The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-17
HER MYSTERY is CLEARED.
A Queer Little Hole Under a
Sheet of Copper.
FISHERMEN IN A STIFF GALE
Lodi Elopers Heard From-Startling
News From Ecuador and Peru.
Marine Notes.

For four years the barkentine Charles
T Croker had a mysterious leak. FOL
four years her owners have scratched their
heads, thought deeply and tried to locate
the spot where the water Oozed into the
Crocker's hold, for the vessels leak has
been somewhat of a detriment TO her
chance for obtaining charter ever since
she left the ways in Alameda in 1890
The newspapers have devoted consider
able space to the record of the amount OF
water that has found its wayduring forty
eight months into the CrOcker's interior,
but neither the journals, the oarkentlnes
officers nor her crew have ever been able
TO account for the remarkable fact that
every time a day was past several leet
of brine were registered In the well.
All hands, including the chief OF the
culinary department of the Croker, have
often been called TO do duty at the pumps
during sundry voyages of the vessel. and
of late date seamen who shipped on The
craft generally had to give some little
thought before signing articles TO the
labor that would be required ofSthem
during a voyage TO keep dry ship.
The Merchants Drydock Company and
its able corps of employees have at last
solved the mystery Of the CTOcKer'S leak,
ana yesterday she was patched, calked
and pronounced whole. and hereafter will
sail the seas as dry as any bone that has
bleached for years on desert.
The day before yesterday the Croker
was placed on the drydock, her owners
having determined TO discover where the
trouble was located or take the vessel TO
pieces in the endeav0r.
Prospects seemed gloomy for awhile,
for search where they may the dock work
men could not see flaw in the graceful
hull OF the pretty barkeBtine.
Every sheet of copper was as clean and
bright as a new pin and every plank ap-
parantly as sound as the sturdy forest
trees from which they were sawed. In
deed, the task of finding the leak looked
like forlOTn hope.
Several plans were proposed and re-
iected by the dockyard people, but finally
a brilliant idea was thought of as an ex-
pedient.
1t was proposed to pump water into the
CrocEer's hold, and thus locate the
troublesome crack or open seam in her
hull.
Straightway firehose was brought, and
in some hours the bottom OF the craft
was filled to depth of several feet with
water turned into it.
On the starboard side, under the foot, q
stream of water trickled down to the keel
The copper sheets were quickly removed,
and instantly stream a half inch In
diameter burst from an uncalked seam.
1t goes without saying that the seam
was Immediately made tight, the water
pumped out Of the Crocker's hold, and now
/ the vessel is as Si6nch a craft rs ever
| floated. in readiness to receive a cargo.
Wind -duSt-ladened wind wind that
made life miserable on the city's front and
crumpied the bay up into ridges or green
| making m hnafs n
sails and large ships get out their heaviest
anchors, blew all day yesterday from the
| northwest.
Ferry-boats danced queerly to the music
| of the surgeS, and out and inbound ships
rocked wildly TO the measured strokes OF
| the storm.
Plenty of mooriDg lines were got Oh;
and made fast TO the docks, and every
vessel at wharf on the south end had its
/ tenders ready for a severe bum ping agains
the wharf timbers.
| AS usual. the fishing feet suffered. for
soon after 1t had left Fishermen's dock il
became apparent that run outside would
| be dangerous.
! One by one the fshing-bo came back
from 'their haven under the hill" near the
| heads, but the breeze forced them to for
! sake their anchorage and return to the
| city under close sails and their rails well
| under water.
Atop. NJ; it was blowing ffty,six miles
| an hour eff Point Lobos, and the bar
| was grumblng loudly. Inbound vessels
passed in safety, but small craft bound
! out did not seem TO care to face the angry
cOmbars and were loath TO leave the bay.
| BY the steamer Humboldt that arrived
here on Thursday morning from Eureka,
| news is brought that the elouing Lodi
! couple, Edward Randall and Mrs. Jacob
son, travelled north on that vessel during
/ its last trip under the name of Mr. and
! Mrs. Randall
! Randall In an interview gave an entirely
| different version of the story told of him.
He informed friend that Mrs. jacobson
had perfect right to leave her husband,
! alleging that the woman was divorced
from Jacob son about two years ago. Ran
! dali said: THE story telegraphed to the
San Francisco papers from Stock ton is en-.
tirely erroneous. l never eloped with
Mrs. jacobson. nor did L leave the Lodi
district secretly.
Jacobson will never pursue us, for he
knows he has no legal right TO do So"
Word was received by telegraph at the
Merchants Exchange yesterday that the
North American Navigation Company's
steamer ProgresO had put into San Diego
short OF coal, which will probably delay
her arrival here until the early part OF
next week. The Progreso was due yester-
| day.
BY the steamer Colon the following news
was brought from Ecuador via Panama
The EcuadOrians are drilling and arm
ing. On the 10th of February $50 men of
the Third Regiment were dispatched 20
the Peruvian frontier. Negotiations are
pending for the purchase of two dispatch
boats and two ironclads.
Peru is not doing much. and it Is
thought that If she does not prepare her
felf Ecuador will soon take her by surprise
and the fate OF that waning republic will
| be settled"