The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-26
NAVAL OFFICERS
WILL COMMAND
THE TRANSPORTS
Capt. Lombard Takes
the Morgan City.
FOR GRAIN-CARRYING SHIPS
A FRENCH DECISION FOLLOWS
THE AMERICAN LAW.
Captain Gage of the AI-M Now Has
the Walla Walla-George Dry
den Appointed Assistant
Chief Wharfnger.
FOR GRAIN-CARRYING SHIPS
A FRENCH DECISION FOLLOWS
THE AMERICAN LAW.

Captain John z. Lombard went out in
command Of the Morgan City last night
vice Captain Dillon, who has retired. Cap
tain Lombard is well known on the coast
having made his home here for several
years. He is native Of Maine and en-
tered the merchant marine when quite
boy. On the outbreak of the Civil War
he enlisted in the navy and was IN the
fleet commanded by Admiral Farragut. lie
was in several actions, including that Of
New Orleans, and was wounded in the leg
at Fort St. Philip. At the close of the war
he was retained in the navy. but resigned
some years ago. The captain saw service
ia the Spanish war, being at the battle of
Manila as executive officer of the U. S. S.
Raleigh.
Captain Lombard holds the rank Of lieu
tenant in the navy.
The other officers of the Morgan City
are: First mate, Thomas p Doris second
mate, kenealy, and third mate, Peter Ole
sen. The transport sailed for Manila late
yesterday afternoon with some 600 recruits
and fifteen civilians.
Captain Stenhouse of the British ship
Talus when at HaVre, France, with a car
go OF wheat became involved in law suit,
which is OF interest to all masters of yes
sells carrying grain to foreign ports. Ac-
Cording to the custom, the sacks contain
iug the wheat had been cut so that the
grain would run down and MI all the IN
tersrices, making the cargo into solid
mass and thus prevent 1t from shifting:
The merchants to whom the wheat had
been consigned brought suit against Cap
tain SteuhOuSe for damage TO the wheat
and also TO the sacks. The sacks, they
claimed, had been shipped IN good con0l-
lion and on arrival had been found cut.
causing the loss OF gram ILeTelpon tney
brought suit against Captain SJennouSe
Tor one franc for each short sack ana SUI
francs Tor sacks damaged, or 400 francs
I'm an. The Judge rendered a decision IN
favor Of the merchants and based MS De
Cisi0u on q judgment given in a case sim
liar 10 this one in the United States ana
Captain J. T. Gage has been given COM
mand Of the steamer Walla Walla, owned
by the Pacific Coast steamship Company.
His aDpOiutmenU comes in the nature OF
surprise It viii be remembered that Cap
tain Gage commanded the steamer AI-hl,
which had q collision with the steamer
Homer in Seattle. The Homer was com
malltQ by Captain lessen. Inc SedIIIe
inspectors held that lessen was Maple ana
was submitted to the San Francisco in
speCtOrS with the result that the FORMER
decision was oVerruled, lessen was exon
Grated and Gage was supposed 10 lose MS
license for six months. Now J. 1. cage
has been given command OF the steamer
The CITY Of Papeete arrived yesterday
from Tahiti in the remarkably long pas
sage of fOrty-three and half days; she
generally makes the voyage IN thlfly-
three to thirty-four days. The Papeete
brought up the largest load OF copra Ihat
has ever been received here, the amount
of c0pra arriving representing the shred
ding Of from 10000 900 to 5000 600 cocoa
nuts Everything is reported quiet IN
Tahiti. The war scare has long since
passed away, and it is said that the Gov
ern0r of the islands has received a. severe
reprimand for his action IN placing the
town OF Tahiti IN n posture, OF ueIeHse.
il viii be remembered that the Governor
actually believed that war mad broken out
between England and France and so pre-
pared for a vigorous defense against the
attack Of English war vessels He brought
the French gunbOat alongside the quay,
dismounted her guns, placed them on the
heights, issued rations Tor ninety Gays 70
the inhabitants and established interior
lines Of defense against the enemy that
never came. His patriotism has resulted
in a severe official wigging.
Captain p y. Stofen of the United
States engineer vessel Yosemite is re
C-iving the congratulations of his friends
along the front and elsewhere. A rela-
tive Of his wife died in Germany recently,
leaving Mrs. Stofen a small matter Of $780,
Q1N. Captain and Mrs. stolen lett Tor Ger
many a couple Of days ago to gather in
The transports Ohio and Senator are
scheduled TO leave tomorrow for Ma
Mia.
Captain Martenson, who lately COM
mauded the schooner Snow and Bur
CESS. has been appointed to the command
of the schooner Queen, vice Captain
JonCh
Captain Hansen takes the command of
The Harb5r Commissioners held a short
session yesterday and appointed George
H. s. Dryden to temporarily succeed
Harry S. Scott as assistant chief wharf
niger. All the Commissioners spoke very
highly of Mr.. Scott and felt sorry to lose
him Mr. Dryden has been wharfinger at
Main street for over four years and has
proved himself to be a thoroughly eff
cient officer. He is well liked and should
make a good assistant chief. Mr.. Scott
has resigned the position to accept the
place Of superintendent of docks In the
United States transport service. w. II.
Merrill was appointed wharfinger at How
ard street to succeed George 3. Clifford
time expired.
The steam schooner Alcatraz, while
backing out from Main street yesterday,
ran into the steamer Newsboy. The lat
ter lost part of her guard, but the Alca-
traz was not very much damaged.