The San Francisco call., 1895-10-17
The STEAMER KOTIK IN TROUBLE
WITH THE CUSTOM-HOUSE
OFFICIALS.
OVERDUE SHIPS REINsuRED
MARROW ESCAPE OF THOMAS FRY
WHILE REscUING A
HORSE.


trouble with the Custom-house authori-
ties. There are considerable quantities of
| silks and satins and Chinese and Japanese
curios aboard, and these the crew are seek
ing to land without paying the necessary
duty
When the Kotik was at Petrapaulof-
sky the British cruiser Porpoise was IN
port. The latter had come direct from
Chinese waters, and the man-of -warsmen
had done considerable trading while living
at Hongkong and Yokohama. Everything
| they had in their lockers and seachests in
the shape of merchandise was sold to the
sailors on the Kotik. These latter are now
| attempting to land the goods, and the Gus
| toms authorities are trying to stop them.
Some of the officers will be arrested to-day,
| and a systematic search of the steamer is
| to be made. In the meantime watch and
ward is being kept over the suspected
craft. and Deputy Surveyor Ruddell as
serts that not particle of dutiable mer-
chandise will land without permit.
| The British ship Lord Spencer, now out
| 100 DAYS from San Francisco for Queens
town, is proving to be a great source of in
terest to shipping and insurance men. In
| cidentaily gamblers are taking hand in
| the game, and considerable reinsurance
has been written on the overdue vessel.
The ruling rate Yesterday was 20 per cent
| and there were plenty of takers. Should
the Lord Spencer turn up all right the
gam blers will make a clear profit of 20
cents on every dollar invested.
| When the Lord Spencer sailed from San
Francisco about six months ago she had
not been in the drydock for over two years.
Her bottom was covered with baruacles,
and the grass hanging from them was
nearly two feet long. Before the departure
OF the ship the skipper was heard to re-
mark, 81 II be lucky if L make the run in
200 days" Since the ship left San Fran
cisco, however, very heavy weather has
prevailed and number of stanch vessels
are known to have come to grief 1t is this
fact that has made the underwriters wary.
They evidently think that quarter of a
| loaf is better than no bread and have been
laying their lines accordingly.
Another vessel over which there is con-
siderable uneasiness is the British bark
Achilles. The last time she was heard
from was when she picked up the crew of
the American ship Arabia. The latter
vessel was burned off the Horn and the
crew escaped in the boats. After being
picked by up the Achilles they were landed
at Montevideo and the good ship resumed
her voyage. From that day to this she has
never been heard from.
The British ship Cawdor, from New
castle. Eng, for San Francisco, went ashore
near Dover yesterday. She got off unas-
sisted, however, and proceeded, having
sustained no apparent damage.
Thomas Fry, who lives at $40 Francisco
street, had thrilling experience yester-
day. He was down near Meiggs wharf
and saw man backing double team up
to the dumps. The sudden fall of the load
| was too great, and the wagon went over
and took the horses with it. One of the
animals was drowned; but while the
other one was struggling Fry took a sheath
knife in his mouth and swan out to it, He
cut the harness that held it to the cart
and the horse swan ashore. Fry took pos
session of it, and demanded $40 for his
trouble. This the driver refused to pay
and Sergeant Bunner of the Harbor Police
sent all the parties to the Central Police
Station. Had Fry not jumped overheard
the horse would have drowned, and he
now VOWS that he will have $40 to repay
him for his ducking or else he will keep
the animal.
Richard Sweasy, one of the principal
owners of the recently wrecked steamer
Hum boldt came down from Eureka YES
terday. 1--WE will build a new vessel to
take the place OF the Humboldt" said he
when talking about the matter. 'ln fact,
that is what has brought me to San Fran
cisco. The hull will be of wood and the
plans call for a perfect model. 1t will be
built at Eureka and probably by Bendixen.
The machinery will be made in San Fran
cisco and the Union Iron Works has al
ready made bid on the contract.
1.-The new steamer will be larger, faster
and in every way superior to the good old
Humboldt. Electric lights will be fitted
throughout, and all the latest modern ap-
pliances will be placed in her. She will
make about fourteen knots and conse-
quently the run between Eureka and San
Francisco will be shortened several hours.
I'm the meantime we are not losing
sight of the trade and our arrangements
for the charterng OF a steamer to take the
place of the Humboldt temporarily are
almost completed. She will be a good
boat, and the chances are that we will be in
running order again by the 1st of next
month";