The San Francisco call., 1895-10-08
SEVEN FEET FROM DEATH.

The Ferry Steamers Sausalito and
Tiburon Almost in Collision.
The Tiburon and Sausalito ferry boats
were again nearly in collision yesterday
morning. On half dozen different oc-
caslons either one steamer or the other
has been in fault, but the Inspectors of
Hulls and Boilers have always white
washed the captains. No one has been to
blame and the steamers of the two lines
keep on getting within a few feet
of each other in the fog and thus endan-
gering the lives of hundreds of passengers.
In the narrow escape of yesterday morn
ing there was gross carelessness some
where and the investigation, if Inspectors
Talbot and Phillips decide upon holding
one, will probably be very searching. The
steamer Tiburon, in charge of Captain
White, left Tiburon for San Francisco at 7
A. NJ, and the Sausalito, in charge of Cap-
tain Wilson, left San Francisco for Sau-
salito at the same time.
Both ferry-boats passed Alcatraz on the
east side, but owing to the dense fog it was
impossible to discern each other. When
less than hundred feet apart the passeu-
gers on the Giburon saw the Sausalito
heading for them at full speed. Captain
White had seen the danger. however, and
had ordered the engines reversed, so that
the T1buron was going full speed astern.
The Sausalito held on her way, and the
passengers say they could have thrown a
biscuit on the rival boat had they SO de-
sired.
At one time it looked as though COL
lision could not be avoided, and the pas
sengers on both steamers made rush for
life-preservers. a narrow margin of seven
feet averted the catastrophe and probably
saved many lives. The Sausalito and
Tiburon held on their separate ways after
the accident, as though nothing had hap
pened. When seen about the matter later
in the day Captain White laid all the
blame on the Sausalito, and Captain Will
son said he had to take the course he did
or else be crowded on to Alcatraz.
II was making the usual 7 o'clock trip
from Tiburon," said Captain White. "It
was very foggy, but all went well until we
were abreast of Alcatraz Island. Then 1
heard the Sausalito coming and signaled
her that would go to the right. The next
thing knew she was coming straight for
us and 1t looked as though she would strike
US amidship. | then blew three sharp
blasts on the whistle to notify them | was
reversing my engines, and | rang up full
speed astern.' l also ordered the engineer
to open her up,' and it was only few mo-
ments before our way was stopped and we
were racing back toward Tiburon. The
Sausalito was making fully twelve knots
an hour and she fairly few toward US.
never thought we could escape her and
aimed at taking glanclng blow. She Just
missed US, however, and alPs we'll that
ends well.'
sit was case of going on the island or
crossing the Tiburon's bow" said Captain
Wilson. "The fog was very heavy and it
was impossible 10 see the length OF the
steamer. heard one whistle and acted
accordingly. When saw the position the
Tiburon was in l knew my only chance to
avert collision was by crossing her bow.
| took the chance and in few seconds the
danger was over"
Both the shippers seemed to make light
OF the incident, but the passengers took a
different view of the matter and the arrow
escape was the one topic of conversation
on the Sausalito, San Rafael, Tiburon and
Ukiah all day. 1t was only the other day
that the Sausalito and San Rafael grazed
each other on foggy afternoon, and now
that the Tiburon and Sausalito have had a
narrow escape the people are beginning to
wonder what the end will be.