The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-22
piloons In the south seas. And, IN fact
this 'pinklsh tint did pressage one OF the
severest hurricanes that ever struck the

bay.
entered the cabin before 1t fell upon
us. l did not soc Mr.. London anywhere
about as took my seat beside a win
dow. A peculiar calm seemed to pervade
the atmosphere everything suddenly be-
came so ouet that a natural uneasness
took hold Of the passengers. Their fears
were we'll grounded, for the calm was
the usual one that precedes tho worst
part of a Storm
An italian woman across from me, with
q baby in her arms was looking about
herewith wide, lnquiring eyes and a
feeble old man next to her, with stick
and basket. IN his hands, was peerinE
anxiously out Of the window
First Chapter of "Sea Wolf
believe what followed was at least
partly responsible for the powerful de-
scription Of ferry boat wreck on San
Francisco Bay, rs drawn IN the first
chapter, of jack London's Sea Wolf"
It was a sufficient incentive for any man
with al Imaginative turn of mind to be
inspired to write upon.
No wreck OF any amount occurred, and
no lives were lost. Tho gale lasted only
about fifteen minutes, and was followed
by the breaking Of the clouds and q flood
of sunshine over tho bay. But during
\ L
most thrilling scenes Of a panic on board
a sinking ship that one Is ever apt TO
have the privilege Of seeing without I'M
dergoing really serious results.
The storm struck the ship Will, a fury
that put everybody on their feet. The
boat was not more than FIVE hundred
yards from the slip at the time. The
wind hurled Itself in from the northwest
with an unprecedented power Of destruc-
. ~ to- no 1af nd
the machinery pounded like 1t would
break to pieces We We're being blown
out OF our course. The captain kept tho
ships how pointed toward the slip, which
was appearing through the torn-up mist,
while the stern was thirty degrees off
the parallel. The very tops Of the waves
we're being snat clled up by the hurrl-
cane and smashed against the boats
low sides.
Sounds Call for Help.
heard the engineers bells ring first
one signal and then another. People were
hurrying to and fro. They were still not
more thnn uneasy. having but Il vague
fear that there might be some danger.
knew something about bay navigation,
and when heard the deep whistle rum
bic out Il signal, realized that It was q
call for help.
Jumping up. I ran to the rear outer
deck passed through the door, and
was Mortified to see that we were not
more than fifty yards from the long wharf
which extends far out into the bay and
Is used for freight cars to ship their
cargo. In spite of full steam ahead we
were being blown steadily towards It, our
boat being now at right angles to her
course. Twenty yards from tho wharf
the wind twisted and threw us parallel
with 1t. AS tho crash came ! rushed
into the cabin. 1t sounded like the
ships side was stove In and she leaned
over as though she was going to turn
turtle. The boat rightcd itself, however,
and leaned the other way; and then with
scraping and groaninG Of tmbers hit
the wharf again.
Pandemonium Reigncd.
In n second pandcmonium reisncd
among the passengers, With Il cry. they
snatchcd the llfe-preservers from be-
meath the seats and from the fastenings
on the, ceiling. Everybody came pouring
down the narrow stairways from the
upper cabin falling over each other In
their terror, and lighting like mad to
reach the boats Shouting and
screa ming. the whole mass surgcd 1nadly
toward the doors; and tho women did
"saueal like pigs at the slaughter"