The San Francisco call., 1897-11-12
Two Men Deserted and Two
Whales Are Lost After
Capture.
Contradictory Reports About
the Sailing Of the Battle
Ship Oregon.
Great Enthusiasm Among Naval
Militiamen over the Coming of
the Marion.

The whaling bark Horatio that got in
last Wednesday night is one of the un-
fortunates. The bone and oil she brought
IN will not pay expenses, so the crew will
be paid off with the proverblal dollar.
During the voyage two of the crew,
Manuel Silva and Jim Frazer, deserted
in order TO join the sealing schooner,
Golden Fleece. The latter is owned in
Guam and was TO return there as soon as
the cruise was over. The deserters joined
the schooner at Hakodate, and from there
the crew of the Horatio say she went to
the Copper Island rookeries. The captain
and seven of the crew of the Golden Fleece
lost their way in fog and were captured
by the Russians and put in jail at Petro-
pauloisky. An Err glish cruiser came
along soon afterward and her captain Sc
cured their release and took item to
Yokohama.
The Horatio was in hard luck during
the entire season. On one occasion, wheE
the boats were all ont, the one COM
manded by Third Mate Joseph Chase was
app reaching a whale when another man.
mai came up under the boat and nearly
stove it in. A few minutes later there
the Horatio was entering the Sea of
Okhotsk A whale was killed and the work
CT cutting up began. a storm came up
and Captain West had all he could do to
save the vessel, so the whale was lost.
On third occasion whale was struck
and three boats were fast to 1t. Night
came down, however, and the boats had
10 cut the mammal adrift.
The battle-ship Oregon has been the
subject of considera BILE discussion during
the last few DAYS. Different reports have
had her bound in half a dozen different
directions until now no one seems 10
know just where she is going. Yesterday
morning all shore liberty was stopped
and the starboard anchor was taken in.
1t was then said that the battle-ship was
going to Sausalito for the night and
thence 10 sea for target practice. During
the afternoon several of the sailors came
ashore and laughIngly remarked, Its up
anchor in the morning and suore Il berty
in the afternoon" All hands are to b.
aboard again this morning.
According to the first reports the Ore
gon was TO have sailed yesterday for En-
senada and from there for Magdalena
Bay, where the men we're TO have three
days target practice with the big guns.
Then she was TO make run down the
coast and test the guns on the way, and
now she IS to go to Sausalito. On Monday
she will start for the open sea, but how far
she will go nobody but the captain Sc ems
10 know.
The Pacific Steam Whaling Company
is pre- eparing to enter the ST. Michael trade
next spring. 1t is negotiating in New
\ York for a steamer and will probably have
two ready for the trade by next March.
II will also run the steamers Walcolt ami
Thrasher in the Copper River trade.
The Oceanic Steamship Company's Ala
For A
took away, besides the mem bers OF the
Frawley company, an unusually large
nun Der of cauln and steerage passengers.
The steamer Claudine sailed for Honolulu
also during the morning, but the Alameda
will probably beat her by forty-eight
hours into port.
Captain Turner of the Naval Battalion
will pay visit to Mare Island tomorrow
TO have look over the Marion. He does
not want the warship's spars removed, nor
does he want her housed IN. the Govern
ment will obably grant the request and
then the members OF the battalion will be
jubilant. The Harbor Commissioners will
be asked TO give the vessel permanent
dockroom at one OF the wharves, and as
all the mem bers of The board are in favor
OF dong everything possible TO help along
the battalion, only the question of loca.
tlon remains 10 be settled. As soon as the
Marion is safely moored 10 the wharf
every thing belonging to the battalion will
be put aboard and the present quarters
given up, thus effecting 4 saving OF $500
month, which Will be expended on the
vessel. New recruits are pouring in, a
band is being formed, and soon San Fran
cisco will be a bic to boast of the largest
and most efficient body of naval militia
men in the United States.
1t is the intention OF the officers and
men to celebrate the change from the
Camanche to the Marion by a reception
and ball. AS soon as the man Of war has
Leen put in frst-rate order the function
will take place.
1t is the intention Of the officers to en-
ploy regular drill Instructor who will
always be at hand TO lock after the men,
The schooner Volant has been pur-
chased by II. 6. Larsen. the big collier
Peter Jebson by Jonn Rosenfeld's Sons,
the schooner General Banning by Captain
W. Olsen, and the old whaler Alaska by
Captain Cogan, late of the Thrasher.
Captain Thomas, late of the schooner
eral Banning, and the vessel will be put
in the Mexican trade.
The police are now looking for the sloop
Anna Catherine, which sailed for parts
unknown last Wedne. day. They think
that some one VINO is "badly wanted"
was among those WHO formed Lhe crew of
the little craft.
Emile Pagot,' a returned whaler is after
his lather's estate. The money was all
lett to him. and his TWO sisters were cut
oil with dollar each. Pagot is now OF
age and has agreed to divide with his
sisters, so the guardian of the latter is
going TO help him to get the money
Pagot go: back here week ago on the