The Sea-Wolf | Objects, Setting & Important Places

The Sea-Wolf Objects/Places

San Francisco

San Francisco is the well-known city in Northern California near the San Francisco Bay. The city is near the Golden Gate, a water channel. In the novel, Hump is traveling across the Golden Gate in a steam ferry that sinks. Hump often thinks of San Francisco during the initial segment of the novel and equates the city with his comfortable life of means. It is notable that none of the novel's events actually take place in the city.

Martinez

Martinez is a new steam ferry making trips across the Golden Gate in San Francisco Bay. The ferry encounters deep fog and collides with a larger ship. She subsequently takes on water rapidly and sinks with, presumably, great loss of life. Although adequate lifeboats and flotation jackets are available, the ferry apparently sinks before they can be effectively utilized. Humphrey "Hump" Van Weyden is aboard when the Martinez is struck and is...
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