The San Francisco call., 1904-09-06
CONFLICTING STORIES.

The stories told by Captain Smith
- OF the WeStpOrt and by Captain swan
son Of the Pomona differ in many ma
:terial points. and not until all con-
.cerued have told their tales TO the
United States inspectors viii il be pos
sihle 70 place the responsibility.
According 70 Captain Smith, the
-KVestport was backing at full speed
when the vessels cOlllded. II TINS
story is true the Pomona must have
been travelling sideways at high rate
.of speed. But Captain Swanson OF the
Pomona declares that TO escape the
danger that threatened he was gong
fun speed ahead. Ia this event say
the marine surveyors, the Westport
stem should have been twisted side
'zvavs and the PomOna's side raked
ald ripped for half its length. The
Eolles and Bulger system OF question
ing. however. can be depended upon TO
eliminate inconsistencies and out OF
the confusion to bring a plain, IN
vanished tale.
The Pomona stood by the Westport
until il was ascertained that the
steam schooner was not leaking seri-
0usly and was in condition 10 take
care Of herself. The Westport re-
turned here for repairs. The Po-
mona is owned by the Pacific Coast
Steamship Company and the Pollard
Steamship Company owns the West
port
The little schooner Maggie. whose
skipper tried 10 make port Sunday
night by steering a course across
Golden Gate Park, was tOwed on the
beach below the Cliff House yesterday
afternoon by the tugs Relief ana
Dauuuess.
The Maggie draws little water and
between where she lay wedged in the
sand and deep water was wide
stretch Of shoal Ia trying TO save
the Maggie the tugs Defiance ana
Dauntless got into difficulties them-
selves. Each tOwbOat got a nne IN
her wheel and both drifted ashore.
The tangle in the Dauntless propeller
was quickly cleared, however, and her
wheel once free II was the work Of a
few minutes for the Dauntless to work
herself into deep water, where she
soon pulled the Defiance after her
She towed the Defiance to her berth
az Pacfic-street wharf and returned
with the relief TO the work Of drag
ging the Maggie from the beach Ihls
vas accomplished about an hour be-
fore high tide and within few days
The Maggie viii be able to resume her
5ourneying between here ana Half
moon Bay.
Hope Of saving the Drumburton has
been Z aDaudOneo. Ihe STRANDED snip
viii be stripped OF everything NOV
able and her skeleton left for the win
Ter storms to bury in the sand. Cap
- tain John Metcaife, representing
-Iloyds'. and Captain Albert r. Pills
bury. surveyor Of the Board of Marine
Underwriters. visited the wreck yes
terday in company with Captain Jonn
Barneson. the managing owner
They found the vessel solidly plant
cd on the rocks with four huge holes
iu her bottom. Captain Barneson for
niaIlv turned over the wreck 10 the
representatives Of the underwriters
and they see no chance to save her
On the Atlantic and at some Euro
pean ports are maintained wreckIng
plants capable Of saving the Drum
burton. but there IS nothing Of the
sort on this coast and a $4,000 ship,
standing in her grave proudly as ever
she bore herself afoat, must be aban-
donef.
CAPTAIN Thomas. his officers and
part Of the crew are still on board
the Drumburton. Those sailors who
. did not wish TO remain were brought
ashore on the tug Alert.