The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-16
WAS ALMOST 4 WRECK
Narrow Escape Of the Ship
John c. Potter.
SPEED OF TUGS SETTLED.
How the Bark Dominion Was Stiffened
in a Storm.
THE NTERURIE In TROUBLE AGAIN.
Three Young Thieves Captured With a
Stolen Horse and Wagon on the
City Front.
SPEED OF TUGS SETTLED.
THE NVERURIE IN TROUBLE AGAIN.

The barometer at the Merchants Ex-
change dropped with such facility yester-
day that considerable uneasiness was
caused among shipping men. AT noon II
marked $3.50, and at o'clock had dropped
several points below that.
The treasure of the City of Rio de
Janeiro, which was taken from that steamer
after she went ashore in Van Diemen' S
Straits a short time ago, has been taken to
Nagasak by the steamship Belgic.
Mariners will be glad to learn that a
storm signal has been ordered at Eureka.
Captain Dan Haskell is happy now. The
penple of the Red Stack Towboat Com
pany have been declaring that their tug
Monarch had the heels of the giant Fearless,
which he commands. The two strong boats
have been subjected to test. They raced
from Meiggs wharf to the whistling buoy,
chasing after an incoming square rIgger Tor
a tow.
The Fearless was pulling the ship Cyrus
Wakefield OF 300 tons burden, and the
Monarch was running light, and though
she had no tow she could not get away
from her rival, which carried such an adj
ditional burden.
On Saturday last the American ship John
C. Potter had the narrowest escape from
total destruction that ever happened prob
ably to a vessel going out of this port. She
was being tOwed out by the tug Etna of
the Merchants and ShipOwners' Towboat
Company, and when near the Potato Patch
the hawser parted and the ship drifted
helplessly over that treacherous spot,
which was breaking badly. She dropped
her anchor, but the cable soon parted,
causing her to lose the anchor and thirty
T. IL q ,fr lo
SpreckelS Company was in view, and the
Etna blew for assistance. The call was
responded to none too quickly, as the
Queen got a line to her just in time to save
her from going brOadside on DuXbury
Reef The cable of the 4Htna had been in
use for long time, and had consequently
lost much of its strength.
The new steel whaleback steamer, City
of Everett, has Just been launched from
the ways OF the city of that name and
Captain Gibson of this city left yesterday
for the purpose of going up and taking
command of her. The craft has been
chartered by the firm of S. Dunsmuir 81
Sons for shipping coal, and her first trip
Will be made to this city. She will fill the
vacancy caused by the loss of the whale
back WetmOre.
The steamer st. Paul arrived from Quay
mas and waypOrts yesterday with a cargo
of merchandise and passenger list Of
twenty persons. The steamer got in just
in time to miss a predicted storm.
The secret of the preservation of the bark
Dominion on her trip from this port to
Port Townsend during the heavy storms
which caused so many wrecks has just
come to light.
When the winds first began to play
havoc with her, of course, sail was short
ened. But it was soon found that her bal
last was far too light and that unless
weight was added the craft with all on
board. would surely be lost. The captain
knew that his ballast was very dry, and
the idea of pumping water into 1t soon
struck him. This was done, and the vessel
was stiffened sufficiently to weather the
gales, although it took her thirty-two days
to make the trip.
The notorious bark Inverurie, which
came into this port six months ago with
stories of mutiny, elopement and cruelty
to seamen, is reported as windbound and
short of provisions at Torbay.
Three young hoodlums were taken into
custody on the city front by Officer Charles
Hall yesterday. afternoon and charged at
the Harbor police station with grand lar
ceny. They had stolen a horse and wagon
from William LANCE Jr. of 469 Minna
street.
The wagon was loaded with grain bags
which they sold to Martin Kedon of no
and III Clay street. Just as the money
was paid, Mr.. LANCE, who was in search
CT the outfit, came up and had them ar
rested. They gave the names Of Thomas
Watson, Frank Williams and Chris SOren-
son. The oldest was % years of age and
the youngest II. The horse and vehicle
were restored to the owner. Captain Dun
levy will to-day take out a warrant for the
arrest of Kedon on a charge of receiving
stolen goods As he has become notorious
for such practices the police stand good
chance of convicting Kedon.
1t was reported at the Merchants Ex-
change yesterday that severe storm was
approaching the mouth of the Columbia
River. High southeast winds and danger
MendOcino.
A large number of ships arrived from
foreign ports yesterday, which gave the
water front quite lively appearance dur
ing the day.