The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-06
ALONG The WATER FRONT.
Harbor Commissioners Ap-
point George w. Root Chief
Wharfinger.
ALL sEALERs TO BE SEIZED.
Flames Have Finished the BaWn-
more-The Shenandoah's Crew
In Court.

At the meeting of the Harbor Commits
sion yesterday afternoon George w. Root
was elected to the Office of chief wharf
niger to succeed James Boobar, whose
term has expired. When the time came
to ballot for the new official President
Colnon placed in nomination viii Ashe.
Mr.. Chadbourne nominated George Root,
the assistant chief wharfnger, stating that
as he had been in the office two years no
better man could be found for the posi-
ton.
Commissioner Cole started in with the
nomination of James Boobar, the retiring
chief, stating that no appointment could
be nearly so perfect as that of his candi-
date.
A vote was taken, and each commits
sioner stood by his idea of a perfect man.
After discussion Mr.. Colnon withdrew
his candidate in favor of Mr.. Root, and
Mr.. Cole, seeing himself outvoted, moved
to declare Roots election unanimous.
George w. Root, who will take his new
place October l, is Native Son, 80 years of
age, and came to this City from San Benito
County. He has always been an earnest
Republican, taking an active part in poll
tics, and during his two years on the
water front has shown himself to be an
able official.
No assistant chief wharfnger was ap-
pointed, but it was known that Edward
Short, whartinger at Mission street, will
be chosen.
Colonel n. D. James of the Governors
staff has been appointed to act as COM
mander of the Naval Battalion in place of
Lieutenant Commander Stable, resigned.
Colonel James will have charge of the
mander has taken place among the Naval
Reserve officers.
Yesterday the crew OF the ship Shenan-
doah swore to a complaint before the
United States District Attorney against
Captain Murphy and Third Mate Spier of
the vessel, charging them with assault
upon Seaman Joseph Johnson. The man
was beaten and kicked while on his hands
and knees scrubbing the deck during the
voyage 10 this port.
To-day the sealer Winchester will be
seized by orders of the Treasury Depart
ment, charged with taking skins unlaw-
fully in Boring Sea. Like the schooners
Sutherland and Bowhead, seized upon ar
rival here a few weeks ago, they were not
provided with the special license and dis
tinctive flag while hunting in the northern
waters.
AS this law went into effect after most
if not all of the sealers left for the hunting
grounds they are without the flag and
license and will be seized Immediately
upon their return to port.
A customs official stated yesterday that
there was no doubt the vessels failed to
provide themselves with the necessary
authority through ignorance and had not
willfully sealed lawlessly. However, the
department will take action in the selling
of all vessels found to have taken skins
unlawfully.
D. Roberts, 504 Front street, has three
little native sons that will have a big
at Sacramento next Monday.
They are small cub bears that were cap
tured in Shasta County and shipped down
for the Admission day festivities. The
little fellows are very young, very playful
and as gentle as pet kittens.
The British ship King Edward, Captain
Fletcher, arrived yesterday, 1873 days from
Antwerp. She met the usual gentle Cape
Horn Zephyrs and lost her topsails, besides
being hove down on her beamends while
the seas made clean sweeps over her decks.
Lloyd's agent. Metcalfe, received dis
patch yesterday from Captain Woodside of
the Bawnmore, stating that the steamer
was gone for all time. The fire, which was
confined in the afterpart of the hull, had
passed forward, and the vessel was totally
Quilted by the flames.
All the woodwork was gone, and nothing
remained but the iron hull which was fast
in the sand.
The quarantine tug, Governor Perkins,
has been placed on the drydock and her
hull cleaned and painted.
Attorney Ford of the Harbor Commission
decided yesterday that the board, and not
the San Francisco Bridge Company was
for the cement storage bill.