The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-01
LAUNCHES RACE
TO GOAT ISLAND
The Amy and Athlete Had
Quite an Exciting
Contest.
After a Nip-and- Tuck Race the
Amy Won by Over Ten
Lengths. ):
Uncle Sam Is Hunting Up Sealing
Captains to Serve as Witnesses
in Seizure Cases. -.



The question as to who owns. the smart
est gasoline launch in the+pay is still in
doubt. George A. Knight, the well-known
attorney, has always claimed the honor
for his fast little boat, the Athlete, but
since Henry Peterson's Amy beat the
crack by ten lengths last evening the ques-
ton has been reopened... Hitherto the,
Athlete has distanced every boat of her
class in the bay, and very few of the
fast steam launches could hold their own
with her. consequently when Mr.. Knight
is out for pleasure he always wears min
iature rooster in his button hole and is
ready for a brush with anything in the
bay. Only few days ago he was racing
one of the Pacific Coast Steamship Com
pany's smaller boats and was easily beat
ing her. The noted. attorney put his head
out of the window to offer the captain of
the other boat tow when wave broke
aboard that washed him into the engine
room and nearly SwamDed the Athlete.
BY good seamanship Mr.. Knight got his
boat about and gave up racing for that
day. :.
"Charley" Peterson is "ships husband
on the Athlete and Henry Peterson is
the owner of the Amy. Many time the
former has beaten the latter. but then the
Amy was never pushed. Charley" was
.blowing" about his boat and dared Cap
tain Wilson of the.Amy TO race. The lat
ter took him up and Henry Peterson went
in his boat and Attorney knight III his to
see fair play. The start was from the
Folsom street steps and Captain Silovch
of the tug Vigiant was refere. and judge.
The course was around Goat Island and
during the first half of the journey there
was not five feet between the two vessels.
Rounding the island it was still nip and
tuck, but on the home run the Amy gained
slight advantage and finally reached
FoIsom-street wharf again ABOUT ten
| lengths in front of her adversary. The
| tug Vigilant and the wharf were crowded
with sightseers and. three hearty cheers
were given for the winner as she moved
UP to her mooring lines. Both launches
| were in perfect condition, SO the test was
fair one, but. nevertheless, Mr.. knight
! is not satisfied that the Athlete cannot
beat the Amy. Captain Wilson holds
different opinion and Henry Peterson is
willing to back it, SO the chances are that
another race ay take place next Satur-
day or Sunday.
"Charley' Peterson is the only discon-'
! ISOLATE man in the crowd, as he lost $40 on
| account of the faith he had in the Athlete
! A sketch was made showing the launches
at the finish with Angel Island in the dis
| lance. At the time it was almost slack
water and the vessels off the north end of
Goat Island had just begun to swing with
| the tide.
Matters in sealing circles will boom in
British Columbia before the month is out.
| During the last season nine British vessels
were seized by American revenue cutters
and ordered to report at Victoria. This
they did and now there are nine suits for
damages averaging from $15, 600 to $40, 600
each pending in the British Columb ia
courts. In order to present good case
! u ncle Sam wants ali the witnesses he can
! find. Secret Service Agent N. R. Harris
| of the Treasury Department has been en-
gagged on the matter and has secured sew
era sealing captains who will go to British
Columbia 10 testify. Among the mum Der
is Captain Alec Mclean, and he will tell
all he knows about British methods in
Boring Sea. Captain White of the Ep-
pinger was also asked to go. but as all the
! United States would guarantee him was
80 day and bis expenses he decided to go
10 sea. The Eppinger is ready TO sail on
a winter cruise ana Captain White will go
out in her. Other captains will only go to
| Victoria on the understanding that they
are back here in time to sail on the next
! spring cruise.
Captain Thomas, Dowdell resumed his
i old position as chief glitter of the Oceanic
Company's Alameda yesterday. 1t is just
about four years ago that, during hurri-
| cane, he was washed into the scuppers and
had one of his legs and his arm broken.
| He was brought to San Francisco and
patched up and is now as good as new.
No more popular officer ever served on
the Alameda and the reception he received
when be took up his old work yesterday
| was a fiattering one. Chief Officer Rem
ME, who was filing Dowdells place, has
taken charge of the Zealandia now at
| Martinez.
The British ship Granada had narrow
escape from fire last Saturday. Captain
Korff had been suffering from rheumatism
and a fire had been kept in his cabin
morning and night. The heat set the
lining OF the cabin on fire and soon there
was blaze. The hose was quickly turned
on and in a few minutes all danger was
over. Captain Korff went to hotel and
a few dollars will make the Granada as
! good as new.
The nave of the new ferry depot is to be
a bower of beauty. 1t will be $50 feet
long and A feet wide, and tropical plants
| will make the arched roof resplendent
Il will be gathering place for the pas-
sengers by the various ferry and steam.
ship routes and is to be made as hanu-
| some and comforta nla