The San Francisco call., 1896-01-11
SHIPS IN THE FAIRWAY
Mate Ned Oliver Refused to
Move When Ordered to
Do So.
Threatened to Shoot Any One Who
Attempted to Put a Line
Aboard His Vessel.

The question of vessels anchoring in
the fairway led to a lively row on the
water front yesterday. At one stage of
the argument a gun was produced and
Assistant Chief Wharfinger Short fed be-
fore it. He did not like the look in Mate
divers eye and he retired to obtain re-
enforcement.
For some time past the Chief Wharf
niger has experienced great difficulty IN
keeping the fairway between Oakland and
San Francisco, and more particularly be-
tween Tiburon and Sausalito and San
Francisco, clear of vessels. The pilots
would bring deep-water ships in and drop
them anywhere there was a safe anchor
age. In consequence the ferrv-boats dur
ing fog had to run under slow bell, and
very frequently collisions were narrowly
averted. This state of affairs was drawn
to the attention of the Harbor Commits
sioners and they at once notified the pilots
to stop anchoring vessels in the fairway.
They took no notice and were again
warned, but they seem to think they own
the bay. On last Thursday night they
anchored the ship Edward O'Brien, from
New York and the barkentine Omega,
from Chile, right in the way of the tt
Omega said he would move when request
ed, and as soon as he was passed by the
doctor he hove up his anchor and was
towed to Mission Bay.
Things did not go quite so smoothly on
the Edward OBrien. As soon as she
came to anchor, the crew deserted, and
Mate Oliver, the son of the captain, only
had three men aboard when Assistant
Chief Wharfinger Short went ont to the
vessel on the State tug Markham
After hailing the ship Short shouted, You
are in the fairway of the San Rafael steam
ers and must move"
"Who are you, anyhow" was the answer
that came back from Mate Oliver.
Short produced his authority and told
the mate that if he did not move his ship
at once he would put a towline aboard and
take the O'Bren to Mission Bay.
Oliver disappeared for a few minutes,
and when he again put in an appearance
he was armed with shotgun. After
cooking it, he called out to Short: Now
20 ahead and put your hawser aboard, but
| tell you that the first man that attempts
to board this ship will lose the top of his
head" Then the Assistant Chief Wharf
niger retired to obtain further instructions.
President Colnon was hunted up, and he
got Chief Engineer Holmes to measure off
the fairwav in order to make sure that the
Edward O'Brien was breaking the law
was several ships lengths in the way, and
President Colnon then said, Don't run
any risks, but move her.
Short was rather dubious about the Sec
ond order, but he gathered up twenty men
along the water front and again started
for the O'BTien. When Oliver saw the
force of men he gave in, and after a wordy
warfare the ship was moved TO an anchor
age where there Will be no fear of ferry
boats running into ner. The captain and
mate are now anenable to the law for dis
obeying the orders Of the Chief Wharf
niger. and President Colnon says he will
see that they are prosecuted. The law
against deadly assault, assault to murder
threats against life, assault with deadly
weapon and all that may be regarded as a
dead letter unless District \ ttorney Barnes,
Sheriff Whelan and Assistant Wharfinger
Short and other officers take the necessary
steps to have the belligerent sailor prop
erly punished.
Mate Oliver is well known in San Fran
cisco. Three years ago he was mere in the
ship Louisiana and was arrested for beat
ing and wounding the sailors. The men
could not make out their case and he was
discharged. In this instance he will have
the State against him. and the chances
are that he will be fi3ed nominal sum as
a warning to others.