The San Francisco call., 1908-05-07
Shipping News and Gossip
of the Water Front
Closing Of Custom House. Holds Two
Steamers From Going to Dock

The unusual occurrence OF two yes
sells being detained IN the harbor for
"a hours on account of a holiday nap
pened yesterday. The custom house
was closed on account of the arrival
of the fleet, and this precluded the
steamships Eir and Bramount from
docking. Both vessels went to anchor
age at Sausalito, where the quarantine
and custom house officials will inspect
them early this morning.
The Eir is from Junin, Chile, via San
Pedro, and brings $500 tons OF inter
to w. r. Grace & Co.
The Bramount, which brings 5000
tons OF coal TO the United States gov
ernment. was SO days making the run
from Newport News, Va.
Reception Tent Completed
The large tent at the Mission street
wharf, to be used as a reception and
waiting room by those waiting for fleet
launches was completed yesterday
morning and the decorations were
ready in time for the reception COM
mittee to make the first use or 1t be-
fore paying its official visit to Admiral
Evans. The tent is so by 100 feet
and can. be made to accommodate sew
eral hundred persons. Beautifully
decorated with bunting, electric lights
and evergreens, it is a distinct novelty
for the water front and will be much
appreciated by the men of the fleet
and other visitors. Chairs have been
provided and it will be most con-
venient place for the weary one to rest
for few minutes. Women attendants
will be on duty and in case of any
disturbance, the provost guard, estab-
lished by the marine branch OF tho
navy, is at hand TO auell 1T.
inspectors Are Cautious
precaution yesterday to see that every
craft that carried passengers to and
from the feet was we'll provided with
life preservers and that they were in
seaworthy condition. Life preservers
were required for every passenger and
the inspectors stood on guard all day
to see that none of the boats were
overcrowded. The steamer Corcoran
took out on its first trip more than
500 passengers, and fears were ex-
pressed by several persons for their
safe return The steamer ]. H. Murphy
took out an immense crowd, who were
the guests of the. Pacific lumber COM
pany. The Acme. Zinfandel. Brooklyn,
Brunswick, Cazadero, Governor, Enter
prise, Queen, the Spreckels and Red
Stack tugs and every available launch
and steam schooner on the bay were
pressed into service to accommodate
tHo iuli4tnSc LII
Few Accidents on WATER Front
There were fewer accidents and ar
rests on the water front yesterday than
usual days when there is no great at
traction to draw the crowds to that
portion of the city. From early morn
until late in the afternoon there were
only seven cases at the harbor emer-
gency hospital, none being serious. AT
the harbor police station one drunken
man was booked and no complaints
made. A good portion of the detective
force was at the ferry in the morning,
but no arrests were made. Considering
that there were thousands on the
streets and on the wharves. the saloons
were open and their bars lined. 1t was
a record day for good behavior.
Climb on Roof of Ferry Building
President of the Board of Harbor
Commissioners W. v. Stafford had a
struggle in keeping the employees Of
the Southern Pacific and Key Route
ferry boats from the roof OF the ferry
building yesterday during the hours
of the fleets arrival. The men climbed
up the ladders that are attached to the
piles and, not being satisfied with those
seats as good points from which to
view the ships. they climbed upon the
glass roof, and 1t required much effort
on Commissioner Stafford's part, with
the aid of several policemen, to get
them down.
Bumps Into Dock
| The Southern Pacific steamer Thor
oughfare. which was pressed into serv-
| ice yesterday to carry people across
| the bay, bumped into the ferry slip
with such force that IL knocked two
men into the bay.
! The men at the time were gazing out
to see the incoming fleet and standing
on the end of the dock. The jar that
them. and over they went. They were
Immediately fished out, and the only
thing they suffered was a good ducking.
Disappointed sightseers
About 1000 people who wanted to go
/ to Yerba Buena yesterday were greatly
disappointed because they could not get
passage to that point on the Key Route
boats. They began to assemble at
the ferry about o'clock, and after
j buying tickets waited patiently until
Ii o'clock, when their money was re-
funded to them. The ferry company
said that 1t was impossible to handle
the people, the crowds that had pre-
ceded them being too great.
Thought He Had Been Bunkoed
P. Grexton. visitor in the city. COM
4 plalneQ TO betecClVe y. IL w elcn yeSIer-
day morning that some one had sold
him two excursion tickets and that
none of the steamers would take them
Welch inquired at the Battleship trans
portation company, who issued the
| tickets, and 1t was discovered that
Grexton had not applied at the right
boat. His 81 were returned and he
went away satisfied, except that he had
missed the trip out to the heads
Ticket Collector Fails Into Bay
1 ~Peter Stronker, a ticket collector fol
the Key Route. imbibed too freely OF
the water front brands yesterday. and as
the fleet was passing the ferry build
ing lost his balance and fell in the
bay. The ferry steamer Cazadero
which was just returning from the hee'
parade, lowered boat and rescued
him. Stronker, whose residence Is IL
Oakland was taken to the harbor emer-
gency hospital. where he was treated
by Dr. Beasley.
Newsboy Is Total Wreck
| The launch Newsboy is total wreck