The San Francisco call., 1896-08-12
THE POINT ARENA
TWICE IN DANGER,
Went on the Rocks and
Then Nearly Sank in
Port.
SAVED BY THE ALERT.
Second Mate Wickman Mistook
the Shore Line for a
Heavy Fog.
SHE WENT HARD ON THE ROCKS.
Twice Was the Danger Reported,
But the Mate Stuck to His
Own Opinion.
SHE WENT HARD ON THE ROCKS.

The steamer Point Arena had two mar
row esca pes within the last rwenty-four
hours. At o'clock Monday night she
went on the rocks between brakes Bay
and Point Reyes, and not only carried
away her forefoot, hut stove in six planks
on her starboard bow.
Captain Johnson backed his vessel off,
and, finding only three feet of water in
the forehold, decided to run for San Fran
cisco. At 80 A. NJ. Mission-street wharf
was reached and the passengers and their
baggage were landed.
For over an hour very little notice was
taken of the leak, but at o'clock it was
discovered that the Point Arena was sink
ing. Captain Johnson ran in his night
shirt to where the State tug Governor
Markham was lying with steam up. MY
vessel is sinking" he breathlessly
explained. "Will you come and pump
her out?' "We're no suckels," was the
reply given. It was not a flippant answer,
and Captain Johnson understood it. The
meaning was that while the State tugs
have all the appliances for putting out a
fire or flooding ship they have no suction
hose and cannot pump out ship.
Captain Johnson next got telephone
and communicated with the Spreckels'
tugboat Office. Captain Brokaw of the
Alert was notified and in eight minutes
he had his vessel alongside the sinking
steamer. The captain and Chief Engineer
Courtney worked in their night clothes
until the hose was into the hold of the
Point Arena and the big suction pumps
were at work. For six hours the Alert
kept at it. Sometimes the water would
gain and then again the vessel would be
almost clear. About 9 A. NJ, when the
steamer was almost dry, Captain Brokaw
hooked on and took the disabled vessel to
the Merchants drydock. AS soon as she
was shored up and the water run out of
her q gang of men was put to work, and
the agents expect to have her running
again tomorrow. The Point Arena had
two remarkable escapes and yet the
actual damage to the hull will not exceed
$500.
According to the captains story the
Point Arena left here Monday night at
o'clock for Point Arena. The vessel was
put on her usual course after clearing the
heads, and then Second Mate Charles
Wickman was placed in charge. About
8 80 P. NJ. the lookout reported to the mate
on the bridge that he thought he saw
land ahead. The officer answered, "What
are you talking about, that's fog" A few
minutes later he again reported land
ahead, and was called blockhead. Then
the lookout determined to report to the
captain, but first of all asked the helms
man what course he was steering. "North
by west" was the answer. Now, the
sailor had been over a year on the Point
Arena and he knew that Captain Johnson
always steered that course so he returned
to his post.
Anot her look convinced him that there
was land ahead, and he started on the run
for the captains room.
While this was going on on deck Cap
tain Johnson was chatting in his room
with Purser Lincoln. A few minutes be-
fore P. NJ the latter looked at the clock
and remarked: 1--WE should be near Point
Reyes" The master studied his watch,
and said: "Yes. we're about there" At
the same time he opened the door and
looked out. my God' was all the purser
heard as Johnson rushed for the pilot
house. He knocked the sailor down who
was running 10 tell him of the danger, and
reached the signal bells. Four sharp
rings, and the jingle bells startled the en-
gineer and IN a few seconds the engines
were reversed and everything opened up.
1t was too late, however, and the Point
Arena crashed on the rocks. All was con-
fusion, but Purser Lincoln went among
the passengers and soon Gained their
fears Captain Johnson remained on the
bridge and gave his ord ers as though moth
ing had happened.
The ife-boats were lowered and pro-
visioned, and then an attempt to back off
was made. 1t succeeded, and at $3.50 P. NJ.
the Point Arena was on her way to San
Francisco.
The consensus of opinion among cap
tains who trade on the coast is that dur
ing the past week there has been strong
northerly set to the current, and that that
fact is responsible for the accident. The
captains of the Bessie K, Newsboy and
Noyo have noticed the change in the cur
rent and assert that it runs three knots an
| hour. The northerly set carried the ship
Elwell three miles, and the captain had to
come to an anchor near Duxberry reef.
According to them the current is the re-
suit OF the strong gales that have prevailed
Nff ho nN &c. %s,,,o of