The San Francisco call., 1908-10-11
Shipping News and Gossip
of the Water Front
Ship Star of France, With 80 Cannery
Hands on Board, Has Close Call

Captain Sparr of the Alaska Packers
associations ship Star of France, which
arrived here yesterday from Cooks in
let. had the battle of his life on the
passage home with a hurricane, which,
for three days, did its best to engulf
the old packet and the large and COS
mopolitan company on board.
Time and again the vessel was
thrown on its beam ends and efforts
to heave the ship to only resulted In
the loss of sails. From stem to stern
the Star OF France still bears marks of
her desperate combat
The Star of Fance left Cooks inlet
"a days ago with 81, 600 cases of salmon
slowed away in the hold. and $50 can
merry hands in addition to the regular
cew. The passengers were made up
Of white men, Chinese and Japanese,
and included in their ranks fishermen.
clerks. tinsmiths and common laborers.
Everything went we'll until September
19, in latitude 55 north. longitude 40
west, when the barometer dropped to
2S.3S and. a snorting gale came out of
the southeast.
The wind increased in velocity until
1t developed hurricane force. For three
days the white, brown and yellow pas
sengers huddled below decks while
Captain Sparr and his men fought the
ship through the tempest.
Captain Sparr describes the sea as
the most fearful he ever saw. For the
three days Of the storm the decks were
continually filled TO the rail and every
few minutes a solid green sea would
sweep the poop. 1t was necessary to
lash a man at the wheel, and several
times he narrowly escaped being
drowned at his post. One sea in par
ucular completely submerged the
steersman and swept Captain Sparr and
his second mate off the poop. They
were thrown into the mizzen rigging,
which alone saved them from going
overheard.
The seas that filled the ships decks
flooded the living quarters fore and aft
and for the rest of the voyage COM
fort on the Star of France was at a
premium. During the storm the gal
ley, which is located on the main deck
amidships. was out of commission and
the fare for all hands was slim and
chilly until the sea had moderated.
Trans-Pacifc Mails
The following are the sailing dates
and closing times of trans Pacific mails
from the port of San Francisco: Mail
Tor Australia and New Zealand will
leave October % at 10 o'clock in the
morning on the steamer Yeddo: mail
Lor Japan will leave October 20 at 10
O'Clock on the steamer Nippon Maru
ana october p at 1890 o'clock on the
steamer Siberia; mail for the Hawaiian
islands will leave October II at $50
o'clock on the steamer Alameda, Octo-
Der 20, at 1870 o'clock on the steamer
nippon Maru; October p at 10 o'clock
on the steamer Lurline, and October 27
at 1880 o'clock on the steamer Siberia;
mail for the Philippines will leave Oc,
tober 20 at 1880 O'Clock on the steamer
nippon Maru, and mail for Tahiti will
leave October IL at 8 o'clock on the
steamer Mariposa
Puglia to Sail This Week
The Italian cruiser Puglia, now pay
ing Its second visit to this port. will
sail next Thursday morning for the
orient by way of HonoIijua - Durine Irle
the little cruisers extended stay the
oncers nave entertained extensively
and have been entertained on shore.
Omcers and men have enjoyed their
experience in California and although
they nave had good time here it is
for San Diego, the first California port
they y visited, that they reserve their
greatest enthusiasm.
Governor Sails for Sound
The Pacific Coast steamship COM
pany liner Governor, Captain Jepsen.
sailed yesterday for Puget sound with
a full cargo and 200 passengers. Among
X. Martin OF Riverside, T. B. Lundy of
Montana, r. A. Warner of the Wells
Fargo bank; R. Parkinson, editor of
the Seattle Railway and Marine News
and Mrs. Parkinson; w CIosson and
wife Of Seattle and John Read and wife
Of San Jose.
Standard Oil Ships Arrive
The Stardard oil steamers Tuscarora.
from MoJi. and the Winnebago. from
Mororan, arrived here yesterday in
ballast Both vessels experienced fine
weather all the way across the Pacific.
The Tuscarora was detained for several
days at Moji, where the japanese quar-
antine officials insisted upon fumigat-
Ing the vessel.
Water Front Notes
Receipts of lumber yesterday by sea
amounted to 1,495, 900 feet
The steamer Buckman, which sailed
yesterday for Seattle, carried 1850 tons
of freight.
A diver was sent down yesterday to
adjust the tackle to be used in raising
the launch Jeanette, which was sunk
the other night TO save it from de-
struction by fire.
Surveyors representing the under
writers yesterday made an examination
OF the steamers Norwood and Asun-
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Fairvw Eagle. 80 Ramsey -. O2 on
GOldyke Reef. Ol Raw Burro . OF