The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
POURING OIL ON
TROUBLED WATERS
The Experience of Captain
Thompson on a Break
ing Bar.
The Bark S. C. Allen Came in
Safely While the Dalrymple
Put to Sea.
Oil Poured From the Main R gging of
the Bark Prevented the Waves
From Breaking Aboard.

There was oil poured on the troubled
waters last Sunday and in consequence
the bar off the Golden Gate when breaking
was robbed of its terror for one ship at
least. One vessel struck on reef in the
north channel. The second parted the
hawser she had attached to tug and had
to make sail and stand out to sea- but the
third used oil on the breakers and sailed
in unaided.
The British ship Centesima, in tow of
the Reliance, was the vessel that came in
through the north channel, and the bark
Dairy mple was in tow of the Sea Witch.
The hawser could not stand the strain,
and when it parted the Dalrymple was
headed out for sea again. Last Thursday
the Reliance picked her up and towed her
into port. The S. Z. Allen was coming in
from Honolulu, and when Captain Thomp-
son saw the state of the bar he at once or
dered two men with oilDags into the main
rig ging. All around the bark the waves
were rolling noun tain high and every one
was breaker. When the oil was poured
in a continuous stream overheard the
waves fiatiened down in a great measure
and the break disappeared. Over twenty
gallons of Oil was poured over the sides of
the vessel and in consequence the Allen
came in with dry decks. The Centesima
time and both OF the captains say they
never saw worse bar. The Allen was
flying light, and yet with the aid of oil
she sailed in and made good time.
Captain Thompson will not go out on
the Allen again and his place has been
taken by Captain Johnson, late ch ief off,
Ger of the vessel. The former will take
he Sfoauar Corau now hpiDp buiit for fho
Inter-Island Steam Navigation Company,
10 Honolulu, and on his arrival there will
assume command of the fine iron bark r.
P Rithet.
The little ferry steamer El Captain is
back again on the narrow-gauge route
and the Encinal is once more laid
up for repairs. Thursday last the big boat
was caught by the wind and tide and
thrown so hard against the slip that her
breast beam broke. It will take nearly
week to put in new one and in the
meantime pas sengers to and from Ala
media will have to put up with the crowd
ing that occurs at certain hours of the day
on the smaller boat.
The captains and pilots of San Fran
cisco have grievance. They complain
that men with out licens s are allowed to
BRING vessels in from sea and take them
up the river. Further they assert that
many well-known shippers and first otfi-
GERS are either color blind or shortsigh ed,
and then point to the fact that while in
the East every master mariner has to sub
nit to an eyesighJ test, here nothing is
done in that line. "Color- blindness and
short sight have been responsible for
great many wrecks that have occurred re-
Gently, said one OF the captains yester-
day. I'm one instance l know positively
that the mate was nearsighted, and prob
ably the loss of the vessel will be placed
on hum. 1t is time the insurance COM
panies made some move in the matter, as
they are the parties most interested"
The election of Mckinley and the con-
seqnent protection tc American indus
tries has begun TO MAKE itself felt already.
Wool will almost certainly be taxed, and
merchants in the East are fastening to
get all of the article they can from Aus
trala before Cleveland steps down and
out. The steamer Mariposa brought a
very large consignment, ali for Boston,
and every steamer that leaves Sydney
during the next three months will bring
big shipments By bringing the wool in
now the merchants will save whatever tax
may be placed on it later on.
All the steam whalers in Oakland Greek
are being got ready for next seasons
cruise. Several changes among the cap
tains will be made. Captain McGregor of
the 0rca has forsaken his allegiance TO the
Pacific Steam Whaling Company and will