The San Francisco call., 1897-04-22
OFF|CE-SEEKERS
LIKE VULTURES
At Least So Thinks Col
lector of the Port John
P. Jackson.
In Regard to Positions on the
Front H. Says the Cry
Is Not Yet"
The Alaska Packers Association S
Thistle Blown Back by a Siff
Northwestern.

The Occidental and Oriental Steamship
Company's Gaelic went to sea yesterd ay
with heavy cargo, but few passengers.
A number of Chinese went away in the
steerage, but very few of their country
men were down to see them off.
Among those on the wharf WAS John P.
Jackson, the newly appointed Collector of
the Port. He took note of everything that
was done by the Cu,tom-hou officers,
and there 8 one thing certain-he will
not take offics without knowing the ins
and outs of the Custom house system.
If were you," said Billy Thornley,,
one of the best known Custom house
brokers in the City. 81 would 60 to Col
lector Wise and get few pointers from
him. He mas been through the mill and
he knows what awaits YOU"
Jackson looked at him for moment
and then asked: Have you been any,
where on the block bound ed by Sansome,
Washington, Battery and Jackson lately?'
NO"
"Well, I have, and every inch of that
block Is occupied by man who wants q
job on the water front or in the Custom
mouse
Now in connection with your sugges-
ton, let me tell you story. I came to
California in the old days and had to make
my way across the Isthmus of Panama.
1t wa. q dreary venture, and 1 will never
forget The vultures that hovered around
day and night awaiting the first man that
dropped out during the pilgrimage. My
travelling companion stayed with me
almost to the end, but finally the swamp
fever got its work in on him and he
dropped by the way.ide. Before he was
dead, the vultures perc ed on his body
nh kn~ IL, -
his eyes, looked around and the last word 8
ne uttered were: Not yeti Not yet! Not
yet"
The schooner Irmgard is almost ready
TO leave for Honolulu. Part OF her deck
load will be handsome gasoline launc h
which is destined to make connection.
with all the small ports on The island of
sugar crop from point to point, and when
an id le spell comes she will carry her own
ers on excursion trips.
The Hum boldt Steamship Company's
Hum boldt made smart run from Eureka
on her last trip. She left the home port
| at 11:33 A M. and reached Meiggs wharf
| at 3:48 A. M. Captain Bonnifield ASSERTS
that the latter time is u 'give and take"
of five minutes, aud is confident that in a
fair and square race the Hum boldt could
beat the Pomona. The whole discussion
and there is considerable of it along the
front, has arisen over the fact that the
| passage of the Pomons from Eureka to
San francisco was given as sixteen hours.
while that of the Humbold was sched.
uled as sixteen hours thirty minutes.
Any controversy over tho matter. how
rver, is needless, as both steamers are so
evenly matched that another race would
not show q victory OF three minutes on
either side.
The Alaska Packers Association Thistle
went to sea yesterday, but had 10 put
back on account OF the storm. She bucEed
tho storm for q time, but being unable to
make any progress turned tail and made
for port.
The s'eamer COSTA Rica goes to sea un.
der the British flag. When she was laid
up she was called the "Nicarayuan
steamer Costa Rica." but as there is now
no Consul for that country here owing to
the federation in Central America a new
flag had to bs found for the vessel.
The steamer Belgic of the Occidental
and Oriental line will be at least month
late in reaching this port. While entering
the port of Hongkong her thrust shalt
broKe and she had to 90 on the drydo ok
for repairs. Tho next vessel to arrive here
from the Orient therefore will be the
Doric, due here about the latter part Of
this month or the 1st of May.