The San Francisco call., 1896-02-15

ished last Thursday night. Had it been
impossible to do the work the docking of
the Pacific Mail Company's City of Peking
could not have been accomplished and the
repairs necessary on her would have to be
done in Hongkong. The overhauling of
the big steamer will probably cost $5000,
and that sum would have been lost to San
Francisco had the entrance to the dock
not been cleared.
When the matter first came up Captain
James H. Bruce, superintendent of the
California Drydock Company, applied to
the Harbor Commissioners for assistance.
He explained that all the available
dredges were on the Sacramento River,
and that if one of the States could be
spared it would be an aid to commerce.
The board finally came to the conclusion
that the work would be an infringement OF
the law, which prohibits the State from
entering into competition with private in
dividuals, and which also says that no
work shall be done by State dredges or
towboats outside the jurisdiction of the
board.
Captain Bruce bowed to the law, but he
was determined that the way should be
| made clear for the docking of the City Of
Peking He hired the tug Sea King and
determined to get rid of the silted mud by
means of her wheel. At low water last
Thursday the gate was removed from the
| drydock, and the tug was driven into the
| entrance. She was made fast and then
| the engines were started. AS the wheel
revolved it stirred up the mud and soon
| made clear passage the length of the big
/ tug. She was then backed and the opera
| ton repeated until regular passage was
| cut from the dock to the end of the wharf
| The sides were then treated in similar
| manner, and when The tide began to make
| there was free channel for the City OF
Peking as soon as she arrives In San Fran
cisco.
| Captain Bruce, who engineered the Job,
is one of the oldest and most experienced
| masters on the Pacific Coast. Besides
| being superintendent of the California
| Drydock Company, he is marine surveyor
for the Fireman's Fund Insurance Com
| pany, superintendent of the Crescent City
Transportation Company and managing
| owner Of nearly dozen coasters. He was
naturally q little sore over the refusal OF
| the .Harbor Commissioners to send a
dredger, but he is now correspondingly
| jubilant over the success of his expert
| ment. The tug did the work in four
hours that would have taken the dredger
| two days to accomplish.
Captain McGregor of the steam wbaler
Orca and Captain w. H. Robinson, who
was formerly his second officer, mad an
alteration on the corner of California and
Drumm streets yesterday. McGregor
struck Robinson on the jaw and knocked
him into the gutter. A rough and tumble
fight ensued in which pistols were drawn,
and had it not been for the interference of
Captain Humphreys of the Jeanie and
half dozen others there might have been
death. There was blood shed in plenty,
as McGregor's IS first blow broke the skin of
Robinson's face and the second, which
was square on the nose, started flood
which was not stopped for twenty minutes.
Captain Robinson has been kind of
protege of Captain McGregor, who has
taken him on several cruises, and helped
him out in great many ms tances. Lat
terly Robinson married Mrs. Ida Green,
the mother of Countess Won Barnekow,
who was drowned i'll the steamer Elbe, and
since that time he has lived in Alameda.
He was neighbor of his old-time friend,
Captain McGregor, bot the relations soon
became strained, and as Robinson con-
tinued to make disparaging remarks about
McGreeor's family, the latter got angry.
Captain McGregor is one of the best
sail to the Arctic. He is a general favor
ite, and feels keenly any reflection that
| may be cast upon him, even by sailor.
| The United States warship Adams went
out on a trial cruise yesterday. Should all
her machinery work well she will probably
4! sail for Honolulu Tuesday. Should any
| fault be discovered she will go back to
Mare Island for repairs. Cartain G. q.
| Clarke of the receiving ship Independence
| was at the head of the Inspection Board
and his report will decide the destination
| of the sloop-of-war.
| The stern-wheeler Trilby. intended fol-