The morning call., 1893-05-27
THE BEAR FLAG.
Whalers Desire to Sail
Under 1t.
iii Luck of Others Who Were Prom-
ised Russian Protection = The
Gray's Romantic History.

The whaling schooner Jane Gray is in
the stream preparatory to departure for
the whaling grounds between the Amoor
River and East Cape.
Advices from st. Petersburg are ex-
pected daily which will give permission to
the Gray to sail under the Russian flag
and in the name of the Russian Whaling
and Sealing Company. an organization re-
Gently given birth to in this city.
The brig Hdalgo, it Is expected, will
join the Gray.
Notwithstanding that the right to chase
leviathans and to barter with the Russian
natives Will undoubtedly be granted.
whaling in Russian waters is not what it
is cracked up to be.
Recently permission was given to a
French corporation to trade off the Rus
sian coast, and a few days ago advices
were received that one of this company s
vessels landed boat at or near the mouth
of the Am0or River with disastrous re-
suits. Two men were taken prisoners by
detail of Russian troops VIII ch were
patrolliDg IN the vicinity, and nothing has
been seen or heard of them since.
1t apIe ears that a short while ago ves-
sci flying the Hawaiian flag and brig
under Japanese oolOrS have been seen by
the authorities of Russia cruising about in
Russian waters and acting uspiciously.
A cruiser has FASTENED to the scene, and
from reports received in this city yesterday
from q private source 4 b0atload of men
from one Of these vessels has been cap
tured. her entire crew being transported
to Siberia
The steamer sighted by the Russians is
described as a schooner-rigged vessel flying
the Hawaiian flag. She is about 900 tons
register.
Seafaring men predict that the Jane
Gray will have trouble with the Russians,
although there does not seem 10 be any
good reasOr for this proDhesy, unless it be
that the little schooner led a life of adyen-
ture ever since her maiden voyage, and ii
seems more than likely that romantic es-
caDes and thrilling incidents will fill the
final entry sheets of her logb0ok.
The GRAY was built at Bath, Me-, and
was owned in 1SS7-during which year she
came around the Horn to San Francisco
by Captain w. Il. Kelley. her master.
She went into the Arctic as whaler in
1888, and on August 3 of that year was
wrecked off Point Barrow. Word Of the
wreck of the Gray was brought to Point
Northern Light. and Captain Healy of the
Bear, who was then stationed in the north,
went with his vessel TO the scene.
After frUitless attempt to raise her, the
Bear returned to Point Barrow. On Au-
gust 13 the Thetis sighted the derelict and
succeeded in getting sings under her bow.
rightlng her sufficiently to permit Golfer
dam being built around her main hatch.
The Thetis is provided with set Of very
powerful pumps, and as there was very
little water overdecks the Gray was raised,
patched uD temporarily and brought to
Point Barrow. where she was substan-
tally repaired.
Seven men were detailed in charge OF
Ensign {. G. Denny OF the Thetis TO bring
her to San Francisco
On arrival at this port she was towed to
Tanners shipyard. soon after which she
fell into the hands of Wright, Bonne g.
Co, who are her present agents.