The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-05

from Port Townsend. Among the City of
Everett's passengers were: Captain Alex
MacDougall, inventor of the whaleback
and general manager OF the American Steel
Barge Company of New York; J. B.
Croker, who represents the interests of
the Rockefellers on the coast; A. w.
Thompson, cashier of the American Steel
Barge Company; James Smith, superin-
tendent of the Frontier Iron Works of De-
troit, which furnished the vessel engines;
Hugh Calderwood, who superintendent the
building of the ship; and several promi-
nent citizens of Everett and their families.
MeSsrs. Croker and Smith were accom-
panied by their wives.
The vessel came up the harbor flying the
blue peter from her foremost, pennant
with her name strung from the mainmast
and her signal flags streaming from the
mlZZen, while the stars and stripes tioated
at the peak. The low sullen sound of her
siren awoke the echoes in the surrounding
hills, and people rushed out from all points
wondering what strange craft had invested
the waters. All the ferry-boats saluted the
new conner and an opportune blast set off
at Gray's quarry on Telegraph Hill lent
warmth to the welcome accorded to the
whaleback. a longshoreman wanted to
know what warship that was and a face
touS Custom house official told him that
it was japanese cruiser come to shell
Chinatown. He believed it and spread the
tale among the Italian fishermen, and
there was great Joy on the seawau and
drinking of claret and much munching of
macaroni thereat
Captain Bucknam, who is in temporary
command of the whaleback, is "shore''
captain for the American Steel Barge Com
pany, the owners, builders and operators
of all the round-deck craft. He speaks in
highest terms of the latest addition to the
fleet and says that the trip down was
most pleasant one.
1--WE have on board $500 tons of coal'
said he, land we brought down besides
thlrty-three In the crew twenty-three pas
sengers. Although the vessel is not in
tended as passenger-boat, still there was
nothing but the greatest satisfaction ex-
pressed at the manner in which she be-
haved. We had a heavy gale, too, on the
way down, but she rode through it like
gull. In rough weather we made twelve
knots, and Tor squirt reached a speed of
fourteen and quarter knots. On the en-
tire trip we averaged about nine knots.
Her mean draught is 10 feet 6 inches
Going back to Comox we will put in 100
tons of water for ballast, and this. with
her coal-bunkers full, will give her a
draught aft of 16 feet, and Is feet forward"
On the deck are fourbig turrets, each
containing two hosting engines. The
vessel has eight matches, which open
ACaI4y lAS CllllIC 1tI1RJI1 Vi UUc SnlD. ana
with her superior hosting facilities it is
estimated that she can be discharged in
two days. Her engines are triple expan-
sion and Of the most modern designs. The
deck is protected by heavy wire cables
stretched from iron stanchions at intervals
of about fifteen feet. 1t is impossible by
this arrangement for any water to remain
on deck. The main house rests on two
immense turrets set on the after part of the
deck, from which two gangways run for
ward to the bridge, on which is the cap
tain room, pilot and chart house Four
metallic hfeboats rest on the deck, ready
for use at any moment. Steam steering
gear is used, and the appointments all
through are most thorough and up to date
In every particular.
The coming of the Everett recalls the
passing OF the whaleback Wetmore. When
that unfortunate craft came to the coast
about three years ago it was predicted that
there would be revolution in the freight
ing business on the coast. Old mariners
shook their heads and said she would not
do, and when she went on the rocks in
Coos Bay they said: 81 told you so. -
The Everett is not much larger than the
Wetmore, being a little over 1900 tons net
but she is stronger and especially adapted
for the ocean trade. She will form the
crucial test for the coming" vessels and if
she is a success more vessels of her class
will be built on the Sound. Like the Wet
more she has round stern and her bow
ends in a snout.
1.-THE Everett is an experiment on the
coast" said Captain MacDougall inventor
of the whaleback. 1.-THE Wetmore was
built for the lakes, but if she were properly
handled she would have proved the worth
of the whaleback 1t was not her fault
that she went on the rocks. The whale
backs have been severely criticized on the
coast, but their critics have been owners of
other vessels whose trade the new ships
might iniure.
1.-THE whalebacks have been a success on
the lakes and also on the Atlantic, where
they have rode through storms which have
wrecked vessles of other models. Captain
buchanan has been twice through hurri-