The San Francisco call., 1896-03-31

Broadway wharf to the ferries before Cap
tain Hunter could get her straight tened
out and on her course. The San Rafael,
in backing out from her slip, had her stern
slowed around by the wilma and she went
broad side on across the opening. Captain
Mckenzie got a breast-line out, and after
some skillful manuvering got the steamer
head on to the breeze and then all was
plain sailing.
One of the State dredgers was badly
bumped at the north end and had to be
moved by the tug Governor Markham.
The yacht Hurricane was driven against
the piles when passing through the Oak
land draw bridge and had about twelve
feet of her sail carried away. At the
south end no damage at all was done.
The delegation OF municipal officers
from Minneapolis now visiting San
Francisco will be treated to sail on
the bay tomorrow. They will be the
guests of Supervisor A. B. Spreckels and
will leave Mission-street wharf at 10 80
A. NJ. All the points of interest, such as
the Union Iron Works, Hunters Point
drydock, the rolling-mills, Presidio, Fort
Point and others, will be visited.
The Willamette Valley, which is sched-
uled to arrive from Mexican ports, will
have her name changed as soon as she gets
in. When she sails again she will be
called the Orizaba.
The steamer George w. Elder, which
broke her rudder-post some months ago,
is now almost repaired and will resume
her running to Portland next Saturday.
The Willamette and Columb a, which also
broke their rudder-posts when attempting
to bring down the Elders cargo, are now
nearly repaired and will start running
again some time next month.
The steamer Coptic brought very valu-
BILE consignment of opium from Hongkong
this last trip. The duty on it alone will
net Uncle Sam $125,000. When the Peru
sailed the customs authorities thought
there was opium aboard, and in conse-
quence the cutter Hartley followed her
down the bay in order to see that no at
tempt was made to throw it overheard.
Chief Engineer Fred Heland did not go
out on the Peru, his place being taken by
John Stevenson. 1t was given out that
Holland was sick, but he was down to see
the vessel away nevertheless. The Peru
had no cabin passengers and only thou
sand tons of cargo.
Peter McQuilan. fireman on the tug
Reliance, had his foot badly crushed yes
terday. He was taking bucket OF water
and got his foot between the tugs fender
and a pile. The Reliance is to have her
new screw put in this week. 1t is auger
shaped, will be made of composite gun
metal and will weigh two tons. There
Will be SlX-lnch f1ange on the outer rim
to keep the water from being thrown
against the outer edge. The new screw is
not altogether an experiment, as the
Messrs. Spreckels have tried it on their
San Diego ferry-boat, where it has proved
splendid success. A vessel equipped
with one of these augers can go ahead or
astern on the instant, and there is also
less slip than with the ordinary propeller.
1t is expected that the speed and towing
power of the Reliance will be considerably
increased.
Considerable work has been done on the
Reliance in order to fit her for the new
screw. new stern-post has been put in
and in about four DAYS she will go on the
drydock to have the wheel fitted. Then
by about Monday next she will be ready
for her trial trip. Steamship men are
loud in their praise of John D. Spreckels'
public spirit in giving the new screw a
thorough test at his own expense.
The schooner Del Norte is expected to-
morrow from Coquille River with cargo
OF coal from new mine just opened. +.
w. Kronenberg of Oakland has developed
the mine and he is about to put the prod
uct on the Oakland market Should it
turn out as good as expected regular line
of vessels will be pat on the route.