The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1900-12-14


the curious, and habitues of the water
front were very numerous on the Navy
wharf about o'clock yesterday after
noon when the big United States army
transport Meade left on her long jour-
ney to the Philippines.
The Meade is the longest vessel
which ever entered this harbor. She
is not the largest by any means, but
her length of 526 feet is a little be-
yond anything that ever disturbed the
waters of this lovely port. After she
got out into the stream, stern fore
most, it was no easy job to get her
turned round so that her nose
pointed for the mouth of the channel.
The tug Fearless had hold of her
and could do all the pulling that was
necessary, but the danger lay in get
ting the vessels stern stuck in the
mud as she backed uncomfortably near
to the lighthouse in order to get
around. AS it was, the Meade's pro-
peller churched up lot of mud and
made the waters of the harbor black
from the lighthouse to the wharves.
The transport was drawing twenty
eight feet of water, and she must have
touched bottom before she finally got
fairly headed for the channel, and the
Fearless let go and she was on her
way, flags flying, hands and handker-
chiefs waving, and soldiers cheering.
The Meade will go to Manila via
Guam and Taku.
CHIEF KELLY IS NOT TO BLAME.
Chief Engineer Kelly, of the United
States army transport Meade, which
sailed for Manila yesterday, was not
to blame for the row among the fire.
men on that vessel.
There is no more popular man in the
transport service than this same Kel-
ly; he is as tender-hearted as a kitten,
and he wouldn't hurt a single hair on
the head of Honolulu mosquito.
Kelly was the chief engineer of the
Morgan City when she was wrecked
in Japanese waters last year, and as
slight token of appreciation of the
gallant work that Kelly did during
that trying time, the United States
government handed Kelly check for
$500. There are men in Honolulu to-
day who were with Kelly when the
Morgan City was wrecked, and they
all say that Kelly is an all-around
man in every way, and that his kind
hess of heart has oftentimes come
nearer getting him in trouble than
any other trait of his makeup.
In the first place the story concern
ing trouble aboard the Meade has been
greatly exaggerated, and in the sec
ohd place all the fuss arose out Of a
high collar and a weeping fit on the
part of fireman who was not a fire.
man, but lad looking for a snap and
free passage to Manila. The sea-
lawyer figures in the case@ as we'll.
There Is always sea-lawyer where
there is any trouble among crews
aboard ship. A sea-lawyer is man
who knows everybody else's business,
and not his own.
Seven firemen who signed with the
Meade when she left San Francisco
have left the vessel in this port. H.
Z. Renslow is one of these men. Rens-
low went to Chief Kelly in San Fran
cisco with letter from his brother,
said that he wanted TO work his way
to Manila and that he wanted a job
Kelly said that all he could give him
would be job passing coal. Renslow
accepted the position. He went aboard
the transport wearing huge standing
collar, and Kelly sent him down in the
bunkers.
The work of passing is, of course,
no easy job. Renslow was not used to
it; had done better things and when
he found he couldn't manage it he
didn't want to do any more of it. |
Renslow started to create dissatisfac-
ton among the firemen.
Another ono Of tho mon uhn laft
the vessel here, c. Joseph, has a red |
hot yarn to tell of how he was put in |
irons for being sick and unable to |
shovel coal, and confined where hot
water was continually dripping down
upon his head. Sober minded people |
aboard the Meade who were acuuaint- |
ed with the facts of the case. informed |
an Advertiser representative Yesterday |
afternoon. just before the vessel sail
ed, that these stories were the mere
of sea-lawyer's brain /"
STRATTON TAKES CHARGE.
SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 4.-Fred S.
'tratton formally assumed his position
$ Collector of the Port Yesterday. His
Lttention during the day was devoted |
o study of the details of the Office
M answering correspondence. At
resent, ne announces, there will be no
hanges in the office. There are sew
RAJ positions to be filed under civil
ervice, but the appointments will not
'e made for some time. Only one off,
lal matter came to him for action YES |
erday, that of Edward Nicey. a water
ender on the transport Thomas. who /
vas arrested for attempting to SNUG
ie two silk covers from ahe ship. Mr..
'tratton recommended that action be
AIKEN for his prosecution.
CAPTAIN HOLMES RECORD.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 6.-Captain
cseph w. Holmes, in command of the
american ship Alexander Gibson. com
ieted his eightysecond trip around
ape Horn to this port upon the arrival
esterday of his vessel. OF all the vet
ran mariners who come UP from the
ea' captain Holmes is chief in point of
ength of experience and is not vet
eauy TO retire, although he is &c years
III. The Alexander Gibson was 157
ays on the voyage from New York.
M captain Holmes has the further
istinction of bringing the last of the
aiilng ships from New York. Owing