The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 22, 1896, Page 15

1 4 L _ . appearance, - * plate, covering the entire floor. This plate . permits the locomotive to pass around any 'Q’ur.mrna THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1896. 15 TTVVIY TANDING above the Golden Gate 0 where ““The stately ships pass in to s A the haven under the hill,” one asks where is the pioneer—the Argos—the ocean pathfinder of the navies that have .come and gone through that narrow water- way for over a century? The flotilias of the world has harbored in the peaceful bays of Yerba Buena, butin what eternal .anchorage has moored the leader of the | fleets? i From the manuscripts of Professor George Davidson it is learned that in the early part of the year 1775 a number of | vessels left San Blas for exploration on the coast of Alta California. One was the San Carlos, better known as the Toyson de Oro (Fleece of Gold), and under the com- mand of Juan Bautisia Ayala. She sailed the farthest north to survey the portof San Francisco, discovered by Portala six years before. On Auvgust 5 she arrived off . the entrance to a beautiiul, aimost land- Jocked bay which they could see in be- tween the headiands. “The launch was lowered into the water and a crew sent away to examine the ap- proach to the harbor. They were gone all the aiternoon, and soon after nightiall, the moon making everythinug around al- most as plain as duy and the light breeze blowing airectly in~hore, the San Carlos sailed throngh the Golden Gate and dropped her anchor off what is now the Presidio. It is interesting to read a paragraph from the ship’s log, as it were, of that first night in San Francisco Bay, writ- ten by Professor Davidson 121 years after: “The sun set at 7.05 local mean time, and the moon at tweniy ven minutes after mianight; the p:evailing westerly winds blew strongly in through the harbor head- lands; the high water was at 6.23 in the evening and was 4.5 feet adove low-water plane; low water at 11:36 A. 3., high water again at 6:09 p. M., five feet above low- water plane.” The launch returned to the ship next morning, the exploring party in her having camped on the shore of Carmelita Bay—the Eausalito of to-day. The San Carlos then hove up ber anchorand found good moorings between the highlands and an island which Captain Bautistade Ayala called La Isla de Nuestra Senorade los Angeles, a name later considerably short- | ened down to Angel Island. The officers of tne vessel surveyed the “Grand Estero” of Yerba Buena, and the Ean Carlos returned to Monterey about October 1. | Some light has been shed upon the sub- sequent end of the San Carlos oy the fol- lowing letter of March 28, 1797, written by - Diego de Borica, Governor of California, to | Pedro de Alberni, sergeant of artillery, stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco (translation): “By your cfficial letter of the 24th inst., which I received yesterday evening, Iam advised of the misfortune which hap- pened to the ‘paquebot’ San Carios on the 23d inst., which, having made sail for this port, on sccount of the roughness of the weather, the dullness of the vessel and the insufficiency of the crew, was driven upon a rock lying directly under La 1 Bonita, the shock 8o injuring the vessel that, if the wind and tide had not favored T P NS S bl = ST repes T o s z THE SAN CARLOS, PIONEER OF ALL finally they reached Yerba Buena and made a landing at a point to which the | vessel was carried by the wind and tide.”” “This landing,” says Professor David- | them, all hands would bave perished; but 3 son, ‘“was doubtless under Clarks Point, near the northern end of Battery street, and here General Vallejo says a sunken wreck was pointed out to him in 1820 as | being the wreck of the San Augustin, which, he has erroneously stated, was wrecked near Tomales Bay in 1595, and subsequently drifted from that place into RS Nt o N RR = N s THE SHIPS THAT HAVE SAILED THROUGH THE GOLDEN GATE. San Francisco Bay. As no other vessel was sunk in this vicinity before Vallejo saw the wreck, we may safely conclude that it was the remains of the San Carlos which were pointed out to him.’" Hence from such eminent authority as that of Professor Davidson it may be be- lieved that the storied San Carlos finally Iaid her bones to rest on the shores of the noble sheet of inland sea she first sailed over. Jason's classical craft, after her memorable voyage in search of the Golden Fleece, was hoisted up to the stars, and in the consteliation of Arge Navis she sails in the glory of the celestial seas. But this more real and more mod- ern Argos, called—strangely—the “Fieece | golden harvest of corn. of Gold” (Toyson de Oro), after leading the wav to a shore more valuable than Jason and his argonauts ever dreamed, was left to rot under the wharves of the bay she found. Following the San Carlos came the trader and the whaler, gathering the pro- ducts of the new shore and sea. Pres- ently the mountains began to unlock their . treasure troves, and & gleam more golden than ever came from the cavern of a genie flashed across the continent. Then the ships gailed in between the headlands of the “Bishop’s Bonnet’’ (La Bonita) on the north and the Point of Wolves (Lobos) on the soutk. In all shapes and condi- tions they crowded through in the wake of the pathfinder—the ship strangely and fittingly known as the *‘Fieece of Gold."” Around the stormy Horn they labored and from the Russian possessions near the Arctic they steered for the port of El Dorado. Even across the Pacific from the walled- in Orient drifted the crait of the East freighted with eager seekers after the weaith lying hidden away behind the Coast Range. It was a mighty assembly that fleet, but the great bay amoxng the hills could hold them all and the wide-open harbor door welcomed the squadron in. Foliowing the fierce hunters of the mountain treasure came the quieter in- habitants of the valleys—the people who delved in the soil, not for the golden ore but .or the fertility that brought forth ihe Then the sheaves lay like manna on the slopes and the wheat ships gathered in the bay. The products of vineyard and feld piled upon the wharves along with the output of the mine, and the grain, the grape and the gold of the new empire in the sunset poured into the vessels that followed the San Carlos into the harbor beyond the two frowning headlands. Such is the story of the new Argos—the ship of the ‘“Golden Fleece'’—so aptly named, that opened the western gate of the New World and was left to rot on the shores of the harbor she found, as told in the old dusty Spanish archives of the dim long ago. The splendid picture that accompanies this article was drawn by W. A. Coulter, the well-known marine artist, from a sketch of the San Carlos made by Fra Vicente Maria, the chaplain of the vessel who was one of her complement on her entrance into San Francisco Bay. Itisan accurate representation of the high stem and high stern ships 121 years ago. She was a man-of-war, as the guns that look frowning.y from her rounded sides tes- tify; and the boom of that battery was the first warlike sound that rang over the blue waters of Yerba Buena. It isthe intention to give in the col- umns of THE SUNDAY CALL a series of arti- cles, illustrated by Mr. Coulter, describing the different types of ships that bave rendezvoused in this harbor since the San Carlos came in that calm, moonlit even- ing long ago. No port in the world can show such a cosmopolitan fleet. The sail of the north and the south, the east and the west find a safe haven here. Verily, a mighty queen sits by the “grand estero” lying within the Golden Gate. L R I R R R L L R R R R R L R R R R L L R R R R LI . HERE'S LIGHTNING SPEED 290999209029909200099. There has just been turned out by the Baldwin Locomotive Works and the West- inghouse Electrical Company, working in conjunction, a lightning express electric locomotive that runs 120 miles an hour. Here for the first time in any news- | paper is the initial announcement of this | latest electrical marvel which will bring 8an Francisco within two and a half days of New York. Were it not that this wou- derful speed had been attzined and that the electrical express locomotive stands ready in the yard of its builders to dupli- cate the performance the statement might be received with distrust. ° 8till while not in the least resembling - the conventional locomotive in outward this one is considered the most complete in the world. The frame is made of ten-inch rolled steel channels, surrounded by a haii-inch rolled steel is an important detzil, as it gives great strength to resist blows in collision, and is intended to protect the lives of passengers “in cases of wrecks and derailments, in the “way the beavy steam locomotive protects the ordinary train. This frame is carried on two trucks which have ail ths easy riding features of - car-trucks, that is, soft springs, swinging * motion and free movement. The four .wheelea trucks differ greatly from passen- ger car trucks, inasmuch as they are made to stand the heavy strains and thrusts from the powerful motors. * This is positively the first electric| express engine. The few electric loco- .motives that have heretofore been built have all been to haul freight trains .or to run at alow rate of speed. Perhaps the most interesting feature from a railroad standpoint is that the trucks are of the swiveling type, which curve that can be passed by a regular freight engine car, which is a performance not possible with steam express locomo- tives. The geared connection between the electric motors and the axles permits the use of any sort of gear ratio that is suita- ble to the desired speea, and makes this locomotive adapted to all mechanical de- tails for slow or high speed. By reason of the pecunliar and simple construction of the trucks and the geared connection be- tween the axle motors the same locomo- tive is adapted for both the direct current end the Tesla system. 5 In this almost humsn engine every point that will reduce loss of motion even by a fraction of a second has been care- filly considered. The ariving-wheels are B0 arranged that they may bs coupled with parallel rods when the train to be * hauled is heavy, as such rods will not per- .mit one pair of wheels to slip without slipping the other. Thisisof the utmost imporiance especially at starting. The Wweight of the locomotive is 150,000 pounds, while in length it is 37 feet over the pilots. The motors are directly beneath the car bed, between the two trucks of the light- j copper, laid in the track at the same express by toe third rail system, which is a system of conducting the current to moving motors or trains, consisting of an additional rail either of iron, steel or height as the main rail, on which rolis or slides the collector. The compressed-air brakes are used ana are applied by means of levers and air cylinders. The engineer’s valve is of the standard Westinghouse type. It has an additional connection, so that when the | handle of the brake valve is placed in the | emergency position for a sudden stop the f air is admitted to a small pipe leading to the main circuit-breaker. This air opens the circuit-breakerand cuts off the electric current, so that the movement of one handle not only applies the brake, but shuts off the current so as to give the highest possible degree of safety. In addition there is provided a reversing switch for the motors, so that they can be made to stop the locomotive train by a backward pull. The automatic air pump is-driven by electricity. The electric motor which drives is directly connected and without gears. The marvels to be accomplished by this great giant of the electric age are not in theory. On the experimental tracks in the yards of its builders along which it has been run such terrific and unheard-of speed has been attained as to permit the announcement to be made as conservative that the average speed of 120 miles an hour can be maintained for almost any distance. That will be like falling through space and with the landscape seeming to be ina mad rush to get somewhere behind the engine. Fences will appear like short lines, und telegraph-posts set at the ordi- nary distance like the rails on a fence. All grades will be overcome without effort, and the entire road, whether over moun- tains, through valleys or across bridges, will be gone over at the same rate of speed. The enormity of the invention that will produce such speed can scarcely be real- ized. In an instant the world shrinks and becomes one-third the size it is considered to-day. Distant points draw near. Naturally at first thought surprise might be expressed that every railroad system did not adopt the lightning ex- press now that it hus become a reality. Bot a moment’s consideration will show the millions of dollars that must be ex- pended before even the most enterprising railroad could be proverly equipped for the new express and the motor power of the road changed from steam to elec- tricity. There is the great central power- nouse, with its wonderful machinery for generating the current; the third rail of copper to carry the current the distance of the road; the entire new roadbed made necessary to assure safety for the terrific speed ; the cost of the new locomotive and rolling stock and the other endless ex- pensea. 1t cannot but be a matter of time when ning electric express, and are “‘iron-clad” consequent-pole motors. These motors _ are entirely incased in thin steel shells, so that they are practically free from in- iury under ali normal conditions of ser- ice. Tle armatures are laminated, and are made up of thin slotted disks of steel. In the slots are placed the armature wires. The communicators are of the best forged copper, with mica insulation. The motors have the highest grade of insulation. Power is furnisbed from a central sta- tion. It is communicated to the electric these vast changes must’' be made in re- sponse to popular demand, but the outlay of unlimited capital cannot come in a day or a week. o David L. Barnes, the electric expert of the Baidwin and Westinghouse com- panies, in spenking to the writer *‘told something’’ of the wonders of the new lightning express, and spoke of tie change in equipment that would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The entire siznal systems of railroads, he says, must be changed before the lightning express can be conveniently adopted. Now these sig- nals are in places only a mile apart, while with the new electric marvel it will re- quire a clearway of one and a haif miles to stop the express. There must be no grade crossings. The track must be ele- vated. In speaking ot the speed features of the great locomotive, Mr. Burns said: *‘The collectors are of the sliding contact type, as the rolling contact is uncertein at high speeds and gives too little area or bearing surface for the condition of the current. The surface is too small both in the bear- ings of the wheels and at the surface of contact between the wheels and the con- ductor. The local conductors themselves are of steel so as to have more wearing surface and cost less than copper. ‘“There will be no difficulty in collecting all the current with « slid ng contact for a speed of over 100 miles an hour. While,” continued Mr. Burns, “I may say that very high speed electric railroads are yet in their infancy, the greater number of problems connected with such services are vretty definitely seitled. Those that re- main are receiving daily atiention, and when railroad companies build a safe and suitable roadbed the locomotives and the power to drive them is ready for imme- diate application without the risk of losses from experiments and uncertain construc- tion.”" 220299, Mendocino County, besides beinz one of the largestin the State, is surpassed by none in fertility or in the extent of its natural resources. Its mountains abound in stores of coal and minerals and its valleys are as fertile as rich soil and genial skies can make them. Such fore-ts of magnificent timber that are awaiting the woodman’s ax exist nowhere else in the whole world. Towering up toward the skies in splendid majesty these giant trees form magnificent objects upon which to | gaze and the observer cannot but express a regret that the demandsof commerce will yet compass the complete disappear- ance of thgseexamples of forest growth. The absence of transportation facifities has so far preserved hurdreds of thou- | sands of acres of the redwood forests of | Mendocino County, and the same reason explains the comparative absence of that rapid development which distinguishes some other counties of the State. Much of the county remains in the ex- act state of nature in which it was created; and therefore its popularity as a resort for the fisnerman and huanter is easily ex- plained. There is no game, large orsmall, known to California that does not abound in the mountains of Mendocino, and it is one of the pleasures of life, that lingers longest in the memory, a visit to the hos- pitable camp of some hunter, who has left all the world behind to enjoy the manly sports that a Mendocino County forest affords. LOG CABIN A lover of tine natural scenery will be more than satisfied on viewing the views that abound in Mendocino. The famous Russian River rises in this county, the father of a hundred trout-abounding streams. At flood time the immense vol- ume of the stream flowing through a nar- row channel is a scene that fills the be- holder withawe. A great future is await- ing Mendocino County. With the build- ing of railroads a population that is only awaiting easier transportation will be sure to crowd its fertile valleys and develop its rich stores of minerals. Until then the county will continue to be a resort for those whose love for nature finds a recom- pense in the views and scenes of this richly favored region. IN MENDOCINO COUNTY. Never in the most fantastic conceiis of the professicnal story-writers have there been two persons less calculated by nature to carry on a sociable comversation than one perfectly blind and one perfectly deaf and a mute. Very likeiv it would be as- sumed off band that no such conversation could be within the limits of possibility. There are two persons in Berkeley, mem- bers of the same family, one perfectly deaf and the other perfectly blind, who daily discuss current topics and, in their own way, are quite gay. The difficuities naturally in the way ap- pear when it shall be considered that if the deaf mute employed the lan unage of deaf mutes, the langnage which is ex- pressed silently by the fingers, the total lack of sight on the part of the other speaker shuts out all the sign language from her comprehension. So, again, any words which might be spoken ever so loudly by the blina conversationalist must be soundless to the deaf mute. Two blind persons may easily converse by word of mouth. Two aeaf mutes may exchange ideas by the sign language, but the condi- tions outlined in the foregoing have prob- ably been unparalleled elsewhere whena discussion of the sixth amendment to the constitution of the State of California or other topic of live concern might be a pleasing contingency. Bertha Carpenter, a little girl aged about 12 years, has no eyes. Blindness came upon her at 16 months as the result of spinal fever. Ernest Carpenter, her brother, aged 17, lost his hearing at tbe age of 4 years. The parents of Bertha and Ernest Carpenter reside near San Diego. Shocked as they were by the infliction which had fallen upon Ernest they w re crushed by the disaster which came later to their little girl, Bertha. They most of all realized that between these two there was little chance of acquaintance. They must seemingly pass through life as brother and sisier, never communicating their thoughts or affections. ‘What kind of a world they might have lived in may be inferred from the story by avery bright girl w.o was for years a deaf mute. “I used to think,” said this child lately in conversation, ‘“*that the ani- mals were better off than I My father spoke to his horse, and I saw the animal minded, and to me it seemed clear that the horse must be able to talk. One day I was sent to the institution for the Deaf and Dumb and Blind at Berkeley to learn to talk. Two or three days I stood in cor- ners and watched tha other children. All at once i came to me that I had entered into a world peovled with beings like mvself. I ran out among them and played with them and was happy.” Ernest Carpenter went along without talking until six years ago. He was ihen a robust lad, but seemingly not very bright. His faculties had not been awak-" ened. He had heard no sound since he was an infant. He had seemingly lost all power to speak. The parents mourned more and more as the children grew older. Then they decided that both must be sent to Berkeley to be educated as much as possible. There thedeaf mute has Jearned to speak articulate, words, and the blind girl has somebow learned to so speak that the brother reads her lips and they talk freely. ' Yesterday the brother and sister conversed for the purpose of demonstrat- ing that such an occurrence was possible. Their teacher, N. F. Whipple, was present and looked on with interest. The deaf mute squared himself off and looked at his blind sister, who is a head and shoulders shorter than he. Two facts were at once apparent. One was that both of the young people had to be on the alert. The boy, never having heard any sounds, spoke through knowledge of the sound language, wkich came in through his eyes and not through his ears. Thatis, he was emitting sounds which were made by placing his tongue and lips in accordance with pictures which he had observed, hav- ing been taught so todo. The girl had never seen word signs, but had been taught to so distinctly speak, and so carefully use her vocal organs that the boy should be able to read from her sightless face. Under these difficulties conversation pro- ceeded easily, not to say rapidly. The children talked of home, of current events and such themes as go to make up the daily discussions around firesides. The deaf boy read easily and the blind girl heard easiiy the sounds which the deaf boy made, but of which he could not hear one syllable. Evolution of Liaughter. Just as the hoof of the horse is the rem- nant of an original five toes; just as the pineal gland in man is now said to be the survival of a prehistoric eye on the top of the head, so perhaps this levity in regard to particular ailments (in others) may be the descendant of an aboriginal ferooity in man. It is a well-known theory that what we call humor arose from the same source; that the first human laagh that ever woke the astonished echoes of gloomy primeval forests was not an expression of mirth, but exultation over the misery of a tortured enemy. There is to this day something terrible in laughter. The laugh of madness or of cruelty is a sound more awful than that of the bitterest lamentations. By meusns of the strange phonograph that we call literature we can listen even now to the laughter of the dead; to the hearty guffaws or cynical titterings of generation after generation of bygone men and women; and if we are curious in such matters we can probe into the nature of the changes that have passed over the fashion of men’s humor. For it has been said, not without the support of weichty cumulative evidence, that as we penetrate further into the past we find the sense of humor depending al- ways more obviously and solely upon the enjoyment of the pain, misfortune, morti- fication or embarrassment of others. The sense of superiority was the sense of Humor in our ancestors; or, in other words, vanity lay at the root of this, as of most other attributes of our bumptious species. Putting ear to our phonograph, we catch the echoes of a strange and merry tumalt; boisterous, cruel, often brutal, yet with here and therea tender cadence from some solitary voice; and presently this lonely note grows stronger and sweeter as we travel slowly toward our own tiwme, until at length, through all the merriment, we can hear the soft under-murmur of pity. Does the picture not seize the imagina- tion—the long laughter of the ages which begins in cruelty and ends inlove t—Weste minster Review. The lcorice plant is chiefly grown on the banks of the Tigris and Enphrates, in localities where for three months, during the prevalence of hot winds, the tempera- ture reaches 104 degrees, and for three months often registers 30 degrees below at night.