The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-07
THE TIDE DID 1T.
Ships Collide in the
Bay.
THE TALBOT'S UNLUCKY TOW.
She Tangled Up With the Ship
FIintShire.
DOING A DEAL OF DAMAGE.
The Vessels Came Together While
the Talbot Was Being lowed
by the Fearless.

The tides that never run with any regu-
larity of current in Mission Bay caused a
collision between ships yesterday after
noon that was serious as far as the matter
of loss and damage is concerned, but luck
lily resulted in no loss of lives.
The bark Enoch Talbot and the British
ship Flintshire came together with a crash
that sounded loud enough to be heard at
Folsom-sireet wharf.
They cOIlided bow TO bow, then hung to-
gether for several hours like old-time
frigates dashed to each other during an en-
gagement
The Tide caused all the trouble and did
its work so quickly that the members Of
the crews of the collidiDg vessels who
we're gathered on the forecastles of their
respective ships scarcely had time to make
their way aft before the shock came.
The Talbot arrived yesterday morning
from the Sound with full cargo and deck
load of lumber. She was picked up out
side by the tug Fearless, in command of
Captain Dan Haskell, and was being lowed
TO an anchorage in Mission Bay when the
accident occurred.
The ship Flintshire lies about one mile
southeast of the Oceanic dock. and was al
anchor when rammed by the Talbot. Just
beyond her lies the British ship Beecroft
There is a stretch about OnP-Quarter of a
mile between the two vessels. A strong
food tide was running, and the ships were
Juggling restlessly at their anchOr-chains ,
their bows pointing directly north.
The Fearless and her tow steamed along
the city front at about a tve-knot rate
Stacking up as the lower END of the bay
was neared. Captain Haskell gave the
signal as he approached and boarded the
tug in between the two BritiSheIs. He
must have Eiscaculated the drift of the
current. for although there Appeared to be
plenty of searoom the Talbot commenced
to swing in rapidly, the impetus of the
tow and rush of the tide carrying her
against the Flintshire with great momen-
tum.
The towsprit of the latter vessel struck
in the fore rigging of the bark and broke
off close TO the maTtingale The TalboEs
starboard bow struck the stem of the iron
ship, crushing the tgurehead into atoms
and probably starting some of the plates.
The bark bow at the cathead was stove
in at and below the rail as if big piece
had been chewed out of it by the sharp
beAk of the ship.
Braces, stays and fore rigging gave way,
and the Talbot listed to port. Der crew
stood for moment terrified. expecting no
doubt that their vessel had been cut TO the
water line and would 60 down. The Flint
sired TO capture and hold her responsible
for disturbing the peace of an Engls h
craft. Order was soon restored among the
sailors, and the labor of clearing away the
wreckage commenced with a will
In The meanwhile Captain Haskell
whstled for help. Three tugs of the
SpreckelS line responded with alacrity,
and for 4 few hours great excitement pre-
vailed along the water front, as the COL
lisinn was IN plain view from the whaTves.
BoAtmen who thought that lives might
be in peril pulled out to the scene and a
crowd of onlookers soon gathered on Fol-
som No. ana othe points of vantage.
After several hours of haru work the
vessels were separated, the Talbot being
lowed to an anchorage some distance from
the Flutshire, where she remained up to
last night.
Captain Haskell explains that the tide
swung his tow Unexpectedly and caused
the collision.
>Captain Hawley, superintendent of the
Spreckels tugs, stated that the tides in
Mission Bay are very treacheTous, and that
it is very hard to calculate to a nicely Just
how much a vessel will drift when being
towed there.
1t would have been folly for Haskell to
let 20 his haWser when he saw that the
Talbot was going to strike, as the flood
would have swept the bark against the
ship anyway.
About $1,000 damage was done by the
accident, for which it is probable that the
tugboat company win be h ED responsible
There is 10 insurance on either the Tai
bot or Flintshir3.