The San Francisco call., 1910-01-15

Will be got ready for sea.
A week or so before sailing the
sherman will be placed on the Hunters
point drydock to be scraped and
painted, as during its long stay in port
the troopship's bottom has Accumulated
heavy growth of barnacles and vege-
tation.
Captain Rogers, who has been master
of the Fitzpatrick for a number of
years and who recently took the Kill
patrick from Manila to New York, has
been offered the command and is ex-
pected here in few days to take
charge of the work of outfitting for
sea.
The sherman was not a new shin
when bought by the war department.
and like the other transports, also ali
second hand. has proved the kind of an
expensive bargain that only Uncle
Sam can afford
The Sherman was formerly the Brit
lsh frelghter Mobile and was built II
years ago in Belfast, Ireland. Seven
years ago more than $500, 900 was spent
in repairs and now, with another $500,
GOO expended, the troopship is still an
old ship.
AS far as stability is concerned the
transports lacks the power that in
time of war would be an invaluable as
set in a ship carrying troops through
hostile waters to the seat of trouble.
Between the two costly general over
haulings the Sherman went ashore in
Philippine waters and sustained so
IiluNii lldI II COST Uncle sam
$50, 600 to repair it. as that damage
might have been sustained by a new
ship, that sum can not be included in
any argument against building an army
transport fleet out of second hand ma
terial.
When the Sherman goes into COM
mission the Thomas, formerly the Brit
ish freighter Minnewaska. will be laid
up for similar patching.
Barkentine in Heavy Gales
The barkentine John G. Meyer, Cap
tain Murchison, which arrived yester-
day IS days from Newcastle, Australia,
encountered a terrific hurricane Decem-
Der 26 off the Hawaiian isles. A num-
ber of sails were blown away and 1T
was necessary to keep the vessel hove
to fof' 13 hours.
An even more disastrous storm was
encountered Thursday, when the bark
entine was about II miles northwest
of the Farallones. A stiff southeaster
stirred up high cross sea, which filed
the Meyers decks to the rails. One sea
swept James Ryan, seaman, against
the coaming of the main hatch. The
man suffered no broken bones, but was
badly bruised and may have sustained
internal ~injury. A number OF sails
Were blown away and the tempest ac-
quired such fury that the vessel had to
heave to for eight hours.
The Meyer brought 1928 tons of coal
consigned TO Hind, Rolph & Co.
Cleveland Sails From Japan
The Hamburg American liner Cleve-
ldnQ, WHICH Is Uue mere JdHudTy
with more than 700 tourists, sailed
Thursday from Yokohama. The liner
will call at Honolulu.
The Cleveland left New York nearly
four months ago and went to the
far east by way of the Mediterranean
and the Suez canal. The Cleveland
will leave here again February s.
All the passengers now on board
will leave the liner at this port, where
nearly 500 more will join the Cleveland
for the return trip.
Engineers in New Quarters
The marine engineers association has
moved from its temporary quarters at
As Steuart street to permanent home.
OF which the organization has a 10
new quarters were constructed spe-
cially to fit the requirement of the
tenants and combine comfort and con-
venience with more elegance than the
average man uptown expects to find