The San Francisco call., 1913-08-13
| FERRY T ALES
BY LINDSAY CAMPBELL


EXPERIENCE has taught the COM
muter to be on time IL he expects
- to catch a certain boat. The
trains, at the other end of the su-
late, but there is nothing more regular
on the Pacific slope than the starting
of the boats from their slips at the
ferry depot When the time comes,
the boat whistles and pulls out, and
that is all there is to 1t. Until the
other day the experienced commuter
would have grinned derisively at the
suggestion that ferry boat would
wait for anybody. And yet, not only
did a SausaIito boat wait for somebody
the other day, it started without him,
and then, when he finally showed up
on the apron, painting and gesticulat-
ing. the boat stopped and went back
for him.
1t caused great excitement. First of
all the fact that the boat was several
minutes late in leaving indicated some
thing unusual When the boat was
half way out of the slip bells were
heard ringing in the engine room. The
boat stopped and then backed to the
starting place. The boat was crowded,
but practically everybody on board
found a place that commanded e. view
of the apron They all wanted to
know why.
What's the matter? Why are we
an oficer who was running to the after
end of the boat. NAPKINS was the
apparently irrelevant il not imperti-
nent reply.
The passenger followed the oficer to
protest against such cavalier treat
ment but he reached the after deck to
find that the officer had spoken the
truth. On the apron was a white
jacketed steward, almost hidden be-
hind a great pile of neatly folded linen
which he carried in his arms and under
the weight of which he staggered
When the boat was within jumping
distance he jumped. More bells sound
ed in the engine room and the voyage
was resumed.
All of which illustrates. for the bene-
ht of the Marin county commuter bri-
gade, the advantage Of travelling on
the boats that carry the residents of
Belvedere. In discussing the incident
during the refreshment interval, after
the boat had passed Alcatraz. the bar
tender explained:
They'd never have went back but
for them Belvedere guys. They won't
eat without napkins and say"--here
the bar tender leaned over the ma
hogany altar and whispered-"some OF
'em calls 'em serviettes.''
The Western Pacihc's new ferry
steamer Edward T. Jeffery will soon
join the transbay fleet. On its trial
trip the other day it visited all the
ferry routes and the commuter bri-
gade was given an excellent chance to
observe the newcomer Its speed de-
lighted everybody as much as 1t pleased
the Western Pacific officials, but its
color was a disappointment In the
distance it gives the handsome steamer
the appearance of being a bargeload Of
freight cars In foggy weather the
Jeffery's jacket will be as effective as
war paint in rendering the vessel in
visible to theseyes OF other pilots. If
the color Is family matter--selected
to harmonize with the company's other
eouipment-it will probably be re-
tanned, but the suggestion is respect
fully made that stripe OF some
brighter hue could be added without
sacrificing the somber glory Of Its ma
room coat. This would cheer it up bit
and make the boat easier to see in
thick weather.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12.-President
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