The San Francisco call., 1904-07-21

The revenue cutter Daniel Manning
went on Point Montara. near the en-
trance of Halfmoon Lay, yesterday
morning. 1t was fortunate that the
rocky bottom was smooth. When the
mishap occurred the wind and ocean
were quiet, and no damage was done.
! The Daniel Manning left Monterey at
midnight. steaming slowly and hugging
& the beach. as is a part of her coast
4 patrol duty. When north of Pescadero
the fog came in thick enough to shave
with. and the cutter was put on knot
and a half speed AS he neared Mon
tara Captain Tuttle listened for the
whistle on the point, but states that he
could not hear it. though the Pigeon
Point horn, twenty-eight miles away,
was booming loud through the fog. IT
was very quiet, sea smooth, little wind
and no sound coming from the surf off
the starbOard. Suddenly q slight grind
ing was felt and heard and the vessel
rubbed sidewise on the rocks Cap
tain Tuttle. who was on the bridge
when she took the ground. reversed the
engines. but she could not be moved.
This was at $40 q. m. There was very
little swell and the vessel appeared to
be resting lightly amidships on
smooth bottom. Captain Tuttle, know
ing that the tide would soon begin to
rise and the cutter would float. put out
a kedge anchor to hold her off shore
and waited.
When the fog lifted about 10 o'clock
the captain found his position was on
Colorado reef, south Of Montara Point.
The coasting steamer Maggie. Captain
Corning. bound for San Francisco, ven
tured in close to the stranded treasury
cutter and offered assistance. 1t was
accepted and line was made fast TO
the Manning. and the tide having risen
considerably her bow was slowed
around toward the sea and the Maggie
pulled her off into deep water.
The two vessels continued on their
way to this harbor. the Manning drop
ping anchor in her old berth off Sausa-
Tito apparently none the worse for her
trip ashore.
Captain Tuttle was interviewed on
the quarterback Of his vessel shortly
after she arrived. He was overjoyed
at the all-round good luck that kept his
ship and himself from lengthenng their
stay on Montara reef A variation Of
the compass steered him into a fog
shrouded shore. From the incident the
captain pointed a moral that, no differ
ence how careful, how experienced a
coast shipmaster may be, he is never
clear of the danger of wreck. He said:
F'ortv-four years I have safely navigated
these BAYS and inlets and on my last cruise,
almost within sight Of harbor. i go on the
beach How did it happen? Well hrst. the
fog; second. I was half mile farther IN shore
than ! thought. 1 could not hear the Montsra
whistle though I was almost on when
could hear the horn at Pigeon Folnt, twenty
eight miles 20 the south. / have heard much
complaint about that Montsra fog whistle that
doesn't whistle when it is foggy: l knew the
had not come. / would have gone on under my
own steam. gave the captain Of the Maggie
$50 for his good work. The cutter Was MOI III
jured and does not leak
Point Montara is about fifteen miles
south Of Point Lobos. 1t is the seaward
end Of a spur from Montara Mountain
and it's rocks and lodges are exceeding
~ dangerous in thick weather. There
is a light and fog signal on the north
end OF the point. The steamship Colo
rado went ashore there November 9,
1868, and the ship Aculeo was lost on
the reef in 1873. The Government has
been petitioned to establish life-sav
ing station on Point Montara.
On arriving here Captain Tuttle re-
ceived orders from the department de-
taching him from the Manning and no
tifying him that he would be relieved
by Captain c. c. Finger, now COM
manding the cutter Rush at Seattle.
The Maggie arrived last night and
moored at Mission No. l. Captain
Corning's statement did not materially
differ from that of Captain Tuttle But
the crew, however state that they will
file claims for salvage, as the cutter
was stranded and the Maggie pulled
her into deep water and safety. They
affirm that the Manning signaled for
the assistance she received from the |
coasting steamer. 1t is thought along |
the front that their claims are good.
Ready for Her Trial