The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-28
WRECK STREWN HARBOR.

"A Few days ago read an editorial
comment in the Star expressing the hone
that the harbor of San Francisco could
be freed from the rocks and shoals which
menace navigation and make such fright
ful shipwrecks as that OF the steamer
Rio de Janeiro possible" said a Califor-
nisn, who is now a resident of this city.
according TO the Washington Star; "but
II would cost sum AS large as the river
and harbor bill carries To do IT,
''lt is the Pacific sea fog. of which east
ern people have little conception which
constitutes the greatest menace, and that
is unfortunately, a physical condition
which cannot be remedied.
There Is a sea fog about the entrance
10 the Golden Gate at different hours of
The day and periods OF the year such as
does not exist on the eastern seaboard
This fog is Hike huge white. yaporous
clouds OF escaping steam, moist and
chilly, and rolls In from the sea I'm
great, impenetrable volumes of tumbling
mountains of vapor. rising with great
rapldity and sweeping shoreward with the
speed OF the wind. I'm trice tho brilliant
sunshine OF the climate h obscured and
on Shipboard sailor can not see an
arms length. Then IL will break. the
sun will shine again, md then close down
as suddenly. like thick white blanket
Sometimes it lasts for DAYS. II was in
one OF these fogs that the captain OF tho
Inflated ship lost his bearings, and the
ship, drifting I'm the swift current was
swept on the rocks, which are guardians
OF ill-omen 10 the entrance TO the beauti
ful bay OF San Francisco.
In fact the military prison of AIcatray
~ situated upon small island Just in
gtt faf Ia. N.fl
cally huge rock rising precautionary out
of tie water. while between II and tho
harbor entrance the waves dash snsr,lv
over the Jagged surfaces of deadly shoals
lheSc, however may be avoided bV tha
mariner with comparative ease liz il ON
the rocks outside of the Heads. "a the
two opposite points of land which almost
meet at the hsrbor entrance are called
upon which many fine ships. Just as their
last long voyage is about completed dnsb
themselves into splinters Farther out
to sea is another shoal. called the Potato
Patch
IN addition. the bar must be crosseS
During the furious storms prevalent ip
winter The ocean beats upon this rib or
SAND, causing q hiRh white ridg. OF surf
which is picturesque in its grandeur. and
~ one ot The sights OF san Francisco To-
VISITORS fortunate To be there NJ such a
wv SUN dlIfHIN literally mpun-
tains high. and uutn IL subsidies ships
STAY iu port or. " ou the outside. beat
we'll out 90 sea
Thc great Pacific hungriy laps tho
shores of the coast for hundreds OF ntIcs
without an entrance, except this narrow
pathway called the Golden Gate The
current consequently. and suction OF
water are terrific during the season of
st"rius and very great at other times
as me water under such stupendous
pressure. surees hercely In and out OF the
bav
ashingtonians will better understand
the horror if ship should go To- pieces
on ro,k at the Junction ~ the Eastern
lraurh with the Potomac. and the sur
'iF"i' should row up 60 the seventh
'treti wharf in the small boats aud be
ne hrst 90 trll the tale uf disaster A.
ne city of San FranDaco is now built |
PIP almost out to tho Clin House. and tho |
hi-ii' -ifee's tran Gown to the very |
taicrs li the hay aud thr Golden Csf, 4
nose FhipWreck~ take place almost at /
hc very doorstcps of The houses