The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-02
ALONG THE WATER FRONT
Two Young Bookkeepers Build
Launch During Their
Spare Hours.
WOOD DESTROYING BUG.
John Kane Exhibits Swimming
Prowess and Fetches Up in
the City Prison.

Yesterday the pretty little gasoline
launch Homer was lifted into the water
with derrick at the ferry landing. She
was built by j. H. and E. NJ. Stack, two
young men employed as bookkeepers, the
hrst with ]. A. Mcmahon, bridge-builder,
and the other with tine Blythe estate. The
most interesting part of its history is the
TACT that neither of the brothers are boat
builders, and when they began work on
their vessel We're totally ignorant of the
craft. But by perseverance in their pro-
lect and asking questions of experienced
workmen, they have turned out boat that
is credit to the young novices.
Last winter" said E. N. Stack, "my
brother asked me how he could get a
launch, as we were both lovers of aquatic
sports and wanted to own our own boat.
AS $500 or $1,000 was too heavy a tax upon
our resources, / half iokingly answered,
Let's make one.' He took my answer seri-
ously and began to post himself on launch
construction. l became enthused in the
matter and we went to work.
I'VE drew up our plan of the hull and
submitted it to experienced workmen, who
assured US that the design was all right
and to go ahead. We were so encouraged
that nothing could have stopped US then.
"Yet we were both afraid that when the
real difficulties of the Job gathered around
us we would weaken, so we cllnched the
bargain by buying a gasoline engine for
$175. She was q beauty, about three horse
power, and we virtually built the boat to
fit her. Then we got the propeller, a
bronze wheel for $40, and we were ready
to begin.
1--WE could work in the evenings and on
holidays, and we put in all our spare time.
We at first spoilt good many feet OF tim
Der in our unskillful way of hewing, cut
| ting and fitting, but we took pains, and II
a stick was badly shaped we took another
and tried it again. 1t was tedious and we
| sometimes thought the job was too much,
| but we remembered the $210 we had spent,
| besides the material We had purchased,
and kept pegging away.
$50 we finished and launched ouI
steamer to-day, just nine months after we
| began her construction. The boat has cost
| us about $500 and she is put together in
the most thorough manner. We know a
| lot about launches now, and other experts
| have passed upon this one and have rated
| her Al at Lloyds, and we are the proudest
| shipowners that sail, or will sail, the seas. .
The Homer is a feet long and feet
| inches beam. Her engine will drive her
| about eight knots an hour. She will con-
sumo about one-half gallon gasoline per
| Stack brothers, who are Native Sons, will
go to Sacramento in her next Friday and
will take part in the regatta on the river at
| the Capital City on the 9Th of September
John Kane, boatman, sprang into the
bay at Powell street yesterday afternoon to
show the spectators that he was an under
study of Captain Boynton, the swimmer.
A sailor named Charles Peterson, who was
unacquainted with Kane's duck-like
characteristics, dove overheard to save the
exhibitors life. Officer Ferguson did the
same, only he took a whitehall boat, and
soon Peterson and the policeman were hur-
rying to the rescue. Kane padded away
from the life-savers like a seal, but Peter
son began to founder. He called for help,
and Ferguson had to turn and haul him
into the boat. He then went on after
Kane, who led him a merry chase among
the piles and under the docks.
He was good with his hands and feet, but
the officer was better with the oars, and
Mr. Kane was transferred to less aqueous
quarters in the City Prison.
The schooner Antelope came in from
Alaska yesterday with 1888 barrels of sal
mon for the Alaska Packing Association.
The bark r. P. Rithet arrived yesterday,
twenty-eight days from Honolulu. She
was examined closely by Quarantine