The morning call., 1893-08-08
BURNED IN PORT,
The Frederick Billings a
Total Wreck.
A Stormy Passage-News From the
Sealers in Japan-Tise Monte
rey's Searchlights.

The Merchants Exchange posted the
announcement last night that the Ameei-
can ship Frederick Billings. Captain VIII
liams. was burned at one Of the nitrate
ports date not given) and Is total loss.
The Billings sailed from San Francisco
May 9 in ballast for Taltal, and was re-
ported as arriving there June %. She WAS
to load at one Of the nitrate ports for New
7 0rk.
The British bark River Ganges. Captain
Bulge, from Victoria, 3. c., to London. De-
Gem ber2 20, arrived in port July II after re-
markaby stormy voyage. Three days out a
terrific southeast gale arose, and for forty
eight hours the vessel battled with seas
which continued to break over her fore and
aft. Oil bags were brought ont. but rem
dered no services. The storm increased,
and for some time ii appeared that she
would not be able 10 weather the gale. At
p. NJ. Of the second day a heavy sea broke
ever the afteT-hOuse. carrying away an
immense chest. which was most securely
dashed, and contained fifteen life buoys
and small gear belonging to the life boats
The cabin was flooded by the same sea.
Grain shipments from coast ports cor
tinue to POUR in and the sheds are over
Gro wded.
Inc 1iaTDOE COHWlSSlUIFfS Will open
bids to-day fer rebuilding No. 5 and No.
slips at the Oakland ferry. Two weeks
ago all the bids were rejected, as they were
deemed too high, and if the lowest figures
to be handed IN to-day are not at least 10
per cent lower than the first bids the
strong probability is that they will once
more be readvertiSed.
Captain A. Donaldson has been appointed
to the command of the steamer Arag0, vice
Captain Langhorne.
The bark McNear was brought over TO
Pacific-strret wharf Yesterday from Oak
land Creek, where she has lain several
months. She vii! go to Comox. b. c., for
coal to Mare Island.
Two British ships will sail for Liverpool
direct to-day-the Ducbalburn and the
Torrsdale. The former has Il full cargo
of wheat. valued at $50, 0Oo " hi le the latter
has q general cargo, including, besides
wheat and barley, IS cases Of honey, 2i00
cases of canned fruit aud $4,000 pounds Of
taliow, the whole being valued al Si17. 900.
A letter from the captain Of sealer,
dated Hakodate, July s. states that the
most Of the crews were ashore indulging
in riot and dissipation. Few of the
twenty sealers in port had enough men to
clean ship, snd it was certain there would
be large assertions. Relative to the dis
position OF skins the letter says:
Nearly ali tbs sealers are shipping
their catch of skins direct 10 London. The
freight and insurance costs less from here
to England than from San Francisco.
There is only one man here who cures,
sorts and packs sealskins for shipment,
and all the sealing vessels have h~eE de-
layed here much longer than expected.
awaiting their turn for Wilson to handle
their skins. From Hakodate most Of the
sealers will go north, taking care at the
same tina TO keep well out Of the thirty
| mile limit which the Russians have desig-
mated as the line on the Siberian coast
Seals are reported as getting scarcer right
along, and those seen were quite wild,
which is not to be wondered at when SO
many are after them.
THE loss OF sealing boats among the
feet this year is the heaviest ever known
i'll these waters. During the severe gales
OF early June nearly every vessel in the
feet had from one to three boats washed
overheard, stove in or sunk"
E Lombard-street wharf was TANNED yes.
terday with freight out Of the Keweenaw.
and part OF the cargo oyertlowed the
wharf into the street At least two DAYS
more will be required to discharge her.
Yesterday morning the hydraulic draw.
bridge ut the Oakland ferry which has re.
Gently been put in hy the Harbor Commits
sioners was tested and proved satisfactory
in every respect. 1t works on the princi-
pie of hydraulic elevators, but the appli-
cation Of the principle with some modlica
tions to this structure Is entirely the work
OF Howard c. Holmes. chief engineer of
the commission. 1t is very Ingenious
There are two horizontal cylinders con.
tanning piston worked by lever. The
piston carries rar Of trucks over a
track. Heavy chains are attached to the
| trucks and pass over wheels to the out
| side emo Of the bridge. There are heavy
counter weights attached to chains OF equal
| strength.
| The play is such that the bridge will
! serve equally we'll at the highest and at