The San Francisco call., 1897-03-17
A NORTHWESTER
CAUSES TROUBLE
Steamers and Sailing.
Ships From the South
Overdue.
The Pacific Mail Company's
Peru Was Looked for Sew.
eral Days Ago.
Two Vessels From Hawaii and Sew.
eral Coasters Were Ou side in
a Bunch Yesterday.

All classes OF vessels bound north are
having an unusually hard time of it, and
a big fleet from Newcastle, N. S. W., Ha-
waii and the Orient is now overdue. The
Zealandia is fair example OF what they
have had to suffer, and she was two days
overdue owing 10 the heavy north wester
that has prevailed for over two week.
At noon yesterday it was blowing 70 rty
nine miles an hour at Point Reyes and
sixteen miles an hour at Point Lobos,
while at P. NJ. it was blowing sixty-Iour
miles at the former place and forty eight
at the latter. and still gathering in force.
The sea was very heavy one, and all the
vessels that made port had very hard
time OF it.
Steamers from the north came near
breaking the record, and the State of Cali
fornia made the run from Astoria in thr
ty-seven hours, her own best performance
being thirty-six and half hours. During
very heavy norther three years ago,
however, the Columbia made the same
run in thirty-five hours.
On the other side of the case the Pacific
Mail Company Peru from Hongkong via
Yokoham and Honolulu is now several
days behind time, and the same COM
pany's City of Sydney should have got in
yesterday morning. On her way to Hong
kong the Peru lost couple OF the blades
of her propeller and she reached her des-
tination several days late. The damages
were repaired, but there may have been a
flaw in the casting somewhere and the
propeller may have something to do with
the slow passage. In the case of the City
of Sydney it is undoubtedly tho strong
head winds that are keeping her back.
She is not heavily laden and the north
wester would take great hold on her.
Among the sailing vessels that got in
yesterday were the barkentine Archer
from Honolulu in nineteen days and the
schooner Jennie Wand in an eighteen
day trip from Kahului. The latter is
one OF the best trips of the season, as the
r. P. Rithet and Alden Besse are both out
twenty-five days from Honolulu, and the
crack brig ]. D. Spreckels took aim ost
that time TO get here from the islands.
The Archer and Wand were in company
with several craft OF different description
off the heads yesterday, and as the wind
was fair they all sailed in, much to the
discomti titure of the towboat captains.
Several other vessels were seen in the dis
tance, but when the gale began to increase
in fury they put about and made for the
open sea.
In the early morning fleet OF about
fifteen scow schoopers started for points
on the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers.
They got as far as the Chickens ell right,
but then the storm came down upon them
in force and all had 10 run for shelter un-
der the lee OF Portuguese Point. As at 3
p M. the gale was still increasing Piper.
Alden, Goodail Company, several of whose
schooners are among the fleet, sent out
tug with provisions for the men ana also
to render assistance If necessary. The cap
tain of the Shasta. who came down from
Pinole Point, said tho schooners were all
riding easily, but that it would rrobab bly,
able to resume their voyages.
The shipping along the front was we'll
protected and no damage was done. 1t
was very rough on the bay, however, and
passengers by the various ferry steamers
did not enjoy the experience.