The San Francisco call., 1897-01-02

house flags, as ali the Christian maritime
nations, except Russia. use the same al
manac. That empire is still plodding
along in December twelve days behind the
band wagon. Many OF the vessels still
carried the Christmas trees at their trucks,
the tufts of evergreen showing in many
cases just over the flag gently waving in
the light breeze.
The officers of the harbor police station
made their New Year calls yesterday with
m ore or less social success. At the corner
of Nam and Harrison streets, Officer
Whittle found Carl Schmidt, mariner
m an. putting pellets of lead into saloon
door. incidentally, Gus Stein, the bar
keeper, was IN the line of his rather un-
certain fire, and Schmidt's intentions
were to shoot him out oft. At the police
station he WAS registered with an assault
to murder" after his name. His plea was
too much liquid New Years"
Officers Maloney and Ellis paid their re-
spects to David Haie's place at Drum m
and Jackson streets, where they found
George Mathison. hiding under bed. He
had attacked one John White with q
siphon bottle, cutting him badly about
the head, and went in hiding when he
heard the approach of the police. He
VISA CuaFSeu WILL aoS9uie VIII a uoauiy
weapon.
c. o. Carleson was interviewed by OFF,
Ger Mahonev and gathered in, charged
with deadly. assault, while John
Melville was visited by Officer Markey and
persuaded to sleep off the remainder of
his New Years eve at the station. Arthur
Pyett also put in hrs first day of the year
in cell, having drunk unwisely to the
.depa rting 1896.
The old steamer Portland, which has
swinging to her anchor in.Oakland Creek
for many months, will soon be in commis-
sion again. She has been chartered by
Captain Kidston, agent of the North
American Tran sportIon and Trading Com
pany, for the Yukon River service.
New passenger accommodations are be-
ing put in, new boilers will replace the old
ones and the vessel will be made first class
in every particular. About $4,000 will be
expended in the repairs.
The Portland was first known as the
Haytian Republic and was engaged in the
freight and passenger business between
Victoria, B. c., and Portland, Or. She
became involved in litigation and was
purchased by John Rosenfed Sons and
she will be put on in opposition to the
Alaska Commercial Company's boats.
The rough weather on the coast has
sadly interfered with the regular freight
and passenger business as well as the sail
ing coasters.
The Point Arena arrived yesterday with
enough cargo for ballast, being unable to
load at her regular ports on account of the
huge sea, and the steamer Cleone has been
barbound at Coos Bay for week. The
big steam collier Eva, which is TO take the
place of the lost San Benito, arrived yes
terday from Nanaimo about twenty-four
hours overdue, being delayed by head
winds and rough water. The Walla Walla
was twelve hours late from the same
cause.
The British bark Empire got in yester.
day morning, eighty-two days from New
castle, N. s. w. October "a she was struck
by heavy, westerly gale with very
high confused sea. During the night a
huge wave was seen coming up, and be-
fore the vessel could be handled to meet
it the sea toppled over the stern and
rushed forward along the deck In great
flood. The compass was wrencLed from
its fastenings and carried toward the fore
castle. The cabin doors and windows
were stove in, filling tine officers apart
ments below with water. The car