The morning call., 1893-09-24

house from Acting Secretary of the Treas
ury Hamlin and Commissioner of Naviga-
tion O'Brien, for the Countess Ella. she
being by law in command of the yacht.
This had been done upon an oath taken by
Mrs. FesteticS that she was the master OF
the TOlna and citizen OF the United
States. The Count could not qualify for
the Yachts command under rowing COM
mission, as he is not citizen of this
country. The principal condition of
rowing commission, il should be remarked,
is that no trading shall be done.
Some question was raised, too, about the
Countess status. 1t was supposed that
she, by marriage, became of the same
nationality as her husband. But on that
point opinions were very much divided,
and, anyhow. the Treasury Department
had settled it by sending along the com
mission. made out in her full name, tn
wit: ELLA, Comtesse FesteticS de Tolna."
Whoever filled out the artistic document
had not overlooked her title.
This commission is still with the Gus
toms authorities and will doubtless re-
main in their care for some time 70 come.
One thing is certain; 1t will not be deliv-
cred to the Countess until the kind of
cargo the Count is taking aboard, and
what he proposes to 90 with il, are salts
factOriiy ascertained.
After Mr.. Haffurd made his statement
Chief Clerk Jerome prepared q telegram
TO Commissioner OBren, which Collector
Wise signed, aud the dispatch was sent
without delay. 1t acquainted the Com
missioner of Navigation with the facts,
briefly. and inquired what should be DONE
1t is expected that the answer will lie one
ordering an investiga ton, and by tO-moT-
row or next day the Count may be expected
to explain matters. If he can show that
the articles which he has aboard are for
the personal benefit of himself and wife
and their crew of six during q pleasure
cruise among the South Sea Islands the
commission may be turned over TO the
Countess and the procuring OF traders
license will then not be insisted upon. Ii,
however, the contrary be developed the
Tolna will not be permitted 20 sail out of
the harbor until she clears in the regular
manner and Is equipped with traders
license.
Now, Mr.. Hafford took the pains to
make out list of the Counts cargo while
he was on the yacht. but be left IL aboard
among other personal effects. When a
CALL reporter called upon him at his
hume late yesterday afternoon he could
remember quite a number of items and
gave them as follows:
"Ten cases of OH Pepper whisky, each
case c0n tanning one dozen quart bottles.
Ten cases of gin.
Five cases of Zinfandel.
'"Ten barrels of Wieland's beer.
"Five hundred pounds of plug tobacco.
"Ten cases of salmon.
"Ten cases of corn.
"A lot of watches.
"a miscellaneous assortment of cheap
jeweiry.
"Suspenders, neckties and silk handker-
chiefs in abundance.
Patent medicines galore-hair restor-
ers, sarsaparillas. medical discoveries and
the like"
"Re has stores enough to fit out an ordi-
nary deep-water ship for a three years
cruise" said the ex-second officer "And
I'VE had hardly anything to eat. He gave
US salt provisions all the time right here
In the harbor. We had fresh beef only
once or twice"
''W by did you leave?' was asked.
well, was afraid if l went out with
him we would either starve to death or
drown. He discharged a man iand put on
boy of 10 years in his place."
who was the manP"
Charley johnson was his name. The
boy was just about to enlist at Mare Island
in the navy as apprentice boy. It's a
ques tion whether the boys father will let
hun go. But where would we be out in
midocean with boy on watch"
DIDN'T the captain leave. too?"
Yes. that was few days ago. The
captains name was Robertson. The man
in charge now is the first officer Wich-
man Is MS name. lie and the Count can
both talk the same language.
II don't care about riskine my life
aboard the Tolna. The Counts naviga-
ton is ali theory, and there isn't spare
block or halyard or coil of rope aboard
She carries great deal of canvas, that
yacht does. and man ought to be able to
know where TO lay his hand on things
Her crew is to consist of four men forward
aud two aft, and one OF the former, as l
said. is boy.
Talk about stores! He has condensed
mix enough on board to last vessel five
| times her size three years.
| 'l'Il tell you what the men forward got
one morning that raised the biggest kind
OF row-oatmeal mush, fried potatoes
and coffee! Perhaps we would get fresh
| beef once week. For dinner we would
have soup, salt beef, potatoes. bread and
coffee. L couldn't stand it any longer. |
| had had several rows with the Count and
concluded to quit
He is very economical. Last Wednks-
| day we were at Benicia in the mud Foy