EARP FOR THE REGATTA ? NIT!

British Masters Say They Prefer a “Disinterested Referee.”

Cedar Logs Are Scarce in All Central American Ports.

The Schooner Martha W. Tuft Came Back From San Bias With Half a Load.

December 16, 1896 – The British ship captains whose vessels are now lying at Sausalito have a regatta for next Saturday. Nearly every vessel in the bay flying the British flap has entered a boat and some good contests are expected. One paragraph in the notice issued by the captains reads as follows:

“A disinterested adjudicator (not Wyatt Earp), whose decision shall be final, will be on the flagship Glenesslin.” The races are to start at 3 p m. sharp and entries are to be made at A. Mcßoyle & Co.’s on Washington street near Sansone.

The schooner Martha W. Tuft, which arrived here from San Blas a couple of days ago, had a bad time of it during the voyage. When she arrived at her destination and discharged her cargo there was no return load ready. The vessel was to bring up cedar logs, but all that could be secured was 179, so the Tuft has returned with only half a load. It is getting harder and harder to secure cedar in Central American ports, and captains of coasting vessels will think twice before they go there to load. Captain Spear had an experience with one of his men five days before the schooner reached port. A sailor named Murcha went violently insane, and it took nearly the entire crew to put him in irons. Yesterday he was sent to the Receiving Hospital to be examined as to his sanity. The Tuft will discharge at Spear-street wharf and then may lay up for the winter.

The Harbor Commissioners did not meet yesterday because of the weather and because Commissioner Cole was unwell. Captain Leale, tbe popular master of the ferry steamer Bay City, started for Chicago last night. He is accompanied by his wife and family and they expect to spend a month visiting New York, Washington and other cities. Captain Leale has had several short holidays which he has spent in California. This is the first rime in twenty years be has been outside the State. Captain Murphy will take his place on the Bay City. The steam schooner Jeanie lost an anchor and fifteen fathom of chain in Monday’s storm. The vessel has been chartered to load combustibles for Alaska and came out of Oakland Creek during the afternoon. Captain Mason attempted to anchor bis vessel between Alcatraz and Black point, but the chain parted and the best bower had to be dropped in order to hold the steamer.

Captain Atwood, late of the schooner Puritan, has been appointed chief officer of the American ship Francis and will go to New York in her. It will be remembered that the Puritan went on Vancouver Island in a hurricane and Captain Atwood and his men had a narrow escape for their lives. The new steam schooner Alliance had her trial trip on the bay yesterday and gave universal satisfaction. She is owned by Gray & Mitchell and was built in Oakland. Her engines and toilers were made by the Oakland Iron Works, and they are the first marine machinery ever built and put in a vessel in Oakland. Among those who went out on the trial trip were George K. Fritch, Captain Cook, I George Boole, C. H. Higgins, J. J. Loggie, Mrs. A. M. Abbott, H. D. Bendisieu, John Mitchell, B. M. Madison, Captain Hanson, Captain S. Biair, George D. Gray, Robert Dollar, Captain Anderson, W. W. Taylor and a number of others. The Alliance was run up to Hunters Point and then to Raccoon Straits, where lunch was served. Then the vessel was headed for the Golden Gate, and an hour later she I was given a spin over the measured mile. She will be put in the lumber and passenger trade. The office of J. S. Kimball, on Mission street wharf, was broken open last Monday night, but the robbers secured no plunder. Luckily all the packages and everything of value had been taken out on Monday afternoon. Shortly after discovering that the office had been broken into Mr. Kimball received a telegram stating that his gasoline schooner Bessie X was ashore 250 feet south of the south jetty at the mouth of the Coquilie River. The vessel was running short of gasoline and the captain was anxious to make port. The schooner is hard and fast on the spit, but Mr. Kimball thinks she will get off. The crew has left her, but are ready at a moment’s notice to make the attempt to get her off. A tug will be sent to her assistance. The schooner Charles R. Wilson from Gray’s Harbor for San Francisco was spoken last Sunday by the Sea Witch. The wind is very light outside now and she may be yet several days in making port. The commission appointed to select a site on Goat Island for a naval training school did not meet yesterday. One of the principal members of the board did not arrive from the East, so the meeting was postponed until to-morrow. The school will be for lads between the age of 14 and 17 yeara and they will be taught everything necessary to fit them for seamen and petty officers.

The Handsome New Schooner Martha W. Tuft Coming In Over the Bar Last Sunday. She Was Able to Secure Only Half a Load of Cedar Logs in Central America, and Captain Spear Is Disgusted.

* Noteworthy

1431 – Hundred Years’ War: Henry VI of England is crowned King of France at Notre Dame in Paris.

1811 – The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes occur in the vicinity of New Madrid, Missouri.

1903 – Taj Mahal Palace & Tower hotel in Bombay first opens its doors to guests.

1920 – The Haiyuan earthquake, magnitude 8.5, rocks the Gansu province in China, killing an estimated 200,000.

1946 – Thailand joins the United Nations.

1978 – Cleveland, Ohio becomes the first major American city to default on its financial obligations since the Great Depression.

1991 – Kazakhstan declares independence from the Soviet Union.