The San Francisco call., 1898-04-06
WAS HATED
 TO PERISH [ IN THE SURF Erratic Course of the New York in Half
 moon Bay. Ugly Comments Made Upon the Cause of the
 Recent Wreck. Twice Did Captain Thomas Peabody Enter the Reef
 Bound Cove. DANGER SIGNS AROUND. Landsnaen and Mariners Mystihed Over the Masters Strange
 Msneuvers.
Twice Did Captain Thomas Peabody Enter the Reef
 Bound Cove.
DANGER SIGNS AROUND
Landsnnen and Mariners Mystifiec .- Over the Masters Strange
 Msneuvers.

The wrecking of the ship New York on the beach near Spanishtown, Halfmoon Bay has caused no end of gossip among Nsea.nen and insurance agents, to say noth- ing of the remarks of the people living near where the big ship went ashore. Not a few are inclined to be uncharitable and even ugly in their comments upon the way Captain Thomas Peabody handled his vessel during the thirty-six hours be. fore she was piled up on the beach. a total loss. The New York on Saturday afternoon, March 12, was off the Pigeon Point light, eighteen miles south from where she now lies. Although the wind was blowing strong the ship made only eighteen miles headway in twenty-four hours and the next eight hours put her in the breakers, although according to the statement of the master he supposed he was close to the Farallones.
 Captain Peabody's story of many of the incidents of the disaster is materially diff feTent from the statements of many of the folks who were in the vicinity of the bay. He says that the weather was heavy and thick, while dozens of wit nesses assert that the day and night were as clear as could be asked for. He states that at no time when on the inshore tach, that led to the destruction of the ship, did he see any lights on the shore or on the water, but the facts are that nearly a hundred lights of various kinds glimmered over the sea from within a radious of three miles, to say nothing of the Pigeon Point light that was visible to those on the steamer Gipsy which lay at anchor close under Pillar Point.
 More than one person has stated that he believed that the wrecking of the New York was intentional and not the result Of combination of adverse cir cumStances over which the master of the ship had no control This belief was based upon the peculiar manner in which the vessel was handled, almost run upon rocky reef in the afternoon and again sent back over the same dangerous course to her destruction after the shades CT nlght had fallen. The insurance men declare that while they cannot See how the ship could have been wrecked acci- dentaIIy, they are unable to find motive Tor the vessels destruction.
 Twice during the fateful day did Cap- tain Peabody run his ship almost upon one of the most dangerous reefs on that part or the coast, and why he should have dGne so the second time is what the peo- pie. cannot understand. For two days she New York was closely watched by A. founker, the manager of the Amesport WharI, near the end of the bay fr the, small, half-sheltered cove can be so called In discussing the movements of the ship MT Younker said: II noticed lle shlp on Saturday, the day she went ashore l recognized her by her short t9remast. The top had been broken off. She was tacking in and out near or north II. seem to me that she was very far from the shore. About 12 o'clok on the next day l saw her for the first time a con siderable distance inside of the reef near buoy No. 3. The sails were all up bur there were no signs of distress and a number or us wondered why the captain should take his ship into such a danger ols place: She seemed to hang up there for while and then turn and go south peI0re the wind and next put out to sea- l think the ship must have gone out twenty miles, for SIInnnWr yUa just make her out. As the Gipsv haG just come and anchored in the cove I put the big light out at the end of the warehouse, as l always do when the steamer IS in the cove or is due The HSt FeHects against the white-Washed end oi the house and can be seen for a lopB instance out at sea. After a while my men and l noticed that the shin was iSe'iu'as iS' l. TOT the shore again. and coming III IS straight as she could be steered
 MT. 1ounker called attention to the fact that Within distance of q mile south of the "hart there are over two dozen farm houses, and said that at night there are always lights to be seen at the windows Besides, there were the two riding lights on the steamer Gipsy. Manuel Simeon wa another who witnessed the strange ma neuvers of the New York during tbe afternoon and evening. and these 0bsar- vations were shared by Jesse Valadao Frank Martin and Antone Vantura. ali Of whom at times work around the wharf At the south end of Spanishtown lives William MetZgar, opposite whose land inc wrecked vessel now lies. He was a close observer Of the movements of the shin during the day and evening, and his mar rative as to the strange conduct of the master tallies with the stories told bv those on the wharf and dozens who live in the town.
 The officers of the little coasting steam- CT Gipsy, that runs from this port to San ia. Cruz, had a fine opportunity of noting the movements of the New York. but they are as badly mystified as any one
 Tt was Sunday afternoon about ? o'clock when I first saw the New York, D said Captain Leland of the steamer Gipsy