The San Francisco call., 1898-05-10
READY FOR THE YUKON OPENING Ocean Liners and River Boats Preparing for
 the Rush. A Biq Fleet Will Leave Here and
A Big Fleet Will Leave Here and the Sound for Dawson
 Next Month.
The Schooner Bangor From Sala- verry Had a Narrow Escape
 While Making Port

The rush to the gold fields via Dyea and Skaguay is about over and the stampede via St. Michael and the Yukon is about to begin.
 Nearly two-thirds of the vessels en- gagged in the Dyea traffic have either been hauled off and put into other service or else have been laid up for the time being A few more weeks will see the opening of the Yukon, and then the rush via that route will be all the greater be- cause of the temporary stoppage or travel by the other way. Preparations to handle the passengers and freight nave been very extensive, and unless the rush Is up to expectations some one will be sure to have his fingers burned before the season is over. The number of river boats constructed and ready to be sent to the Yukon will surprise anybody who will give the matter a moments thought though.
 boldt, who returned from Seattle yester- day, says there is a line Of stern-WheeIers mile long on Puget Sound awaiting i6aa tne st Michael. At least twenty of the same class of vessels have been built or are being completed at Dutch aarsor, a,;S o ana nn from here. Of course many of these yes sels will carry private expeditions, but even taking that fact into consideration there will certainly be river boats enough and to spare to handle the biggest Kind of a rush to the Klondike this season.
 The steamer Connemaugh arrived from New York yesterday with general cargo, and as soon as that is discharged she will be turned into a Klondike pas senger steamer. The Ohio and the Lee lanaw are already in port and partially discharged, while the Illinois IS expected here in few days. All these vessels are to be added to the Klondike fleet, and coupled with the steamers St. Paul, Sen ator, Samoa, Chas. Nelson. Dirigo and Morgan City, will make big increase 10 I{Sf of SalC year.
 service to carry supplies to vessels built at Dutch Harbor and also to those that wintered at the mouth of the Yukon. The longshoremen on the schooner Joseph Russ have been working night and day in order to get her discharged and loaded for St. Michael, while the J. M. Coleman is also being got ready. and the Ethel Zane is being anMously looked Tor III order to put her on the berth The Bangor was to have been loaded here, but as coal and lumber are wanted at St. Michael at once, she has been sent to Seattle to get her cargo, in order to expedite matters. The bark Rufus E. Wood is also on the berth for St. Michael. Inside of month there will be more craft of every descrip- ton heading for the Yukon tan ever be- fore in the rivers history.
 The steamer Excelsior was chartered yesterday from the Pacific Steam Whal- Transportation Company. She will run to St Michael in conjunction with the National City and Albion, and will con meet at that point for Dawson City with the companys four new river steamers.
 The steamer Humboldt, now running between this port and Dyea and Skaguay, will make one more trip from Seattle to Skaguay and will then come here and go on the St. Michael route.
 The schooner Bangor had narrow escape while making port few days ago. She came from Salaverry. and her crew did not know that the whistling buoy had been replaced by the lightship and that Duxberry reef Is now marked by the former. She made the offing in thick fog, and her master, taking bearings the Golden Gate. The captains on one of the pilot-boats who happened to be in the vicinity hailed the vessel and asked her crew where they were going. The changes in the buoys were then explained to Captain Asp, the schooner's commando CT. and he at once changed his course Had he held on to the one he was steer ing the Bangor would have been run high and dry on the rocks.
 An Italian named John Risso owes his life to the promptitude or Henry PeteTson Early yesterday morning he wandered down to the Folsom-street wharf and t,mbled overheard. Peterson heard his cries for help and went to the rescue. After getting the half-droWned man on | the float Peterson called up the Harbor 1 Receiving Hospital and sent Risso there 1 in the ambulance.
 The bark R. P. Rithet arrived from l Honolulu yesterday with 6 cargo of sugar and several passengers Among them were Mrs J. L. Travis, wife of Homo 1 lulu newspaper man; Miss Helen Wilder 1 Wilder has been on the sick list, and 1 made the voyage for her health. She will i remain in San Francisco for few weeks, | and then may go to China for visit.