The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-02
DRIVEN BACK BY
A NORTHWESTERN
1t Blew Over Seventy Miles
an Hour at Point
Reyes.
echooners and Steam Schooners
Had to Seek s heller in
This Pot.
Tramp Steamers Racing From Japan
in Order to B at the New
Dingley Act.

The prevailing Northwestern has caused a
great deal of trouble along the coast. Yes
terday 1t was blowing fifty miles an hour
off the Golden Gate and seventy miles an
hour off Point Reyes. The Ocean Spray
bound for Fish Rock had to run back to
shelter, while the Corin THAN bound for
Bowens Landing lost her flying jib and
had to put back also. The steam schooner
Signal was also in trouble. While buck
ing the storm her engines broke down and
she had to run back TO San Francisco
under sail.
While the steamers and sailing vessels
bound north were "buckinz into" the
storm the handsome new schooner Muriel
was making record time with cargo of
sugar from HAWAII. Yesterday morning
ats o'clock she was twenty-seven miles
southwest of the Farallones AMI four
hours later she was at anchor in port.
Fourteen knots an hour is not bad time
for sailing vessel. The Muriel has mad
the round trip in thirty-tve days, thus
beating the record of the John D. Spreck-
els the fastest brig afoat. The fact that
the Muriel is almost new vessel and that
the John ID. has not been on the drydock
for nearly a year should be taken into
consid Grafton. Given an equal show it
should be a nip and tuck race between the
two vessels.
Captain Carlson OF the Muriel again
succeeded in evading pilotage yesterday.
His schooner outran the pilot boat and
in consequence the pilots had not chance
to speak her. The Muriel has made six
trips to this port, and on four of them
Captain Carlson has made port without
paying piiotage. When it is known that
the MurieI outsailed the crack pilot. boat
Bonita it can easily be seer that she is a
fast boat.
The American steel ship Dirigo is TAX
ing a long time to reach port. Last JAM
uary she was spoken off the Horn by the
British ship Howth, bat has not been
port, but no word has been received from
the Dirigo.
The only cause for uneasiness is the fact
that the Dirigo has twice been locked on
account of leaks. When she was here ON
her last trip she had to go on the dry
dock to have some of her bolts in the kul
overhauled. Later she went to Japan
with cargo of oil and made the return
trip in the fast st time on record. She
again was leaking, however, and again
was put on the drydock. She is now ON
her way to San Francisco with general
cargo. She sailed ten days ahead of the
Charmer, now in poet, while the captain
of the Howth is anxiously awaiting her
arrival in order TO win a new hat which
he bet on the run when off Cape Horn.
The ferries were overcrowded yesterday
morning. Mayday brought picnickers
from ali parts of the town and from
A. NJ. until noon all the steamers were
crowded. Over 1000 people went to St.
Peters parish picnic ut Ell Campo, while
FULLY 1850 went to Schuetzen Park with the
mem bers of st. Francis parish.
The mem bers of the Turn Verein also
went to SchueZen, while the South End
Boating Club went to Guerneville. ALI
the excursionists had most enjoyable
time.
The tramp steamer Homer has at last
found a definite place to run to. She has
been put on the route between here and
Astoria, and will in future run opposition
to the Alice Blanchard. A regular rate
war is now in order and people will be
able. send freight to Oregon in few
days for 81 ton, while the passengers
ticket thrown in.
The Pacific Mail Steamship Com pany is
also in the cut-rate war. When the Japa-
nese put the Hakusan Maru on the route
from Yokohama here the Mail Company
at once chartered the British tramp elena
Won and laid her at the same wharf as the
Hakusan Maui. Both vessels are crowded
with cargo, as all the merchants in the
Orient who have connections in the
United States are anxious to get their
goods here before the Dingley act goes into
effect.
The old tug Wizard has seen her last
days. Her engines are to be taken out
and then the hull will be consigned to the
boneyard. Many a GOOD haul did Captain
Randall. now of. the Monticello, make on
er, and on the deck of the old Wizard
Captain Glenn Randall. now of the Fear
less. learned all he knows about tugboat.
ing. Captain George Harvey, assistant
manager of The Shpowners' and Mer-
chants Towboat Compan also handled
her. while Captain Grey, the general