The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26

San Francisco on the Corona from San
Diego yesterday and his vessel is now on
her way to Grays Harbor in charge of
Captain Anderson, the chief officer.
Nearly three months ago Captain Jones
disappeared. The pilots and Pilot Com
missioners searched high and low for him,
but no trace of him could be found. His
stepson was notified and he made dill
gent search, but failed. Finally word
came from Livermore that Captain Jones
had wandered past there in condition
bordering on insanity. His friends took
him in hand and finally got him back to
this City. Next day ne decided to give
up the sea, and consequently there was q
vacancy in the Board of Pilots.
Half a dozen captains were anxious to
secure the position, but during the last
week or so the contest narrowed down to
fight between Captain Mathieson and
Captain Hall, late OF the Corona. The
former was first in the field and had Sc
cured the backing of all the pilots before
Hall entered the contest. A great factor
in the making OF the appointment Is the
fact that Mathieson has promised the
Pilot Commissioners that he will pay Mrs.
Jones (his mother) a percentage OF his
salary every month. He is one of the
best-known shippers that comes into this
| port.
bob" Spear, the boatman, was in trou-
BILE again yesterday. He and Joe Heating
| took a consignment of Christmas goods
out to the Monadnock. Bob stood up TO
wave his greetings to the men on the war
! ship, and then came his Waterloo. The
Southern Pacific's freight steamer Transit
was passing at the time, and the wash
| from her wheels raised such disturba
that Spears boat nearly capsiZed and he
was thrown overheard while in the pro-
cess of saying "a merry Christmas.
Spear was washed under the counter of
the Monadnock, and had it not been Tor
| the presence of mind OF Heating, who
pulled him out in the nick of time, he
would not now be awaiting the coming of
"a happy new year"
The quartermaster's steamer General
Mcdowell was again in trouble last Thurs
day night. Leaving Alcatraz lslsnd the
mooring line caught in the propeller and
for half an hour the vessel drifted around
1 in a helpless condition. Finally the cap
tain decided TO anchor and then signaled
the island. Word was teiephoned to the
! City and the tug Sea Queen was sent over
10 help out the Mcdowell. 1t being Christ
mas eve there was a big crowd on the
| Mcdowell and the consequence was that
all were hours late in getting home 10
| tuelr OuTlSImdS trees. J. Ne Dtd QuScu
! first of all took the passengers to Angel
Island, Black Point and the Preside, and
then went back to the Mcdowell and
| towed her to Clay-street wharf. During
the night the rope was cut out OF the
steamers wheel and vest erday she was
running as usual.
| The American ships in port made poor
showing on the front yesterday. The
! Oceanic, Pacific Coast and Pacific Mail
Steamship companies had all the vessels
owned by them decked with flags and
evergreens, but the other American ves-
sells in port in many instances did not
even fly the stars and stripes. The Tropic
Bird was a notable instance to the con-
trary. The entire crew had been given
shore liberty, but nevertheless Captain
Jackson went to work and hung out all
the ships bunting himself. The Aus
tralia, Mariposa and Zealandia, at Pacific
street wharf, made splendid appearance
and Captain Howard saw to it that every
man in his employ had a merry
Christmas