The San Francisco call., 1910-09-22
VIII Regulate Handling of Explosives

People in Offices and on ships in the
vicinity OF Howard street wharf No. l
have been treading lightly the last few
days and watching with nervous
anxiety the red flag at the foremast
of the ship Astral The AstraPs
cargo Included 500 tons of blasting
powder, an explosive that in the past
ships have been compelled to handle at
an anchorage In the stream. At Phila-
delphia, where the Astral loaded the
explosive freight, the ship was taken
river while 1t was being placed on
board The harbor regulations of this
port leave the placing of a ship loaded
with explosives to the discretion of the
chief wharfinger. Chief Wharfinger
Hender, who gained his marine expert
ence among the mines of Tuolumne
county, where blasting powder is re-
garded as friend, gave permission for
the Astral to handle its dangerous
cargo alongside the wharf. This is the
first time that such thing has been
meeting of the harbor commission the
board will consider the adoption of a
rule to govern the handling of exnIo-
slyes SO that in the future. If thew
should explode, the damage will be con.
hned to the property Immediately con-
cerned. il9 IN The commissioners believe that
a rule viii furnish better protection to
state property than the discretion Of
the harbor master.
Salmon Ships Late
There are still about 20 ships and
tenders of the salmon fleet to be ac-
already out from Bristol bay longer
than it usually takes them to make fhe
run home, and although there is no
ground for anxiety in the case of anv
OF the windjammers, the Alaska Pack
ers association would like to see the
ship Charles E. Moody poke its wings
over the horizon. The Moody is big
carrier, and has a large cargo of canned
salmon, and is now out Al days from
Bristol bay. The Moody left Bristol
bay August g., and was sighted August
Finland is out 40 days.
Chiyo Maru Making Good Time
The Japanese liner Chiyo Maru will
be here at 6 o'clock tomorrow mornine-
from the far east according to wire-
less message received yesterday. At
sos miles from the lightship. The Chiyo
sengers and a valuable cargo.
Decision I'm Collision Case
In decision handed down yesterday
by United States District Judge E. S.
Farrington- in two suits for damag ages
resulting from the collision in the bay
on October q, 1905, between the
masters of both vessels were found
guilty of negligence and the owners Of
both must together foot the joint dam
age.
1t is claimed by the Pacific Coast
company, the owner of the Umatilla
that it's boat suffered injury to the ex,
tent Of $4,000, while the Russell &
Rogers company, owners of the An
relia, assert that its vessel was dam
aged in the neighborhood of $500. IF
these claims should be allowed bv the
United States commissioner, to whom
they have been referred the owners Of
the Aurelia would secure the benefit of
the suits. for the Pacific coast Company
would be compelled to pay $3.50 to.
ward repairing the Aurelia, while the
Russell e. Rogers company would
have to pay nothing for the repairing
of the Umatilla.
AT the time of the accident the Una
tilla was backing out from the Broad
way wharf and the Aurelia was pa ssine O.
by. The Umatilla failed to blow three
whistles, as required. but blew two q 8
1t started to go ahead; its momentlm
however, carried the steamer hack
against the Aurelia The failure 70
blow. three whistles was the point on
which Judge harrington found the mas
ter of the Umatilla guilty of neglfgence
The master of the Aurelia was held r.
be to blame for not giving the TINA.
tilla a wider berth when the latter wa $
about to swing into the stream.
Water Front Notes
Receipts of lumber yesterday by sea
amounted to 1,026, 900 feet
The Matson companys steamer