Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-27
STEAMER MAKES
RECORD RUN
ENCOUNTERS HEAVY SEA BUT
ARRIVES SAFELY
Washington Cities Open Wide Their
Purses and Forward Supplies
With All Possible
Speed
BY Associated Press.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 26.-The
steamer Buckman of the Alaska Pacific
line, in command of Capt Il. b. Wood,
arrived here late last night with vol
unteer physicians, Red Cross nurses
and a cargo of 220O tons of provisions
and supplies for the homeless people
of this city.
The vessel made q record run from
Seattle, but encountered u terrific sea
off Cape Blanco, which crew and pas
sengers believe was caused by subter-
ranean eruptions, and for a time
threatened to engulf the staunch ship
on its errand of mercy.
The Buckman was sent to San Fran
cisco by the chamber of commerce of
Tacoma to carry relief to the stricken
city
A large sum of money was raised by
the two northern cities and no ship
was ever loaded and put out of Pa
cific coast port in SO short time as
was the Buckman.
Vessel Sailed Sunday
The vessel sailed from Seattle Sun
day night and made fast to the gov
ernment transport docks last night,
where Secretary Sheffield of the Alas
ka club of Seattle, who is in charge of
the relief ship. Immediately turned it
over to the military authorities who
now have full charge of the feeding
of the hungry thousands.
The cargo brought by the Buckman
was carefully selected and contains
milk, canned goods of every variety,
meats of all kinds, cereals, even to to-
bacco, matches and corncob pipes.
On the way down from Seattle, crew
and passengers turned out and baked
several thousand loves of bread, so
that it would be ready for immediate
distribution upon arrival here. The
Buckman also brought 5000 blankets
and 400 tents, which are greatly needed
here.
Establish Record
The loading of the steamer for the
relief of the homeless and destitute
of this city was one of the quick
est ON record on this coast.
Hundreds of willing hands assisted
in getting the ship ready for her voy
age and thousands cheered her as she
cast loose the lines.
The work of loading the vessel was
done by the stevedoreS of Seattle, who
volunteered their services and worked
day and night in three shifts.
The Alaska Pacific company donated
the use of the steamer. Besides the
tons of food which the Buckman had,
nurses, who have volunteered their
services in the camps and hospitals
here, We're passengers; also two army
officers.
Off Cape Blanco yesterday morning
the steamer ran into dirty weather
and high seas. Off to the west pas
sengers and crew saw a great wall, like
huge tide-rip of seething boiling
water running mountain high, APP
preaching at great speed.
Two Boats Smashed
1t struck the ship with terrific force,
smashed two of the boats, as if they
We're mere. eggshells and tons of water
rolled over the decks of the steamer,
which quivered from stem to stern and
threatened every moment to founder.
Capt Wood, his first officer and the
chief engineer were swept from their
feet 1t was little short of a miracle
| that they were not washed overheard.
The wall of water had all the appear
ance of huge tidal wave and the seas
| continued running high until late in the
afternoon.
Captain Wood and the passengers
are of the opinion that it was caused
| by some disturbance under the sea.
The work of discharging the cargo
commenced early this morning.
Working With a System
The relief work has made rapid
progress. 1t is now in the hands of the
military authorities and has been per-
fected and systematized until the feed
ing and sheltering of the thousands of
hungry and homeless people is going
on expeditiously.
Five hundred teams are hauling
supplies to the sixty odd relief depots
today.
There is still a scarcity of sugar and
coffee and an urgent and pressing need
for more blankets, coats and tents
owing to the unusual cold nights fol
this season of the year which now
prevail
With the relaxation of the military
law and the abolishing of passes, per-
mitting people to return to the city
thousands of curiosity seekers were
attracted from across the bay yester
day and today, and hundreds gaze(
: sadly upon the ruins of their homes
and dug through the ashes for SOM
treasured memento.
Marines Destroy Liquors
The marines yesterday destroyed /;
considerable quantity of liquors in tha
section of the city in which they holt
sway. This branch of the navy con
trolls and ponceS the pest portlon o
the residence district, and althoug
they have ruled with an iron han6
their authority has been exercise
with such good judgment and discre
= ton that not single complaint ha
4 been made.
This is sharp contrast to the storr
+ of protests and Indignation that vari
{ Gus arbitrary actions of the state mil
!. itia have evoked.
Orders Misunderstood
= What between the military and til
q citizens committees, the storekeepel
;, whose business places escaped destruC
+. ton claim they do not know just wheI
q they stand
1t was understood by them that the
q could open their places for busines
= hut overlooked the fact that only sue
+ as had no bars attached would be pei
~ mitted to do so. AS a result, a deta
of marines destroyed hundreds of do
lars worth of liquors late yesterda
afternoon in places which had bee
opened.
other proprietors were given IL
n choice of closing up again or havir
their valuable stock poured into IL
street.