The San Francisco call., 1896-01-21

story left on the windows of the British
ship Inchcape Rock.
From Scotland Sir Ralph the Rover
sailed all over the water of the known
world and as pirate was a genuine sue
cess. His vessel was loaded down with
booty and he det ernined to return home
and give his crew rest and chance to
spend some of their ill-gotten gains in
Bonny Scotland. The run to the coast was
made in quick time and just as the pratt
cal craft was nearing land the fog came
down and Sir Ralph lost his reckoning.
He knew he was in the vicinity of Inch
cape Rock, but there was no warning bell
to give forth its notes with the wash of
the waves. The result was that Sir Ralph
and all his crew found watery grave and
the ship went down on the very rock from
which the Rover had cut the bell a year
previously.
The British ship Inchcape Rock, which
docked yesterday at section of the sea-
wall, is not commanded by "a rover" but
Captain Wilson is one of the best liked and
most skillful commanders that has ever
come into San Francisco. From the Lon
don dock he brought his ship to this port
in 116 days, which is remarkably good
time considering the time of the year.
During the short time he has been in her
tHcTe has never DeSu Ill dCClQent, DUG
under her former captain the vessel was
very nearly lost-not on the Inchcape
Rock, but on the rocks off Cape Horn.
Captain Armour was In command. and q
braver seaman never stepped in shoe
leather. 1t was blowing a hurricane. and
mountainous waves were constantly break
ing aboard. The British ship Lord Rag
signaled "We're in for it." Captain Ar
mour answered, Keep a stiff upper lip;
we'll pull through" Campbell, his wife
and children and governess and crew of
thirty men have never been heard from
since, and Captain Armour was washed
overheard and drowned, The Inchcape
Rock reached her destination o wreck of
her former self, and had to be thoroughly
overhauled before she could sail again for
San Francisco.
"The gale in which the Lord Raglan
went down and the lnchcape Rock was
gutted must have been a terrific one"
said Captain Wilson yesterday. Captain
Armour was on the bridge and Mate Car
son was forward looking after some work
that had to be done. The man at the
wheel saw an enormous sea coming tow
ering along behind. and in his fright he
let go the wheel and started to run. Cap
tain Armour made a run for the tilIer bi1t
before he reached it the ship broached 10
and the waves had command. The cap
tain, the cowardly sailor and an appren-
tlce were washed overheard. The steward
was caught in the wreck in the cabin, and
the splintered timbers simply tore him to
pieces. After the gale went down all that
was left of him was picked up in different
parts OF the ship. sewed up in sack and
consigned to the Deep"
The chronometer, charts and everythin g
else went with the woodwork, SO Carson
had to signal the first vessel he met.
From her he got the necessary instru-
m ents and finally reached England. The
lnchcape Rock was then refitted and once
more started running to San Francisco.
She is one of the best appointed vessels
in port and Captain Wilson is Justly
proud of her. She has novelty aboard
in the shape of about fifteen hens that
came from the Transvaal, but Steward
Atkinson says that they are no better
than the ordinary American variety and
that they do not lay as well. Captain
Wilson, however, insists that they are
bigger and more prolific than the general
hen and that the eggs taste richer and