The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-31
A FLEET OFF
THE PORT IN
A DEAD CALM
Nearly All of Them
Are Coasters.
CENTRAL AMERICAN SHIPPING
CAPTAIN OF THE CURACAO
WRITES FROM GUAYMAS.
Arrival of the William n. Smith
From Philadelphia - Collision
Between the Steamers
Homer and Al-Ki.
CENTRAL AMERICAN SHIPPING
CAPTAIN OF THE CURACAO
WRITES FROM GUAYMAS.

"a biS meet OIL vessels MADE port yeSter-
day, and great many more had to re-
main outside because their captains would
not accept a tow. Among those that
came in We're the ship William H. Smi. \
l4f days from Philadelphia, and the bark
Gatherer from Tacoma. Four schooners
also came in with the tide during the
morning, and no less than twelve steam
ers. All of these were coasters, the ma
jority being lumber laden.
AT noon the wind fell to a dead calm
and at that time a British ship, the ship
Columbia, barks Big Bonanza and Charles
B. Kenney, barkentine Archer and
schooner Parkersburg were off shore from
eight to ten miles to the southwest. All
of them are coasters save the British
ship and the barkentine Archer from
Honolulu.
The steamer Humboldt is back in the
Klondike trade after being laid up for
the winter, She sailed Tor Seattle last
Sunday, and will make her first trip to
Skaguay early next week. Max Kalish,
the popular agent of the vessel, has been
seriously i'll, but was able to be about
again yesterday for the first time in a
week.
A week ago a short telegram to the
Merchants Exchange from Seattle stated
that the steamers Al-Ki and Homer had
been in collision. From the Seattle pa
pers 1t was learned that both vessels were
seriously damaged. The Al-Ki was max
ing, port after rough trip from Skaguay,
and the Homer, loaded down with freight
and passengers, was backing out from her
wharf The British gunboat Pleas
ant was anchored between the two YES
sells, and the captain of the Al-M could
not locate the Homer until too late. i ne
Homer was cut down below the waters
edge, and it was only by shifting cargo
she was kept afioat She was cut down
three feet below the water line, and will
take several weeks to repair. The Al-Ki
had her stem knocked off and she also
had TO go on the drydock for overhauling.
The blame seems to rest with the Al-Ki.
Captain Jensen of the Homer said: Il
backed out from the wharf in the usual
way When four minutes out l blew a
single blast of my whistle, as a vessel
seemed to be. coming our way just be-
yond the gunboat. We had turned per-
haps five degrees and the Homer was ly-
ing practically still. The Al-Kis whistle
answered, and as he seemed to be coming
ahead too fast ! gave, the danger signal.
The collision followed
Captain Won Helms of the Pacific Steam
ship Company's Curacao, writing from
Guayamas, says that. northwest gales
California of late. ION January 20, when
off Palpito Point he writes, I'VE struck
a heavy northwest gale, which compelled
us to anchor in Gypsum Cove, San Marcos
Island. We had to stay there from 10
a. m. on the 23d until 4 a. m. on the 18th.
A landing at Santa Rosalia was out of
the question At Santa Rosalia northwest
gales have blown with exceptional force,
and shipping has been greatly interfered
with. When we arrived there no work
had been done for three days, and we had
barely time to unload and load again be-
fore the storm was once more raging.
"The German bark Planet arrived at
Mazatlan, 1879 days from Hamburg on Jan
uary IA with general merchandise
1.-The schooner Rebecca, formerly re-
ported .waterlogged at Espiritu Santo
island, is now at La PaZ, repairing. 1t
was found that only her topsides leaked
and when all her cargo, except thirty tons
of machinery, had been taken out It was
quite easy to pump her dry She will now
be calked and proceed about her business
Her cargo will probably be sold, as a gen.
eral average has been declared.
1.-THE British ship Heathbank arrived al
Santa Rosalia from Cardiff January g.
after a passage of 1856 days. She will go to
Astoria for orders. The British ship Port
Caledonia, from Cardiff, 142 days, and the
DAYS from Hamburg, also arrived al
Santa Rosalia on January q and IA re-
spectively The Parihaba takes a load OF
copper ore to Buenos Ayres, where she
will load hides for Europe.
1.-THE American schooner Maweema ar.
rived at Santa Rosalia on January 4, and
as yet has only got rid Of her deckload
on account of the prevailing northwest
storms. She will go to Port Townsend.
"The Danish bark Elsie arrived al
| Guaymas from Mazatlan on January
After diScharg1ng the DalanCe OF hel
| cargo she will go to Puerto Arena, Costa
Rica, to load for Europe"
| Full particulars of that alleged strange
| case on the Mariposa," which appeared II
| last evenings papers, were given in The
! Call of January IL.
The British ship City of York
which left Liverpool September 15, arrived
! in port last night James Davies, one Of
| the crew, died on the voyage. He was q
| native of England and was 81 years OF
age. The British ship Ditton. from Ant
| ton left Newcastle, England, August 90
SEATTLE. Wash. Jan. 3Q.-A. Thomp,