The morning call., 1894-08-23
1t Plays Sad Havoc With
the Rockaway
AND A SNAP-CAMERA MAN.
The Battle-Ship Sped at an
Eighteen Knot Gait.
VERY CLEVER BIT OF TOWING.
How the Big Ship Was Docked-A
Mates Horrible Death.
Marine Notes.
AND A SNAP-CAMERA MAN.
A VERY CLEVER BIT OF TOWING.

Win bone in ner teeth that would
make any warship envious the gun boat
Oregon reeled off is knots on her preim-
mary trial trip yesterday just as easily as
If she had been a steam yacht.
For several days the Oregon has been
making it rough for the small craft that
happened to be in the way of her immense
swell, and slow trips up and down the
bay were frequently made during fore
and after Moons. But yesterday Captain
Goodall spurted the big vessel now and
then, and when the spurts were over the
engineer reported that the 1S-knot mark
had been passed.
When her armOr plates and guns are in
position the Oregon will not make such
good time. but the additional weight can
not reduce her speed more than three
knots. which means, however, that the
vessel will earn big bounty for her build
ers on her official trial trip.
The wave the Oregon carries with her is
a terror In its way. 1t came near swamp
ing the tug ROckaway in the afternoon,
just as the photographer for the Union
Iron Works was about to take q snap shot
at the ship as she approached at full
speed
The ROckaway was right in the path OF
the OItSOus duu JUST do Iu6 ldtl6E was
about TO pass her an attempt was made to
cross the battle-ship's bow so that the man
with the camera could get in his work.
There were two things, though, that the
tug captain did not allow for-the big
wave and the warship's speed.
Captain G0Odall no iced the ROckaway's
move and thought that collision might
take place, so he blew two whistles. The
Rockaway answered with one. Confusion
naturally followed, especially as the tug
darted away to pass in front of the ap-
preaching mass of iron.
The bell jingled in the engine-room and
an order was quickly given below TO back
the Oregon's port engine at full speed
The vessels impetus was checked. but the
wave wasn't 1t struck the Rockaway
like an avalanche, washing over her decks
and putting to rOut the camera man, who
was soon up to his knees in water.
Luckily the tendency of the roller was
to throw the tug away from the Oregoa's
bow and collision was thus aVerted.
Hereafter when the Rockaway goes out
to take pictures of the Oregon She will
keep sharp eye open for breakers ahead.
After the days work was over the Ore
gon was placed IN the Union Iron Works
drydock. The tugs Sea Queen and Red.
m0nd OF the Red Funnel line did the Job.
Captain George Harvey was detailed to
suDerintend the work.
1t was the heaviest TOW" that has been
made IL the bay for years, and the fact
that there was only three inches on either
side Of the warship to spare in running
her through the dockgate made the under
taking difficult one.
Captain Harvey, who is one of the
coolest and best tugbOatmen on the Pacific
Coast, slipped the big ship in the dock
without so much as scratching her, and in
a very short space of time. a number of
persons spoke of the clever and neatly
~
Harvey received many Just praises.
Patrick Common, mate of the British
steamer Falkland. lost his life at SEA on
June % in most remarkable manner.
The Falkland is now at Singapore, having
arrived there on July with a general
cargo from Cochin. On the way over the
vessel found heavy weather. and during
the blow the chief officer was engaged in
operating ships derrick to shift some of
the cargo.
In an unacc1unta BILE manner the officers
head got caught in the derrick gear. The
snip rolled to starboard suddenly and with
jerk the poor man was decapitated, his
body falling to the deck and his head roll
ing into the sea.
Several weeks later Connor's head was
picked uD by some natives. taken ashore
to an English settlement and buried. The
body had been consigned TO the sea by the
unfortunate officers shipmates.
Ine GERMAN snip Maria Hackfeld, in
port from LIVERPOOL, 100 days via Homo
lulu. is one of Russell & Co.'s latest
Glasgow-built vessels. The Hackfeld is
here on her maiden voyage in command of
Captain ii. kruse. She was launched in
1898. Her tonnage is 1855 gross, length
262 feet inches, breadth 80 feet s inches.
and depth of hold % feet.
Monday afternoon at o'clock the ting
Relief was towing the ship Henry B. HYDE
10 sea and narrowly escaped a collision
with the river steamer San JOAQUIN M d
which was towing wheat barge. The tide
and misunderstanding of whistles caused
the trouble. The Relief was too close in
shore, IL is said, and narrowly missed the
steamer.