The San Francisco call., 1896-05-07
Narrow Escape Of the Barken-
tine c. c. Funk Near
Mile Rock.
SAVED BY THE TUG vIGILANT.
The Homer Will Be Replaced on the
Coos Bay Run by the Fast
Steamer Czarina.

The barkentine G. G. Funk had another
narrow escape last Saturday night. The
captain refused tow when it was offered
him by the tug Vigilant because he con-
sidered $75 more than the regular
charge. Four hours later he was only too
glad to pay great deal more in order to
get out of his dangerous predicament.
The Funk was bound in from Kahului,
H. l., with cargo of sugar. She had
made a fair passage of twenty days and
as the wind was fair Captain Charleston
determined to sail in. Captain Randall of
the tug Vieilant spoke to him apd offered
to tow the barkentine in for $75. Captain
Oh alleston offered $50 and Randall re-
fused. Soon thereafter the wind fell light
and the sugar boat began to drift down on
Mile Rock. Rockets were fired, the an
chors let go and preparations made to
held for few hours and when the full
force of the ebb tide struck the barkentine
she began to drift again.
More rockets were sent up, out there was
no response from the life.saving station.
Just as the crew was preparing to leave
sight, and Captain Charleston was only too
glad to pay $175 for tow to a safe anchor
age.
In talking about his narrow escape Can
tain Charleston said: I'VE arrived off
port Tuesday night, and about 8:30P. NJ.
we were SO close to Mile Rock that l had
to let 60 both anchors. There was a stron o
ebb tide and no wind to speak of, and rec
ognizing that we were in a dangerous po-
sition sent up some rockets. The life
saving station took no notice, and we
might all have gone to the bottom for all
the life-savers cared. We had the boats
provisioned and over the side, expecting
10 10 hnxr 4o1~
Luckily, at the moment of our greatest
peril. the Vigilant hove in sight and pulled
US off,"
The Funk put in here in distress on
February last. She was on her way from
Puget Sound to Honolulu with load of
coal and was caught in southeaster. She
sprang leak and nearly foundered. After
repairing she proceeded on her way. At
Kahului she was towed to sea by the
| steamer Claudine and there was more
trouble. The towing line parted and the
recoil struck Mate Holmes and Seaman
Bob Robinson. Holmes was laid I'D for q
week and Robinson had both his legs
broken. Captain Charleston is beginning
| to think there is hoodoo on the barken.
tine.
| The work of raising the Blairmore is pro-
| crossing. Nearly all the standing rigg ing
has been cut away and yesterday the
| lighter Catalina was taken out to receive
! the QeDrls- Inc mastS Will next be re-
moved and placed on the lighter and then
| the real work will begin.
1t will be very difficult to get the hull on
an even keel, but when that is accom-
| plished Captain Whitelaw does not expect
a very hard task in raising the vessel.
Captain Burns, who represents the Eng
lish underwriters, is on the scene every
day, and is well satisfied with the progress
being made.
HarDor Commissioners Cole and Chad
bourne are expected here from Sacramento
this morning, so the usual weekly meeting
of the board will be held this afternoon.
In regard to the making of 1 beams for
the new terry building by the Carnegies,
about which SO much has been written
President Colnon said in substance yester,
day: "There is no mill on the Pacific Coast
that can turn out 20-inch steel l beam.
and. to the best of my knowledge, there
are only two in the United States equal to