The San Francisco call., 1898-09-30
DISASTER THE
 FATE OF THE
 LUMBER RATS No More of Them to Be Constructed. OWNERS ARE DISCOURAGED TOO MANY RISKS ATTEND THE VENTURE. The American Ship R. D. Rice to Load Redwood Lumber in tnis
 Port for Lonoon Direct
OWNERS ARE DISCOURAGED
roo MANY RISKS ATTEND THE VENTURE.

The American ship R. D. Rice will be- gin loading redwood lumber for London next Wednesday. She came here from New York with a general cargo, dis charged and sailed for Departure Bay whence she brought a load of coal to San Francisco, and now she is taking in ballast to stiffen her before the lum- Der loading begins. She is a fine looking vessel and a fast sailer, so she should make a quick passage to England.
 Captain Carver of the Rice is an old San Francisco favorite. He has been coming here for years, and his friends in this port are legion. He was at differ ent times master of the St. Nicholas, Cyrus Wakefield and Charles R. Flint. The fast named vessel was burned at sea, and Captain Carver and his crew had. to escape to the boats. They all finally landed al Pernambuco after great suffering and privation. After the burn ing of the Flint Captain Carver was ap- pointed to the Rice, in which vessel he has been ever since.
 The Rice was slightly damaged yester- day. There is not enough water to float her at Beale street wharf when the tide is out and in consequence as the tide went out she took decided list to starboard. The strain on the mooring chains was very great, and in consequence some of the chocks were torn out and the railing smashed.
 Both lumber rafts have. gone to pieces. The one made up of sawn lumber broke in two Wednesday night, and the tug Rescue remained fast to one piece, while the Monarch made fast to the other. Early yesterday morning the Monarch s back to port. The Rescue and her half have not been heard from since. The steamer Humboldt is out searching for the raft of piles lost by the collier Pro- RTHSO. chances lN- Ing by IL awaiting chance to make fast. At noon yesterday IL was blowing 46 miles an hour at Point Reyes, and at D. m. 70 miles an hour at Point LoboS, so there must be a heavy sea outside. and that would make the handling of either raft impracticable until the weather moderateS.
 D. H. Bibb, the owner of the rafts that have met with such bad luck, is weary of the venture and will bring his lumber down by sailing vessel in future. He told the secfetary of the State Board of liar Dor Commissioners that the experiment was failure and would be abandoned. I hls Is glad news Tor the owners or coast ing vessels, as had rafting been sue cess il would have driven over fifty ves- sels of this class out Of business.
 Over the rafts that have reached here the lumber company is having trouble with the Harbor Commissioners. The lat ter claim $500 wharfage on the lumber, and Blob only wants to pay half that amount. The matter will be settled at the next meeting of the commission.
 Captain E. P. Drew of the bark An drew Welch will on his arrival in Homo lulu take command of the bark R. P. Rithet Captain Thompson of the Rithet has resigned to take command of a new four-masted schooner built by Hall Bros. at Port Blakeley for s. c. Allen of Homo lulu.
 The new steamer MarZama had her trial trip on the bow yesterday and proved herself to be a fast and comfortable boat. She was built for the Interisland Steam ship Company, and Captain Godfrey, su- perintendent of the company, is here to take her to Honolulu.
 Captain Gregg, who lost his life on the Baltimore a few days ago, was a little over a year ago master of the British ship Falls of Dee. The vessel at that time was lying at the seawall and caught fire. The captain was blamed in the matter and lost his position. That drove him to drink. and he gradually went down the line until he was chipping iron rust from vessels sides for living.
 The San Francisco Yacht Club boys are to give a clambake at Marin Island next Saturday night and Sunday. The Cyg- nus, Commodore Hill Sappho, Captain L. Haven; Twilight Captain A. Naylor Will O the Wisp. Captain c. White; Juanita Captain John Savory. and Catherine, Captain Sutherland, will be there.