The San Francisco call., 1897-04-16
Chinese Cannerymen Who
Held All the Trump
Cards.
A Sailors Superstition That Hur-
ried the Sailing of the
Sterling.
The Old Bark John Wesley Has Seen
Her Last Days-To Be Made
Into a Storeship.

There was trouble on the American ship
Sterling yesterday. 1t was thought that
the vessel would be ready to sail for the
canneries during the afternoon, and tug
was ordered to tow her 10 sea. There was
so much to be done in the shape of clean
ing up, however, that Captain Davis de-
cided TO remain in port until this morning,
and consequently countermanded the
order for the tug.
When the Chinese heard of this there
was small insurrection in the forecastle.
The coolies had mixed so much with sail
ors during their annual trips 10 the can
neries that they had imbibed the seamen's 8
belief in bad luck following a ship that
sailed on Friday.
The boss went to Captain Davis and
asked:
''You sail this afternoon?'
"What has that got 10 do with your"
roared the captain.
mo sail to-day, Chinaman no sail to-
morrow. Chinaman sail Saturday."
The skipper stormed and ragged, but
when he saw his $50 Chinese coming on
deck ready 10 march ashore he gave in
and again ordered the ting. The Chinese
went back to their quarters, and an hour
later the Sterling, with her deck Uttered
with freight that there was no time to
stow, was on her way to sea. The Chinese
won their case, and the Sterling did not
sail on Friday.
There is a surplus of laden sugar boats
in port just now. Eleven of them are
awaiting q chance TO discharge, and their
cargoes represent 49, TIA sacks of the raw
material. Among the lucky ones are the
schooner Robert Levers, which will dock
al Mission Rock to discharge, and the
schooner Honolulu, which will go to the
sugar refinery this morning. The other
vessels awaiting a turn are the brigs
Consuelo and w. G. Irwin, schooners 81.
C. Wright, Fred E. Sanders, Jessie Minor,
Helen NJ Kimball and Albert Meyer,
barkentine S. G. Wilder and bark Andre W
Welch.
Captain Joe Trewsen OF the Spreckels
tug Alert has been very sick man for a
week past. He has been confined to the
house, and it will be several days before
he is out again. Captain Glenn Randall Of
the Fearless, whose boat Is laid up for
repairs, has been running the Alert for
the past week.
The old time missionary bark John
Wesley will leave in a few days for the
Marshall group on her last voyage. The
underwriters have refused to reclass her,
and in consequence all the owners can do
is 10 turn her into hulk. When she
reaches Jaiuit she will be dismantled and
turned into storeship. A schooner to
take her place is to be built in San Fran
cisco. and when she is completed will 60
on a trading cruise among the South Sea
Islands.
Giovanni Poletti had a narrow escape
from drowning last Wednesday night. He
had stretched his net across the mouth OF
Alameda Slough, and when everythin ing
was duly arranged he lay down and went
to sleep. An hour later the steamer Al
viso came along and ran INTO the net.
When the strain came the fishing. boat
capsized and Poletti was left struggling in
the water. He had gone under for the
last time when sailor on the steamer
who had seen him disappear jumped in
after him and brought him to the surface
again.
Gus Fernandez was arrested by the
Harbor police yesterday on a charge of
ibelng Louis Nunez. The latter asserts
that the prisoner has been posting defam-
atory posters on his place of business.
Captain Morley, who got into trouble at
Port Towpsend for plotting the British
ship Glenrichart into Puget Sound, sailed
yesterday for the same place as pilot of
the British ship Annie Thomas. In this
instance there Will be no trouble, as he
was promptly acquitted by the court on
the first charge.
The Earbor Commissioners held a short
session yesterday. All the bids for the
laying of blocks on Folsom-street wharf
were rejected and new ones will be called
for. Captain Nelson made a strong plea
in favor of home industry, and said that
if any blocks were used they should be
redwood.
The work of constructing a new hy-
draulic hoist for the ferry slip at the
Southern Pacific ferry was let to the Vul-
can Iron Works for 1924. The board s
attorney was instructed to commence suit
against the bondsmen OF Galloway, Towl-
ney & Co. for the money lost in repairing