The San Francisco call., 1896-04-26
The Yacht Coronet Cannot Beat
the Smart Pilot-Boat
Bonita.
THEY HAD A BRUSH YESTERDAY
Mate Erricson of the Kodiak Drowned
at Sea While on His Way
to Alaska.

>
Bonita had brush yesterday and the latter
showed herself able to hold her own in
any kind of weather. When the difference
in the size of the vessels is considered the
showing made by the piiot-b boat is remark
able. The schooner yacht Coronet is
15267 tons net burden, 11S feet inches
| long, q feet broad and IL feet inches
deep, while the Bonita is only 10 tons net,
So feet long, % feet broad and 8 feet
inches deep. At the end of a twelve-mlle
| run there was not a quarter of mile be-
tween the two scbooners, and on time al
| lowance the pilot-boat would easily have
won.
After completing all arrangements
Millionaire James and the party of scien-
lists he is taking to Japan to view the
eclipse of the sun prepared to sail. 1t was
decided to go out on the morning tide and
the Pilot Commissioners decided to &C
company them a short distance to sea.
The Bonita was got ready and Commo-
dore Caduc, Captain Mayo, Miss Caduc,
| Captain Castle and two or three others
went out on her. Captain Castle handled
the Bonita and Captain Johnson the Coro-
net. Both schooners were in ordinary
| cruising trim, so there was really no test
of speed.
! The Bonita was the first away, and when
| the bar was crossed she hove to and
| awaited the yacht. When both boats were
| abreast the wind fell light, and for short
time 1t was drifting match. Then a
good, strong breeze sprang up and the
| schooners scudded away for the Farallones.
1t was nip and tuck all the way and the
| big yacht could not shake off the pilot
| boat. Captain Castle Is more than pleased
| with the showing made by the Bonita,
and is willing to match her against any
yacht of her size on the Pacific Coast
THE Bonita made splendid showing" !"
| said Commodore Caduc, "but then we were
not racing. We simply went out as a
compliment to the owner of the yacht and
his guests. We were under working can
vas and so was the Coronet. The Coronet
beat US a little, but not much, and in con-
sequence l think the Bonita one of the
| smartest boats of her size l ever sailed on.
| After d twelye-mile run we bade the Cor
| onet good-by and came back to San Fran
| cisco.""
Commodore c. G. Bruce, the well-knowD
yachtsman, is again to the fore as life
saver On at least half dozen occasions
he has risked his life to save others, and
last Friday night he added another rescue
to his list Of brave deeds. A yachtsman
named robertson was returning from his
sioop to the landing at Sausalito when his
dlngy capslzed. He could not extricate
himself and was nearly drowned when
| Bruce saw his predicament. He peeled off
his outer clothing and in few seconds
was on his way to the overturned boat.
He got Robertson out OF his fix and helped
him ashore. Half an hour later both men
were around Sausalito as though nothing
had happened.
A private letter to Captain Blair reports
the loss overheard of First Mate Erricson
OF the schooner Kodiak on March 80 last.
The vessel left here nearly two months
ago for Kodiak, and rough weather was ex-
! per1enced from the start. On March 80
heavy gale was blowing and Erricson
was helping with the sails. A heavy sea
broke aboard and when it had cleared
away the mate was gone. He was well
known in San Francisco, and last wear
made trip to Alaska as mate of the
schooner Geneva. He leaves q widow and
family in Berkeley.
Captain Il. Quintin, late of the Golden
Fleece. went out as master of the schooner
Prosper yesterday. The Prosper has been
! purchased By some Alaskan miners but
when few daVs out on her wav to Cooks
/ Inlet 1t was discovered that she was Leak
| ing. she was run back to San Francisco,
and now after repairing has made a second
| start
Captain Holmes went out yesterday as
master OF the steamer Willamette He is
one OF the ablest and best-liked captains
on the coast and his friends will be glad to
hear that he is back in harness again.
Captain Holmes was for seven wears on
the Umatilla, but was taken sick and for a
long time his life was despaired of. He is
now hale and hearty again and is once
more in command of vessel
For the trst time in years a deep-water
ship is loading at Washington-street
wharf. All the other berths were taken
and as place had 10 be found for the
| bark Santiago she was docked at Wash
| ington street. She is loading for HlIo.
| II. L., and will bring back cargo of sugar.
The spreckels tug Reliance had her
trial trip on the bay yesterday. Her new
propeller was found to be great success IS
and in consequence the vessel will be
| heightened to meet increased power. Dur
ing yesterdays run her new propeller was
subjected to the severest kind of tests.
When going at full speed the engines were
reversed and the Reliance stopped almost
IN her oSn length. The extra revolutions
obtained will make the Reliance one of the
| most powerful tugs in the bay and the
chances are that all the Spreckels tugs
will be fitted out with the new propeller
| A rumor arrived here by the steamer