The herald., 1895-08-20
WANTED TO COME HOME
Experience Of an Eleven That Will Not
Likely Be Repeated
Why the Good Little Craft Meteor Returned
to Port Sar Pedro Ahead
Of Schedule Time

A sad looking lot of excursionists came
up from Sar Pedro on Friday, after just
one weeks sojourn supposedly on the
steam launch Meteor, and it can he safely
asserted that not one OF the uniortunates
who INDUCED in this sea voyage has any
desire to make q similar trip. The pas
senger list EN- braced eleven An
gelenes. as follows: DR.. T. j. Mccarthy,
Police Officer c. l.. Johnson, E. B. Duke
man, W. II. Tonkin, a. kensler. Ben Cove,
Vim. Carr, George Pouche, Frank Fifer,
r. Guiardero and J. W. Stokes. When
thu ocean tourists were perceived alighting
from the train on their return trip, they
looked like a portion of Coxey's army, the
only difference being that the excursion
pilgrims did not appear as lively as Carl
BrJwne's recruits. The bilIowy waves
had been too much for the landlubbers.
1t was the intention of those on board
the Meteor to have gone to San Diego. 1t
was not long after their departure from
San Pedro bay that one by one succum ped
to the wishes of old Neptune. The fes-
tivities were interrupted. and it was only
a short time before the entire crowd were
lying side by side on the floor OF the cabin
OF the gallant craft. The little launch
tumbed and rolled, while those on board
were dead to the world. When the sickly
party were able to articulate, DR.. L. J.
Mccarthy was unanimously chosen COM
modore and Officer Johnson was selected
captain, while Brother Dukeman had no
opposition for the position of chief cook
and bottle washer. 1t would be cruel to
allege that these favored officials did not
carry out their respective positions with
credit. The balance of those on board
looked to the commodore to guide them
safely to the Silver Gate. while Captain
Johnson was trusted with the handling
of the tiller. Colonel Dukeman has Chi
cago reputation for knowing exactly how
to cook round steak. make an Irish
stew or serve a sea serpent. In these ac-
mplishments he is perfection. There
is no doubt he was perfectly willing to
live up to the notoriety he had achieved
as a caterer, but like his colleagues he
had no use for this world Just about the
time mentioned. The condition of the
eleven residents of the Angel City was
pitiful in the extreme. They all deplored
leaving home, they wanted to return.
but that was out of the question. The
craft was at the mercy of the waves, and
they awaited their fate-death itself
might have been a relIef-when suddenly
all was excitement aboard. Conn modore
Mccarthy was responsible for this devia.
tion of affairs. when he cried out Arise.
UN COIUIdutS III ulStTtsS, tutTG lulu
ahead. 1t is San Diego!" Captain John
son, after looking through a pretzcl. veri-
fed the commodore's statement. and then
they all wondered how they had made
such quick passage TO the bay'n cll-
mate. 1t was decided at once to match
the Meteor against the Defender. the
confusion and CONSERVATION would lead
an observer to believe that the people on
board the vessel were making prepara-
ticns for snake dance. The Joy was un-
limited. Sure enough land was in sight,
but suddenly panic was created by Ben
Cove shouting aloud to his companions
that they were nearing Catalina island
instead of the big hotel at Coronado.
Imagine the feelings of the poor fellows
when they discovered that their expecta-
tons of soon landing on terra frma at
San Diego were not to be realized. 1t
was land, anyway, and that is what they
prayed TO reach. But they diun't reach it
at this particular time. They were
doomed to disappointment, however, for
gradually the craft slowly, but surely
drifted out of sight OF the precious Sugar
Loaf that adorns Avalon bay, and then
there was q smiles sickly smile and they
ell upon the deck with what little united
strength that was left among the chagrn-
ed eleven they managed to get the anchor
overheard, but when the graphing iron
struck bottom the good launch Meteor
Clemente island.
All night the frail vessel tossed and
!olled ard the moor fellows never before
performed such lively contortion acts in
their lives as on this memorable occa-
sion. The eventful night is not likely to
be soon forgotten. 1t was suggested that
the commodore should get overheard and
walk, towing the vessel, but the gallant
tar refused the appointment Captain
johnson spied iisherman's boat in the
distance. A flag of distress was hoisted.
and the desired relief came. Their sad
predIcament terminated, but not until
the sea followers made their own terms.
They could have had pensions for life if
they had demanded it, but they took pity
on the emacated oxcursionists and the
half-alive Angelenos were towed to Ava
Ion. This spot they graced with their
presence for some days. but it is nobody S
business how long they remained at this
point. Dry land, it is unnecessary to
state, was preferred to the Pacific. They
came back to San Pedro before schduie
time.