The morning call., 1894-05-27
STRUCK HER HARD
Steamer and Tug Collide
in the Bay.
BEFORE DAYLIGHT FADED.
The HaCkett Runs Into the Mex
ico'S Bow.
PASSENGERS PANIC STRICKEN.
Ex-Mate RyfkCgel of the I!I-Fated
Los Angeles Was One of the
Tugs Crew.

the bottom.
The tug Walter Haokett and the steamer
Mexico coIlided about half mile off Black
Point about Z o'clock last night and both
vessels suffered considerable damage. The
Hackett is at the Taylor-street wharf
undergoing repairs and the Mexico is being
patched UP at the Broadway wharf.
The Mex co, in from Victoria, was
sighted late In the afternoon, and the
Hackett was chartered to take the customs
officers out to her. as the Hartley. the
United States revenue cutter, is now
undergoing repairs.
When about half mile off Black Point
the Tug. in charge of Captain Montell.
came on to the Mexico. 1t was still day
light, and the steamer was coming IN with
just enough head on 10 take her through
the tide up TO Meiggs wharf.
The next instant the collision occurred.
The Hackett ran nose on to the staTbOard
side of the steamer. There was one solid
shock a splintering of the rails; the Mex
leo settled back in the recoil and the bow
Of the ting shot up out of tue water. Then
there was a cracking of pipes, q creakIng
of wires, steam escaping in great Kissing
white clouds and all was confusion on
board both boats.
Almost a panic was raised on the Mex
leo. She bad her full complement of
passengers and most of them were in the
saloon at the moment of collision. The
sudden crashing together of the two
vessels, followed almost Immediately after
ward by the splintering Of the rail and the
sDutering OF the escaping steam, was all
that was needed to fill their souls with
visions OF an explosion and untimely
graves at the bottom of the bay.
The fright was universal. With one
accord those below rushed for the deck by
way of the narrow staircases. They
pushed and damned and swore frantically.
1t was every one for himself and but little
room for that
Those first up jumped for the rails an
were soon followed by a stream from be-
low. The fresh breeze cooled them in
stantly. aud this and the fact that time
was consumed in the struggle for The deck
was all that prevented many from leap
ing overheard at the sudden impact
On board the tug there was more excite
ment for a moment than on the larger
vessel. The steam gauge had been CON-
pletely broken, and the white clouds of
the escaping steam had fairly shrOuded
the little tug. There were few on board
and, the steam clearing before they knew
what they were about, thew found them
selves rocking gently in the water, the
stack swayiDg from one guy wire and the
steam all z ne.
The collision having passed and the
panic over the customs officers boarded
the Mexico and she was run in to Broad
way wharf, where the engineers went i'm
medlately to work repairing the broken
pipes.
The passengers were somewhat relieved
after the recovery from the first shock and
took it tor granted that the danger was
over. but Captain Debney and his officers
put IN a pretty bad quarter of an hour be-
fore getting safely to the dock
There was imminent danger of the wa
ter. cooled by the breaking of the pipes,
running back into the hot water in the
boilers and causing an explosion. They
could do nothing that they knew Of to pre-
vent II and had to trust 10 luck. For tie
second time that uncertain quantity was
favOra Die to them The cold water found
an outlet and failed to reach the boilers.
The pier was reached, the passengers in
sDected and unlOaded, the fires drawn and
all was safe.
The Hackett managed to make the Tay-
lor-street wharf, and machinsts were set
10 work repairing the damage.
Cantain Debney OF the Mexico was
mystifed as to how it was possible for any
head to carry her to the wharf through the
tide rip on the strong ebb, he said: and he
cannot explain the management that re-
suited IN running the tug into his star
board bow.
Que Of the peculiar things that some-
times occur. aboard ship, about which
sailors don't say much, but wisely wag
their heads, was noticeable about the col
llslou. RyfkOgel, who was the third mate
on the Inflated Los Angeles, which wen;
down OF Point Sur "A few weeks ago. was
one of the deck hands on the Hackett.
Captain Montell claims that the Hackett
was carried by the tide against the Mexico.
II was lying 30 out there, aiting for the
Mexico to come along" said he. II had
made turn and was headed in when the
tide carried me against the steamer"
But the engines on your boat were
working" was suggested.
well, replied Mon$ell, with a sIight
hesitation noticeable in his voice, 1--WE had
Just started the engines before she struck
There was no damage done except to the
little steam whistle pine, which broke and
let the steam out. We are all fixed up
DOW, and l Will start from here in an
hour"
His boat was then moored to the seawall
opposite the barge office, while he worked
with his engineer at repairing the wreck.
When the Hackett went out she had on
board Joseph Hooker, boarding officer
1bl WIG uuou anu LLIe6 custom s
officers, whose duty it was to inspect tho
Mexico.
There was on board ex-third officer of
the Los Angeles, Ryfkogel, who was sus-
pended by the United States Supervising
Inspector of Steam Vessels for his action
through which the Los Angeles was
wrecked on Point Sur on April 20 last.
Ostensibly he was a deckhand, as he could
not legally be a navigator, having been
suspended by the Government.
The Hackett is a powerful tugbOat and
practically new. She is about as large as
the Vlgiant. the only difference being she
is built of WOOD. John Hackett of Oak
land is the owner. Three or four years
ago he built her and ever since she has
been employed towing barges and other
craft in the Oakland Creek and frequently
taking vessels to sea. She has also been
engaged on the San Joaquin River towing
river barges from the bay to river ports.
In appearance she is a stancb-lO0oking
craft with room for powerful engines ana
spacious Lighthouses. The Government
recently chartered her in place OF the
United States tug Hartley, which is under
going repairs. The night before last Cap
tain Montell was given command of the
Hackett as night captain, and this run
after the Mexico was an initial experience
in making connection with a steamer.
Monlell was formerly night captain of
the Hartley and was made the subject of
newspaper sketches for bis unfortunate
propensity for Dumping against wharves
and vessels while getting around the bay
at night. 1t was claimed that he aid con-