The morning call., 1895-01-29
NANk LIN lHE WAVES.
Sad Fate Of a Mate and
Two SeaInen
OF A COlSTING SCHOONER.
Charles JOhnsOn'S Efforts to Secure
His Back Pay.
COLLISION OFF CAPE MENDOCINO.
COLLISION OFF. CAPE MEIDocIKo.
A Seizure Of Opium on the Steamer
Saturn-Rate War Between Rival
Steamship Companies.

Three men belonging to the schooner J.
M. Coleman met with a sad fate on the
trip of that vessel from Wallappa Bay,
which ended when she arrived here on
Sunday. Captain Treanor gave the par
ticulars of the unfortunate occurrence yes
terday. The schooner left there on the
Goth inst There was stiff breeze blowing
and the sea was running high. When a
few miles out the captain ordered that the
outer lib be furled First Mate Edward
Strom and Seaman Michael Walker went
out to obey the order. AS they did so the
vessel "took" heavy sea, and both men
were washed overheard.
AS soon as possible the schooner was put
about and boat lowered to pick up the
men. Mate Strom, however, sank at once
and was seen no more. Walker swan a
short distance, but before the boat, in
which was sailor named William Foley,
could reach them he, too, sank. Foley
then attempted to turn about to meet the
schooner, when another gigantic wave
rolled over the boat, capsizing it. Foley
sank before the eyes of his Mortified and
helpless shipmates. Foley was native OF
this city, aged % years Mate Strom was
a Finn, 43 years of age, and Walker was
native of Ireland, aged 80.
Although it has been over a week since
the customs officials discovered thirty
five-tael boxes of opium on the steamer
Alameda, which had been brought here by
Charles Johnson, the fireman on the
steamer, they have not yet found Johnson,
although they have been searching high
and low for him. 1t was at first thought
that Johnson had gone to Seattle, but it is
now evident from certain events that
transpired during the past two days that
he is hiding in town.
The object of his stay is to get 800 pay
which is coming to him from the steam
ship company. So far he has been unsuc-
cessful. The money is in the hands of
Deputy Shipping Commissioner Groth,
and at least six messengers have called on
Mr.. Groth with orders for the money
signed by Johnson.
Acting by the advice of Deputy Surveyor
Sam Ruddell, Mr.. Groth has refused to
pay the money to any one except Johnson
in person. The last messenger told Groth
that Johnson was sick abed, and was badly
in need of the coin. Groth told the man
that he would go and see Johnson and pay
him the money, whereupon the messenger
gave him a fictitious address. Ruddell
says he has strong hopes of cornering
Johnson.
Another seizure of opium was made yes
terday on the steamer Saturn, which ar
rived from Panama on Saturday. 1t con-
sisted of forty-five five-tael boxes of the
drug, which were found in the shaft alley.
1t is seldom that opium is found on the
steamers coming from southern ports, and
the belief is strong in official circles
that it was carried south from here, but
that the smugglers being unable to land it
brought it back with the purpose of trying
again on the next trip.
There is every prospect that there will
be sharp war between the Pacific Coast
Steamship Company and the Meyer and
Ackermann line in passenger and freight
rates between this port and Puget Sound.
1t was announced by the Goodall-Perkins
Company yesterday that they intended to
place the rates so low that their COMPETE
tors could not meet them. The war will
be a good thing for shippers and the trav-
cling public who are interested, while it
lasts. The Pacific Coast Company also
says it intends to make it decidedly
lively for competitors on the Alaska
route.
When the bark Sea King arrived yester-
day Captain Pierce reported that when
off Cape Mendocino the vessel collided
with the steamer Farallon, which was
bound north from here. The bark did not
sustain any material damage, but the fore
masthead of the steamer was carried away.
She put into Caspar for repairs and then
continued on her way.
The schooner Lily arrived yesterday
from Umpqua with a cargo of lumber.
She made the round trip from here to that
port and back again in twelve days and
half which is the quickest trip on record.
Two years ago the schooner Letitia made
it in thirteen and half days.
The barkentine Rustler, which went
ashore at Victoria two years ago, and
which was sold to British firm, has passed
into American hands again. She was
purchased by Kennedy & Inglis of this
city and they say that she can be repaired
very easily