The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-05-04

line launch Eugenia. carrying passen-
gers TO and from the visiting battle
ships. was burned 10 the waters edge.
The storm was as wild a one as this
community has seen. II started during
the morning hours of Saturday and
grew worse with the progress of the
day. In the evening it was blowing
unusually hard. II was all the sailors
could do to transport the officers ashore
for the bali at the Del Monte hotel.
At midnight it was a gale. Orders had
been given for steam up to prepare for
emergencies and additional watches
were maintained
At o'clock in the morning the bat.
tleship Illinois, lying we'll out in the
roadstead, parted its starboard cable
and Immediately began TO drift. Be
fore it could be secured again the help
less mass of iron and steel crashed
alongside the Alabama, ripping out its
port gangway. With the greatest of
luck the Illinois drifted away without
any further damage.
LAUNCH HEADS FOR PIER
While the Illinois was bearing down
upon the Alabama Admiral Sperry's
launch snapped its painter and went
careening through the darkness direct
FOR the pier on shore. The usual num-
Der of men on watch were in the
launch at the time, but being asleep
did not become aware Of their predica-
ment until they We're hurled from their
hunks as the tiny vessel struck the
pier head AS helpless as the battle
ship was the launch for a few moments
and in that time it was pounded again
and again by the merciless waves.
Seeing that they were in danger of
sinking the bluejackets on board
headed the launch for the beach and
ran it ashore All night long it stayed
there, the heavy surf swapping it
from stem TO stern. At daybreak its
plight was discerned by the men on
the Alabama and another launch sent
10 tow il to safety. Though battered
considerably the launch suffered no
serious injury.
Prior to these two accidents a launch
from the Maine. while attempting to
make its way from the ship to the
shore, was driven on some sunken
rock. It succeeded IN backing off with
out any more damage than a bent pro-
peller. The two mastea schooner New
ark went ashore at about the same
time as the Illinois parted its cable.
The crew remained on board.
In the midst Of all the trouble the
floating wharf at the custom house
broke and was piled on shore like so
much wreckage.
5 LANTERN FIRES EUGENA
The burning of the Eugena was
brought about by the carelessness of
its crew. A lantern had been left on
deck, and when the heavy sea struck
the vessel it toppled over and ignited
the gasoline. The owners were on
shore al the time and did not become
aware Of their loss until the launch
was hopelessly ablaze.
The widest rumors came with the
storm Word was sent to Del Monte
while the dance was in progress that
the first squadron had been forced to
put back 10 Monterey on account of
the dangerous seas running at Santa
Cruz. Another was that the Illinois
had rammed the Alabama and that a
number Of lives had been lost An
other message was received from
Monterey to the effect that the 6rst
squadron was outside the harbor mouth
making Intellectual attempts to beat its
way in.
WILD RUMORS SPREAD
The rumors were whispered around
the ballroom and the gayety Of the
evening gave way to anxiety. The
whole talk was Of the safety of the
feet. Men and women asked each
other for the latest news and the ru
mors came piling thick on each other
To add to the anxiety a party of naval
officers who had left the dance early
in order to reach their ships returned
with the announcement that seas were
TOO rough TO allow the running of
launches The Kearsarge alone run
its liberty boat but it was with the
greatest of difficulty. and on one of
its trips man nearly fell overheard
while endeavoTing 10 board his ship
The second squadrop was anchored
almost in the middle of the roadstead
and received the full brunt of the
heavy seas.
When the feet arrived Friday morn
ing the first squadron took up a posi-
ton fairly well protected. The second
squadron, which followed, anchored
alongside.
There was a general feeling among
the people Of Monterey that the second
squadron ought to have moved to the
sheltered anchorage when the first
squadron departed for Santa Cruz and
the weather began 10 look rough. but
the naval men declared that but little
would have been gained by such a
proceeding.
LAUNCHES RUN AGAIN
1t was not until late in the day
that Captain Austin \. Walton gave
his permission for the launches to run
again. The navy men who attended
the ball found themselves unable to
set back TO their ships at its con-