The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-22
Steamship Morgan City Hides a
Federal Scandal in Her Hold.
The Record Of a Storm.
Tons of Bacon for the Troops at Manila
Were Received at the Ship in a
Drenehing Rain---Secret Of
Profitable Contract.

T OCAL shippers and those inter-
ested in the shipping interests of
this port are wondering what the
influences have been that have
resulted in the charter of the
steamer Morgan City to the Federal
Government. The Morgan City has
lain idle for over two weeks at the
Folsom street wharf. She is under
commission to the United States Gov
eminent, and every day that she re-
mains at this port it is understood that
the Government must pay $500. The
steamer has been ready to sail for two
weeks, but by authority of the Federal
Government she has remained in port.
The Morgan City was chartered as a
supply ship. She has on board provis-
ions for the soldiers at Manila. While
she is not loaded to her greatest capac-
ity she is weighted with food for the
men who left San rancisco to defend
American arms at Manila. The delay
in the sailing of the vessel has given
rise to a serious scandal, almost par
allel with that between General Miles
and General Eagan.
1t is claimed that some Of the pro-
VISIONS
Morgan City were improperly received
and are now on board the vessel in
worthless condition nd are menace
TO the other supplies which have been
packed in the hold Of the ship. 1t is
asserted by those who have reason
TO know that when the Morgan City
and her cargo arrive at Manila the au-
thorities will find that the supplies are
worthless.
1t is claimed that hundreds OF crates
of bacon were received on board the
Morgan City in a drenching rain, and
that the bacon is now in the hold work
ing damage to the ether supplies. Inc
matter has been called TO the attention
of Federal officers, but an investigation
has not yet been ordered. Experienced
shippers insist, however, that II the
vessel is permitted to make her voyage
she will do so in vain, as the climatic
conditions Of the tropics Will destroy
the provisions that are intended for
the American soldiers. The clrcum-
stances attending the charter OF the
Morgan City and the preparation OF
her supplies are interesting. The facts
warrant the assertion that the Federal
Government has been imposed upon
and that private interests have reaped
an advantage that rightly belongs 10
the United States Government.
1t will be remembered that the Nor
gan City was originally chartered by
the United States Government as a
supply ship and transport last June.
The vessel made her journey to the
Philippines and returned. She was
originally purchased and brought to
this coast by the Ladue Yukon Trans
portation Company to ply between this
port at St Michael. The Yukon
trade became Improbable and the
Johnson-Locke Mercantile Company
became agents for the vessel, with ar
idea of using her in a better mission
The result of the transfer of this agen-
cy was that the Morgan City was char
tered by the United States Govern
ment to convey troops to Manila. Over
500 soldiers were carried to the Phil
ippines on board the vessel and on No
vember the Morgan City returned t
this port The ship and its owners were
again seeking service. Time passed anC
nothing was done. The handling Of the
vessel was taken away from the John
son-LOcke Company and E. F. Bots
ford, general manager of the Ladut
Yukon Transportation Company, as
sumed control.
Every effort was then made to char
ter the ship again to the United States
Government. About this time Captain
BarnstOn of the firm of Barnston
Chilcoott, stevedores at Port Towns
end. arrived at this port. Captain
Barnston had taken the ship Arizona t.