The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-28
BARK CLIFFORD
MAY Be SAVED
Cargo to Be Jettisoned
to Tighten the
Vessel.
Powerful Tugs Will Try to
Drag Wreck From the
Rocks.

! possibility still exists that the British
bark Clifford, which went ashore at Mus
sci Rock last Friday night, may be pulled
off from the spot where she is now lying.
Yesterday the wrecked vessel was care
fully inspected by Captain John Metcalfe.
the local surveyor for Lloyds, which IA
| nous organization represents the insur-
ance companies in which the Clifford is
insured.
Captain David Niche Of the Clifford
and some Of his officers were also pres
ent at the examination of the vessel. 1t
was found that the bark had made ten
feet of water in the thirty hours she had
been ashore, but this did not dissipate
the hope of saving her.
Captain Metcalfe will personally super
intend the work of trying to save the Gift
ford Contracts will be entered into this
morning with a firm Of wreckers and
other persons whose assistance will be
required in the attempt to get the Gift
ford off Mussel Rock.
The first work to be done will be to
fasten anchors to the bark in order to
prevent her from drifting farther inshore
, and from pounding on the rocky bottom
on which she rests.
COAL GOES OVERHEARD.
The $500 tons of coal in the hold Of the
Clifford will be thrown overheard in order
to tighten the vessel Calculations made
yesterday as to the cost of Tightening
the coal showed that it would not pay to
try to save the cargo. The value of the
coal is estimated at SIS 900.
When the Clifford is relieved Of her
cargo, which will probably be in five or
six days, the attempt will be made to
pull her off the beach.
Tugs will be attached to heavy hawsers
fastened to the vessel and they will set to
work at high tide. The water in the Gift
ford will be pumped out at low tide and
the rents in her plates will be patched UP.
AS the Clifford is valued at $4,000 and is
insured it will pay the insurance COM
panies to try to save her from destruc-
ton.
A crowd of sightseers visited the wreck
yesterday. Many proceeded by team to
Mussel Rock, while others walked to the
spot where the Clifford is lying, proceeding
from Colma over the hills or along the
beach from the terminus of the electric
car line.
The crew of the Clifford, which spent
Saturday night on the beach, was taken
to the Southside Life-Saving Station yes
terday afternoon. The crew was not al
lowed to enter city until the men had
I been inspected by the Federal Quaran-
tine officer. This morning the sailors will
be taken to the Sailors Home to await
instructions from the owners in Glasgow,
Scotland as to their ultimate DISPOSE
ton.
GUARDING THE SHIP.
The officers and apprentices of the Gift
ford will remain on the beach to guard
the vessel They have a good stock of
the ships supplies and fresh provisions
were taken to them yesterday. They
have rugged up a temporary home Of sails
and seem to be quite comfortable.
Captain Niche Of the Clifford and his
men were indignant yesterday at the ex-
aggerated reports published that a mu-
tiny had taken place when the vessel
ran ashore The refusal of one sailor to
obey the orders of the captain was mag
nified into a wholesale mutiny. Captain
Niche says that his crew behaved with
strict obedience and promptness, and the
majority of the sailors speak in the high
est terms of their skipper.
British Consul General Courteney w.
Bennett has not yet decided whether he
will hold an investigation here on the
wrecking of the Clifford. Such investiga-
tions are usually held in London by the
British Board of Trade unless a request
to the contrary is received from that body. !
In the event of the crew of the Clifford
being forwarded to the port they shipped
from the investigation will not be held
here.