The morning call., 1894-12-16
NO TIDINGS YET.
Several Vessels Are Now
Overdue.
HOPE FOR THE KEWEENAW.
But Very Little for the Old
Blackbirder, MOntserrat.
OPE FOR THE KEWEENAW.
CARRIED TOO GREAT A CARGO.
Two Banks and a Schooner Auxiousiy
Looked FOr-Notes Along
the Water Front.

Another day has passed and yet no
signs of the overdue Montserrat and Ke-
weenaw. The theory is advanced that
either one of the vessels has broken down
and is being towed 10 port by the other.
This is the forlorn hope to which those
who have friends on board the steamers
still cling.
There seems to he room to have some
faith in the Keweenaw's safe return, as
she is good ship and splendid seacraIt
1t looks very black for the Montserrat.
because il is well known that her skipper,
Captain Blackburn, has always advocated
loading the vessel down with cargo to such
an extent that had heavy sea boarded
her 1t is question whether she could ever
recover from the effect Of sudden addi-
lion of weight on her decks.
One day, not many months ago. the YES
sci came alongside the coal-buDkers at
Howard street with her main deck only
about foot above the level of the bay. If
she was as low in the ocean during the
storm of the 9th she must have succumbed
20 the fury OF the waves and all hands
have probably gone down with her.
What chance do you think the crew
had to escape from the overdue steamers
if the vessels were damaged by the
storm?" was asked of captain who
weathered the blow successfully.
None at ALL" was tile reply. "a boat
could not have been launched in the first
place, and in the second place there never
was boat built that could live in that
TEMPEST"
The steamer Oregon and tug Fearless
arrived during The day and reported that
the weather along the coast had moderated
greatly. Neither saw any signs OF the
steamers. Captain Pohmann of the Ore
gon thinks that they should both have
reached port by now, even had they been
s;eamng at half speed
Captain w. II. Jenkins was in COM
mand of the Keweenaw when she left
Tacoma. He has been on her number
OF years and has been known to have re-
marKed frequently that his ship was
splendid seaboat. He may have disabled
his VESSELS steering gear by running her
into a big sea, or perhaps some accident
has happened TO her machinery.
The Keweenaw was built in 1891 at Bay
City, Mich, for the Saginaw Steel Works.
Captain Jenkins brought her around the
Horn, and was in Chile with her during
the revolution. One of the steamers fire.
men was killed by a Chilean mob. and his
death caused a great deal of diplomatic
correspondence between this country and
the little South American republic
When the North American Navigation
Company was started in opposition TO the
Pacific Mail the Keweenaw was the first
vessel OF any size chartered by he new
corporation. She ran on the Panama
route until her charter expired, then went
into the service of the Southern Pacific
Company as collier.
Captain Blackburn of the Montserrat is
one Of the best known seafarlng men on
the coast. His connection with "back-
birding" expedition some years ago
brought him much potorietv. Notwith-
standing bis bold, adventurous disposition,
Captain Blackburn hass always been a
good friend TO those whom he fancied.
He was generous, and sc far as the treat
ment of his crew was concerned he always
looked carefully to their welfare.
No one ever doubted Captain Black
burns bravery. He did not know what
fear meant, and he often let his fearless
ness get The better of his good judgment.
| If be has lost his vessel he probably did so
through his persistency in taking chances
The Montserrat was built in 1881 at Blyth,
England, and registered under the Mica
raguan flag. Captain L. P. II. Whitelaw
bought her in 1887, and for a number of
| trips she ran TO Ensenada, Lower Cali
! fornia, in the interest of the International
| Company, which is well remembered by
! San Franciscans. If nothing is heard
from either of the overdue steamers by
! tonight then il will be time 10 consider
starting one of the revenue cutters out TO
search for them.
Three sailing vessels are also anxiously
looked for. They are the barks Germania
and Columbia from Puget Sound with
| lumber. and the schooner Eclipse from
San Diego for Eureka in ballast.
The Columbia is out IL days, the Ger
mania IA and the Eclipse II. A great deal
of lumber has washed ashore at various
points along the coast, and 1t is evident
that some lumber craft has been lost, or
perhaps has had her deckoad swept over
| board.
| Captain Weudt and Mate Nelson of th g
wrecked schooner w. l.. Beebe have re-
ported to the Life-saving Service Bureau
that their effects, saved from the wreck,
| were stolen during time when the coast
guards were supposed to be on duty. The
matter is now under investigation.
The DarkentIne John Smith, from Port
Blakely for Shanghai, has put into Homo
! lulu in a leaking condition. 1t is alleged
that she was loaded too heavily. Her
| narun ic 671 000 faat nf Iumbar