The San Francisco call., 1909-01-15
Attempt to Sink Schooner Discovered
When Vessel Is DrydOcked
Three Anger Holes Are Found in the Side
of the Coaster Watson A. West

An attempt to sink the schooner
Watson A. West was discovered yes
terday when the vessel was placed on
the Sixteenth street drydock for the
purpose Of locating a mysterious leak
that had bothered Captain Sorensen
during the voyage from Grays Harbor.
When the dock had been pumped out
three one inch auger holes were dis
covered on the port side, between the
fore and main rigging and about two
feet below what had been the water
line when the vessel was loaded. AL
though there was a distance OF four
feet between the first and third hole,
she auger in each case, after piercing
the schooner's skin, had entered solid
frame. But for this the schooner un-
doubtedly would either have sunk
alongside the dock or would have be-
come waterlogged soon after putting
10 sea. AS it was considerable water
trickled in, and the West arrived here
with p inches OF water in its hold.
1t is believed that the holes were
bored at Grays Harbor, while the
schooner was loading lumber for this
port, and where there was some fric-
tion between the agent and the long,
shoremen. The West arrived here
Christmas day. Shortly after getting
to sea the fact that the vessel was
leaking was discovered. AS the schoon-
er had leaked but little before, 1T caused
Captain Sorensen considerable anxiety,
which was not relieved when a careful
search failed TO reveal any reason
for it.
The Watson A West is owned by the
S. E Slade lumber company.
Barge Comes Home Overland
Some weeks ago the Crowley barge
Shamrock broke away from tug,
wandered out past Fort Point and
bumped its way through the surf to a
sand bed on the beach. Attempts to
drag the derelict into deep water were
unsuccessful, so Tom Crowley. who is
nothing II not resourceful. gave the
contract for wrecxing the barge to
McNab & Smith. With ropes and horses
the wreckers dragged the barge up the
beach and yesterday, after an overland
cruise of three and half days from
the cliff house. the Shamrock arrived
at Crowleys boathouse. 1t made the
Journev on truck drawn by 16 horses.
The barge was launched from the bulk
head and will be towed to the dry
dock today for repairs.
Rescued by Police Launch
Ed Hansen, a sailor on the schooner
Snow & Burgess. tried so make his way
IN a skiff yesterday morning from the
Pacific Mail wharf to his vessel, which
was anchored in Mission bay. The wind
was blowing in heavy squalls and
there was a strong ebb tide running.
The combination was too much for
Hansen. His boat filed and was al
most on the rocks a Goat island when
assistance. Hansen was taken on board
the Patrol, which carried him and
towed his skif to the Snow & Burgess.
Wrecked at Foot of Market street
A runaway horse attached to a top
buggy belonging to Bird, Archer &
Co. OF 312 Market street created some
excitement at the foot of Market street
yesterday. In crossing the outer track
overturned. The top fouled an cleo
trio trolley post and horse and buggy
whirled several times around the post,
wrecking the throne Of the United
Railroads switch tender and sending
that Individual to cover at high rate
Of speed. The revolutions were main
tanned until the buggy seat and top
parted company with the rig. The
horse stepped into the wreckage and
in getting clear shed one shoe, which
was found reposing on the leather
seat. The horse continued his journey
with the buggy along East street TO
Jackson. from Jackson to Drumm, and
at Drumm and California was stopped
and led to the harbor police station.
VIII Build Ofiees on New Piers
The harbor commissioners will begin
ton OF offices on the Pacific Mall COM
pany's new wharyes. On pier AZ Of
hces VIII be built for the clerical force
employed on the dock and for the
]
officials who still have their headquar-
ters on the old Pacific Mail wharf. On
pier A offices will be built for the
accommodation Of the customs officials
who. since the Hartman company
moved its steamers to the new wharves,
have been using bales of freight for
desks and the wharf for an Office.
Uses Furniture for Fuel
The British steamer Wyneric which
left here October q for Dublin, has put
! into st. Vincent short OF coal Part Of
the cargo stores. furniture and fixtures
have been consumed for fuel.
May Quarantine Vessels
J. Haynes, American consul general
at Singapore. has communicated with
/ Collector OF the Port Fred Stratton, in
| forming him that Asiatic cholera has
broken out in the country surrounding
his station and has grown until 1t is
an epidemic. Collector Stratton said
yesterday that he had communicated
tine Of vessels coming from the orient.
Water Front Notes
Receipts of lumber yesterday by sea
The Pacific Mail liner Manchuria,
Captain Saunders, is due today from
the orient. The Manchuria is bringing
large number of passengers and
should be in port during the after
noon.
The steamer Bessie Dollar left New
castle, Australia, January and the
Hazel Dollar left Shanghai January
IA. both for Hongkong.
The steamer Nome City is tied up
at Pillar rock in the Columbia river
with its sheathing gone and its pro-
peller disabled with a rope tangled
In It.