The San Francisco call., 1896-02-12
Captain Grey of the Ship-0wn.
ers and Merchants Line
Under Fire.
TIE DOCKING OF THE ROANOKE.
A Discussion That Caused a Lively
Scene Before the Harbor
Commissioners.

taken in it by the Ship-owners and Mer-
chants Towboat Company were the princi-
pie matters discussed before the Harbor
Commissioners yesterday. Superinten-
dent Grey of the tugboats and Captain
George Harvey of the Rescue had one
story to tell, while Chief Wharfinger Root
and Chief Assistant Short had another. F.
5. Stratton, the acting attorney, told the
board that the Chief Wharfnger had full
power to move vessel whenever and
wherever he pleased, so long as she was
within the jurisdiction of the commission.
When Superintendent Grey began to argue
the point President Colnon told him that
while he had the interests of the port at
heart he wa anted the towboat owners to
understand that they were only docking
ships on sufferance, and that the Harbor
commissioners could stop their operations
at any time.
The discussion was started by the read
ing OF letter from Williams, Dimond &
Co., In which the attention of the board
was called to the fact that the Seafarer was
moved by the tug Rescue just about the
time the Roanoke was nearing the dock
The Chief Wharfinger said he had notified
the captain of the tugboat not to move
the Seafarer, and Captain Grey said his
men could receive orders from no one but
himself. The captains were not allowed
to take any risks and were only sent to
work when the tides and other circum-
stances suited
'But you were not asked to take any
risk in this case" said Commissioner Cole
STILL"
Then the cross-fre began. Grey said it
was the first timer his experience twenty
years that he had ever known the Chief
Wharfin ger to undertake the docking of a
ship. chadbourne said it was the first
time the necessity had ever arisen. Cap
tain Harvey of the Rescue said he had re-
celved orders to move the Seafarer at a
given time and that the order had never
been rescinded. He followed his instruc-
tlons, and knew nothing about any trouble
with the Roanoke. Chief Whartinger
Root said he was afraid of an accident,
and had sent word by his chief deputy
not to move the ship. Chief Assistant Short
said he had yelled at Captain Harvey, and
the latter turned his back on him. He
tlen notified the captain of the Seafarer,
and the latter told him that he was master
of the ship and not of the tug.
At this point matters began to get inter
esting and President Colnon had to pre-
serve order. Captain Harvey denied ever
having heard or seen Short, and Short re-
torted that it was easy not to see or hear
when one didn't want to. ut was lucky
for you," said he, that the Seafarer was
couple OF feet away from the wharf and
flying light or else | would have got
aboard and placed you under arrest"
1t was then that President Colnon
stopped the discussion and after Superin-
tendent Grey had explained that his COM
pany had no intention of breaking the
rules or antagonizing the commission the
matter went over to next Thursday for
further consideration. In the meantime
all OF Williams, Dimond & Co.'s ships will
be handled by the Pacific Mail Companv
tug Millen Griffiths.
On her arrival from the Orient the Mail
company's steamer City OF Peking is to
be docked for an overhauiing at Hunters
Point. The mud about the entrance has
silted up and the California Dry0ock Com
pany want the Harbor Commissioners to
dredge 1t out. Captain Bruce urged that
it would be facilitating the commerce of
the port to do the work and said that if
the dredging was not done the company
would hare to dock and repair the Peking
at Hong Kong, Captain Hackett also asked
that the privilege be granted, but Presi-
dent Colnon drew his attention to the fact
that when dredging work around the bat
tle-ship Oregon had to be done the State
dredgers did it and the Bills had not yet
been paid.
Commissioner Cole was in favor of the
board doing the work, but Attorney STRAIT
ton said the State dredgers could not be
employed outside of the jurisdiction of
the board, nor could they be used to assist
a private enterprise. "Then l move that
we follow the law" said Commissioner
Chadbourne, and it was carried, Cole yot-
ing No"
The question of charging the Mare
Island tug Unadilla $5 a month dockage
then came up, and Chad bourne made
plea on behalf OF the officers, who use the
vessel to get to and from San Francisco.
we'll follow the law" said Cole, and the
matter was laid over for further considera-
ton, but in the meantime the Unadilla
will have to pay $5 a month dockage.
The supplying of piles for use on the
front came up. and Roberts & Matison
offered to furnish all the lumber required
at 10 cents foot. S. Z. Slade & Co. offered
to supply twelve-inch piles at IL cents,
at 121S cents and fifteen-inch
at 1917 cents, and rough Oregon pine lum-
Der at $ll a thousand feet. The lumber
offer was accepted, but the pile question
went over to next meeting.
The bill for dredging the mud from
around the battle-ship Oregon was cut
from $500 to $625, at the request of Captain
Hackett. He showed that while the State
charged him 500 day for the use of the
dredger, he only got $3.50 for the entire Job.
The appointment of E. r. Swain to sue
ceed A. Page Brown, as architect for the
new ferry building, was confirmed.