THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1897.

17 "BOARDING OFF" WITH THE PILOTS OF THE GOLDEN GATE was rsinin-*- and a wet wind slapped S* me in the face as Iwent splashing to tho forepeak, bulkheaded off into two uneasy seas. That a pilot-boat can tum- curtain down in the southwest, and pres- _'' through the little puddles night compartments for the three pilots and the ble 1 had ample of I^T one means learning, as Iently a steamer's light opened Meiggs ot four men broad in cown wharf in the wake of three crew and a cook forward. was pitched from starboard to fore the night rubber-coated pilots. The after saloon contains six berths port, like an eye. Itwas the looked- On the extreme end with and aft, in that saloon as Ihunted for my for vessel, the bigdock we bedding and with drawers and lockers all and an answering signal-light of stopped and peered off togs scattered around. Everything in the was made. Captain the thickness neatly arranged for the occupants Castle came aft, un- in across the tideway that thereof. apartment was firmly secured except my- lushed the wheel, ran There are twenty licensed pilots self, flattened out the head- with little unseen bubblings and for this and so Ihad itall my own way. A sheets and the Bonita splashings out in gloom. port, and they arrange their watches so faint but darted away to the There is unmistakable suggestion of the catch her big game. The tackles hanging nothing, Ithink, so calculated to bring up that there are three vessels on duty all dreaded mal-de-mer was creeping over my from uneasy thoughts the time, outside and one near the fore and mainmast heads were as the uncanny gurgling two the gastronomic econL my, and that fact did hooked on to of the harbor. period one of the two yawls stand- tide against the dock piles at night. mouth of. the The of a not add to myhappiness. Ifinally landed ing on the deck, One falls cruise is about four days, or until the into my fugitive and when the Bonita to imagining that the black, shoes and a huge over- rounded too under chilly, slimy boat has exhausted her pilots and there coat belonging Captain the steamer's stern the waters have found a suicide to Boyd, little cocKle-shell a •floatingin the are no outward-bound vessels with pLots one of the pilots, of boat was hoisted darkness under the wharf, and climbed overboard. Two men tooK the oars and are laughing at aboard, ,keeping up the supply on the the companion to and it. Probably tossing ladder the deck. Captain Meyers, whose turn it to ;it here aud against cruising boats. There I found the was • there the shell-coated wheel lashed "board-off," watched his chance and timbers, and enjoying the helplessness of Allthe peril does not come to the ship hard-down, mainsail close reefed and the skillfully standing harbor, pilot-boat slid Into the dancing craft and the victim of their play. Iwish self-de- in for for the weather jib sheets hauled taut This instantly disappeared dangers night in the surrounding structionists would stay ashore, for when shares with her the of fog maneuver literally locked her, and she gloom as though swallowed and tide. Four of the gallant little vessels was up by the the sea is called upon to give up its dead lying to without headway and with stormy sea. in that last day, and line up on have met disaster off this port, and sev- only a slight drift to leeward. its victims pilots never come Darkness In a few moments the lights of the the beach, it willhave enough to answer eral have home. The as dense as a block of coal was on the face Sea Witch was lost in a gale in 1854, the steamer showed that she was under way :for, let alone those that have plunged and of deep, broken only by the phos- nine years afterward the pilot-boat. Relief again, and soon the tiny yawl was seen voluntarily off the pier bead to death, and phorescent glow of the foam-curl on th near us on have c the crest of a wave about as ' drifted out witn the tide. high above our as .." interrupted deck the masthead, Iwish but my wishing is waiting for a by a ahoy!" chance to get under our lea hoarse hail of "Bonita as big, and get aboard. Ido not know burly Pilot Meyer sends how it his hurricane was accomplished, but in a short away time the ..-* voice hurtling through the storm crew were back on Bonita, -and, the the yawl the night. Presently we hear the lashed to its place alongside of •' well-known drumming oars its mate, of the in the and we were off searching for more pilot- a white spectral rowlocks and little yawl less ships. The men reported that Cap- •'.bumps nose against " its the landing, We tain Meyers was repeatedly ducked get- \u25a0 the slippery steps all climb down and en- ting aboard of the steamer, such ter the craft. There is about an eighth — but mis- of haps even death— are a part of the pilot's an inch of water on the thwarts adhering calling. to. the by capillary attraction, seats but No more fish came our y'ne Fit cheerfully down in the and, to n*ts that wet night, and the firstglow across the Coast *4" with the rain pelting industriously at us, Range found us abreast the we pulled out to the pilot-boat Farallones Bonita.' the gleam of Its light growing pale Down into her cozy saloon and Ifollowed my dying away in the greater flame of coming .three guides and hosts, and seated on a day. cushioned locker Iwas glad * Idid not have That,. afternoon we a big to heave up raised square- anchor and cast off the sail- rigger withher jack at the fore—the pilot's stops in a stormy winter night day • signal— Captain Boyd got a Presently the pawls . on the windlass chance to work his passage and ceased their clanking and home in- the rattle of cidentally a good fee into the treasury of \u25a0 the halliard blocKs, accompanied by a the association. An incident slight vessel, the follow- list of the told me that we ing night proved the wisdom of keeping were under way. The stiff southeaster a bright lookout for the ships we intoour didn't got canvas ana we swung quickly want as well as those we out sea. did want. While to The great lamps on the heads lying to a black, shapeless suddenly us bright form tossed a good-night as we went j loomed out of the darkness right by, gallant ahead the Bonita kicking the foam I and bore directly down upon us. .behind her j A whirl under reefed foresail and of the wheel heaved us out of her path, mainsail a jib. . and bonnetless and she dragged slowly but ponderously •• line, pilot, The old "0 'tis a fearful past us, a big schooner with the output night," kept floating through my brain of some coast sawmill piled on her . as tie deck storm howled around us and the half as high as her mainmast These • whitecaps gleamed ghostly un- on the great gainly floating lumber-yards adrift in a waves "where the harbor bar was moan- thick fog are things to be by ing." , pilots shunned the But must work while others I pilot-boats, strong though they are sleep as oak and the brave pilot-boat searches I and iron can make them. the sea through the hours of nieht and Toward the evening of our last day, the V storm for the befogged mariner and his fog suddenly ship. blow ng away, we made out a ship wellinshore heading .*When the clouds lie heavily on for the north the har- channel. No pilot-boat •'\u25a0 bor .bar blotting out i other could be the foam-crested j made out •swell breaking there; thick, in that locality, and we prepared when the I a drenching mist blurs the land bearings for chase. The reefs were quickly shaken | out, a bonnet laced on the and a pallid desolation down on jib, and the shuts speedy Bonita began •the leaden waters; the j i to kick up a • when in-bound sparkling craft draw away from the sheeted dangers j wake with her nimble heels. j was not enough » of- a rocky coast Raising a Big Squape-Riggep. Fapallon Speatep j This and the gaff-topsail and run for the safe Light Paled and Died in the Flame of Coming Day. ! by open ocean, a specter flits through followed the big staysail flew aloft to the ! i out white sodden spaces. swell with the stiff northwester caught jwhen the soft trades scarce shimmer the sea. They are from 65 to 80 tons burden quarters heavy in its folds. The yacht lay It is not a visitant fraught withinflu- *|surface swell, close in a sea and narrow having "boarded off" all her pilots was tips of the great swell. Making my way over with her of the sails the pilot-boat, aod are schooner-rigged, carrying main only lee rail deeply awash, ences mystic ana uncanny, arising from Iher billowing channel. Not is she constructed to coming in to harbor. She was overturned forward Ifound all three of the pilots j and the upflying canvas like a white cloud and fore sails, jiband flying jib.gaff top- with spray came the dank under-caverns where sleep the j hanging withstand the wear of the waves, on the bar and her crew drowned. In their glasses peering westward through ! over her bow in showers as low on the sea. In the black sail and staysail. The first four sails are but well, j she sprang wave dead things of the sea to lure the be- gloom midnight, the wear of years as and in some 1873 the Caleb Curtis, outward bound, was the bank of blackness. One crew from to wave. The ' of the when the thunder ordinary cruising of the \u25a0\u25a0 ships the place < the canvas, while the cases, as in that of the Bonita, the builder capsized on pilots Bonita set her jack—a query to the ship— wildered down to silent of of the pounding surf is heard among the two the treacherous bar and was manipulating a patent foghorn, and wiecks. there is last are used In making time before puts a layer of salt among her timbers Buckingham I' and the flag stood out to leeward, a hard the Sailors know no f reefs,i goes the pilot-boat fighting her way lightwinds. Vonness. and Sbandon were from this music-box-looking affair oc- peril in that apparition, for itis the ap- < as ne bolts her together as a safeguard lost Allof the ten tons of ballast fell out casionally loud, blur of blue against the sky, and the taut oceanward. With all her cloth smugged But itis the lines came a doleful note. A rang rearing of the while-sailed genius of < of the hull that make against the decay of time. The boats, at of the inverted hull and she floated, to be mail was :shrouds in the stiff breeze like harp the Iclosedown the jaunty little fore-and-after, the Frisco craft. steamer due, and they were • 'safe portage that boat the queen She -as least in this port, are owned by the pilots recovered and repaired watching chords. Such speed soon used up lies behind the billow- 1like a bird of dusky wing,brav.' ly mounts a good for other uses. A to see that she didn't pass by I the beaten comes wholesome beam, which over- themselves, and as their value (SIB,OOO or years was run or distance between the two vessels, harbor gates. So the pilot- j Ithe mighty roller or dives into the boiling hangs few ago the T. H. Allen us, over us, in the night. With tne and the her deep draught and makes her $20,000 apiece) doesn't drift on in boat's last pilot was soon boat, the welcome messenger from the 1liquid basins between the green in to them down a fog by a British bark. Allhands deck under me often jumping into the ! steering the ship .. J sea-hills. comparatively steady in the short, choppy every swell, consequently difficulty | safe intoharbor, whither we .'shore to the approaching vessel, port of it behooves were with saved. The boat was perpendicular I do nothing in followed. We lifting[ The San Francisco is equipped seas of the bar. preserve could the : her the \u25a0 them to their strong little vessels recovered considerably let go our anchor off Meisrgs wharf, c ocean- worn sides to long swell in!with four beautiful pilot-boats— the damaged by her way of finding the liner, so Isat down at and Cracie The keel, especially that of the Bonita, to a green old age. The rail only a j the cruise was over. Tom Gregory. the offing, and always may that . first IS (3), Bonita (7), Lady Mine (9) is arises encounter with the big vessel's iron stem. the foot of the foremast and, putting my •> and a "rocker," being deeper amidships few inches above deck, flitting j the so that if she Some time midnight was arms visitor be found outward on its I America (11). The numbers inparenthe- than at after I awak- around the big stick, assisted in < the stem and stern. This per- should ship a sea it would roll off in The region about the Dead _ mission. ! sis are sewn on the mainsail ves- her like ened my comfortable berth and found holding it in its place; at least that is Sea is one of golden - of each mits the vessel to whirl to her helm as on water from a duck's back. The interior lively the hottest places on the globe, and In the calm of the noontide, isel and are the distinguishing pivot, is that the little Bonita was doing what Captain Castle said Iwas doing. sea the marks at a and makes ncr easy to handle at a long saloon, reaching from the some is said to lose 1.000,000 tons of water counter low and lofty tumbling over the A faint glow appeared on the black a day by evaporation.

vantage of bird boxes if they are put out !conservatism of the people. They for him. Nesting-time .has not yet ar- want things as their parents rived for the birds of this section, nor ! had them. Minia- will tures are heirlooms over it begin until the trees and shrubs are there, and if a son is given a picture grandmother more perfectly in leaf than at present. of his in a certain style art To build now would be simply to invite Previval of he wants one of his mother just like it—painted by the marauders. Most of the small birds at same artist possible. flitting are if present about males awaiting really the arrival of their ladies from "It was the daguerreotype that milder killed the art climes. February 14 is more by tradition of of miniature in America and France. It so easy than verity the great day mating was to sit for a few of in and these parts. Inoted, recently, state- jminutes get a good likeness at any the rate, while a painting ment by a Southern California naturalist j on ivory took sev- eral days. The difference price that birds do not like the eucalyptus trees Miniature I in also !had a great to build in, the theory deal to do with it, no doubt and is advanced i When that the photograph came, that settled the pungent, aromatic odor of this painter, aud of the pepper tree is repugnant Painting. the miniature as the mechanical to pictures I answered every requirement of the FIELD TREE&HEDGERTON bird nostrils. have been. There was very little attempt my experience, modeling j works of art and were so cheap they could Ithas been here among at the features, and the coloring be distributed broadcast the foothills, that our birds build as freely was 'thin washy.' I to'friends and and But most livelyi relatives all over in the eucalyptus trees as anywhere were good the world. else. tney likenesses, and the differ- "But a I this morning, within ent reaction is setting in, as the de- saw 100 feet of my features were very strongly marked— fects of the photograph house, no less than six many strongly produce are becoming ap- nests of as too to a really beautiful parent. No, photograph different birds in the eucalyptus trees. effect. But is permanent in those days they were the even ifexposed to only a faint light. The The oriole is especially lond of swinging only pictures that could be used as keep- finer the paper that is produced the more his airy cradle of a nest just where, near people in Europe and sakes. .They were small and could car- UNCULTIVATEDCULTIVATED be fugitive itseems. Pictures by some its juncture with the main trunk, a bough jthe eastern part of this country are ried by a soldier when he went to war, of tbe so best galleries in the country seem to sends forth numerous little leafy branch- §sa*--rf/i moving to revive the art of minia- that he could bring the lady- be- IDYLS OF THEFIELD face of bis come mottled and faded after even only a lets, and among the clumps ture painting. At present it is quite a love before during of down- him ihe long cam- year 3. drooping are apt fad York,»and or, few Contrast this with some of leaves that to be massed in New many women of so- paign, perhaps, let itbe the last object the work of the old at the ends of branches the brown cial importance are having charms he might gaze miniaturists. Ihave towhee their upon should he receive his seen some over 100 years old just and various kinds of sparrows immortalized on ivory. There is every death-wound as fresh like to in battle. as the day they were painted, not greater than the differences i freedom, and we were build. 1 suspected a pair of the black- reason why the art should be revived, for and these that exist spared hia invasion "The luxuriousness and sentimentality were pictures that had been carried all Ibetween member* of many other floral into our homes. > headed grosbeaks of having a nest last itis one of the loveliest of all the styles of th« French monarchy was calculated over very to the world ana seen rough usage gen- j families. The luxuriant growth of the The insect world, like all orders of life, summer near the top of a tall euca- of portraiture, and a beautiful face never bring the art to its greatest perfection. erally. lyptus, goldfinch advantage j huckleberries on this coast is a matter of has foes within its own circles, as as and the little frequently shows to better than when The nobility spent money freely, and sev- years a well among painted "Oflate a large number of men jVT.is whole week since Ihave been amazement and incredulity to New Eng- without. Not only does the spider nests the dense leaves of saplings. in miniature. eral mon sprang into prominence, among afieldafield, am Rip spread have been making good livings by copy- |S « and I like a sort of Van enders, who are prompt to deny the his net for the housefly, but the ugly little The summer warbler also builds in the eu- Although the art can hardly be said to them being Jean Foucquet of Tours, per- ing fading JLjji•J "Winkle, noting the changes have identity our calyptus. suspect j photographs on ivory. This : . that of great thickets with the.lit- centipede is the inveterate enemy of this I the cause of the birds show any activity on the Pacific Coast at haps the greatest man who ever worked done to preserve taken place since last I tle plants they these is the likeness of a cer- • climDed to the know at home; but on familiar household pest. It attacks the avoiding trees in certain localities is the present time there are signs of its in miniature. He painted a number of tain person, 'mountain top. The buttercups opened volcanic dark, frequency but how much better it have summits of the Pacific isles flies after while they sleep, and a the with which the eucalyptus awakening. pictures for Louis XIV of the different would everywhere, though not one was to grows by be if the person had had a good be the ohela berry, large as a cherry, single centipede will slay scores plantations are visited wood-cutters. In speaking of this art Albert Edward famous court ladies. His worK was • seen a ago, of them . so picture painted by a good artist in the week and here by the pathway red and white, as some of our cherries during the nighttime, apparently Birds are more intelligent than any other Jackson, a miniaturist of some note, who good that it was esteemed highest the first not so the first place. A miniature on ivory cannot . primroses smile a welcome to all are, but despite the of the wild creatures and are quick to tatce is now in this City, has say honor to pose external differences much for food as for the delight of slaugh- much to about for him. In fact, he was in fade if the proper water colors used, .comers. Coming up through the canyon the fruit growing there in warning from disaster. In a grove the d fferent phases are gen- demand are the bare sul- ter. below of itthat not such that he chose his own sitters for the work is only a thin film jIespied the frilillaria just beginning to phur deposits is beyond a doubt birds, however, are, rae, where the ax is busy every summer, erally known, yet and obtained prices. of metal identical The after all, the and are of interest to his own V'V spread over the white background. They unfold its buds, and the trillium is blos- with the huckleberry. effectual insect-destroyers Ihave never found a bird's nest, while lovers of the beautiful. "Two of* the most famous men cheerily most we have. of the are about as unchangeable as the colors of soming in the rain. Some writer The huckleberry tangles here among life they abound among the twenty-year-old "The art present century were Isabey Malbone, '* the But for them would be unendurable of miniature painting," he and a piece of stained glass, and many seem about our wild flowers speaks of the redwoods are in plentifulblossom. Further by reason of insect persecution. The first trees immediately about me. says, "is most assuredly of Italian origin, although they were not entirely wrapped "haughty confidence" of the down, may to have acquired a richness from age. trillium as the wild gooseberry has put forth a fly-catchers Ihave noticed this season This explanation or may not be although it reached its greatest perfection up in the art of miniature as Foucquet ..*it holds up its head in the damp forest. multitude of buds, It is certainly "The old standard way of miniatures is and tho ceanothus is made their appearance in the willows correct more reasonable in France a littleover a hundred years ago. was. Both of them worked in oils in Somehow wake-robin never hung funny this the the same to-day all over the seems to me with little black catkins. week, and that same day Iespied than to suppose the odor of the tree is galleries ordinary way and Isabey is world. The to exhibit any such quality as the first "Inone of the famous of Rome somewhat colors, mixed with pure gum-water, are this. There Those of the hazel have fallen off.and the white-crowned sparrow and a wee offensive to birds, in whom the sense oi painting famous as a marine painter. But is' more of trust than hauteur tit- there is a miniature of some about laid on in stipple until in its confi- willows have come out in full leafage. A mouse. Until this spring Ihave never smell is very feeble. Sight and not scent Italian beauty bearing this time the work was beginning to take the color and like- dence. Isaw a group this morning peep- single week, now, at the date 1601. Itis ness is perfect. In this stage they are a makes more difference been so fortunate as to see a bluebird in is their reliance all times. "Abirdseye not likely that this is the first on a commercial character, and so many ; ing out from under the spreading green aspect view" a singularly work of the little darker than need be, but that is in the of nature than a fortnight California, though 1have been repeatedly is comprehensive and kind ever painted, nor is itlikely men were engaged in itthat it was diffi- leaves of the podophyllum, looking for all a accurate that the necessary for the needle work, which is will month hence. There are no more assured of their abundance in various lo- vision. Neither the pepper tree could arrive at such a re- cult to tell who really did the best work. the world like good children who plowed nor artist successful really the finishing. For this very hard had fields to delight the eye with calities, but Isaw some days ago a goodly the eucalyptus is very largely visited on first attempt. "Between 1825 and 1850 a large ; sought shelter from the rain. coloring, by insects, may sult his Itmust have number !needles are used that are ground to an ' their rich but the hillsides and flock, not amid rural scenes at all. but dis- which also have some- required several years of study to reach of miniature painters flourished in al- -The buttercups are always welcome. lower fields have donned thing to do with the birds' preference Amer- most_ inconceivably- - fine point . mantles of glow- porting upon the housetops in the very for such perfection, which would give at least ica, as is shown by the large number They are pre-eminently the children's ing green. Ieven saw, other varieties of trees, ln my of "Every part of the picture is 'hatched* hovering over the i heart of San Francisco. Accompanying immediate 300 years since the origin of the art. Gen- their works to be found in different parts flower, and bo plentiful are they as to surface of a cressy pool, neighborhood Ifind the warblers over until the ivory shows through as a • • yesterday, a them were a dozen or more snowbirds and fly- erally speaking, the art is said have of the Southern and Eastern seem but the commonest weeds, yet they swarm of mosquitos, and, harrying' catchers most affect the willows to States. fine network. This produces the loose on and sparrows and a single flicker, who and the originated in the latter part of the six- There are many fine examples the art have a long lineage and an their flanks, their ancient dense, low-growing greasewood. of effect that is so much admired, and by re- honorable and doughty seemed be acting as self-appointed The to be found in New Orleans, history. The little plant is particularly big to bunting teenth century. although the vealing the ivory produces an • foe. the blue dragon-fly. What the guardian to the pretty throng. The sight jewel-like lazuli builds in the men were best are some effect of interesting to the evolutionist because of sparrow-hawk "Who the who first took up in of the oid Virginia fam- flesh obtainable by no other is to small birds, the was a faint indication of what we might lupin and southernwood 'and among the are signed by means. In \u25a0 the art is not a matter of record. In fact ilies. These men who have its many variations and the clearness dragon-fly to gnat tribe, only poison pair :reality this ivory effect might be said to is the the expect of bird society had we but trees oak. Ihave known one to none of the earlier works are signed, for never been heard of in art world, " Iwith which its development may be big flyseems really build a porch the and be the charm of miniature painting. The to be actuated by an along our City streets. under roof close beside the mysterious reason. Itmay be the work is really excellent. J traced. The familyis a large one, with a active hatred V door, year some that Whether they effects of laces and thin goods are pro- for his buzzing victims, so Almost immediately after seeing the front and last' a pair of gold- in those days the art was not looked upon were self-taught or went to 'w very general distribution, and some of its implacable, a Europe lor duced in this way in a manner fierce and insatiate is his feud bluebirds in San Francisco Inoted an- finches built within foot of where 1 as being highest order, or, their art education is, course, past that is '. branches are quite aristocratic. Who against them. Noting this, passed a dozen times a day. Irarely of the perhaps, of Iquite surprising. some enter- other flock in Berkeley, but Ihave seen went was some jeweler finding out :.would suppose the modest little meadow prising entomologist once that way without stopping to chirrup to it done lor who made "In connection with this work proposed cul- none about Oakland or in the foothills. eggs, or locket and took all mention "buttercup to be related to the big, richly tivating and domesticating the little hen on her but she never the frame the credit "Miniature painting has probably had a must be made of the sheets ivory. ' the dragon-fly With the exception of the skylark there seemed afraid. Linnets and of the miniatures of colored pseonias so proudly flourishing for of titmice, wrens to himself. Some steadier run in England than anywhere They are obtained elephants' in the purpose exterminating mosqui- no more loved by the poets and sparrows all have painted from tusks our flower-beds? The pseony belongs to*, is bird than their nest's in a in the early history of the art else. In fact it never has there, by sawing off slices, to but the blue dragon is less tamable azure morsel song little tangle of currant, greasewood gold died out not in as might be China. It suggests queer pagoda roofs, this beautiful of with me, and were put in frames of solid that must but haa not been what was day* •imagined, but are than his prototype among the breast. blackberry just below and ina near-by it in the cut in strips by sawing gardens, vertebrates his ruddy He might easily be in- canyon have cost a fortune. Even the smallest of its glory. always and mandarin's while the butter- the Bengal tiger. He did not take kindly among the nests of brown thrushes are of The art has been round and round so that a long section duced to make bis home us, as he more plentiful them were put in lockets studded with taught Royal off, cup is our own intimate friend; but the to domestication, but was off to partial than Ishould care to have at the Academy, and doz- comes of different grades of texture. the woods is particularly to the haunts of most schoolboys know. valuable jewels. ens immense difference between the two is and the streamside the instant he quick v ' of men jhave . always made good liv- The finest is just before the center is tasted i civilization, and is to take ad- 1 Adeline Khapp. "This early work was not what it might ing at it The reason for this lies in the reached.