At San Francisco Captain Pattman loaded wheat for Liverpool. But when he was ready to sail he found himself 10 men short, so applied to the usual sources. And here is a good instance of the methods of Frisco boarding-house masters at that date. He was informed that each man would cost him $30 blood money, $25 advance, $5 shipping fee, $1 boat hire—total $61 per man. This was more than a resolute man like Captain Pattman could put up with, especially with wheat freights to U.K. at 11s. 3d. Though the boarding-house masters were a law unto themselves in San Francisco and boasted of their power, he determined to brave them and after some trouble managed to get men at $31 inclusive per man. His success broke the ring for a time, and they were soon offering men at $21 a head, less $2.50 commission of the captains. No doubt many a present day officer will remember the episode, which caused quite a stir in windjammer circles at Frisco, and even produced a long poem in one of the leading papers. This poem was entitled “The Lay of the _Loch Torridon_,” and the patriotic Frisco newspaper man takes care that the British captain is bested in his efforts. The _Loch Torridon_ sailed on 8th November, in company with the four-mast barque _Crocodile_. _Loch Torridon_ arrived Liverpool on 14th March, 1904, and the _Crocodile_ on 31st March, over two weeks behind. From 1904 to 1909, when Captain Pattman resigned his command, _Loch Torridon_ was kept on the Australian run, her passages being:— 1904 Glasgow to Sydney 77 days. Sydney to London 97 „ 1905 London to Adelaide 85 „ Melbourne to London 106 „ 1906 London to Adelaide 83 „ Melbourne to London 117 „ 1907 London to Adelaide 83 „ Melbourne to London 86 „ 1908 London to Adelaide 94 „ Melbourne to London 87 „ On her arrival home in 1908, Captain Pattman reluctantly decided to give up his command and go into steam, his reason that vexed one, the lack of real sailormen to man her. Besides which, owing to the unwillingness of good men to remain in sail, he had to put up with an aged “has been” as mate and an apprentice just out of his time for second mate. In 1912 _Loch Torridon_ was sold to the Russians. About the same time Captain Pattman had his leg broken by a sea whilst on the bridge of his new command. He was landed at Falmouth and died there in hospital. [Illustration: “PORT JACKSON.” _Photo by Captain Schutze, Sydney._] [Illustration: “PORT JACKSON,” in the Thames.] The old _Loch Torridon_ survived until 1915, when she foundered near the entrance to the Channel in the last days of January, and it is possible that a German submarine caused her end. Her Russian crew were rescued by the British steamer _Orduna_, and the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society awarded medals and certificates of thanks to Captain Taylor of the _Orduna_ and her chief and second officers.