The morning call., 1894-08-27
GONE TO CHINA.
The Charleston Steams
Westward.
ON A MISSION OF PEACE.
Although She Will Protect Amer
lean interests.
ON A MISSION OF PEACE.
CALMEST DAY IN MANY YEARS.
Coal Oil Explodes and BIaZes in Mid
air While Being Hoisted Aboard
the Bonita.

The United States Cruiser Charleston
passed through the Golden Gate yesterday
while thousands Of loiterers along the
beach watched her glide stately forward
toward the Orient. Her flags were flying
and her crew covered the decks, from
where they took a farewell look at the van
ishing city before leaving tor the troubled
water of Korea and the Chinese Sea.
Considerable interest was taken in this
outward voyage of the Charleston for the
reason there may be work for her in China
She had been ordered to the scene of war
between the Oriental nations and with
other ships of the white squadron will be
there TO protect American interests in case
Of any breach Of neutrality. When leav-
ing the navy yard at Mare Island she
was given an enthusiastic send-uff, and
then along the bay and Golden Gate many
salutes were rendered the cruiser and
many handkerchiefs and hats waved
adieu to Uncle Sans sailors.
According to announcement. shortly
after O'Clock in the morning the Charles
ton slipped her cable from the buoy and
started down the riuer on her way to sea.
As she passed slowly by the flagship
Philadelphia, the gunbOat Bennington and
the receiving ship Independence. the
comrades. The crew from the Charleston
responded with a hearty cheer. Many
persons al the wharves, both on the Vallejo
side and at the navy ard, waved their
handkerehiefs at the departing CT User,
which is bound for China by way of Homo
lulu.
The cruiser got out with full supply of
coal and full complement of officers and
men on board.
An exciting occurrence started panic
on Broadway wharf. where the steamer
Bonita was taking in cargo. late Satur-
day night. Several cases of coal oil in
cans were loaded in a rope sling. slowly
lifted from the dock and swung on a der
rick over the steamers deck.
While the sling was in midair q slight
explosion startled the workme1, and in
stantly the bundle OF dangerous cases was
enveloped In flames. The peculiar blue
blaZes of petroleum shot upward in long
tongues to a terrific height. threatening
the rigging with immediate destruction.
For few moments the steamer and
wharf seemed doomed, and men looked
on at the appalling spectacle hardly know
ing what to do 10 avert eOntlagration.
But presently one of them turned the der
rick over the steamers side and let rope
and blazing cases drop like flash into the
water. Steamers and small craft lay all
around in the illumination OF this lurid
light as it flashed through the air, but after
the oil cans sank beneath the waves dark
ness followed. The contact with the water
was accompanied by a weird report, a
sizzling and sputtering of prodigious sound
and a brilliant flash that spread q short
distance over the surface.
No damage was done beyond the trif1ing
loss of ropes and cases of oil.
Afterward two bOatmen realized that it
is an III wind that blows nobody good, as
they rowed around tue place and picked
up sound cases. Bostman Gateley got
eleven cases of oil, aud another man hauled
half dozen more ashore.
The Bonita was not even scorched, and
she sailed yesterday for Port Hartford
under command of Captain Anderson,
though without her consignment of oil,
part of which evnced such treacherous
traits.
The warm weather induced unusual
crowds to visit the water front and seek
for cooling breeze along the wharves
under shade of the sheds. People lay
along the striDgers and on merchandise
anxiously catching the slightest puff of
wind from the water, which was very small
comfort, indeed, as scarcely breath OF
wind was stirring. At DUSK and after
dark the wharves were covered with men
and women. many of whom remained out
till near II O'Clock.
The White Dove and Nellie, excursion
sloODs, sailed around the bay and through
Raccoon Straits with large parties of
merry-inakers. They were becaImed for
an hour and half in the stream, during
which time the wind was not strong
enough to hold the sloops against the cur
rent. Boatmen who have been on the
front for years declared they never saw a
day so calm in the stream, which is sell
dom, IL ever, without breeze Yesterday.
however. the water was as placid as duck
pond.