The San Francisco call., 1896-06-26
CHASING THE
OTTER-HUNTERS.
The Revenue Cutter Rush
After the Herman and
Webster.
ACCUSED OF POACHING.
Both Vessels Frequently Over
hauled but No Proof Of
Guilt Found.
SAILING OF THE ALAMEDA.
Nat Goodwin's Comedy Company Drew
a Big Crowd to FolSom.Street
Wharf.
ACCUSED OF PoACHING.
SAILING OF THE ALAMEDA.

The otter-hunting schooners Herman
and Edward E. Webster, according to
latest accounts, are having lively times of
it in Bering Sea with the revenue cutter
Rush. They have been chased time and
again and on several occasions they sue
ceeded in getting away, thus saving an
overhauling. When they did heave to in
response to guns fired from the revenue
cutter it was alwas found that the schoon-
er's papers were all right and that there
was nothing contraband aboard.
The revenue officials are keeping bright
lookout on both schooners and if they are
caught an example will be made of the
owners and crew.
According to reports both the Herman
and Webster have done remarkably well.
They have secured quite number of otter
skins, but every time they have been over
hauled in forbidden territory there has not
been skin found on either. The revenue
officials think the skins have been cached
and also assert that the crew of the two
schooners are trading with smuggled
liquor.
Whether any of these charges are true
remains to be seen, but the fact is that the
Rush is constantly on the lookout for
BOTH SchOoners, and a race between the
three is almost always on the tapis. With
a strong fair wind the schooners have
good chance of holding their own. The bet
ting on the water front is that both vessels
will be seized before the season is out.
A. P Lorentzen, the agent of the two
schooners, is indignant over the idea OF
any one thinking his schooners are poach-
ing. He insists that they are out on a
legitimate otter-hunting cruise, and that
no such thing as 'hquor' ever entered
into any of the captains transactions.
That the vessels have been overhauled
and nothing found wrong in either their
manifest or cargo is strong presumption
that there is nothing wrong, but then
otter skins are worth nearly $500 apiece,
and the Rush is constantly on the track of
both schooners.
Quite number of people were down to
see the Oceanic Steamship Company's
Alameda off for South Sea Island ports
yesterday. She was loaded to her full
carrying capacity and had, for this time
of the year, an unusually large mum Der OF
passen gers. Among them was Nat Good
win and his comedy company. Blanche
Walsh, who was said to have withdrawn,
was among the number, and, with her
mother, was prominent on the forward
deck as the steamer moved away from the
dock. As the Alameda got under way the
ton. She had been chartered by the
theatrical people and accompanied the
dig steamer to the heads. As the two
steamers passed Fort Point Mr.. Goodwin,
in pantomime, made vain attemp to get
the captain on the Alsmeda to stop the
ship, and, with one hand on his throat
and the other pointed to the Cliff House,
attempted to make the crowd on the tug
understand that he wanted them TO take
farewell drink.
Among those on the Vigilant were Mel
vile Marks and Miss Gertrude Elliott of
the Columbia Theater, George Lask of the
Tivoli NJ Clark of the Frawiey Company,
Hugo Toland, ''Charley" Morel, T. Daniel
Frawley and others. The Goodwin COM
pany will be gone about five months and
during its stay will produce "a Gilded
Fool, THE Prisoner of Zenda" and ''In
Mizzoura."
Among the other passengers who sailed
on the steamer were Mrs. Charles M.
Shortridge and her daughter, who are
bound for Hawaii on a vacation. Some
years ago Mrs. Shortridge visited the Par
adise of the Pacific with her husband and
the trip was such thoroughly enjoyable
one that she has determined to revisit the
country. Colonel ]. H. Soper and P.
Soper also sailed for Honolulu and United
States Consul-General w. Churchill and
wife went to Apia, Samoa.
session yesterday, but outside of passing
the weekly bills no business OF import
ance was done. Commissioner Cole is ex-
pected back from St. Louis next week, and
then MANY matters that have been in abey-
ance will be taken up.
The Port. Townsend Branch Hydro
graphic Office reports the following:
New rock off Discovery Island.-Captain ]. T.
Walbran OF the Dominion Government steamer
Quadra has examined and fixed the position
by sextent angles OF an uncharted rock off the
south side OF Discovery Island. The rock lies
between the fifth and tenth fathom line on
British admiralty chart 577, outside OF all
dangers marked on the chart, and bears from
Sea Bird Point south by west y west, westerly
(magneuc), south 43 deg. west (true) distance
AZ cables. The rock is marked by kelp and
has depth on it at low water of IL fathoms.
There is deep water, 8 fathoms, close south
ward of the rock, and on the east and west
shoal; ground to the northward, there being
depths in that direction OF d, ~ and 81
fathoms as far as the ffth-fathom line.
The school children of Tiburon are to
have good time to-day. Ex-Judge Hay
den and others have provided an outing
for them at Ell Campo and launches will
convey them to the popular grounds. The
A. NJ. boat from this side will bring over
ali visitors, and, as Judge Hayden is at the
head of the affair, an enjoyable time may
be expected.
The gasoline launch Minerva that came
down from Seattle on the Umatilla was
fitted out at Folsom-street wharf yester-
dav. She is very handsome craft, but is
too deep by the stern to ever make much
speed. The Minerva was built by the peo-
pie who built Fair s yacht, the Lucero.