[men shouting orders] host: elissa was built in aberdeen scotland. she is classified as a barc. masts. she carries a sail. she was a merchant ship. she was part of a vast british conglomerate of sailing vessels that sailed around the world. she was a tramp sailor. she was the equivalent of about a ups truck or fedex. she was not a big 18 wheeler. there were a lot of ships larger. her niche was to go into undeveloped potsrts ports without a lot of water depth. she could offload her cargo and load a new cargo. sthat's how she made a living. [men barking orders] host: with the opening of the suez canal in 1869, sailing ships were dealt a death blow. with that opening of the canal coal-fired ships had a shorter route to the far east, to india. so sailing ships really needed to find a way to make their own living. so instead of high-value cargo they started carrying lower value cargo, coal, oil cotton, etc. so elissa found her niche in carrying any kind of cargo that did not require getting to market at a very fast pace. [engine roaring] elissa's connection to galveston is unique is

elissa harrington abc news. >>> warning people about possible rabeies exposure. a dead bat has tested positive for the disease after testing positive on black hawk road. rabies is passed by touching an infected animal or by being bitten by one. it can be deadly. control officials will be handing out flyers detailing the symptoms that people need to watch out for. >>> bart police are using an unusual-looking mobile device keeping eye on krimcriminals at bart stations. it is not pretty but it is getting more attention. amy? >> hi, cheryl. it's eye-catching for sure. we've noticed a lot of bart passengers looking up at it but what they're hoping is that the criminals will notice it. it definitely stands out. >> it's a little star warsy. >> it's 25-feet tall making those on the ground feel pretty small. >> pretty imposing. >> reporter: and it's a bit mysterious with the dark windows. >> it's intimidating. bart police say that's the point, to intimidate criminals and hopefully scare them away. >> i think that's a great idea. i think, you know, we need the protection.

elissa has a key role.he economic story of galveston. >> [indiscernible] >> this was built in 1877 in aberdeen, scotland. she is classified as a barge. she has three masts. she was a merchant ship. she was part of that vast british conglomerate of sailing vessels that sailed around the world. she was more of a trap sailor in other words, there were ships that were a lot bigger than she was. i like to tell people that she was the equivalent of a ups truck or a fedex truck. she was not a big 18 wheeler. her niche was to go into under develop ports, she could go into the port, offload her cargo and that's how she made her living. >> she rolls! >> with the opening of the suez canal in 1869, sailing ships were almost dealt a death blow. with that opening of the canal, coal-fired shoulds had a shorter route to the far east, to india to all of those markets. sailing ships really needed to find a way to make their own living. instead of high-value cargo, they started carrying lower value cargoes, coal, oil, cotton

elissa harrington, abc 7 news. >>> san jose police officers are receiving condolences today from fellow officers around the country. here's san francisco police chief greg sur. >> it just doesn't get any worse than this. going to do your job, going to help and not making it home. you know i mean it's just -- it's just -- it never gets any easier and it happens all too often. >> the chief said he reached out to san jose's chief last night and offered to send some of his officers if san jose's department needs any help while the funeral service is under way. >>> the attorney general is offering her condolences to officer johnson's family. she issued this statement saying yesterday's tragedy is a grave reminder of the risks that our law enforcement officers take each day when they put on the badge to protect their communities. a statement from governor jerry brown, officer johnson will be remembered for his courage and dedicated service. we join the entire san jose community in mourning this tragic loss. >> do stay with abc 7 news for continuing coverage of the story. we will continue to b

. >> later, step aboard the tall ship elissa, a ship that once delivered goods to the city. >> she sailedived here in galveston about 100 yards from where we are standing out in 1883 with a cargo full of bananas. >> we begin our visit off its shores and into the surrounding waters. the fort is a major reason why the island city exists today and plays a dominant role in its economy. >> the first land grant for galveston came about in the 1830's, and it came to a guy called michelle minard and some of his other investors. samuel m a williams was one of those. they had someone come in and lay out the plots for the city and began selling lots in the late 1830's. galveston was officially founded as a city in 1839. what is attractive about galveston it was a natural harbor, and it was the only one between mexico and mobile alabama. there was this natural affinity to bring in goods and people into galveston that could go into texas and the middle part of the united states. it was really the industry, the availability of the port, the easy access from the gulf of mexico, and it really created an

illicit -- elissa had a vital role in telling the economic story of galveston.lissa was built 1877 in scotland. she has a riveted iron hull. she is classified as a barge. she has three masts. she was a merchant ship. she was part of the vast british conglomerate of sailing vessels. she was more of a tramp sailor. there were ships bigger than she was. i tell people she was the equivalent of about a ups truck or fedex truck. not a big 18 wheeler. there were a lot of ships larger. her niche was to go into undeveloped ports that did not have a lot of water depth. she could offload her cargo, loaded new cargo and that is how she would make her living. >> with the opening of the suez canal in 1869, sailing ships were almost dealt a death blow. with the opening of the canal, coal-fired ships had a shorter route to the far east and india and all those markets. sailing ships needed to find a way to make their own living. instead of high-value cargo, they started carrying lower value cargo. cold, oil, cotton, etc. elissa found her niche in carrying any kind of cargo that