The morning call., 1893-12-16
WHAT EXPLODED?
The Damaged San MateO
Is in Port.
No Explanation of the Explosion-The
Alameda Sails for Honolulu.
A Mysterious Incident.

The collier San Mateo arrived yesterday
morning from COmox, b. c., and went alongside
Oakland wharf about 1920 o'clock. 1t was in
the early part of November when the San
Mateo was lying at anchor 10 SemiahmOo Bay
that an explosion occurred IN her cargo in
the forehold, which did such damage that the
vessel was obliged 10 summon assistance TO tow
her to Inc Esquimault drydoek, where she re-
manned until placed in condition to continue
her voyage.
Almost similar in nature to the explosion
which wrecked The midship quarter of the
Barracuda was that on the san NlaIeO. Braces
between decks were broken. plates started and
decks uplifted. The damage TO The San Mate o
was above the water line and forward OF the
second bulkhead. IL required a great deal Of
repairing to lit the vessel for sea.
Captain Fletcher is at loss to account for
the cause OF the explosion. member OF the
vessels crew stated that lie did not think the
commander put any faith In the dynamite
theory.
When the San Mateo has DISCHARGED her
1900 tons OF coal at Oakland wharf she will
probably be put on the drydock and thoroughly
Large crowds attended the depaItu of the
steamer Alarmed for Honolulu yesterday after
noon. The usual delay TO The overland mails
kept the Alameda at the WHAT until after 3
O'Clock. Hawaiian Minister ThuTston took
passage for the Islands, and was much-sought-
after man, but he positively refused TO talk
express any opinion about the prospective at
tempted overthrow OF the Provisional Govern
ment.
When The Alameda had backed into the
stream and was gathering Roadway 10 start on
h-r journey, a mysterious incident occurred.
A well.dressed, daIk-complexioned man, ac-
companyiDg a ather seedy-lookiOg individual,
eXcitediy approached 0oatmsn at Folsom
street wharf and urged him 10 place the sup
posed ramp ou board The outbound steamer.
A big uric was pai0 the bOatmaD, a boat low
cred and pulled toward the Alameda, which
was slgnaled 10 slow up. A rope Ladder was
let ouer the steamers side, and the strange
passenger got safely on board.
When the dai accomplishment man SAW that
his companion had boarded the steamer he
suddenly disappeared in the crowd which had
gathei ed leaving no clew TO his identity. De-
Ieellves have an idea that the seedy- looking
man must have been crook or an embeZZler
whom the da' k man was aiding 10 escape.
Captain Smith of the collier San Benitn. which
ran down the schooner Maxim of Point Arena
aboul week ago, says he cannot make any re-
port OF how the collision occurred until the OIL
cial investigation lake, place. The san Benito
came into port Yesterday from Tacoma.
The crew of the Bal ish ship Lucipara, in a
communication TO The CALL, state that the
STORY TOLD In he Sac francisco newspapers re-
garding a cert In electrical rhenonnon which
was supposed 10 have occurred while The vessel
was on her way from London 10 Sydney is with
out foundation. They lay that their snip never
had finer passage than the one she has just
competed.
The story referred 10 was originally published
IN a New Zealaud paper, 1t Is thought, and SUBJ
sequently was communicated by letter to this
city.
Hard weather and hard luck kept the vial
ing bark Emma K. Herman In the Okhotsk
Sea longer than she cared 10 stay. On May 4
she encountered heavy east-nor:heast gales
which carried away her foremost head. stove In
the sIarboard bulwarks and carried away nine
stanchions. She put into Yokohama on May 20
for rel airs and sailed on July A.
William White, petty larceny thief who
makes a practice OF stealing clothing from the
cabins of Vessels lying at The docks. was taken
into custody Yesterday by a South Harbof pa
trolman for attempting TO steal coat and vest
from st4feroom of a Pacific Mall steamer.
White had on bran new coat aud vest when
arrested. He evidently stole it and an owner Is
wanted for 1t al the South Harb0r police sta
tIOn.