The San Francisco call., 1899-12-27
WORK|NGMEN ON
THE EMPIRE HAD
NARROW ESCAPE
Staging Sent Flying by
Revolving Screw.
ENGINES STARTED BY MISTAKE
CHANGES OF OFFICERS ON MAIL
BOAT MARIPoSA.

A gang OF workmen had a narrow
escape on the steam collier Empire the
other day. The vessel was on the dry
dock, and the work of overhauling the
machinery and getting her ready for sea
was going on with a rush. Staging
had been placed around the stern OF the
vessel and a number of men were en-
gagged in keying up the propeller shaft.
In order that no time should be wasted
steam was being got in the boilers while
the vessel was still on the drydock, the in
tention being to start for Coos Bay as
soon as the steamer was put back in the
water. The first assistant engineer was
In the shaft alley and the chief was on
the staging experimenting the repairs.
Without a moments warning the screw
began TO revolve and striking the staging
threw the workingmen and their tools in
every direction. Some OF the men had
very narrow escapes, but no one was seri-
ously injured. One of the kits of tools
was thrown fifty feet into the air and
fell right at the feet of a calker nearly
soaring him to death. No one seems 10
know how the engines came 10 be turn
ed over. When the chief reached the en-
gine room steam was turned off and not
man on the ship would acknowledge hav-
ing been anywhere near the lever. The
vessel was not damaged in any way.
The American ship Kennebec arrived
here from Norfolk. Va, with a load of
coal III lne 0lCh or time. her cargo was
considered dangerous one, and when
she became a little overdue the under
writer's got scared and began reinsuring
their risks. When the vessel reached
From here she went to Mare Island and
began discharging at the navy-yard. Yes
terday fire broke out in the coal cargo
and considerable trouble was experienced
in eXtinguishing it. Had the vessel been
at sea the chances are that there would
have been another marine disaster.
a ma cfa1 1rfNa 10 riv l. e
night for Sydney, y. S. w, via Honolulu.
Apia and Auckland. Captain Houdlette.
late of the Australia, Will take the YES
sci out, as captain Hayward leaves in
few days for Philadelphia to superintend
the completion Of the first of the new
steamers now building for the Oceanic
first voyage Captain Hayward has missed
in the Mariposa in fifteen years Before
going to Philadelphia he will visit his old
home in Massachusetts.
Chief Engineer S. n. Haynes of the
Mariposa will also remain behind and go
10 Philadelphia with Captain Hayward.
First Assistant Engineer +. Wolfe will go
out as chief this trip and new first as
sistant will be appointed to-day.
The mails are on time. so the Mariposa
will get away promptly at p. m. She
carries an unusually large cargo and
full passenger list. A number of notable
Hawaiians will go home on her. and Cap
tain Mcleod, late of the ship James
Nesmith. goes to Honolulu on her to take
command of the Henry B. Hyde.
The Pacific Mail Company's chartered
steamer Algoa was scheduled TO arrive
from the Orient yesterday. but IL will
probably be Friday or Saturday before she
makes port. She is an enormous big
tramp and makes very little pretensions
as to speed She is 1915 tons gross bur
den. 455 feet long. IS feet beam and % feet
inches deep. Her carrying capacity is
about 1900 tons, and she has nearly that
amount of freight aboard for this port.
This is more than twice as big a cargo
as has ever been brought into San Fran
cisco in any one ship. An idea OF the size
of the Algoa can be gained from the fact
that she Is 1900 tons gross burden larger
than the transport Sheridan, now at o.
som street wharf.
Coal is a very scarce commodity in the
Louis walsh With 1900 tons from the e. Ros9 1o
lyn colliery was hailed with delight yes
terday. The Walsh was twenty days
making the run from Tacoma. and her
owners were beginning TO worry over the
long passage.
The Collector of the Port is about to
have erected new district Office on Mis-
sion street wharf for the custom house Of
ficers. The Improvement is being made
none too soon, as the old shack in which
the men have been compelled TO work
does not deserve the name OF office
The revenue cutter Rush lost one of her
boats last week. The general supposition
was that II broke away from the boom
and drifted out TO sea. Yesterday the
cutter made a short cruise around the bay
and out to sea in search OF the missing
boat, but no trace of 1t could be found
The California Shipping Company las
purchased another sailing vessel. Yester-
day w. T. Mighell secured the ship Will
lam H. Smith now on her way from New
York for Hongkong. The Smith is a first
class ship and will prove a welcome ad
dition to the coast fleet. The Berlin has
also been purchased for the coast trade
by George Z. Plummer. Both vessels will
arrive here during next year.
Edward Lewis. a man 20 years Of
age ATTEMPTED suicide on the front yes
terday. He jumped overheard from the
Clay street wharf. but was rescued ard
taken TO the Harbor Hospital. where he
was attended to by DR. Robinson.