The San Francisco call., 1909-01-01
American Ship Reuce Almost Wrecked
in Storm That Ragged Four Days
Puts Into Sydney Leaking, IS Repaired and
Comes Safely to This Port


Dinsnlore. which arrived here yesterday
22s days from Newcastle Australia.
narrowly escaped destruction shortly
after leaving the antipOdean coal por:
IN series Of gales. which ragged for
four days and left the Yankee clipper
an almost hopeless wreck. The ship
was thrown an its beam ends and
otherwise treated SO roughly that when
the storm passed Captain Dinsmore
found himself afioat IN a vessel that
closely resembled a sieve The ruGder
was strained. water was pouring Ia ct
the rate OF three inches an hour, and to
make matters worse a careless sea had
smashed one OF the pumps beyond pos
sibllity Of repair.
The Reuce was put back for ihe
Australian coast and arrived al Sydney
May %. At sydney ? 900 tons OF the
coal was discharged, and on the dry
dock the Reuce was given a thorough
overha uling. A new sternpost and rud-
der replaced the ones damaged in the
storm. Other repairs were made and
the ship was calked fore and aft.
The cargo was restowed, and the
Reuce sailed from Sydney October 8.
The weather behaved this time. and the
run was made in SO days The Reuce
brought 2465 tons Of coal.
Long Walk for stowawayS
The steamer Homer left here Thurs
day FOR Portland Outside the heads
Captain Doris discovered three. stow
sWays on board. The law provides no
punishment for stowawaying and
ship masters are left to their own
resources for methods of discouraging
the practice. Captain Doris is noted
for ms resourcefulness and his an
tiapthy for carrying stowaways He
headed the Homer inshore and came
TO an anchor in brakes bay, where
the uninvited guests were set ashore.
From brakes bay 10 San Francisco is
long Walk overland and as the Ho-
mer's second mate did not have time
10 take his boat all the way in TO the
beach the three stowaways had TO
wade waist deep before they started
to walk
Tugs VIII Berth at Vallejo Street
J. .. Spreckels & Bros. company
yesterday surrendered 10 the state the
berths assigned for the use of the
Spreckels tugs at Pacific street wharf.
These tugs have been chartered TO the
Merchants and Ship Owners towboat
company and VIII be operated Dy that
concern.
Work for tugs has been very irregu-
lar lately owing to the reduced num-
Der Of sailing vessels coming here but
each company has been compelled to
hold a certain number of boats in re-
serve to meet emergencies. Some OF
the boats are necessary all the time
and all Of them some Of the time. The
boats viii still be here and available
in case of emergency. but being all
new under one management the loss
in maintaining two reserve fleets viii
be reduced so a minimum without af-
fecting the efficiency of the towbpat
service Of the port.
To have maintained two reserve
fleets a raise in rates would have been
necessary. The: new Arrangement by
reducing the expense of administra-
tion and the number of reserve boats
in commission. VIII obviate this and
the old rates VIII be unchanged.
Captain Guthrie's Fog Horn
Captain James Guthrie of the United
States steamship inspection service
saw the new year In at his home in
san Anselmo and all san Anselmo
qua lifyJng as the original big noise
went aWry. Guthrie went home yes
terday afternoon bearing a large pack
age Of mysterious shape. He was
stopped at the ferry gate with a gruff
This aint no freight boat But for
this interruption his secret would have
remained inViolate.
I'm Captain Guthrie, the United
States inspector. he explained.
What $ that got TO do with itE @e-
INJURED the gate keeper.
Guthrie unwrapped the package and
revealed an automatic fog horn. He
explained its use and illustrated his
explanation with a blast that silenced
even the. newsboys. He was taking IT
home 10 welcome the new year. he
said. lie explained further that after
the celebration he was going TO pre-
sem ~ ~ ti4SS 1@iFAS 'ONSS a. N7Ni
In that case said the gateman.
"go ahead. I'm an Elk myself. But
keep that thing quiet on the boat or
I'll lose my job. My ears are ringing
yet
George w. Elder Awarded Salvage
In the suit for salvage brought in
the United States district court
against the steamer San Pedro Judge
de Haven yesterday allowed the
steamer George w. Elder and her
crew $4,000. OF this amount $1,000
the George w Elder. while $4,000 goes
TO the owners OF the vessel
Water Front Notes
Receipts of lumber yesterday by sea
amounted to 1,710, 600 feet.
The barkentine James Tuft. from
Tacoma, arrived December 30 at sgd
ney-
The steamer Francis II. Leggett was
towed into San Pedro yesterday With
its steering gear disabled.
According TO wireless messages re-
ceived yesterday the steamer Enter
prise, on Its way here from Hilo, was
900 miles from this port a s o'clock
Wednesday night A the same hour
the Hnonian was 39S miles cut from
Honolulu. The Hllonian also is home
The Pacific Mall liner Siberia is due
early today from the far east On
board the liner is the rear guard OF
the Pacific coast delegation that re-
Gently invaded Japan on a friendship
campaign.
The French bark Rene KervilIer,
now at Portland, viii sail in ballast
10 Sydney for orders.
SHIPPING NEWS OF COAST
Tfar,S af ToferoSf in Mariners