The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-08
FORCED TO Use
WHEAT FOR FUEL
Full Particulars Of a Dis
astrouS Collision at
Sea.
THE STEAMER WAS LOST
But the Ship Dundonald From
San Francisco Rescued
All on Board.
DEATH OF CAPTAIN F. MILLER
An Attack of Pneumonia Carried Off
the Well.Known ShipmaSter
Suddenly.
DEATH OF CAPTAIN F. MILLER

The "Shire" line owns some of the hand
soonest sailing vessels in the world, and of
the many that have come to San Francisco
the Ross-shire easily takes the palm. She
is handsome four-masted bark, and Cap
tain Baxter, her commander, is one of the
most popular men in port. He has been
regular trader here for years in the Dunn
bartonshire Kircud brightshire, Clack-
mannanshire and last of all the Ross
shire. The last is blest with short name,
which is another thing in her favor. From
Glasgow to San francisco the Ross-shire
established the record of los days and on
her last trip she made the run here from
in So days, the smartest trip of the season.
Last year the Ross-shire went from San
Francisco to Sydney, n. S. W.. with load
of wheat. While in the latter port the
cargo caught fire and considerable dam
age was done. A couple of weeks later
Captain Bakers wife and children arrived
from Scotland, and that in a measure
compensated for the worry the captain
had been put to by the fire.
Captain Baxter is an artist of no mean
merit, and handsome oil painting of the.
Ross-shire made by him graces the cabin.
He is also good musician and an enthu-
siast over bicycling. The vessel only got
in a couple of days ago, but the anchor
had not been dropped an hour before the
captain had his "bike" ashore, and was on
his way to the consignees.
The British ship Lord Cairns, which ar
rived from Swansea yesterday, made an
unusually long run for her. "Just fancy"
said Captain Davies, II was 161 days get
ting here, and out of eighteen voyages L
have made to San Francisco before | was
never more than 100 days. Why, off the
= Il
never made mile. 1t showed, and 1t
hailed, and it blew, but it always blew in
the wrong direction. Then when we got
around into the Pacific, we had a success
sion of dead Gains that lasted twenty one
days more, until at last l began to despair
OF ever reaching port. l never had such
time of it in all my life before, and don't
tain Davies has probably made more con-
secutive runs to San Francisco than any
other master In port.
The flags along the water front yester-
day were all at half mast out of respect to
the memory of Captain Frank ]. Miller of
the brig Lurline. He was taken ill with
pneumonia last week and died quite sud-
denly. Captain Miller was one of the
most highly esteemed masters on the
water front, and his death cast gloom
over shipping circles. This was to have
been his last voyage. In fact he wanted
Lurline persuaded him to make one more
trip. Years ago he was master OF the
bark Annie Johnson, then he had the
schooner Hera and for years was on the
brigantine Courtney Ford. He had been
a master for twenty-five years, and his
last illness was the only one that confined
him to the house for any length of time.
The steerage passengers from Canada on
the steamer Umatilla had good cause to
growl at the immigration officers yester-
day. The vessel got in from Puget Sound
ports at 10 A. NJ. and three hours later the
steerage Immigrants were still aboard
waiting for some one to pass on their
cases.
On June IL last the British ship Dun
donald, from San Francisco for Hull, was
run down by the British steamer Santar-
euse in latitude 10 degrees north longi-
tude 80 degrees vest. The DundonaId
reached Hull wit h nearly all her cargo of
wheat. A short cable to the Merchants
Exchange gave the news, but full particu-
lars did not reach this City until yester-
day. In a private letter the writer says:
"You have no doubt heard of the collision.
1t was an awful affair. and the only thing
that saved US was the water-tight bulk
head. Had it given way all would have
gone to Davy Jones locker. Our whole
bows were stove in, bowsprit all knocked
over TO port, foretopmast gone little
above the cap, main topgallant royal and
skysail mast and the crane of the fore
lower topsail yard carried away.
II can tell you it was complete wreck.
All our libs and foretopmast staysails were
dragging alongside for days. After we
were struck our forepeak filed and we all
thought she was going down. Captain
Glrvin ordered the starboard lifeboat
cleared away as the port side up to the
masts was in the water. We were in the
northeast trades, close hauled on the star
board tack and making not more than
four knots. The steamer was going twelve
and hall knots, so you can imagine what
KIND OF crack she gave US. The captain
CT the steamer signaled that his vessel
was sinking, so we took off all the women
and children and afterward the crew. She
mad forty-seven passengers and fifty
OF crew, and as the Dundonald carried
thirty men all told, you can imagine what
our decks looked like. Luckily a bark
bound for Para, whittier the steamer was
going, hove IN sight and took all the pas
sengers oil our hands. We also sent the
chief cook, steward and third mate. A
few provisions were got out of the steamer
by the bark and we got few tons OF coal.
Then we all stood on deck and watched
her go down. After that we got under
way with our forepeak full of water and
masts and sails hanging over the side and
made fair progress.
we had seventy-seyen hands aboard
and the provisions soon began to give out.
The last fortnight OF the voyage we had to
burn wheat for fuel, and ali we had to eat
was porrIdge made from wheat we ground
up. 1t was lucky for US we had a load of
your California product. or else we would
have Jared badly. When we arrived in
Liverpool the Santareuse's crew landed and
our ship was towed to Hull, where we are
waiting for court of inquiry"
Since the above was written telegram
has been received here stating that the
captain OF the Dundonald was exonerated
from all blame and the captain of the
steamer was censured.
The Naval Reserve is going to Stockton
in body. The Camanches launch will
tow up the captains gig. and the boats
Mayfower and Boston will be towed up
by the Mile. A great many excursion
lists went up on the J. d. Peters and Mary
Garratt last night, but the center of at
traction was W. II. Thornley, and MS
Alaskan bear. 1t is to be presented to San
Eranciscn Parlnr and will march of 4ho