The San Francisco call., 1898-10-08
ROMANTIC
 ELOPEMENT
 IN 4 JUNK Chinese Lovers in a
 New Role. RETURN OF THE VALENCIA THE TRooPSHIP BRINGS A FEW SOLDIERS FROM HONOLULU. Close Ocean Race to Siberia and Back Between the Schponers H. D. Bendixen and John D. Ta11ant.
RETURN OF THE VALENCIA
THE TRoopSHIP BRINGS A FEW SOLDIERS FROM HONOLULU.

One of the most novel ana eAcltIhS races ever seen on the bay took place yesterday. The contestants were Iour Chinese 1unks, and the prize was hand some MongoHan woman. The winner will have to keep out of the way TOT some time to come, as his lMe may pay for his success if the losers lay hands on him.
 There is a Chinese fishing village in San Pablo bay, and there the Mongo1laLss catch and dry the shrinps and small 11sh which they ship to China AS soon as steamer begins loading for China the 1unks can be seen daily plying between San Pablo Bay and the Mail dock with loads of the dried fish. The prlnclpal fisherman is named Hop Tuck, ana ms daughter is an almond-eyed beauty De- loved by every Chinese beau in the Vii lage. The young lady had love for wong Chin only, while the father favored the suit of Shin Lun.
 4 marriage was arranged between Shin Lun and Hop Tuck's daughter, ana wong Chin was in despair. After much tax he finally persuaded his love to fly with linn. Early yesterday morning they got into one of the JunkS and started TOT 0dn Francisco. To a fair wind the lateen 6an was hOisted and good progress was Ihade- Half an hour later their night was ais covered and the angry father started IT pursuit in one junk, while the deserted lovers piled into the other two and gave chase The true-lovers boat about this time struck a calm streak, and the pur- suers gained on them rapidly. The Wind came up fresh again, and blew, steadily until the lovers landed at Fisherman wharf There they chartered Chinese fish wagon and were driven rapidly away Fifteen minutes later the other Junks, propelled by oars and sail, came, but they were too late. The lovers had made their escape. After a great deal of talk they sent two of their number into China town to look for the couple, and the oth- CTS got into the junks and sailed them back to the village on San Pablo Bay.
 The British ship Hawthornbank got in from HongkOng, and the transport Val encia from Manila via Honolulu yester- day. The steamer took thirty-four days to come over, while the sailing vessel made the run in forty-hye days. Captain Greig of the Hawthornbank was here last in the Elmbank It will be remembered that the vessel was loaded with sulphur and caught fire at Green street wharf It took weeks to put the fire out, but at last 1t was smothered. From here the Elmbank went to England, and was lost on the Irish coast while being lowed to Liverpool. Captain Greig was then ap- pointed to the Hawthornbank, and this is his first visit to this port in her. The Thursday night after an uneventful voy- age and was lowed in yesterday.
 Tommy Crowley, the boatman, met with a painful accident while trying to board the Hawthornbank- He attempted to step aboard the quarantine boat, but missed his footing and fell, striking his
 
 His jaw was broken, and it will be some months before he can eat solid food again.
 The Valencia stopped at Honolulu for coal. The only passengers she brought from Manila were Lieutenant R. H. Mi ner, who went from here as executive of in company with the Monterey, and J. O. Knight, a newspaper man. From Homo lulu she brought up Lieutenant M. L.. Perry, Charles U. Bell and Private Harry P. Berry. The soldier boys at Honolulu were kicking. There was a mistake made in their pay roll, and instead of the money 1t was returned for correction. In consequence they will not get their money until the Alameda reaches Honolulu. The Valencia brings the news that the gun boat Bennington reached Honolulu on September N, and that three days later the cruiser Philadelphia was to start for San Francisco. There was a fire in the cruisers bunkers while she was returning to Honolulu from a practice cruise, but 1t did no damage and was quickly put out.
 The Valencia docked at Lombard street wharf last night, and the work of over hauling her will begin to-day. She has not suffered much during her long voyage and looks fit to start out for Manila again tomorrow.
 The schooners H. D. Bendixsen and John D. Tallant have just completed a long ocean race. Both of them sailed for the Amoor River on the same day, and the Tallant won the race. On the way back, however, the Bendixsen turned the tables. They sailed from Decastres Bay together but the BendiXsen had to put into Hakodate to unload 120 tons of cargo and take in ballast. Nevertheless she ar rived at Clallam Bay twenty-four hours before the Tallant reached Port Town send. The BendiXsen made the lun across. including stop, in twenty-five days, very smart performance.
 The rain ruined a masterpiece by W. 4. Coulter, the celebrated marine artist, yesterday. A few days ago he decided that the roof of his cottage at Sausalito required painting, so yesterday morning he got Up early and treated 1t to coat of a beautiful dark red color. Half an hour later it was raining in torrents, and ever since that roof has been weeping blood, while Couter-well, the least said is soonest mended.
 The Mail Company's steamer San Jose is laid up for repairs. so her commander Captain w. H. Mclean, will take out the City of Sydney! CaDtain Russell of the Sydney will take well earned vacation.
 Charles Piggott and a man named Childs were arrested at the ferries in the act of robbing Mrs. Charles Weinermann of Oakland of her purse. They were booked for grand larceny at the Harbor police station. Piggott was arrested on a similar charge two months ago, but es- capped conviction.