The San Francisco call., 1896-10-16
Says He Could Net Find a Mar
Who Could Make Him Give
an Exhibition.
HE WANTED TO SWIM sHARKEY
Quite a Number of Engaged and Dis
engaged Vessels Are Now in the
Bay Awaiting Their Turns.

The Harbor Commissioners held their
usual session yesterday. 1t did not last
very long, as there was not much business
to transact, and furthermore, Commis-
sloner Chadbourne was in New York. The
schooner Ida schnauer was tabooed, and
in future she will have to anchor in the
stream. A few weeks ago she incurred an
indebtedness of So 40 at Main-street wharf
and the captain failed to pay it. The Com
missioners decided to double the charge
and also impose a fine of $40. Until the
$26 80 is paid the schooner will have to
load and unload in the stream.
The Oceanic Steamship Company's
Mariposa sailed for Australasia last night.
She was loaded down with freight and
several hundred tons of canned goods were
left on the wharf awaiting the next
steamer. Nearly one hundred passengers
were in the cabin, while the steerage was
well patronized.
Among those W ho went away were the
Australian crick eters and Charles Cavill,
the swimmer. There's no use in my
staying here" said Cavill just prior to
the sailing of the ship tAt one time l
thought a race from Fort Point TO Point
Lobos and back between Tom Sharkey
and myself might be pulled off. Had it
come to pinch | would have given him
or any other man half hour start, but
no one seemed to take any interest in the
proposition, so it fell through. You have
no swimmers in California. They are
good for a squirt, but when it comes to
genuine hard work they are not in it.
When it comes to a question OF athletic
sports Australia cannot be beat"
The Mariposa went out as spick and
span as a yacht. She was thoroughly
overhauled and Chief Steward Hannigan
had his particular domain in apple-pie
order. New carpets were laid and all the
staterooms were fixed with new curtains.
All the woodwork was repainted and in
consequence the Mariposa looked like
new ship when she went out yesterday.
Sailors on coasting vessels have had to
submit to the usual winter cut. 1t was
question of laying the vessels up or reduc-
ing wages and the owners decided upon
the latter course. Formerly men on the
lumber ships got $50 month. now they
only get $25. On the colliers they got $25
month, now they only get $22 80. at
first there was disposition to strike, but
when the Shipowners Association ex-
planned the matter TO the Coast Seamen's
Union the whole question was settled.
When freights pick up the old rate will be
restored, but at the present time it simply
means lower wages or tie up the vessels.
tom" James, the popular steward of
the Australia, may not GO out on the
steamer next trip. He has been offered an
important position in New Orleans and
the chances are he Will accept it.
The big Spreckets tug Fearless will start
for Puget Sound to-day with a dredger in
tow. She will also have a mum ber of
pumps aboard and some work on the
Umatilla will be done. On the return trip
the Fearless will probably bring down the
British ship Kilbrannon. She went on
almost the same point as the UmatilIa,
but the necessary repairs being consider
able size was sold to San Francisco ship
ping men and will come here to be retitted.
The chances are that she will be put under
the Hawaiian flag.
The tramp steamer Transit, from Puget
Sound for Central America, put in here
with one of the crew injured. Carl
Tridell, the man who ran the donkey en-
CINE, broke his leg, and the captain put in
to land the man.
The steam schooner Protection is load
ing for San Benito at Main-street wharf.
She has over 200 tons of general cargo, 4
scows and $50, 600 feet of lumber aboard,
SO she is well weighted. TIE little boat
is almost down to her gunwales, but as
she is pretty sure to have a falr-weather