The San Francisco call., 1909-03-19
HUNTSCROCODIL[S,,
ACQUIRES MALARIA
Captain of Justin Kills Some
Big Reptiles During Stay
in Canal Zone

The navy collier Justin, which LETT
here November 25 for Panama with
stores for the Pacific fleet, returned
yesterday and late in the afternoon
went 10 Mare island TO lose the growth
of sea grass and barnacles that accu-
mulated below the water line during
the long wait in tropical waters. The
Justin arrived at Panama December 10
and remained there until February %.
Although greatly improved, Panama
is not yet a health resort and Captain
Merriweather and five of his crew spent
some time in the hospital, victims OF
malarial fever.
Captain Merriweather wants to be
fair to the canal zone, however, and
admits that he might have escaped
the fever If he had not gone crocodile
hunting He and the Justin's clerk,
George HappeH, killed about Shalf
dozen Of the reptiles and have a fine
collection of teeth and skins, as well
as the remnants of the malaria One
of the crocodiles that Captain Merri-
weather killed was Is feet long, and
the malaria, the doctor told him, might
last ; years or longer
During their trip up the Bagano
river they saw crocodile hunt on
big scale. 1t was arranged by the CHIEF
Of police OF Panama for the benefit or
a New York moving picture concern.
Twenty five OF the reptiles were killed
before the camera. II was while watch
ing this performance that Captain
Merriweather was bitten by a malarial
mosquito-one that had escaped former
President Roosevelt's big stick
The Glacier Joined the fleet at Callao
with fresh NEST from Australia and
stores. The fleet was due at Magda-
lena bay March II and officers and men
were looking forward to the end OF
target practice and the return home,
as all are weary of long service in the
tropics. The fleet left here last Sep
tember.
Mrs. Swinburne met the fleet at Pan
ANA and the better half of the COM
mander in chief was the social czarina
OF the canal zone while the eight big
cruisers remained off the port.
After being scraped OF its barnacles
the Justin will sail for Magdalena bay
with coal for the feet.
wireless for the Minnesota
The United wireless company has
been awarded the contract 10 lnstall
a wireless plant on the Great Northern
sofa The Minnesota has been laid up
for a general oyerhauling, but will sail
from Seattle tomorrow for the FAR east
and the wireless will be installed SO
thar 1T can be used during the outward
voyage. The Minnesota is the largest
of Pacific liners, and on account OF
the great length of the stretch OF
aerial wires between the masts it is
expected that some new wireless rec
ords will be established by this vessel,
as the receiving and sending capacity
depends upon the length Of the an
tennae. The installation of wireless on
the Minnesota leaves the Pacinc Mail
company the only trans -Pacihe line
without this modern safeguard ana
convenience.
Tears Hole In the SeawaH
The steam schooner Shna YAK tore
a great hole yesterday in section 2 of
the seawall while trying to run along
side. The Shna Yak, Captain Hut
ton, is an oil burner, and 1t was TO
fill its tanks with liquid fuel that the
steamer was headed for the seawall
The steamer, going at something
very like full speed, struck the Wharf
bow on and tore its way through
planks and timbers until the Shna
Yak's stem rested on the rocks. When
the Shna Yak backed out 1t left a
hole in the wharf that will cost George
eral hundred dollars to repair.
Billings explained the accident by
saying that the steamers reversing
gear refused to work. The Shna Yak
escaped with a few abrasions and
sailed for Puget sound during the
afternoon
ChnseS Liner in Launch
J. /. Levinson of Los Angeles left
pecting to arrive here in plenty of time
TO connect with the Pacific Mail liner
san lose, which sailed at noon for
Panama and way ports. Head winds
delayed the Yosemite and the time ball
was dropping on the ferry tower when
the Yosemite ran alongside the sea-
wall As the Yosemite was making
fast at the seswall the San Jose was
casting off its lines at Spear street
wharf. Levinson and his baggage were
loaded into an express wagon and
Ct n rnf q n
the San Jose in the stream. straight
ening out for a clear run to the
heads. The express wagon was headed
north again and at Howard street Lev
inson and his baggage We're trans
ferred to a Crowley launch. He over
hauled the San Jose OFF Meiggs wharf
and was taken on board.
The San Jose carried a full cargo, 20
cabin passenger and 25 in the steer
age.
More Light for Less Money
The harbor commissioners have
reached the Key Route waiting room
in the ferry depot with their improved
system Of electric lighting, and the JOY
of the commuters would be complete
similar Improvement in the lighting of
its trains on the other side of the bay
The new lighting system in the depot
the illumination viii have more than
twice the former brilliancy at slightly
lower cost.
Nippon Maru Sails Today
The Japanese liher Nippon Maru will
sail at l o'clock this afternoon for the
far east with a large cargo and about
so cabin passengers. Among the pas
sengers will be Mrs L. G. Corning,
Miss ". II. Corning and Miss NJ Stow,
all OF Cleveland: II. T. Tompkins and
II. Lschlan, Formosa teamep; Mrs. z.
NJ. Lang of New York and r. w Whin-
field and wife.
inspectors Hear Army-Navy Case
The question whether or not the
transport tug Slocum failed to recog-
nize the right Of way OF the tug Vigi
liant. which runs between the United
States naval training station on Goat
island and the mainland. on the after
noon of February IL was up for settle
ment yesterday before Inspectors of
Hulls and Boilers Bolles and Bulger.
The differences existing between the
tugs belonging 10 the navy and army
respectively, were not adjusted at the
hearing, as only testimony was taken
and the judgment of the inspectors
Will be handed down later
That there was an investigation was
due to the efforts of Z. W. Eberle
commander at the ! training station.
The commander was on the Vfgilant
the afternoon that the alleged fragrant
violation OF the rules of the road" took
place. He charged in writing that T.
L. Smith. captain OF the Slocum. ig-
0ored q signal given nv Capfafu