The San Francisco call., 1897-08-14
A WHEAT RUSH
HAS COMMENCED
Six Steamers Now Unload
ing Grain at the Sea
Wall.
Harbor Commissioners Urged
to Provide More Ac-
commodation.
Sad Accident to a Recruit on Alcatraz
Island Last Wednesday
Morning.

The wheat rush on the water front has
completely eclipsed the Klondlke rush.
ONLY a couple OF vessels are outtitting for
the latter place, while wheat-laden
steamers cannot procure dockroom. Yes
terdar at the seawall alone there were the
Clty OF Puebla with 40, 900 sacks from Port
Hartford, the State OF California with
13, 900 sacks from Oregon, and the Coos
Bay with 391 tons, the Alex Duncan, 366
tons, the Gipsy, $50 tons and the Alcazar,
27O tons, all from southern ports. Keep
ing them company were eight scow-
schooners anxlously awaiting chance to
get some of the grain as fIelghf for Port
Costa.
The rush o. wheat is so great that the
Harbor Commissioners have been COM
PEELED TO clear Lom bard-street wharf, and
when the mex. grain-laden vessel arrives
she will be docked there.
In connection with the great rush of
business the following leIler has been
sent to the Harbor Commissioners by
Goodal, Perkins Il Co.:
Gentlemen There Is every indication Of large
quantities OF grain coming TO San Francisco
this season, in fact, 1t is already coming Tor
ward from the south, and ii LOOKS very much
as II 1t would be coming from Inc north very
attention be given 10 the question OF storage
room ON the seawall, so as to avoid the trouble
resulting from such blockade as was encoun-
tered there last year. Yours truly,
GooDALL PERKINS & Co.
Chief Wharfinger Root said yesterday
that everything possible was being done
to facilitate the transhipment OF wheat and
that wharyes were being cleared in order 10
give incoming steamers special facilities.
At the present time the railroad line that
runs into Port Hartford is blocked and the
Northern Pacific cannot begin to hanile
all of the wheat Cfferng for the San Fran
cisco market. Every available steamer
has been put into the wheat trade and
thousands of tons may be expected TO ar
rive here next week.
There was great deal of excitement on
the ferry steamer Bay City shortly after
she lett the wharf last Thursday night on
the $50 O'Clock trip, and when off Goat
Island well-dressed man about 40 years
of age jumped overheard from he lower
deck. He was in plain view for a few
minutes and then suddenly disappeared.
A boat was lowered and for a quarter OF
an hour cruiSed around where the man
was last seen, but not a trace OF him could
be found. Captain Lsaie says that he
took particular notice of the man as he
walked down the gangplank, and 10 him
he appeared TO be well-to-do merchant.
at was only few minutes after the cry
of man over board came" said Captain
Leale, "before the vessels headway had
heen stopped ana We were backing toward
the scens of the disaster. A boat was
lowered and thorough search made, but
no sign OF the suicide could be found.
From what | could see, however, he ap-
peared to be man In wel-to-do cirCum-
Stances was well dressed In dark brown
sui; and wore a Derby hat in the latest
style. He was clean shaven and had an
iron-gray mustGcne. All in all, would
take him 10 be the last man who would
attempt suicide"
Andrew Larsen took an involuntary
bath from section a of the seawall. He
had been having a good time the night
previously. and mad wandered down to
the water front to enjoy the sea breeze.
He sat down on one OF the stringers, and
a few minutes later was sound asleep.
When Larsen awoke he was fioundering
around IN the waters of the bay. Wharf,
niger Crowley heard his cries for assist
ance, and rushing out of the grainsheds,
threw hun a lifeline. Larsen seized it,
and was hnally hauled on TO the wharf
again. He made a Deeline for home.
without even thanking his rescuer.
! The quartermaster' steamer Mcdowell
/ brought the news of curious accident
| winch happened on AlcatraZ. Two of the
recruits named Hall and Jackson started
to make their way to the beach, via the
/ lighthouse steps, and when part OF the
way down and on the first landing almost
the entire structure gave way. Jackson
seized the bannister, but Hall was thrown
10 the beach, about forty feet below, and
! received such a terrible fracture OF .he
right leg that it had 10 be amputated be-
! low the knee.
jackson Joined the army in Indiana
| and was assigned to Battery l.. He was
sem from Indiana to New Orleans and
from the latter point to San Francisco.
| hall came out here with the Christian
Endeavorers and on his arrival hunted up
! his lifelong jump. lie became enamored
OF the life OF soldier and after passing
the necessary examination al the Preside
was assigned 10 Battery a. There he was
neXt-door neighbor to his friend Jackson
and everv time possible they got leave To-
gether 1t was after the usual morning
drill tina: the two friends started for the
beach and the accident happened. Ac-
cordlng 10 the rules and regulations of the
United States service Hall will now be en-
Titled to pension OF $50 per month and
a new cork leg every three years.
The Oceanic Steamship Company's
Australia sailed for Honolulu yesterday
afternoon with one OF the most valuable
cargoes that have been taken out of
tie port in many day. There were sew
| enteen carloads of machinery Tor the Oahu
sugar plantation and an immense guam
tity OF general merchandise. There we're
also SIX thoroughbred bloodhounds con-
signed TO James A. Low, head taller for
the Hawaiian Government. These ami
mails have been specially trained 10 hunt
negroes; the Hawaiian Government
thinks mat they will be especially service
able in hunting down Kanaka fugitives
from justice.
There was also a delegation of the Sal
vation Army on board. They are to
open up new mission in Honolulu.
Over hundred members of the army
were down to see them off, and hymns,
prayers and speeches were the order Of
the day for half hour before sailing time.
Just as-the vessel was backing out an old
man, with long gray hair, mounted fem
der pile and warned all and sundry to fl e
from the wrath to come. Whatever else
he had TO say was drowned in the farewell
whistle OF the departing steamer
Among the prominent passengers who
went away on the Australia were Mrs. w.
S. Leake and Mrs. M. Gardner, who are
going 10 Hawaii on a pleasure trip. and
who had hosts of friends to see them off.
Before sailing their staterooms were
II rp ed int0 vlrifahta