The San Francisco call., 1897-05-12
JAPAN SEALERS
IN HARD LUCK
All Struck Heavy Weather
and Have Made Poor
Catches.
The Trading Schooner Theresa
a Total Loss in Coal or
Cold Bay.
Retiremen of Cap ain William War
ner, the Nestor of the Bay
Pilots.

Sealers and trading schooners have met
with very hard luck during the last sea-
son. Two or three vessels are missing,
one is known to be lost, and nearly all
the sealers that went to the japanese
coast have proved dismal failures. Pri-
vate dispatches from Port Townsend re-
ceived Yesterday show that the schooner
Theresa is a total loss, while the General
Siglin sis gone with all hands"
The Pacific Coast Steamship Company's
City of Topeka, which arrived at Port
Townsend from Sitka yesterday, brought
the news. The Theresa left here on
March 20 last for Kodiak, and private ad-
vices state that she became a total wreck
in Cold Bay, Alaska.
The crew of the Theresa were: J. P.
Ryan, captain; c. Schmaling, mate; F.
J. Stewart cook; J. Cummertield, b. Lar
sen, R. R eelander. seamen. Captain Ryan
was formerly mate of the bark General
Fairchild, now in port, and this was his
first command as master. c. Schmaling.
a first-rate sailor.
The dispatch concerning the Theresa to
the North American Commercial Com
pany says: THE Theresa, which left San
Francisco March 20 for Kodiak, is a total
loss in Coal Bay" The latter place is so
far out OF her course that captains who
have spent lifetime in Alaska think tha
Cold Bay, one of the trading posts to
which she was bound is meant. The
wreck Of the Samaria with all hands is
now an assured fact, 30 that three vessels
that left here in the month OF March may
all be considered as lost.
March weather did not suit the sealers
on the Japanese coast either. Many of
tine vessels were damaged and the catch
was a miserable one. On March % the
total catch of the schooner Pointer was
ten skins. On April IL she ran into a
heavy gale and sea which broke aboard
carried away the quarter boat and smashed
the weather one into kindling wood. One
of the sailors was crushed.
Continuing his letter Captain Bardsley
says: "The lee boat was carried away
overheard. Both sails on the main are
gone and boat on the main deck dam
aged. A quantity of water rushed into
the cabin, carried away the table and
threw the hunters in all directions. One
of the hunters had his leg badly crushed"
Later Captain Bardsley spoke the
schooner Charlotte Cox. On March II she
had only seven seals. During the gale
the Pointer was eau hit the Charlotte Cox
lost boat and had her pooprais carried
away. Three or four other schooners
were also spoken and all had the same
experience. The entire catch was only
eighty seals so far as reported.
The enlisted men OF the Third Artillery
garrison gave reception on Angel Island
last night, and the quartermsster's
steamer, General Mcdowell, carried their
guests from this City with the permission
of General Shafter. Those who came
from tne Presidio and Fort Mason joined
the steamer at Clay-street wharf, while
the Alcatraz contingent were picked up
on the way. A most enjoyable time was
spent on the island, and when the dancing
was over the guests were brought back to
the City on the Mcdowell
The regatta at Ell Campo on June 20 is
the absorbing topic among the oarsmen
Just now. Emmet Hayden of the Ell
Campo regatta committee, and who also
represents the San Francisco and North
Pacific Railroad Company, says that the
money for the trophies and prizes is all in
sight and that q guarantee to the Pacific
Amateur Athletic Association is now
ready. In regard to the refusal OF the
Stockton oarsmen to row on that occasion
Mr.. Hayden says that communication
has already been sent to them asking the
mem bers of the Stockton Club to recon-
slider their answer ard send some OF their
men to take part in the regatta on June 90
the front. On Saturday the ST. Andrews s
Club will go to Ell Campo. and the men,
bers of the Congregational Sunday-schoois
will go to Bohemia Grove at Guerneville.
On Sunday there will be the usual outing
at Ell Campo. while the San Francisco
cadets will 60 to Schuetzen Park and the
members of tho Manhattan Club will go
to Guerneville. All the summer resorts
on the line Of the San Francisco and
North Pacific are now open and there is a
big travel by the steamer Tiburon every
night.
Captain William Warner, the nestor OF
shipmasters on the bay OF San Francisco,
is about to shake the dust of California
from his feet. His brother, the ex-
president of the Bank OF Commerce of
Boston, and now one of the largest stock
holders in the concern, has been impor-
tuning him for years to return home, and
he has finally consented. Although past
the four-score-and-ten mark. Captain
Warner would any day pass for man of
60 years. Nearly fifty years ago he was
running steamers between San Francisco
and Sacramento, and to him it seems as
but yesterday when he was taking steam
ers up Oakland Creek, and passengers
were assessed 81 each. He ran the first
steamer up Petaluma Creek, and was the