The morning call., 1893-12-09
VESSELS COLLIDE.
The San Benito Runs
Down a Schooner.
Almost a Serious Accident Off Point
Arena - A Search for Opium.
Marine Notes.

The collier San BeDitO came near sinking the
schooner Maxim twelve miles off Point Arena
Thursday morning about 3 O'Clock. The Max
i'm was bound in for this port with load of
lumber from Caspar and the San Benito was
bound north for Tacoma. According to the
schooner captains report his vessel was steer
ing southeast by east. The night was clear,
but the collier bore down on her as II her steers
man had failed 20 see the schooneT's lights.
The Maxim was struck we'll forward by the
steamers bow glancing blow. Her bowsprit,
jibboom, forward rigging, cathead and windlas s
were carried away and her stem split open,
causing the vessel TO spring a leak. The Max
in's main boom caught 10 tha steamers rigging
and was carried away. The malnmast was
snapped of fifteen feet from the deck. When
the colliding vessels had swung clear of each
other th San Benito put about and asked If
help was wanted; tn Maxim's skipper It fused
aid. The schooner tried TO make port under
foresail, but was obliged TO anchor of DuxbuT
reef and summon the assistance OF tug 10 tow
her 10 harbor.
Detectives Egan and Seymour searched the
baggage OF passenger on board the steamer
San Jose, from Panama. yesterday, suspeciing
him OF being friend OF man named Hahn,
who fed to Guatemala some mouths ago from
Natchez Miss, with bonds valued at $4,000.
The officers were satisfied in q lew minutes that
they had make mistake IN their man and
veDienced him. Hahn IS now under arrest In
Guatemala awaiting extradltlon papers from
Mississippi.
Hoo Chan, secretary of the Chinese legation
at Callao, Peru. arrived on the San Jose. He is
on his way 10 Chicago ana mas no business of
special Importance in this country.
Eastern conductors and trainmeD enjoyed an
excursion about the bay yesterday afternoon on
tile steamer San Rafael. The WrecK OF the New
York, Alcatraz and Angel Island were visited
The conductors expressed themselves as highly
pleased with our climate. some OF Them telling
of letters they had received from their homes
beyond the Roc les where the thermometer Is
now reported to be way below Zrro.
A sharp lookout is being kept on II coasting
vessels for opium by The Custom house officials
The steamer Homer, from Seattle Thursday.
was searched, but none OF, th- drug was found
on board of her. a small seizure was made
on the steamer Al-ki, however, by Inspector
AbeTn.
The steamer George W. Elder will be taken
Oh the Portland run by the Pacific Coast Steam
ship Company. She Will be sent 10 Portland to
lty up, SO that In case OF sudden movement
IN grain or merchandise in the north she Will be
at hand for The emergency.
The steamer UDatiia Will sail on the 11th
for Victoria and Sound ports in place of the
Queen. The Queen arrived from the Sound
Yesterday morning.
The question of allowing six French Cana
dians from Victoria to land was debated by the
Immigration Commissioners when the Queen
docked. An investigation into the financial
standing of tn new arrivals showed that they
were possessed OF considerable coin. and were
therefore considered entitled 10 permission TO
land
The British steamer Barracuda, which is
owned by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company,
cl ated at the Custom-house yesterday for
Panama and way ports. Among the freight for
Central American ports was Z34O centals OF
corn, 5000 cases of beer, 1900 barrels OF -four,
$4,000 pounds of beans, IA, 600 feet OF lumber,
$4,000 pounds OF mali. 649 sacks of potatoes,
21.000 pounds OF rice, $4,000 pounds OF tai
low and 2S, 600 gallons of wine, also 226,I5
pounds OF tobacco, valued at S29,3I4 The
tobacco is destined for San Jose de Guatemala,
and Is sent In anticipation OF the big tariff duty
that is shortly 10 be imposed there. For
for Guayaquil 1000 barrels. All traces
OF damage done by the mysterious EXPLOSION in
the steamers saloon, which occurred about
three months ago, have been enaced, and she
was looking as bright and clean as a new dollar.
The tug Reliance is to have new fu rnaces
put IN and the tug Katie Cook new boiler.
Captain Burns of The BARI entlne Troplc Bird
reports business as very dull at Tahiti. Trade
Is sack, he says, and money Is scarce.
The steamer Oakland resumed its place yes
terday on the Oakland rotue. alter being laid
off for over a month. The damage to the Oak
land by reason of its collision with floating
pile turned out TO be very serious. The shaft
three feet breaking The interior OF the paddle
box lD order 10 repair the damage 1t was
necessary 10 take out a section OF the paddle
box over sixty feeC long. The f1ooring for a
space of fifty feet long between the paddle. box
ana engine-room was also taken up. While
laid up The Oakland was thoroughly cleaned
and renovated.
Wrecker Whitelaw Is silent, but busy. The
wrecker Samson came in from Point Bonita
yesterday with some of the appliances which
will be dispensed with in wrecking the New
York, now that pOntoons are TO be used. Work
on the steamer is reported to be progressing
favorably.