The San Francisco call., 1896-06-16
LUMBER A DRUG
IN THE MARKET.
Many Schooners in Mission
Bay Awaiting a Chance
to Discharge.
FREIGHT RATE REDUCED
Owners of Vessels Cannot Make
Any Money So They Will
Tie Them Up.
WERE DROWNED IN M1r-oCEAN
Two of the Crew of the Schooner
VeSta Washed From the
Spanker Boom.

Lumbermen are getting very much con-
cerned over the dullness of trade. All the
yards are full and there is no demand, as
very few wooden buildings are going up.
At the present time there are at least half
a dozen laden schooners in Mission Bay
and three or four more which were there
last week have unloaded their cargoes
onto scows and tied up in Oakland Creek.
AS soon as the others can get rid of their
loads they also will follow suit, as 1t does
not pay to carry lumber here from coast
ports any more.
A month ago the ruling rate was So SO
per thousand feet, and at that figure own
ers of sailing vessels could pay expenses
and make living. When dull times came
the rate was cut to $3, but still the vessels
worked on. A few days ago another cut OF
25 cents vas made, and before the end OF
the month the rate may be 81 so per thou
sand feet. In consequence all the feet is
being laid up. and by the Fourth of July
Oakland Creek will probably have fifteen or
twenty schooneTs on its mudhats. Sailors
who left deep-water ships to go "coasting''
are now only too glad to get back on any
outward bound ship that is short of men.
The lumber feet in Mission Bay has been
lying there nearly week waiting an op-
portunitv to discharge their cargoes.
The barkentine Sharpshooter got away
on her Australian journey yesterday.
Everything is now shipshape and her
owners are confident that she will make a
quick passage. Just before sailing time
Second Mate E. Roberts fell from the poop
to the main deck and broke his arm. He
was sent ashore and the arm set. Another
mate was secured and the vessel put to
sea. The men who deserted from the
barkentine when she put back last week
say they had good cause for leaving the
vessel According to them they never
had "watch below from the time the
Sharpshooter left San Francisco until they
got back again, three days later. They
deny having filled the boat with sand and
say she was in good condition when they
left her near the old SeIby Smelling
Works.
The cruiser Philadelphia and monitor
Monsdnock sailed for Santa Cruz yester
day. They will participate in the water
carnival and after that will return to San
Francisco for the glorious Fourth.
AuOGueI dII6tu pb W Ed1SS luS DldlTuOIe
will be made this morning. After Sun
days disastrous failure the men took a
rest, and the only work done yesterday
was in the nature of repairing damages.
The big mooring anchor was raised, and
the Whitelaw was moved so as to be in line
with the sunken ship. New hawsers were
bent and the air-hose repaired. The Brit
ish ship Ellisland was moved out of the
way, and new pump was placed in posi-
ton. Captain Burns will see that every
thing is in good working order, and then
the pumps. wrecker and tugs will make
one more attempt to raise the vessel.
A new schooner for the lumber trade
was launched at Fairhaven yesterday.
She was christened the Albert Meyer, and
will carry 600, 900 feet of lumber.
The schooner Vesta from Hueneme for
Port Blakeley lost two of her crew over
board. Second Mate Johnson and sailor
named Jorgensen were knocked off the
spanker-boom during the night, and were
lost in the darkness. The vessel was
hove to, but the men were never seen
again.