The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-10

the historic old craft is now being cleaned
and prepared at the Mare Island Navy
yard, before being relegated forever to the
oblivion of Sitka.
It has long been an accepted fact among
naval officers that the ordering OF vessel
to the Alaskan station means that the
Government has no further use for her,
and the news of the fate of the Adams will
be received with regrets by the many who
have sailed all over the world IN her.
The Adams is very we'll known, having
been for several years attached to the Ber-
ing Sea patrol until the authorities at the
capital were told of the asininity they
were exhibiting in sending squadron OF
war vessels every year to the north while
the British Government sent only one
second-rate cruiser, which spent most Of
its time at anchor, while the officers were
ashore hunting and fishing.
This was last season, and since then the
Adams has not been in commission, lying
in the row with her flag down and prey
of the teredoes and elements. The order
sending her north came somewhat in the
form of surprise, but was urgent, and
ever since its receipt large force has been
employed in getting her into seaworthy
condition for the long run.
This will not be tho first time the Adams
has been on duty at the northern capital,
but it is hoped that the present will not
create such a sensation as did her last visit
there. That was in 1882 and Captain Mer-
riman was in command. During that
wear at kilisnoo on Admiralty Island,
half way between Sitka and Juneau, an &C
&c
trouble. A fellow known as "Yank," who
spent his time when he was not manu-
featuring whisky for the indians in seal
ing and whaling, was out with little
schooner one day looking for seals, when
whale appeared between him and the
shore. The small vessel had a whale gun
aboard, and this Yank speedily loaded and
fired at the monster.
His aim was bad, however, and instead
of getting the whale the shell sped on over
the water into an Indian village, where it
exploded, killing a minor chief and wound
ing several other natives. AS soon as the
natives recovered from their surprise they
set out in canoes and soon overhauled
Yank, who was brought ashore and told
that if he did not give them 1000 blankets
at once they would kill him. Yank had
no way OF securing the ransom, but was
fortunate enough to communicate with the
authorities in Sitka and as soon as Captain
Merriman heard of his predicament he
steamed away for K,ilisnoo arriving there
shortly before the time set for Yank's ex-
ecution.
A boatioad of marines was sent ashore
by Merriman with instructions to release
the captive. This the Indians refused to
do unless the blanket demand was met,
and the marines at once discharged vol
ley, killing many of the natives. Then the
marines stacked arms and proceeded to
demolish every hut, until they came to the
one in which Yank was held captive. He
was speedily released, and before the men
returned they had taken something like
SIC, 900 worth of skins, blankets and ammu-
milton from the natives.
Most of the Indians took to the woods
at the first shot and did not return for
several days to their desolated camp.
Merriman was severely censured by the
press. but when the few whites in Alaska
testified that he did nothing more than
right, and had done much toward subduing
the overbearing natives, his action was ap-
plauded.
The transfer of the Adams to the Sitka
station means that the old patriarch,
Pinta, which occupies about the same
reputation in the navy as does the Oliver
Wolcott among the vessels OF the revenue
marine service, will return TO civilization
again after years of exile on the northern
station. She will probably be dismantled
and sold, if any one can be found foolish
enough to purchase her outside the ranks
of relic hunters.
The Pinta is one of the few vessels
which remain to tell the tale of the navy
years before the late war, and next to the
Michigan which was built in 1874, and
which is still on duty at Erie, Pa, she is
the Oldest vessel in the navy. For many
years she has been occupying position in
| the harbor at Sitka, manned most of the
! time by single watchman, who was dis