The San Francisco call., 1896-01-18
ALONG THE WATER FRONT,
Narrow Escape of the River
Steamer Mary Garrett
Last Thursday.
w. Colnon Attempted to Convince the
President of the Harbor
Commissioners.

| The river steamer Mary Garrett had
very narrow escape in the southeaster last
| Thursday night. Her engine-rooms were
flooded, and it was only the heroic work
of the fremen that kept steam enough on
the boilers to get the vessel out of the
heavy swell.
1t was day of misfortunes for the ves-
sci. On her way down from Stockton she
stuck on mud bank for eleven hours, and
| it was consequently about 6 P. NJ. before
she arrived here. From her dock at Wash
| ington street she went to the Pacific Mail
Company's wharf to unload flour into one
of the China steamers. The wind and sea
were too much for her, however, and the
captain determined to return to Washing
ton street. On her way back the vessel
got into the trough of the sea and rolled
so heavily that the stays of the smokestack
parted. While temporary repairs were be-
ing made the waves broke over the steamer
continuously and flooded the engine-room
Had the firemen deserted their posts at
that time the chances are there would
have been a wreck to chronicle. As it was
the Mary Garrett got back to Washington-
street wharf, and sailed for Stockton as
soon as the gale subsided.
! I. z. II. WniteIaw, the wrecker, is hav-
ing considerable trouble with the forty-to
gun carriage for the Lime Point fortifca-
ton. He got it across the bay on lighter
all right, but the moving of it up the hill
has proved a serious task. The heavy
rains of the past forty eight hours have
made the ground so soft that the huge
mass of iron has sunk into the earth and a
derrick will have to be erected to raise it
onto the rollers again.
The w. j. Roach is discharging at Beale-
street wharf, the Eulomene went to Oak
land and the Godiva has moved from Main
street to the Mail dock to finish discharg-
ing. The steam schooner Caspar will be
laid up at Beale street for six weeks to get
new boilers and the Westport will receive
thorough overhauling at Main street.
Considerable damage was done by the
rain on the Oregon dock yesterday
Thursday nights storm opened ND the roof
of the shed and in consequence the rain
poured in on the Eastern goods awaiting
transhipment. There is likely to be con-
siderable discu ssion between the Oregon
Railway and Navigation Company and
the Harbor Commissioners as to who shall
foot the bill for damages.
A man calling himself William Colnon
presented himself at the office of the
Harbor Commissioners yesterday and
asked to see President E. L. Colnon on
"some important matters" did he saw
his name was Colnon2" asked the gentle
man from Stockton. and when assured
that that was the name given he remarked,
well, l didn't know there was another
Colnon in existence outside of my own
family" The man was shown in and
seemed to know all about the president of
the board and his family. Just as he was
recountlng some interesting incidents of
his career Chief Engineer Holmes and
Chief Wharfinger Root dropped in. They
recognized the man at once, ana as he had
not seen them they backed out and beck
oned to Mr.. Colnon. About month ago
this same man was William Holmes and
on the strength of the name he got So so
from the chief engineer to pay mis- fare
home. A fortnight ago he was William
Root and on the same showing got So from
the chief whartinger. This was all told to
President Colnon and he went back laugh
ing into the room where civilian Colnon',
was sitting. A few minutes later William
asked his namesake for 81 80 with which
to get back home, but the president of the
Board of Harbor Commissioners, strange
to say, had not even a scent piece to
spare. William retired discouraged. but
probably succeeded in gaining the conf
dence of some one else before the night
was out