The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-07-19
FROM FAMOUS CLIPPERTON.
A Sailors Views on Their Raids
and Tricks.
NEWS FROM SAN SALVADOR.
Factions Are Fighting and Battle
Was Fought at La Libertad.
Marine Notes.

A whole colony of land crabs. the famous
crustaceans of Ciipperton Island. have ar
rived per the schooner V0lante.
When at the reef q seaman, who wished
10 show the people OF San Francisco what
a ClippertOn crab is like. brought gunny
sack IuIt of them en- board and dumped
them into the hold of the schooner. The
Nolante is in consequence harborlng a
large family of the curious creatures that
make life burdensome for the men who re-
side at the guano island.
The crab from Clipperton is not like his
cousins VINO sbt file about at the bottom of
San Francisco bay. He despiseS the water
and dies by millions from the effects of
even heavy shower. such as often p0urs
down In the tropics.
He Is not different in appearance from
an ordinary crab, but is much smaller and
is armed with a couple Of small tusks tina t
protrude from his queer mouth.
Going To sea with colony OF Clipperton
crabs is an undertaking that is looked
upon by those familiar with the habits of
the creature as a rash act, for the land
crab can climb like spider and is as full
OF fight as bulldog.
The Volante'S crabs went everywhere.
through the unst0pped cracks, aud even
went so far as TO investigate the compass
and make careful examination OF all
stays and braces, so the sailors claim.
A crab cannot reef a sail nor take
trick at the helm, but he cal show how
much interested he is in such operations
by standing with his claws extended and
his little bead-ike eyes working miScheV-
ously. CllDpertOn crabs are very learned
and like pYprPisa their aducatiOn nv
practical observation.
The Nolante's colony does not fear dark
ness. 1t takes pleasure in measure
ing the circumference Of a sailors toe. II
Jack goes to sleep and leaves his feet eX-
posed the crabs are sure 10 ind ii out
Then they walk around ana about the
snouZng seaman's eXtremitleS, and gen.
orally wind up by giving toe few
pinches just for luck.
The pinch generally has the desired eff
feet and forces the sleeper to awaken and
go after his turmentorS with club.
a crab can manifest sorrow, joy, pride
aud selfishuess. One that was captured
AMI placed IN a tin bucket in the wharf
myers office on Folsom street seems sorry
that his appetite is not good. but is joyful
enough 10 dance around ana swing his
claws about when noticed By any one. 1t
seems TO scprn the oveTtures OF the small
boy who would like 20 make friends with
it and is selfish inasmuch that it will de-
clare war on any other crab that might try
10 share its quarters in the pail.
When the cargo of guanO is removed
from the Vo!ante's hold the public may
possibly be given an opportunity to see the
colony that has taken possession of the
vessel.
Reinsurance on the British ship Colin
traiDe has advanced TO IS per cent The
vessel is now out 125 days from Newcastle.
a fan fnr no fof
increasing daily.
The story is now told that the Colin
traine's cargo of coal must have ignlted
and the vessel been DESTROYED by fire.
This is probable, but it would be unwise
to speculate even at this late date on the
cause of the ships delay. When the yes
sci left port she was chartered to NJ. A.
Newhal. and later was rechaItered to Ep-
Dinger 81 Co.
Although the calssOn has been at last
placed over the piers at the south end of
the new ferry foundations, work is by no
means Being pushed by the contractors as
it should be. This much good news is re-
celved, however, the work of driving piles
for the second and third sections will CON-
menre next Monday.
Advices from the steamer San Juan of
the Pacific Mail Company. now at Pan
ANA. tell of very chaotic state of affairs
in the republic of San Salvador. Generals
Rivas and Guerrizes and their respective
followers are lighting over the spoils of
war.
The crew of the San Juan verify the
story Of battle at La Libertad, but the
fight was not between Ezeta's men and
those of the revolutionary commanders.
The affair was the outcome of a quarrel
between leaders for supremacy. and re-
suited IN about thirty people being killed
and half-nundred more wounded.
General Feladelfo Castillo. supporter
Of the Ezeta Government. has been exc
cuted without trial. ami simply to satisfy
the bloc thirsty vengeance of a horde of
ignorant sOldiery, most of whom are In
dians. Five officers that acted for the late
President have been spirited away to the
interior and will probably be killed.
Such criminal warfare has aroused great |
Indignation among the foreign residents of |
the republic. and the revolution and its
outcome Is characterized as "a barbarous |
aXhib'iO of the inability of Central
Americans TO govern Themselves"
General Ayala is commandant OF the |
port Of La Lioertad, vice Poloma, deposed. |