The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
THEY MAY BRING
THE SWANHILDA
Gales That Favor Her
Chances of Making
Port.
The Storm of Thursday Night
One of the Heaviest
fer Years.
How the Stanch Pnot-Boat Am rica
Rode Out the Gale South #
the FaralIonas.

Hopes that the Swanhilda, bearing
Murderer Butler to the clutches of the
waiting officers of the law, will soon be III
port have been raised by the. southeast
gales that have prevailed during the past
few days. The pilots and shipping men
generally know that these winds are
favorable to ships coming from Australia,
and they look for the big four-master any
day now, particularly as the rear guard of
the fleet from Newcastle is beginning to
straggle in.
The arrival of the British ship King
Edward off Point Reyes last evening was
looked upon as good sign, though she Is
seventy-fve days out from Newcastle.
The storm sof Thursday night was re-
garded by the pilots the best judges of
the severity of gales. as the hercest that
has visited this coast in many years. The
handsome pilot schooner America caught
the full force OF the storm while lying
southeast of the Faralones, and for several
hours the crew and cruising captain,
Pilot Fred Jordan, worked necessarily to
prevent her from being injured by the
fury of the raging wind and waves.
The first big squall came from the south
east with a roar, carrying the crests of the
waves into spray and dashing over the
bow and sides Of the smart schooner.
In moment the crew was called from
below and during a momentary luil the
mainsail, which had been reefed, was still
further shortened, the foresail hauled
down and the lib reduced to a storm size.
Hardly had the preparations for bad
night been completed when the wind came
on with renewed violence and for time
the stanch craft was buried in foam.
Squall after squall struck her with a
roar that sounded like a passing railroad
train and the stout rigging sang with the
force Of the gale. 1t was almost impossi-
bic to breathe when facing the wind and
all hands were kept on deck all night to
be ready Tor an emergency.
So great was the force of the storm that
the vessel, under her short canvas, could
not hold her own, and during the few
hours that the storm lasted drifted many
miles TO leeward. Luckily Pilot Jordan,
who is considered one of the best naviga-
tors on the coast had worked vel TO sea
when the dirty" sky presaged a storm,
and there was plenty OF sea room for the
schooner TO Or f. through before the gale
broke and showed the vessel to be safe.
Her position was figured by the pilot
several times during the night, the lead
IN each instance proving that his calcula-
Iions were correct.
Detective McHattie, while on his way
here from Australia, set several traps for
Butler, the murderer, IN case that no.
torioUs character should leave the Swan
bilda en- route. At the Fiji Islands be
left photographs of Butler, a complete
statement of the charges against him and
q request with the Sheriff to arrest and
hold the man on sight.
He also took similar precautions at
Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, and at Seat.
tie, Wash. So if Butter lands at any OF
these places he will be apprehended, as
the authorities are on the lookout for him.
All the pilots on the pilot-b boats that lie
off shore awaiting incoming vessels have
authority now from the United States
Marshal 10 place Butler in irons should
they board the Swanhilda aud find him.
They not only have authority from the
Government officers, but each is supplied
with warrant from the British Consul
here.
One of the pilots speaking of the mode
of procedure in capturing Butler advo-
Gated this plan: He would board the ship
as usual, and then while in conversation
with the captain explain to him that
Butler" or "WelIer" is notorious mur-
derer for whom the officials of two Gov
ernments are eagerly waiting. The cap
tain would casually order some other man
and Butler to do some work on deck, and
would Immediately afte!ward order all
the other sailors aloft 10 shorten sail.
Then he would call Butler into the
cabin, whip out pistol and handcuff him