The morning call., 1894-10-07
yHER LAST CRUISE.
The Caleb Curtis Wrecked
at Hong-Kong.
All on Board Drowned-A Strike of
Union Seamen on Three Steam
SchOonerS.

For many years the Caleb Curtis was
one of the best known pilot-boats around
this harbor. She also for years had the
reputation of being a fast sailer, and many
were the marine races which she won.
Her career now. though, is ended. A dis
patch was received in this city yesterday
from London which announced the re-
ceipt Of news from Houg-Kong of the total
wreck Of the Curtis and the loss of her
master. his vile, and crew in a disastrous
typhoon. which swept the Oriental har.
Dor on last Friday.
The Curtis left here about a year ago.
: her master. Peter Brock, and his wife
being bent upon trading cruise among
the South Sea Islands. The Brooks pur-
$1,000. She had formerly belonged to the
Pilots. Association, and for years had
been In active service. She had the
shadow of an unfortunate accident hang
Ing over her, though.
In 1886 she was capsized off the bar and
all hands op board were lost. The vessel
floated around bottom upward. aud was
finally picked up by passing tug and
towed into port
When the Brooks purchased her she
was fitted up especially for the south-sea
trade. In size she was about the smallest
She was only thirty-eight tons, and the
only thing above her deck was galley,
which Mrs. Brock had had put on. The
cabin was ONLY by II feet, and that was
divided into two parts, one section being
for the captain and his wife, Pauline, and
the other for the mate and crew.
1t cost about $1,000 to fit out the Curtis,
and she carried everything on board to
make The trip enjoyable. Besides Captain
Brock and his vile. there were on board
when she sailed George II. Ewart, first
mate, and two seamen and a messboy
Mate Ewart returned to this city several
weeks ago on one of the China steamers,
and brought the intelligence that the ves-
sci was safe at Hong-Kong. 1t had been
reported some months since that he tiny
craft had been wrecked off the Marshall
group of islands.
There was trouble on Mission-street
wharf yesterday, and the services of about
sixteen police officers were required TO
keep the peace. There are three steam
sch0oners there, the owners aud masters
of which are having trouble with their
crews.
The regular crews which belong to the
Coast Seamen's Union are out on a strike.
They have been receiving $40 month, but
they are dissatisfied because they do not
get sufficient recompense for overtime.
They want 80 cents an hour, and their de-
mand has been refused. In consequence
tuey VIII not Work on the Scu0Oners. ana
they are doing their best to discourage
other men frnm taking their places. The
schooners are the Point Arena, Truckee
and Fara Hon. Yesterday the owners OF
the Point Arena tried to ship two nom
union crews, but in each instance the men
listened to the appeals of the union men,
and declined to go to work. Although
there were some hot words exchanged
there wa no trouble owing to the presence
of the police. An attempt will be made
again to-day to ship non-unou crews in
order that the schooncrs may get off on
their coast trips.
Il was reported at the Merchants Ex-
change yesterday from Nanaimo that the
bark Oregon had been lost. She wa