The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06
THE WATER FRONT.
The First Shipment of Coal for
the San Joaquin Valley
Road.
SAILORS WIN A WAGE FIGHT.
Men Now Get the Usual Rate, and
the Members of the Union
Are Jubilant.

The Valley Railroad is being rapidly
pushed ahead. New freight cars are being
constructed and several engines are now
on the ground. Coal for the latter is re-
quired and in consequence $50 tons OF the
best Newcastle Australia asticle has been
purchased. The black diamonds are now
being transferred from the British ship
Lismore to the barge Ajax, and next Tues
day the steamer Leader will tow the con-
signment to the railroad company's bunk
ers, and then the engines will be supplied
at first hand instead of from the lobbers.
The Shipowners' Association has met
with its first defeat. Last week it sought
to cut the rate on lumber vessels from $50
to $25, and on golfers from $25 to so so
month. The members of the Seamen's
Union of the Pacific did not make any
open protest, but went to work quietly.
Union men were notified motto ship at the
reduced rates and in consequence the yes
sells belonging to the association have been
unable to obtain crews.
The schooner Jennie Wand was tied up
for several days and her skipper finally
succeeded in getting away by hiring men
from the British ship Lismore that has
Just reached port. The captain of the ship
was only too glad to pay them OFF, and the
owners of the schooner were delighted to
get them.
The schooner Gotama also succeeded in
getting men at the lower rate, but only
after great difficulty. 1t was after that the
shlpOwners gave in. Many of them have
valuable charters, and every day their
vessels were tied up meant heavy pen
atty. In the circumstances they decided
to give up the fight for the time being and
so notified the secretary of the association.
The Sailors Union is naturally iubilant
over the victory, and Secretary Furuseth
says he is confident of winning out the
next time IL comes to q struggle.
Captain Olsen of the Jennie Wand is
going on a visit 10 his birthplace in Nor
way. He has been master OF the schooner
almost from the time she was launched and
never met with an accident. He is great
favorite on the 'front.' and his many friends
be glad to welcome him on his return.
Reinsurance on the British ship Lord
Spencer, now out 179 days from San Fran
cisco for Queenstown, has advanced to 65
per cent. She is listed by Lloyds as "mlss-
ing" but as she was very foul when leav-
ing this port many people think she will
turn up all right. The Lord Spencer came
here by way OF Table Bay and Newcastle,
\. S. w. She was not chartered at that
time and lay at anchor off Goat Island for
four months before an offer was made to
her owners. 1t took her eighty-eight days
to come here from Newcastle, and Captain
Leahy wanted to dock her very badly be-
fore he began loading. His owners refused
to allow the expense, and then the skipper
remarked that it would take him at least
| 200 days to make the trip to Queenstown.
The Shipowners ard Merchants Tow
boat Company's tug Rescue is to be en-
| tIrely rebuilt. Her boilers have been
taken out and her machinery is to be
| thoroughly overhauled. In order to Sc
cure the necessary facilities the tug was
removed to Folsom-street wharf and there
the boilers were taken out. When the re-
pairs are all completed Captain Grey says
she will be one of the finest vessels of her
class i'll the bay.
The steamer Pomona arrived from
| Eureka yesterday and among her pas
| sengers was Captain Bruce of the Fire
mems Fund Insurance Company. He
went up the coast to inspect the wreck OF
the steamer Humboldt and has returned
satisfied that she will be total loss. The
| hull has broken in two and one portion is
anchored on the rocks by the machinery.
| Wreckers are on the beach in force. but
Captain Bruce says they are getting
nothing, as all the merchandise and
wreckage is dashed to pieces on the rocks
| before it reaches land. The remains OF
the old-time steamer will be sold next
| Wednesday at the Merchants Exchange
at l 80 P. NJ.
The sealing schooner Bonanza arrived
| from the Arctic yesterday afternoon, and
| brought the first good news that owners
| have received during the season. Captain
| George Wester reports having taken 1916
skins, which is almost the best catch OF the
year. The schooner J. Eppinger is high
| hook, with 1872 skins, but the men on the
! Bonanza do not begrudge her the extra 1916
seals. The Bonanza LETT the whaling
| tender jeanne in UnaIaska. All the news
of the feet was brought down on the
| Lakme. The jeanne had very narrow es
cape from being crushed in the ice. Ac
cording to Captain Wester, she was nipped
| in the same foe that crushed the Triton
and had very narrow escape.
Labor day will be celebrated on the
water front tomorrow, and all the wharve:
will be closed. No business OF any kind
| will be transacted, except in the matter o
| duty paid goods. They will be discharged
from the ships, but otherwise no business
| will be done.