The San Francisco call., 1909-02-14
Board Has Hopes Again Of
Recapturing Fort Ross Buoy
Automatic Whistler Escaped Last November
and Has Scared Many Mariners


actions Of whistling buoy which es-
capped from Fort Ross last November
and has been wandering about the Pa
ciflc ever since, whistling persistently
ana soaring mariners and seaguls with
us appearance in unexpected places.
The last vessel 70 encounter the wan
oerlng whistler was the steamer Queen,
which left here Friday for san Diego.
The Queen sent back word Of the en-
counter by wireless, and a lighthouse
tender has been dispatched to md
and arrest the elusive fugitive.
AS the buoy can only whistle and
travel the story OF its wanderings up
10 date can only be told by gathering
together the reports made by the diff
ierent ships that encountered this rene
gade aid to navigation. The buoy,
which bears the letters F. r. where
all may read, went adrift from Fort
Ross November IS and was not seen
until December j, when the steamer
Buckman's navigating officer was
scared half out OF his wits by seeing
the Fort Ross whistling buoy almost
under the steamers bows.
The prompt use Of the lead proved
the buoy an arrant lrar. and the fact
that il was. of its base was chronicled
IN the Buckman log The German
bark Magdalene met the buoy Decem-
Der 13. On December 20 the British
steamer Gymeric heard the whistle
and saw the buoy, and December %
the schooner StimsOn encountered the
wanderer in latitude S6.4O north long
itude 12154 west. The buoy then
seems to have headed out TO sea, for
il was not seen until January IA. when
the schooner C. 5. Holmes met the
Fort Ross buoy about 80 miles west
by south Of Port Hartford, or about 120
miles south of Fort Ross.
When the Queen sighted the buoy
Friday afternoon il was about 13 miles
southwest Of Santa Cruz, apparently
on its way back to Fort Ross. Its
presence on that part Of the coast is
considered extremely dangerous, as
there are two whistling buoys moored
not far away, one of Santa Cruz and
the other at Point Pinos. The light
house officials expect to have the buoy
in custody within the next "A hours.
Examination for Light Keepers
Applications for civil service exam
ination viii be received at the Office OF
the United States lighthouse inspector
during the next 80 days for forming
lists Of eligibles from which 10 select
assistant keepers of lighthouses IN the
twelfth lighthouse district California; =.
Applicants must be citizens OF the
United States, more than is years OF
age.
Applications viii also be received for
forming lists Of eliglbles from Whlch
10 select mates of light vessels, with
pay at the rate of $1,000 per annum-
Applicants must be citizens of the
\ nited States. more than p and under
90 years of age, and licensed by the
. nILed states steamboat inspection
service as mates of ocean vessels.
Application blanks and full infOrma-
Non can be obtained by applying at
room Sl3 Mutual Savings Bank build
ing, s0A Market street.
VIII BE Here Tomorrow
Although the ships Of the Toyo Kisen
Kaisha have been equipped for nearly
a year with wireless they have been
sparing IN their messages and until
yesterday nave not Eentured 70 an
nOunce their approach while still
long way OF. The Tenyo Maru, how
ever has plucked UP courage and has
spoken from 1850 miles out at sea. The
japanese liner was that far away at
O'Clock Friday night, and in the mes
sage announcing that fact Captain
Bent notifies the company officials that
. Ii present conditions prevail We Will
reach san Francisco at II a. ~. Mon
day"
The Tenyo is bringing about 60 pas
sengers, among whom are Mike Fish
ers ball players, who left the orient
on the Mongolian and stopped over to
play few games at Honolulu.
VIII Land Tuesday Morning
Although the army transport BufOrd
IS due tomorrow from Manila, the Off
Gals here do not expect the troopship
10. reach port until too late TO pass
quarantine. It Is almost certain, how
ever. that sunrise Tuesday viii find
the BufOrd at anchor off Meiggs wharf.
on board the transport is the Philip
pine constabulary band, which has been
brought over TO play at President
.Taft's Inauguration. After discharging 8
freight and passengers the Buford viii
be taken out of commission. The Lo-
gan. which has just undergone thor
ough oEerhauling. viii take its place
on the run between here and the orient.
MashOuts Affect Cargo
The Pacific Mail liner Mongolia, Cap
tain Morton, which leaves here Tues
day for the far east viii carry large
number Of passengers and about 5000
tons Of freight The cargo would have
been heavier If washouts at different
points on the transcOntinental lines had
not stalled numerous freight trains.
The cargo viii include about 5000
bales Of raw cotton.
The Mongolia was taken off the Hun
ters point drydock last night and viii
begin loading cargo today.
HfIOnian in Heavy Gale
The MatsOn navigating company s
steamer Hilonian, Captain Peter John
son. which left here February 10 for
Honolulu, encountered a heavy south
west gale Friday evening, according to
. wireless message received yesterday.
clock p. IN. The steamer was 600
miles off San Francisco. and although
the gale was raging, a moderate sea
was running.
Pleads Guilty TO Smuggling
John Mooney. for 25 years a station
aTy engineer on the water front plead
ed guilty yesterday 10 smuggling in
the United States district court. Mooney
was caught bringing a silk kimona
through the custom lines. He viii be
sentenced Tuesday.
Closing Time of Trans-Pacffc Mails
The following sailing dates and
closing times at san Francisco OF
trans Pacific mails are based on the
latest Information furnished by steam
ship companies They are subject to
change on notice. Paper mail for
Hawaiian islands closes one hour
earlier than time given.
For Australia and New Zealand-Steamer
Aioans leaves Seattle February % Mail closes
February p at D.
For China and Japan-Steamer Mongolia leaves
San Francisco February I6. mail closes at 1920
q. M. steamer Empress Of Japan leaves Seattle
February -; masl closes February p al Z D. IN.
For Hawaiian islands-Sfeamer Mongolia leaves
san Francisco February I6. mail closes at II 80
81 m.. steamer Alameda leaves san Francisco
February -. mail closes 81 80 a. IN.
For Philippines Steamer Mongolia leaves san
Francisco February I6. mail closes at I0:30
= m steamer Empress OF Japan leaves Seattle
February -. mail closes February p at D. m.