The San Francisco call., 1898-02-19
Steamers Rushing to One, Sailing Vessels to
 the Other.
Brave Act of Captain Niessen of the Schooner Georgie
 Woods.
Death Of Prominent Central Anaeri can Merchant on the Steamer
 Newport

Gold hunters are beginning to turn aside from the Klondike and Kotzebue Sound and the Kowak are now becom- ing the mecca of the prospectors.
 The barks Alaska and Northern Light have now almost their full complement of passengers, and other sailing Ves- sels are being put on the route. The sealing schooner Louisa D has been purchased by party of twelve from Iowa. They will fit her out for a two years stay in Kotzebue Sound. They will anchor in safe place and will make excursions up the Kowak River in their own boats in search of gold.
 The fine barkentine Catherine Sudden has been chartered by parties here and she will also go to Kotzebue in com mand of Captain Fred Green, the well known Arctic whaler. The barkentine is to be built up from the fore right aft to the mizzen mast, and will have first class accommodations for over onehun- dred and fifty passengers.
 A river steamer and lumber for a large house are to be taken along. and the vessel is to remain sixty days in the sound in order to bring back the gold hunters who may have got tired or disgusted with the venture. All who wish to return will be brought back free of charge. but will have to furnish their own provisions on the way down. As the demand for passages to Kotze- bue Sound is daily growing more nu- merous the chances are that several other sailing vessels will be added to the fleet bound for Kotzebue before the ice breaks up next spring.
 The steamer City of Columbia, on her way here from New York with a party of gold hunters, touched hidden rock while entering the harbor of Valparaiso the other day. She is not thought to be seriously damaged, but nevertheless Captain Baker will put her on the dry dock for repairs. The passengers on the City of Columbia are making a holiday trip of it, having stopped at all the points of interest so far between New York and Valparaiso. The vessel is now out sixty-three days, and it will probably be some time in April before she gets to San Francisco.
 Three vessels bound for Dyea and Skaguay are to leave in succession The Cottage City will get away to-day, the Umatilla will sail tomorrow morn ing, and the Australia is scheduled to sail Monday afternoon. The Cottage City will take away Charles and John IbduD dHQ SHliS dIl lIlIee Ol whom have given up their jobs as grip men on the Powell street road to go to the Klondike to look for gold J. Madsen and F. Summerstein of the Mount Eden Salt Works will also be of the party. They will all go to the Yukon by way of Stickeen River. This makes the fourth party of gripmen that have left the Powell street road and one-half of the cars of that line are now run by new men.
 Captain H. Niessen of the schooner Georgie Woods did a very brave deed couple of days ago. The vessel was on her way from the California Powder Works, when the boom swung over and knocked Chris Nelson, the deckhand, overheard. Captain Niessen at once threw the vessel up in the wind and dropping the anchor jumped over after Nelson, who could not swim. After a hard struggle he got the man back aboard, and then they both got up the anchor and made sail as though noth- ing had happened.
 The Harbor Commissioners notified George Smith & Sons yesterday that if they have not twenty additional paint CTS at work on the .new ferry depot within the next three days the contrac ct will be taken away from them and the job finished at the expense of their bondsmen.
 The Pacific Mail Steamship Com- pany's Newport arrived from Panama and way ports yesterday with thirty one cabin and twenty seven steerage passengers. Among her cargo was thirty-six packages Of treasure valued at s61, ,167. On the 11th inst. E. J. Nor daunt, well-known planter of San Benito, died and was buried at sea. He leaves father and brother in this city.
 The handsomely fitted out river steamer Sunol is to make another ex- cursion to Vallejo and the navy-yard tomorrow. The boat leaves Washing ton street wharf at 10 a. m. and will get back to the city at 6:30 D. m. The trip Is most enjoyable one and the excursionists will have about four hours in Vallejo and at Mare Island
 Landaus wagonettes traps and drars