The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-23
CHASED BY UNION SEAMEN.
CAPTAIN of the Catherine Sudden Has
Trouble in Shipping a Non
Union Crew.

SAN DIEGO, CAL, Dec. 22.-The bark
entine Catherine Sudden was towed to
sea this morning under very exciting cir
cumstances. Captain +. E. Mathieson,
its master, had much trouble with the
Seamen's Union ana several mem bers had
told him that he would never get out OF
port with non-union men in his crew.
They used every tarsifice 20 prevent him
from signing a crew, and il began to APP
pear as though he would have to give in /;
but he had been through the mill before,
and concocted plan and completely out
witted his adversaries.
Captain Mathieson was short three men
and wired to San Francisco for them, ar
ranging for their passage on the steamer
Corona, which arrived lest night. He re-
quested Captain Jepsen of the Corona to
slow down in entering the harbor so as to
allow tug to run alongside, and received
word from the Corona's master that he
would do so.
Then Captain Mathieson engaged the
tug Santa Fe, TO Iun alongside the
Corona, get the three sailors convey them
to the Catherine Sudden and tow the latter
to sea. The arrival of the Corona was
anxiously awaited. Captain Mathieson
went on board the barkentine with a
friend. They carried two rifles and q
pistol to guard against attack. They saw
the lights of the Corona coming up the
bay.
As they were pulling away from the
wharf they spied two boats making alon 2
the Santa Fe wharf, Seven men were in
one boat and four or five in the other.
Captain Mathieson knew at once they
were union sailors. The business became
very exciting. The tug Santa Fee ran out
toward the Corona, saluted and received
reply from the steamer. There was some
footing back and forth, while the boat.
loads of union sailors skulked in the
shadows of the wharf. Then came long
foot from the Santa Fe, announcing to
Captain Mathieson that his sailors had
been safely transferred and were coming
up to the Sudden.
!. The Corona passed by and moment
later the Santa Fe steamed past the
Santa Fe wharf Then the two boats shot
out of the shadows and gave chase. The
tug showed its heels to the men in the
boats and dashed up to the Catherine
Sudden. A second LATER the lines were
made fast and the men OF the Sudden
were boosting the three sailors aboard and
throwing their bags and bag age after
them. The two mysterious boats lowered
as near as they dared but Captain Math-
ieson stood forward and his friend stood
aft, each with cooked rifle, ready to
shoot.
"Stand off, there" warned Captain
Mathieson. i'l'Il bore the first boat that
comes near"
A voice replied from one of the boats,
s'You needn't shoot; we are not near
you"
mo, and don't want you to be-" re-
piled the captain. keep off and you
will keep out OF trouble"
A wary watch was kept for surprises on
the other side, but only two boats were in
sight Anchor had been weighed while
the Santa Fe was coming up the bay.
Within five minutes the tug had a line
and was towing the Sudden to sea-. When
outside Captain Mathieson delivered the
Catherine Sudden to his successor, Cap
tain Smith, and with his friend boarded
the tug and returned to the City. The
barkentine is bound for Grays Harbor.