog.
Tiny Craft That Is Stolen Number o
Times Week, Although Wor,h Al
most Nothing.

1t was only dirty, battered, miserable
looking skiff, worth at the most about So 70,
and yet it has had more adventures than
generally fall to the lot of first-class
pirate sloop or bluckblrd steamer.
1t has been owned by dozens of people
and has been stolen from all of them. who
thought so little of it that she never has
been given name.
At times 1t has been stolen from its right
full owner and then stolen from the thieves
three or four times before 1t was re-
covered,
Every boat thief seemed to covet ii and it
could not be left alone a moment without
disappearing
Its last adventure was quite hard on the
man who took her and came near costing
him his life.
About week ago the boat was green in
color and belonged 10 man near Meiggs
Wharf, who kept his eye on it all day and
chained it up at night. But with all his
care it disappeared mysteriously and the
loss was reported 10 the police.
All the officers kent a sharp lookout and
last Tuesday Officer Aiken found several
boys giving green boat coat of red
pant under the wharyes near Harrison
street. The boys ran and the officer took
charge of the boat. The man who owned
it identified il and said he would be around
and "fix" the thing ND with the bOatman in
whose care the boat was left
The man did not show up, and Saturday
morning the boat disappeared from where
IL was fastened, and nobody knew who
took IT, Search was made, but nothing
could be found. and those interested wait
ed for the boat 10 turn up, which il did yes
terday morning, although it is possible the
hav N Of hoi r
property.
man named Fred Crittenden, while
fishing from the end of Lombard-street
Wharf yesterday morning, was surprised to
hear man in boat short distance out
in the bay calling TO him. The man said he
was in distress. having lost one of his oars
and could not get to land. Crittenden ran
to the landing-stairs. where a boat was
fastened. and got into il and went after the
man. He sUon got him to the wharf, but
the man was too exhausted to say much and
appeared very anxious to get away from the
place.
But his story was quite interesting. He
started for Sansalito In the boat Saturday
morning. expecting to reach there in a short
time. When about half way over one of
his oars broke and he could do very little to
help himself. BY a great effort he kept his
craft from going through the Golden Gate,
and when the tide turned attempted to scull
to place where he could land Before he
could accomplish this fog and darkness
came on. He could not tell which way he
WAS going. aud was in constant fear of go
ing on shore somewhere or else being run
down by larger craft.
The night was something awful. His
clothes were wet through, and he was weak
with hunger and thirst, as he ouly bad a
pint bottle of whisky with him.
When morning came he found himself
only short distance from the wharf and
managed to make the man hear him. He
was so weak he could not scull the boat 10
the landing. lie told his story quickly and
briefly and disappeared, saying be would
soon return for his boat. A man who knew
the boat recognized 1t and waited for the
other 10 come back after ii. But ne did not
show mp as late as o'clock last evening
aud it is very likely he has had enough row.
boat riding to last him some time.