The San Francisco call., 1908-03-05
Shipping News and Gossip
of the Water Front
South Dakota Takes Soap and
Champagne for Big Fleet

The United states cruiser Soutn Da-
kota sailed yesterday afternoon foi
Magdalena bay. where the crew viii
engage in its first target practice. The
South Dakota is carrying supplies for
the Atlantic feet. which were placed on
board the cruiser Off Blossom rock
where IL anchored on Tuesday after
coming down from Mare island.
The freight for the battleships i'm
cludes big shipment Of soap and zoe
cases Of champa gne--'Soap bubbles for
the men and bubble water for the
officers bluejacket remarked yester-
day as he helped hoist load of mer-
chandise from the lighter TO the cruis-
er's deck.
The South Dakota is d new ship and
this cruise will be more for the purpose
of shaking down the crew than for
any serious work. IL takes time to
train 500 men to the perfection of dis
cipline necessary in the navy. and Cap
tain Fox wants TO have his crew in
FIRST class shape by the time the big
feet arrives and the South Dakota
Joins Admiral Sebree's squadron
Defective Tackle May Cause Death
A sling broke yesterday on board the
cruiser South Dakota and one of the
cases Of champagne which were being
hoisted on board the Warship struck
George Baker. an employe Of the Crow
ley launch company, and inflicted in
5uries from which Baker probably will
die. Baker. in charge Of q Crowley
launch. had towed a lighter loaded
with supplies for Admiral Evans feet
alongside the South Dakota. The work
OF transferring the stuff 10 the cruiser
we.s done by the warships crew, all
the hosting gear being supplied and
rigged by the navy people Baker was
on the lighter. smoking q cigar and
waiting for the blUejackets to get the
barge unIoaded. Suddenly one OF the
sings broke and its burden Of cham
pagne in cases fell from the height OF
the cruisers rail to the lighter. One
case struck Baker, fracturing his skull
at the base and tearing of both ears.
A wireless message was sent from
the cruiser TO Goat island and repeated
BY telephone TO the Crowley boathouse
and within an hour Baker WAS at the
Harbor hospital DR.. Tillmsn. who at
tended the injured man. thinks the in
5uries viii prove fatal
Although the victim was q civilian
there probably viii be naval investi-
cation to place the blame for the use
Of gear that was either rotten or OF
insufficient strength
Only Two Arrivals All Day
Only two vessels other than FISHING
boats came into port yesterday between
sunrise and sunset The first arrival
was the Hilonian, Captain Peter John
son. days and IS hours from Homo
lulu. and the second and last was the
tanker Rosecrans. which returned from
delivering q cargo Of crude oil at Doug
las island.
The Hilonian brought q full cargo
and "A passengers. Although wire
less message was received from the
Hilonian when the vessel was 400 miles
of shore. IL was not until the steamer
was within 100 miles Of the Golden
gate that the Hilonian's instruments
picked up any message from the land
and not until then did the operator or
board know that his 400 mile away
message had been received. Captain
Johnson reports having experienced fine
weather all the way from the island
port
Robbed on the Barbary Coast
John Douglas. member Of the crew
o. the United States revenue cutter
Bear, complained to the harbor police
yesterday that on Tuesday evening he
was robbed of $50 in the Thalia dance
hall He blames a woman whose name
he says. is B. He invited Miss to
drink beer. The invitation was ac-
cepted. The second ,bottle sent Doug
las 10 sleep. and WHEN he awoke the
lady with the brief name had vanished
and sS5 had disappeared from his pock-
cts.
Water Front Notes
The state board Of harbor commits
sioners viii hold its regular meeting
this afternoon.
The Pacific Mail liner China is due
tomorrow from the orient
The lfuer fusr ro1 lin 1,
yesterday, and today viii begin load
ing cargo for the orient.
The army transport Thomas viii sal
a noon today for the Philippines.
The schooner Marconi. which arrived
Tuesday evening from Newcastle, Aus
tralia. was towed alongside the quar-
antine barge Omaha yesterday to be
1umigated. The Marconi went from
Callao TO Newcastle, and the federal
doctors deemed II wise to kin all the
rats on board
The harbor police are looking fol
half barrel Of white port wine that
was stolen Saturday night from the
10ruar Of Na1Taio ana TooVrfs