The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-24
RETURN OF THE VINE.
She Is Disabled the Second
Day Ont.
STEERING GEAR WRECKED.
Death Of the Commander Of the Ship
LyderhOrn.
SERIOUS INJURY TO THE INVERKIP.
The Bark California May Be Recovered
From the Peruvian Coast Where
She Now Lies.

The fair weather. of yesterday had
marked effect along the wharves, and
vessels that had been lying idle in conse-
quence of the rain and wind began to take
on and discharge cargo in the usual lively
manner.
A large feet of foreign ships began to
arrive late in the afternoon and nearly all
of them reported having experienced
heavy weather.
The British bark Inverkip arrived from
Newcastle, New South Wales, coal laden.
She had very heavy weather on the latter
part of her trip. On the 18th inst, in lati-
tude 80 deg. 80 min. north and longitude
132 deg. 30 min. west, a heavy sea struck
her amidships and bent the topgallant bull
warks, washed off the main hatch tarpaulin,
stove IN the galley doors and filed the
decks to the rail. The cargo was shifted to
starboard. This was the last hard blow of
a continuous storm that pursued the vessel
over a period of five DAYS. At various
times there was fear for the safety of the
ship.
Last Sunday the schooner Vine sailed
from this port, under command of Captain
Burns, the owner, with a good-sized crew
and three passengers, besides himself, wife
and two small children.
The vessel had an assorted cargo in her
hold and deckload of lumber. The voy-
age was to be a most mysterious one-in
quest of an island in the South Pacific
which is unknown to all navigators save
Captain Burns.
It was only understood that the deck
load of lumber was to be landed at San
Bias, and then the cruise was to be con-
tinued to some place near the Clpperton
Islands, the Gilbert Group and elsewhere,
at the sweet will of the commander, until
the secret goal of his ambition has been ar
rived at.
At least thirty passengers had subscribed
to the list and taken berths for a cruise of
adventure and discovery. Those who
actually went on board, however, on the
day of sailing were VIII Ray, E. n. Percy
of San Jose and Mrs. Converse of Oakland.
The island the captain declared, is gem
of the sea, about three miles long, mile
and a half wide and forty feet above the
sea level Its richness is supposed to con-
sist mainly of guano deposits, and it is
presumed furthermore to have a valuable
geographical position. It is proposed to
"jump this isolated claim and nail the
American flag over it if ever discovered
Disaster, however, befell the venture
some craft from the start. She struck the
full force of the late storm, and, though
she rode it out like dolphin, was so dis
abled that she was compelled to put back
for repairs.
When the schooner passed Meiggs wharf
Yesterday afternoon in tow of the tug Alice
she did not look as jaunty as she did on
the morning of her departure. Two of her
jibs were torn into shreds and her mainsail
was adrift. The captain and crew had not
been asleep for three days and three nights
and were completely worn out. The sea
that wrecked her steering gear and played
havoc with her canvas struck her about
fifty miles south of the Farallones and
seventy miles outside of the heads at 3
O'Clock Tuesday morning. It rendered the
vessel perfectly helpless, and for several
hours she drifted without stitch of can
vas or the use of her rudder. The steering
gear was patched up sufficiently by the
commander and enough sail got on to
bring him back over the bar.
1t will require about three days to repair
the craft, when, the captain says, he will
again start on his mysterious mission with
the same passengers and many more if any
want to go.
The ship Georgiana, which was injured
on the coast of Lower California few days
ago, will not have to discharge her cargo at
Mazatlan, as was expected, but can make
repairs sufficient to proceed on her way.
Bad news was brought in by the British
ship Lyderhorn, which arrived from New
castle, New South Wales. As soon as she
left port her commander, Captain Minis,
was taken i'll, and six days later died. The
captain has son in this State, who is now
stopping or the ranch of Captain Sennett
in San Mateo County. The deceased has
been sailing into this port for many years
and is consequently well known here
News comes from Peru that the old bark
California, which was wrecked on the
Peruvian coast a week ago, may be saved
Tugs have been sent to her for the purpose
of trying to get her off.
The body recovered off Lime Point on
Monday afternoon last is supposed to be
that of L. Johnson, one of the divers lost
in the recent wreck of the wrecker Samson.
There were tattoo marks of a woman on
the right arm, and woman and harp on
the right wrist. Captain Whitelaw went
over to-day to identity the corpse, with a
view to giving it a decent burial, but he
could not say that it was Johnson. Two
women have already presented claims
against the wages of Johnson, one for $50
and the other for $75. The former claim is
for board and lodging. The latter is not
specific. The Coroner's jury has not rem
dered a verdict in the case.
On the 18th of next month the State
Board of Harbor Commissioners will open
bids for the construction of the ferry depot
at the foot of Market street. Engineer
- Holmes does not think it will take much
more than a year to complete the entire