The morning call., 1893-03-26
THE MEXICO OFF.
Every Inch of Room on
Board Occupied.
A THOUSAND TONS REFUSED
Another Steamship to Leave in Fifteen
Days-It viii Probably Be
the willamette.

Shortly after o'clock yesterday afternoon
the steamship Mexico, the second ship sent
southwark by the North American Naviga-
tiou Company, cleared from the Lombard
street dock and started on her journey.
The vessel carried the largest cargo from
this port that she has ever had in all her
years of service, and, had there been room
for 1t, could have had 1000 tons more freight
than there was aboard. When the Mexico
left the dock her freight sheets showed a
net tonnage of 16,020 measurement and her
passenger sheets sixteen steerage and two
cabin passengers.
The Mexico could have sailed away with
every staterOom filed had the new company
so desired. Everybody who had anything
to send South or East or who wanted to go
South or East by sea, seemed to want the
Mexico to take their goods oil persons. The
only reasons that cabin passengers were re-
fused were first because the room aboard
was needed tor freight, and secondly, be-
cause the complete arrangements for quick
transportation across the lsthmuS have not
been made by the new company.
Not only was every foot of space ab0ard
the vessel in the hold filled with freight but
fair-szed cargo was lashed upon tie
decks and slowed away In the deck state
rooms that ordinarily should have been &C.
cupied by passengers
The new movement inauguTated by the
North American Navigation Company is
for fast freight only JUST at present. After
awhile the question Of passenger traffic will
be considered.
AS the Mexico swung away from the
wharf yesterday afternoon the thousand
people watching her departure waved hats.
handkerchIefs, canes and umbrellas and a
hearty "God-speed and safe, quick voy-
age" was her go0d-by
Once clear of heI moorings, Captain Hun
ter gave the signal 80 raise the flag" and
from the foremost of the vessel the yellow
red and blue striped flag of Guatamela was
flung TO the breeze. As the vessel proceeded
down the bay every tug and steamship that
passed her Saluted with a blast from their
whistles which the Mexico answered AL
though carrying the largest cargo ever
placed aboard the ship, Captain Hunter and
Chief Oficer kidstOn say that the load has
been placed aboard with unusual care and
that there is q danger to be apprehended
from shifting" even III a storm. It's hoped,
however, that the vessel will encounter no
| gales, but make quick safe trip and land
her freight right on time.
On the downward passage the vessel will
make but one stop-at OcOs, Guatemala
and the time consumed there in diScharg-
ing the cargo shipped for that point will be
only few hours.
Now, that the Mexico is at sea. the ques-
| tlon which the North American Navigation
! Company has to consider is, What will
we do With the ship-lOad of freight already
! offered ?"
There are all sorts of rumnrs afoat S to
what is to be done and will be done, but the
| company's agents have only this TO say
Another snip will leave in fifteen days,
and our books are OPEN"
What ship has been chartered ony the
managers OF the new enterprise know, but
II Is supposed that the next vessel they send
from this port will be the stauch steamer
Willamette a uuph vacenI tbaD
Mexico, quite as speedy and far more sea-
worthy, from the insurance companies
point OF view. 1t is said that the charter for
the willamette was signed yesterday, and
that an announcement VIII be made in day
or two that freight Will be received for that
vessel. However that NAV be, certain il is
that the new company has made some
arrangements whereby the merchants and
shippers Of San Francisco and California
will be taken care of and their goods handled
IN far quicker tne and at less cost than
ever before.
In answer TO the question as to whether
cargoes had been secured for the ships on
their return voyages 10 this port, one Of the
agents OF the North American Navigation
Company said yesterday: Were letting Q
the other fellows do the talking on this
| proposition. In other words, we are no [
saying anything, but you can rest assured
| that none Of our vessels will return in bal
| last"
For the first time in many days the Lom-
bard-street wharf IS clear OF freight. but it
was only ten minutes before the order
Cast all lines loose" was given by the
commander of the Mexico that the last con-
signment was put aboard.
For time It looked very much as If some
OF the cOnsigGments that had been accepted
would be left behind, but room was found
for the last plank on the upper deck for
ward at the last moment. and the dock
was cleared clean u new pin"
The interest manifested by the merchants
and shippers in the sailing of the Mexico
yesterday was phenomenal. Business men
who have probably not visited shipping
dock in this city In ten years before drove
down in buggies, hacks, coupes ana even
their delivery wagons, TO see the vessel sail
away, and these were the men who shouted
"God-speed. good luck and quick voyage" ="
as the ship moved from the dock and out
bav -