The morning call., 1893-10-15
THE NEWBERN's HISTORY.
Profitable Voyages of the Steamer
i'm the South Coast Trade.

in the South Coast Trade.
There is an old saying along the water
front that the steamer Newbern has made
more money than she was capable of car
rying, and judging from her long years of
profitable service there is more truth than
fiction in this remark.
In 1862 the Newbern was finished at the
Brooklyn shipyards and old-time New
Yorkers will perhaps remember the cir
cumstances under which she was launched
At the time the United States Federal Gov
eminent was very much in need of vessels
With which to maintain the blockade of
Southern ports. An effort was made 10
secure her and fit her up as cruiser, but
finally it was decided by the steamers
owners to withhold her for their own
service and use her as carrier between
Atlantic ports. She was, however, char
tered by the Government and used for a
time as transport. At the close of the
war she ran for long time between New
York and New Orleans and other Gulf
ports.
At the time of her advent into the ma
rine world the Newbern was considered
very fine vessel She was built of the
very best of timbers and her machinery
was of the latest type of maritime
construction of mechanical nature
n However, new machinery had since been
placed in her.
The Newbern was purchased in the East
by the California Navigation Company, of
which John Birmingham was agent, some
eighteen years ago, and, together with the
Montana, a steamer of about her tonnage
was used in the line between this port and
Guaymas. AT the latter point connection
was made with line of small stern-wh heel
boats owned by the same company, which
Iavigated the upper part of the gulf and
the Colorado River as far as Yuma. The
two lines did large business, as all
freight and passenger traffic between
this city and places in Arizona
and the Northwestern Mexican
States had either to 60 by sea
or take tedious and oft-times dangerous
journey overland from Los Angeles. On
the com plelion of the Southern Pacific
through Arizona. however. the traffic by
sea fell off and the company disposed of
their river boats 10 the railroad people and
only kept the teamships. About this time
the Montana was burned at sea on a voy-
age between here and Guaymas. The
Mexico was built to take her place, but as
business continued TO decline she was dis
posed of to the Pacific Coast Steamsh
Company, who placed her ON the Puget
Sound route. A few years since the New
bern, as the last floating property of the
| old Gulf of California Company, was dis
posed of TO the Pacific Coast Company and
had been retained by them on the route be-
tween this port and Guaymas, making
monthly trips.
The Newbern has carried enough treas
ure between the United States and Mexico
to pay off the national debt. Her cargoes
latterly consisted of unrefned silver ore,
hides, pelts, deerskins, tropical fruits and
Mexican cigars. for which the Pacific Coast
Steamship Comf any received freight rates
somewhat higher than the customary com.
pensa ion for Transportation.
The Pacific Coast Steamship Company
seldom insuIes any of its vessels, and very
little if any insurance was placed on the
Newbern.
Captain Won Helms, who commanded
the vessel, is known to be careful navi-
gator and one thoroughly familiar with
the southern coast. 1t is thought that the
| wreck of the Newbern can in no way be
attributed TO lack of care and attention to
| duty on his part.
The Newbern was vessel of 943.3 tons
gross. 1913 feet in leng th and 29 feet in
breadth of beam.