The San Francisco call., 1895-12-23
Tugboat Captains Will Not Tow
the Fishing Boats Any
More.
CONSIDER THEM DANGEROUS
The Cruiser Philadelphia Is Short of
Men and Will Not Get Away
Readily.

The towboat captains and the fishermen
are on anything but friendly footing just
now. The former positively refuse to tow
any OF the fishing craft down the river or
IN from sea, and the fishermen curse them
III the language of every country that
borders on the Mediterranean. The
trouble lies with the fishermen them
selves, and it is only desire to save life
and property that makes the towboat
captains insist on the fshing-smacks
keeping away from them.
On Friday night last Captain Dan
Haskell in the big tug Fearless was COM
ing down from Port Costa with the British
ship Oimara in tow. When off Antioch
two fishing-boats attempted to "hook"
the tug, but the captain yelled to them
to sheer off. They failed to catch the
steamer and a few minutes later they
were under the bow of the Oimara. One
of the boats was smashed to kindling wood
and the other, which escaped, picked up
the CREW. Captain Haskell stopped his
vessel and ran the risk of getting the tow
ing line into his propeller in order to see
that everybody was rescued.
Yesterday Captain Dan Thompson of
the tug Monarch was towing a ship in
from sea. One of the crab fishermen at
tempted to hook the tug just as she was
passing Fort Point. He yelled to the fish
erman telling him he would be swamped,
but the latter paid no attention and made
the attempt. He failed, and a few min
utes later was under the bow of the ship.
In order to rescue him Captain Thompson
had to make half-circle and then put to
sea again before he could get his tow
headed for San Francisco. In consequence
the superintendents of both towboat lines
have issued orders that in future no fish
ing boats are to be tOwed under any Cir
cumStanCeS.
The Panama Railway Company steamer
Progreso got in from Panama after an un-
eventful passage last Saturday night. The
settlement between the Panama people
and the Pacific Mail had evidently been
expected, as there was very light cargo
of 1850 tons only awaiting the Progreso.
Just what will be done with the steamer is
not known, but the chances are that she
will gointo the coal trade
The steamer Walla Walla of the Pacific
Coast Steamship Company's line arrived
from Puget Sound yesterday. There were
119 passengers in the cabin and II in the
steerage. A more delighted set of people
it would have been hard to find anywhere
else in the world. When they left Vic
toria, B. c., snow was a foot and a half
deep on the ground and when they
reached San Francisco they found ideal
weather. 1t was just cold enough to let
them know the sun was shining, and it
did not take the majority of them long to
get their wraps off and indulge. in the
luxury of a sunbath. The Walla Walla
also brought 1900 tons of freight, and as
soon as she was docked the work OF dis
charging began.
The cruiser Philadelphia will remain in
the stream for several days. She is. short
thirty-four men and until they are shipped
she will not proceed on her southern
cruise. Flag Lieutenant Fox's time ex-
pires in a few days and he will be sue
ceeded by Lieutenant George M. Stoney
The time of Captain Cochrane of the
marines also expires in a few weeks and
the chances are that his successor will be
appointed before the sailing of the war
ship. From here the Philadelphia will go
to San Diego and thence to all the south
ern ports.
Harbor Commissioner Chadbourne was
very indignant yesterday over the manner
in which the wharfingers between Mission
ana Folsom street leave their territory on
a Saturday. "Messrs. Parsons and Clifford
are like two farmers" said he. "They drop
their plow in the fall and expect to find
it in the same place in the spring. Just
look at those lumber wagons and piles of
lumber they have left strewn from here to
Folsom street. There's screw loose some
where, and Pll have to find out where it
Is" The chances are that Messrs. Parsons
and Clifford will hear a good deal more
about the plow and its application to
lumber and lumber wagons to-day.