The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 14, 1895, Page 5

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 1895. 5 A STRONG SENTIMENT AGAINST LOTTERIES The Recommendations! of the Grand Jury Discussed. DECREASE OF THE EVIL. Chief Crowley Says the Traffic Is Growing Lessin This City. PUBLIC OPINION AROUSED. Foreman Gagan of the Grand Jury, Postmaster McCopplin and Others on the Vice. “The fact that newspapers continue to publish notices of lotteries is a crying shame,” says the Grand Jury in its report, the full text of which was published in yesterday's CALL. Itisalong time since a Grand Jury in this City and County has taken occasion to express itself so emphat- ically against one of the greatest gambling evilsof the day. And this utterance of the inquisito: body that has just con- cluded its Iabors has served to reawaken the public conscience on the matter of lot- teries and the newspaper advertising of them. Witk this awakening comes the hope that some beneficial actions will result. “This jury desires to express to the people of the City the commendable course of such of ihe dailies as have now refused to advertise the drawings of the various lottery companies,” says the Grand Jury’s icial report, and therein lies compensa- tion sufficient, it would seem, to urge upon newspaper proprietors who have the wel- fare of their own State and City at heart the wisdom of discontinuing the practice of publicly aiding and abetting these teeches and feeders upon the young and foolish. The recommendation of the Grand Jury to make the advertising of lottery compa- nies a felony is certainly a good one. If it be a felony to conduct that form of gam- bling within the State certainly it can be no less acrime, morally at least, to lend the columns of ‘a daily paper that goes to the homes and firesides of the land, to the hands of children and those easily tempted by specious plans for acquiring sudden wealth, to the advertisement of one of the most pernicious forms of gambling. Doubtless the agitation that has now been started will have the result of shut- ting the columns of the daily newspapers gainst these. lotterv frauds. But it is equally certain, of course, that the sug- gested law will have to be enacted before the entire daily press can be purged of these most baneful, because most insidious, advertisements. In its report to Judge Hebbard the Grand Jury expresses itself as follows on the subject of gambling in general and on lotteries and newspaper ad- vertising of them in particular. Strict attention has been paid to all reports that reached the Grand Jury regarding £ sries and opium dens. The ‘operation of the heads of the Police Department has peen had; still this body be- lieves that gar g is going on under the eves of some of the police officials, Many places have been closed, and other places | cted but of Wwhich no evidence | coutd be gotten that would have secured con- | viction have been listed for the benefit of the | next Grand Jury There are m: not seem 10 by char a e that cause the fme, and it is these games of yublic to think gam- action of Wells, ng with _the Postofl s ries is highly g me extent, ham- lottery companies, but the evil still 1 perhaps always will. If the banks on e ent in_ th great public benefit. The iact that newspapers continue to pub- lish notices of lotteries is a crying shame, but we are advised that it is not within the province of the Grand Jury to indict, as the law is not made to cover more than a misde- hese cases. matter the results would T] s to express to the people of the City the commendable course oi such of e various lottery companies. It d that other proprietors will, in nselves and to the public, follow s Kood example, which will go well in the of progress this State is now making. The recommendation of the Grand Jury is that the Legisiature make the sale of iottery tickets and advertising and aiding the lottery business a felony, instead of a misdemeanor, and the verdict of the majority of a trial jury sufficient for conviction. Meanwhile the faith- ful administration of the Iaw, the frequency of prosecution and the severity of punishment by imprisonment as well as fines in every case of | conviction under the present statutes, would | have a healthier effect in restricting the spread, if not entirely suppressing this great evil. The present laws on the subject of lot- teries would seem to be sufficient to stamp out the evil in this community. Yet these laws have been in operation a good manv vears. and there is to-day a shame- ful traffic in the sale of lottery tickets, be- sides many newspapers whose columns are open to their advertisements. There are both State and Federal laws proscribing lotteries as illegal. Yet the lotteriesexist, and the gamblers who run them grow rich from the illegal traffic. All this is not a pleasant commentarv on our manner of en- forcing the State and the Federal statutes. But most of all are the newspapers who circulate the notices of these gambling concerns to blame for the continuance of the evil. When the daily paper contains plansibly worded articles, calling atten- tion to (what is probably a falsehood) the winnings of this or that citizen and neigh- bor, who is said to have gained thousands of dollars by the venture of perhaps no more than a single dollar; when the voung and the foolish read in their family journals that lottery tick- ets are for sale and continually being sold in their community, it is no wonder that they become familiar with the vice and at last embrace it. A scheme of getting rich that seems to have the support of a great daily paper appears not so great a vice as it otherwise might, and thus thousandsare induced to invest their small earnings in the hope—a hope_that is rarely or never realized—of gaining much by.rlgkxu%the loss of little. In the end the victim finds his many small sums amount to even more, perhaps, than the fortune he hoped to gain from their expenditure. And in most cases he gains not even wisdom with his poverty, for the vice grows upon him, and he still hopes, by the risking of another dollar, to refrieve his squan- dered hundreds or thousands. It is so with all gambling, but that of lottery ~is the 1most insidious of them all because it appears to be the most innocent, and because—alas, that it should be so—he sees the great daily newspaper, recommending as it were, and stamping with its approval, the vice that isimpov- erishing him, or will surely do so if fol- lowed long enough. Only a cursory glance at the columns of the daily Enpers of San Francisco—except those of the CALL—will show how the law in regard to lottery advertisements is being constantly disregarded. Here is one taken from an evening paper of yesterday. It is a fair samvle of all the others, only that many of them are longer and more com- plete. It is published in the form of news, with glaring headlines to attract attention, and not even a sign whereby the initiated ny forms of gambling that do i persons in this C ce | anges would join with the | might know that the publication was paid for by the lottery company at full adver- tising rates. EXTRA. LOTTERY. FRIZES OF THE ORIGINAL LITTLE LOUISIANA COMPAXY. June Coupons ‘That Drew Snug Sums of Money. Look at Your Tickets and See if You Are One of the Lucky Ones. The principal prizes of the Original Little Loulsi- ana Company of San Francisco are given below. The prizes are decided by the drawing of the numbers of the Honduras National Lottery Com- pany (formerly the Lounisiana State Lottery Com- pany). The leading prizes are as follo; 27,846. 15,609..... 72,146... 15,000 4,000 2,000 1,000 500 d in San Francisc Sold'in San Francisco, Sold fn'San Francisco. 200 Sold'in'San Since the CALL closed its columns to the lottery companies a great deal has been accomplished in several other ways to lessen the evil in this State, and the state- ment of Chief Crowley that the sale of lottery tickets has diminished consider- ably in this City within the past six months is certainly gratifying those who have made the most determined fight against the lotteries. But it is not enough that the sale of kets has decreased. | The sale should be utterly prohibited, and those known to be agents of lottery com- panies should be summarily and as severely ealt with as the laws will permit. There should be no tickets for sale in this City, and yet, from the foregoing advertisement, as well as from the personal knowledge of almost_every verson well acquainted in this City, it would seem that it is not even difficult and not at all dangerous to pur- chase lottery tickets here. Although Wells-Fargo "have prohibited their em- ployes from handling them and the au- thorities have been stirred to some extent in the matter, yet the business of selling rancisco, company hit the lotteries a great blow when, following the example set by the Carr, it issued the following peremptory order against the'handling of Iottery tiok. of April 17: LOTTERIES HARD HIT. THE GREAT WELLS, FARGO & Co.'s EXPRESS COMPANY REFUSES TO HANDLE TICKETS. The following peremptory order has been fssued by the Wells-Fargo Express Company to all em- P From and atter recelpt of this you must not, under any circumstances, receive or forward any paper, certificate or instrument purporting to be or representing a ticket, chance, share or interest in or dependent upon the event of a lottery, so- called gift concert or similar enterprise. offering prizes dependent upon lot or chance, or any adver- tisement of such lottery, so-called gift concert or similar enterprise offering prizes dependent upon lot or chance, The carrying of such being probibited by the ited States law any employe violating the law becomes individually liable to fine or imprison- ment, or both. Great caution must be exercised on the part of all employes 10 the end that this order may be strictly obeyed.” E. M. CooPER, Manager. There must be not only a greater vigil- ance on tlle(})art of the authorities in the future in order to put down the shameful business in lottery tickets, but there must be a public sentiment aroused in the com- munity against the traffic. Well-to-do men and women give the business their | encouragement by patronizing the street peddlers and secret agents of the com- panies. These same men and women would hesitate to place the temptation be- | fore their growing children. Yet this is the inevitable result of their encourage- ment. Law-abiding citizens must frown down the lottery business. Men and women who have & regard for the welfare of their community and for the youth of the City must cease to encourage the lot- teries by patronizing their agents. Itis diffi- | cult to believe that there are many such as those described by Chief Crowley. Itis to be hoped that their | number will grow less. More thanal, it is | to be hoped that the newspapers will cease to lena their influence to the nefarious business. | A number of officials and others were | interviewed concerning the lottery evil | vesterday. Allof them decry the evil in | most positive terms. What the; v ought | to be carefully and thoughtfully read, for the traflic in lottery tickets is to-day far more of a menace to the welfare of the City and the State than most men and women have deemed it. The Chief of Police. In his interview Chief Crowley said: “I know for a fact that within the past six months the sale of lottery tickets in this City has been diminished very consider- | ably. Franklin of 2614 Kearny street has | gone out of the business, as he told me he was 80 hampered that he had decided to abandon the struggle. Oakes of Grant avenue, another large dealer, has also gone out of the business. ‘I know that the sale of Little Louisiana | tickets is going on to a certain extent, but we are doing all we can to suppress it by making arrests whenever we can. If the public only knew that most of these tickets are forged there would be very little sale for them. We know for a fact that thousands of these forged tickets are con- stantly being printed, and it is on the records that two or three arrests were made recently of the men who printed the tickets and the plates. Tickets and other paraphernalia were seized. “They take a photograph or lithograph of the genuine ticket, and make thousands of duplicate copies. This fact cannot be too strongly imprzssed upon the public, because they are simply throwing away their money by purchasing forged tickets. ‘‘Just let me say here that if all papers took the same position as the CALL in re- gard to lotteries we would have very little trouble in putting an end to the sale of tickets. Tt is not the working classes alto- ether that we have to contend against, ut it is a well-known fact that people of means make it a habit to encourage the sale of these tickets by purchasing them themselves. The United States laws have helped us a great deal in diminishing the sale of lottery tickets. I mean the law making it a penal offense to send lottery circulars through the mails. “What do think abont the recom- mendation of the Grand Jury? Well, I think it would never do &t all. To make the sale of lottery tickets and advertising and aiding the Iottery business a felony would be worse than ever. The penalty would be so severe that we could never get a conviction. What I would suggest is that the penalty should be a term of im- prisonment without the alternative of a tine. If that were done there would be an end to the lottery business. I would make the term of imprisonment reason- able, say from five to thirty days. That, in my opinion, would be the simplest and best way. “T have men specially detailed on lotter- | ies, and there is a general order to all the men to make arrests whenever they find any person engaging in the sale of lottery tickets. “Shortly after the Edmunds bill was passed by the last Congress I sent an offi- cer to Mr. Cooper of Wells, Fargo & Co. with a suggestion that he would permit me to place a secret agent on the trains with their agent. The object was that their agent might point out to our secret agent the psckages containing lottery tick- ets and ]utwfi circulars so that he ‘could seize them. . Cooper’s reply was that it would be impracticable, as their agent could not assume the responsibility of opening any gnchze, as it might be the wrong one and would get the company into trouble. I thought it could be done, as there snre]lly wouh‘i‘ be no difficnity in ingling out these packages. ~ “‘I selsn the same officer to the Postoffice lottery tickets still continues. The express ets. The order is reprinted from the CALL authorities and he saw Postoffice Inspector Erwin. Mr. Erwin expressed the greatest willingness to help us in the same direc- tion and said he would communicate with Washington on the subject. That was about a month ago, but he has not yet no- tified me of having received a reply to his communication. I simply refer to these matters to show that the Police Department has done and is doing everything possible to suppress the lottery evil. The Grand Jury never said a word to me about gambling or lot- teries, and I am at a loss to find out how they came by their information. They ap- arently did not make any investigation, ut contented themselves with saying ‘We believe.” What value can consc{entiously be put upon statements made without a thorough investigation of the facts?” Foreman of the Grand Jury. “The matter of lotteries,”” said William H. Gagan, foreman of the Grand Jury, “was referred to a committee, which looked into and discussed the matter for several days. When it had concluded its labors it reported to the whole jury that it deemed it advisable that presentments be made against al! the newspapers in the City which printed lottery advertisements. “I did not favor this recommendation and neither did the majority of the others. We gave a good deal of consideration to the matter, and finally .concluded that such procedure would be foolish. The law does not provide that the Grand Jury shall handle such matters as misdemeanors ex- cept by means of presentment, and it is as vet a question whether or not they can reach. That very question is before the Supreme Court now on the presentments we made against owners of houses of ill fame, and until that is decided it would only serve to cumber up the dockets of the courts with more cases.” Postmaster McCoppin. Postmaster McCoppin, when asked to give his views upon the suppression of the lotteries and his opinion of the recom- mendation of the Grand Jury to make it a felony to sell lottery tickets or to adver- tise the lottery companies, said: “Aithough we are here simply to execute the law as it is prescribed to usin the statutes, we also have some personal feel- ing upon the subject and believe that lot- teries in every form are a great detriment to any community in which they exist, and that everything possible for their sup- pression should be and is being done by this department. The enforcement of the law in regard to newspaper advertisement is occasioning considerable trouble in this department at the present time, asitis very difficult for us to segregate what ad- vertising does or does not come within the meaning of the law as it stands. “‘For instance, the card of Mr. Conrad, which appeared in the papers up to a short time ago, stating that although he had ac- cented an outside position he still retained the presidency of the Louisiana Lottery Company. After considerable discus- sion apon the matter the Postofice Depart. ment decided the card was not intended for Conrad’s personal use and benefit, but that this was simply aruse of the company to bring their business to prominence and call the attention of the people to its exist- ence, and papers containing the notice were finally considered unmailable. The card was immediately withdrawn. The ban passed by Congress in March of this year 18 much more stringent than the one in ex- istence prior to its passage, and even per- sons suspected of receiving lottery tickets or any pamphlets which appertain to lot- | teries, the privilege of the mails is denied them, and all letters addressed to such parties or firms are immediately confisca- ted, a red stamp “‘fraudulent” is inscribed upon the envelope, and it is returned either to the writer or to the Dead Letter Office, if no address appears upon the let- ter. Thisis quite severe, but is absolutely essential to protect our rights.” The Postofiice Inspector: Postoffice Inspector Erwin’s views and statements in the matter are similar to those of Mr. McCoppin, but in regard to the change in the law, as suggested by the Grand Jury, Mr. Erwin thinks that al- though it might be advantageous it is not absolutely essential, and that all that is needed for their ultimate suppression is the utmost vigilance upon: the part of the au- thorities and the harmonious co-operation of the Postoffice Department, Wells, Fargo & Co. and the Fo ice, and in event of an arrest for an iniringement upon the law that the courts deal as severely with the wrong-doer as the law will permit. “The law also prohibits any paper or pamphlet containing a notice of a church lottery, grab-bag social or similar enter- tainment going through the mails, and al- though this clause has occastoned consid- erable comment they are considered by the legislators without prejudice to be as deleterious to morality ‘as the games of chance which are run upon a larger scale, but npon the same basis,” said Mr. Erwin. CLAIMS ~ ACKNOWLEDGED, The Anglo-Chilean Commis- sion Writes About Shields and McKinstry. Alameda’s Public Administrator Is Suing for Shields’ Claim Against Chlle. Attorney F. Alleyne Orr is in receipt ofa letter from the Anglo-Chilean Claims Com- mission now sitting in Santiago, Chile, which conveyed the pleasing news that the claims of his clients have been filed for consideration. Attorney Orr represents Andrew Mc- Kinstry and Patrick Shields, sailors onthe Keweenaw, and English subjects, who were assaulted by the Chileans shortly after the attack on sailorsof the Baltimore. Shields was drowned in the West Oakland railroad yards January 28, and all his be- longings—a suit of badly worn clothes and a claim against the Chilean Government went to the Public Administrator of Ala- meda County. Here a very peculiar com- plication rose. Shields’ death chnnged the aspect of the case, which now stands with an American attorney suing on bebalf of an American official representing the claim of an Eng- lish subject, who was assaulted by citizens of a foreign power while he was a sailor on an American vessel, the Keweenaw. The day before Shields died instructions were received by Attorney Orr to make papers out anew and forward them forth- with to the International Commission at Santiago, Chile. As the claimant could not append his name the claim was signed by the Alameda official, asking damages of $100,000 for the dead man. So in this way the second set of legal documents were sent to Chile in compliance with the rules of the new commission, and only last week they were acknowledged as having arrived in time, and, after they had been filed with the commission, numbers 96 and 97 were allotted them on the calendar. The commission consists of one English- man, one Chilean and one German, the last being umpire. It will sit for six months if the claims are not all settled before that time expires. Its secretary ad- vised the local attorney that a Chilean lawyer be selected from three named by the British Minister, to watch progress of the cases before the commissioners. ——————— Bishop Montgomery Spoke. Company C, League of the Cross Cadets, gave an entertainment last night at Metropolitan Hall. Bishop Montgomery of Los Angeles was present and delivered an address on temper- ance and the league, which he founded in this City some years ago. An entertainment was given in which appeared Miss M. Georgiani, iss Nellfe Ford, Miss Kitty Biack and the Misses M. and A. Clark. Atthe close a hand- some sword was presented to Captain E. P. Fitzgerald of Company C. The French of territory in foss_ess only 190 square miles ndia. COLIMA INVESTIGATION, Another Survivor Tells How the Ship and All on Board Were Lost. SURGEON ROBERTSON AGAIN. The Witness Says He Was Drunk and That His Assistant Was Still Worsa. The investigation into the loss ofSthe steamer Colima drew a greater crowd yes- terday than at any time since the inquiry began. The quarters of the Inspectors of Hulls and Boilers were filled to overflow- | ing, and a number of people were com- | pelled to stand. Only three witnesses were | examined, one being a steerage passenger and two employes of the Pacitic Mail Com- pany. . The inspectors have now decided to make the investigation a very searching one, and with thisendin view they are subpenaing every one who knows anything | IR cobbler’s needle to perform the operation— the same needle the surgeon had. I re- fused to be treated by such animals. Iwas not cared for, and when I asked for food that would restore my strength they re- fused me, saying I was a steerage passenger. I got tough meat and eggs half rotten. ‘At 10 o’clock on the day we arrived at San Francisco I asked the surgeon for food and he referred me to the steward, the steward sent me to the cook and the cook told me to go elsewhere. “I was picked up at 1. M. by the San Juan. One of the passengers who picked me up, Louis Roetticher, washed my head in pi?' for the neglect of me, and said he would testify to my treatment. “There was a laborer attached to the Custom-house here,who helped to load the vessel, who will testify that the work was badly done. Ican find the man and he will testify.” C%pmin Phillips remarked : *You bring the man here to-morrow at 10 o’clock.” “All right, I will.” Continuing the witness said: *‘Cattle-pens were erected in front of the ortholes. The cargo shifted and the lum- It was over the rail. I don’t know anything about the coal, but I heard and felt the cargo shifting.” R. G. Kelly, the stevedore who looks after the filling of the coal-bunkers of the Mail Company’s steamers, was the next witness. e testified that all the bunkers were separate, and that when full they would hold about 480 tons. There were cross-bunkers forward and aft, besides the | regular boiler bunkers. When the witness started to coal the Colima there were 111 GUSTAV ROWAN ON THE STAND, AND THE INTERPRETER. of-warsmen, who were among the saved, have been called from Mare Island, and wreck of the steamer and the subsequent loss of life. Gustav Rowan made the statement that an employe of the Castom-house, who is stationed on the Mail dock, had told him the Coiima was very poorly stored. Cap- tain Phillips at once instructed the witness '&o bring the customs officer into court to- ay. Rowan, who asked for an interpreter last Wednesday, was placed on the stand yesterday. He testified as follows: ‘T was a passenger on the steamer Co- lima from San Francisco for New York. We left Manzanillo about 4 p. M., and the storm sprang up about 6 P. M. I found that I was unable to keep my legs on deck so I went below to get some blankets to make a bed on deck. Three of my com- panions, afterward lost, tried to sleep with me on deck, but they were unable to do so. That state of affairs continued till 1AM “*At1o0’clock I heard the captain from the bridge giving orders, as it appeared as if the storm would keep up and get worse. Afterthat I went below to see how things were. At 6 A. M. the storm had not abated. I went on the deck, just below where the lumber is stowed-—where the cattle were— and then I stationed myself to see every- thing that happened, because 1 feared the worst. I stayed there until 8 A. M. At that time I spoke to the second officer, with whom I was acquainted, and suggest- ed that they throw oil on the water to calm the seas. The officer said he would have to await orders from the captain. . “I remained in that place for some time—half an hour longer, perhaps—till I saw the vessel was not able to make head- way against the storm. At that time I heard strange, dull sounds within the ship. At8:30 T went down in the steerage to notify the passengers that there was danger. I found that everybody was in the same fear as myself. They were all up and trying to keep their footing, and the vessel was listing from side to side. Some sacks filled with freight were falling down, and the space where the bunks were was broken, and I saw that all was lost. I plainly saw that the vessel was lost from that time, which was about 9 o’clock. “While I was in the steerage the vessel listed very violently to one side, so that no one was able to stand erect. We all cried out, ‘We must save ourselves.’ I wanted to get a life-preserver, but the steward forbade me, because it would be too much trouble to put them back again. I said, ‘My life and the lives of others are worth more than the trouble.’ After the stew- ard spoke the vessel listed so that we could not have got the life-preservers if we tried. Then, in spite of the steward, I got hold of a rope and put it around one of the iron pillars and climbed to the ceil- ing, where the preservers were, and threw them for two or three minutes down to all hands. I fell down among the crowd of passengers and put life-preservers on five c? my friends and dragged one of them with me to saye ourselves, “During all this time not one of the offi- cers or crew came 1o Warn us, “I went toward the deck where the ani- mals were, and four or five men were stopping up the passage on the stairs, so I pushed them out of my way. I forgot to add that Messrs. Oriel and Burke heard and witnessed the refusal of the steward to let me take the life-preservers. “In looking around me to see how I could save myself and friend, I saw a part of the water lit up. [ imn%med this was from water coming through between decks. 1 dived into the water and when I came up the vessel was sinking. Iwasdrawn under three or four times, and the last time I caught hold of a heavy plank which bore me up till the San Juan came, “‘As the vessel was sinking I saw the steam escaping and heard a big. noise. After that the water was covered with wreckage. The lumber on deck was not lashed, se it could move from side to side as the vessel listed. s “Two of the four sailors who came to Tescue me were not members of the San Juan’s crew, but were volunteers from nmong[ her passengers. When I got on board T was offered whisky, but asked for milk, which was not given me. I then took a little whisky, and they afterward gave me milk once, ‘‘About an hour after I was on board the surgeon came along to sew up the wounds on my head, but I refused because 1 saw he was under the influence of liquor. “Some time afterward a sailor came along to do the same thing, but he was drunker than the surgeon and haa a to-day they will tell all they know of the | While giving his testimony yesterday | | at all about the shipwreck. The two men- | tons in the bunkers, and he and his men put in 328 tons before the vessel sailed. Captain Talbot—Were her bunkers full when she was leaving? Kelly—Yes, sir; the bunkers were full and well trimmed. I don’t think the coal shifted before the steamer went down. Paul Rossiter, late chief engineer of the steamer Colima, was the next witness. In answer to questions he said : 1 xas chief engineer of the wrecked vessel on | and oft for years, in fact almost from the time she began running on this coast. Her average daily consumption of coal was about twenty- seven tons, and she carried in her bunkers 480 tons, sometimes fifteen tons less, owing to the weight and quality of the coal. The forward cross bunkers held about 110 tons, and that we always used first in order to keep the coal trimmed. Captain Talbot—Who was your chief assistant the last two vears you were on the Colima? Rossiter—Mr. Ebberson. He went out as chief engineer on the trip she was lost. Talbot—Did you consider him thoroughly competent to take charge of the machinery? Rossiter— , sir, Idid. When I left the Co- lima I considered her as safe as any vessel in the fleet. If anything was worn out it was re- placed and if any repairs were necessary they were at once attended to. The Colima was my pet and I considered her as comfortable & home as a man ever desired. At this point Engineer Rossiter broke down at the recollection of the old steamer and it took a second or two for him to re- cover himself. Talbot—When were new boilers put in her? Rossiter—About seven years ago. Talbot—When was she fixed up? Rossiter—All above the cement was renewed some years ago. Talbot—Was she cemented then? Rossiter—Yes, sir, under the boilers and I'm not sure but what under the bunkers also. Inspector Phillips—Wounld it be possible for a man to go into the bilges and see the skin of the plates? Rossiter—N cement off. Phillips—I only asked the question because I saw by the papers that a man could go into the bilges with a hammer and drive a hole through her bottom. Captain Talbot—Why was her bottom ce- mented? Rossiter—In order to preserve the hull from rusting away. Talbot—Did you ever inspect the iron hull after the cemerit had been chipped away? Rossiter—Yes, sir; it was as good as new. Phillips—How many safety valveswere there on the Colima? Rossiter—One spring safety valve on each of the four boilers, and & lever valve on the super- heater. Talbot—If the SMF was on her beam ends would the lever valve be liable to shift and allow the steam to escape ? Rossiter—Yes, sir; it might do that. At this point the inguiry was continued till to-day, when the men-of-warsmen from the navy-yard will testify. THE INSPECTOR STO0D IN. Cesspools Which Were Not Up to the Requirements—Gaden’s Dis- covery. George T. Gaden, president of the Civic Federation, is again after a scalp in Super- intendent of Streets Ashworth’s office. An assessment was filed in the Mayor's office for four cesspools at the corner of Army and Guerrero streets. Mr. Gaden was not satisfied with the assessment and he asked the surveyor to make a remeasurement. “The amount of the assessment was $356,”” said Mr. Gaden yesterday, “and I had learned that the cesspools were too small. Accordingly, the Surveyor and myself went out and measured them and found that our suspicions were correct. The contractor who did the work was Gar- rett Burke, and I understand that the in- spector was his brother-in-law. Some- body who learned that we were out there yesterday informed the Street Department evidently, for the assessment was with- c:xrav,v'n from the Mayor's office this morn- ing. 0, sir; not unless he chipped the e Volunteer Firemen's Reunion. The Veteran Volunteer Firemen's Associa- tion of California will hold their seventh an- nual reunion to-morrow at Shell Mound Park. The Veteran Firemen's band will play for the occasion. A large number of fire vets from the interior intend to be present. The vets will be out in force with their families. There are over one hundred gate prizes, among them be- ing a gold watch purchased for the occasion by IN THE EARLY FIFTIES, A Chapter From the Green Controversy Found in a Pioneer’s Trunk. CLAIM ON THE VIGILANTES. An Interesting Document Which Will Revive Many Dormant Memorles. An old document which will revive many recollections of the past turned up yester- day among the papers of a pioneer who had seen the waters come up to Montgom- ery street. It was addressed to Isaac J. Bluxome Esq., and was written by Alfred A. Green, long since dead, who at one time was the owner of those broad lands from the Cliff House to the Ocean House. now the property of Mayor Sutro. The writing is a claim upon the executive committee of the old Committee of Vigi- lance, and states that Mr. Green, the writer, came to California in 1847, after fighting the battles of his country in the war with Mexico. He married into a Spanish fam- ily and was engaged in acquiring informa- tion as to land titles and matters connected therewith. “Ina moment and without warning.” says Mr. Green, “I was despoiled of all my valuable documents and property, my business was broken up and a stigma at- tached to my name, which has followed me every place where my footsteps have trod, which weighed upon me like a chain of iron and has been an incubus in my path, which sixteen years of honorable exertion has failed to completely dispel.” Mr. Green then goes on to state his cause of complaint. From the year 1851 to the year 1856 or 1857 the entire peninsula in which now stands the city of San Francisco was claimed by a certain clique under what was supposed to be fraudulent Mexican grants. The largest of these was the Bol- ton claim, which covered all the City lands lying south from an imaginary line called the Vallejo line, a line commencing a little south of California street and north of Pine street, and running thence easterly and westerly from bay to ocean, that 1s to say all the lands lying between the northern boundary of the Sanchez and the Buri-Buri ranch and the Vallejo line near California street. He then states that during the contest for this land he had in his possession cer- tain documentary evidences which would fully establish the existence and boundar- ies of an organized pueblo, and that he could produce positive proof that the adverse claim of Bolton or Santilla was fraudulent and antedated. ““Those papers,” continues Mr. Green, ‘‘were repeatedly offered by me to General McDowell, the counsel employed by the City, and subsequently to the Mayor, C. H. Garrison, and the Common Council of San Francisco, by whom I was advised to re- tain possession of the documents until a future time. “On May 1, 1856, I addressed a public meeting at Musical Hall and then presented in detail evidences and Jaws establishing a pueblo title. This was done freely and voluntarily, and without any conditions. At this meeting a committee of citizens, composed of Gregory Yale and others, was appointed to examine papers and docu- ments in my possession, with instructions to report the result of their examination at a subsequent meeting. The result of this was that the committee reported that the papers submitted by me were genuine, and that the boundary of the original pueblo was the northern boundary of the Sanchez ranch, and_that there are no papers from Governor Figueroa, under whose adminis- tration the pueblo was formed. addressed to any officer of the pueblo establishing the Vallejo tine as fixed by the commissioners. ‘The committee also thanked me for my efforts to establish their titles to their homes. The citizens on the one hand, and the Bolton claimants on the other, were deeply excited by the discoveries T had made at those public meetings.”” Mr. Green dwells upon this bitter contest, and states that in the silent hours of the night the Vigilance Committee’s cavalry made a raid upon his homestead and car- ried him off a close prisoner to their cham- bers. He asserts that they, on behalf of the Vifi]ance Committee, pledged them- selves that if he would deliver to them the Sapers in question, they would imme- iately restore him to libérty and pay him the sum of $25,000 in gold, this sum to be accepted by him both in consideration for the papers and in full satisfactiou for the injury sustained by his wrongful arrest and imprisonment. “They further bound themselves,” says Mr. Green, ‘““to pay $75,000 in cash as soon as they could obtain the same from the government of San Francisco. I accepted the terms thus offered and imposed by the Committee of Vigilance with a single further condition that it should furnish me with a certificate attested by their seal that no charge had been made or sustained against myself or any member of my family. To this demand the committee acceded. I Eer{ormed my part of the con- tract, but the committée has yet to re- deem _its plighted honor. Under its con- tract it paid me $12,000, and this isall I have received.” The writer then describes his efforts in Washington to have his claim established and the plots of his enemies against him. The document revives an interesting chap- ter in the early history of San Francisco. Food Removes wrinkles and all traces of age. It feeds through the pores and builds up the fatty membranes and wasted tissues, nourishes the shriveled and shrunken skin, tones and invig- Vice-President Joseph S. Marshall. Chief Crowley, Captains ort and Douglas, Ser- goants Bonner, Martin and Shields of the police are shining lights in the Vets, and it is said they will run in the “Old Vetsrace,” Police Commissioners Alvord and Tobin are also old firemen. Tobin belongs to the Vets. The old boys intend to he great time. The average weight of the egg of the ostrich is three pounds. Itscontentsare equal to about twenty-four hen-eggs. orates the nerves and muscles, enriches the impoverished blood vessels, and supplies youth and elasticity to the action of the skin. It’s perfect. Yale's Skin Food, price $1.50 and $3, at all stores. MME. M. YAI& :ellth‘ and Bglr:l‘; Bpecialist, 14/ Ghlde matied rom Chittox Moy THE DOLEFUL PROPHETS. They HaveNot Yet Threatened the Coun- try With Cholera and Fever. It is not apparent, so far, that this is going to be an especially sickly Summer. The Job's comforters who are fond of predicting cholera and deadly fevers have been silent. Yetitcan- not be denied that the Summer heat alweys brings out more or less malaria, particularly in districts where the earth is torn up ordrainage is imperfect. Malaria attacks the weak and unnerved, but gives the hearty, well-toned, buoyant system a wide berth. Experience has shown that the best defense against it is that sound and whole= some stimulant, Duffy’s Pure Malt Whiskey. Mothers not only take it themselves at the first chill or tremor, but they give it to their child- ren. The effect is always the same. At once the vital force is so quickened and all the bodily functions so stirred, that malaria is readily shaken off. All who know the splen- aid properties of Du Pure Malt Whiskey regard it as the best of preventives. Itisnever more in demand than during the hot months, when a prompt and judicious stimulation may avert a long and dangerous attack of sickness. Any malarial trouble sticks and clings like & leech. The best way to deal with it is not to have itatall. There is no danger of the least departure from normal vigor and ene:gy if met by Duffy’s Pure Malt Whiskey. A COMBINATION CLOSED—a couch of proper height, width and length, covered to suit your fancy, be it Denim, Cretonne or any other material, as elaborate as you please. OPEN—simply lift the cover—an ideal place for your ball dresses, ‘“haircloth’ skirts and other pieces of the wardrobe too large and perishable for the ordinary drawer. Carpets . Rugs . Mattings CALIFORNIA FURNITURE COrMPANY (N. P. Cole & Co.) 117-123 Geary Street BEFORE Starting on your camping tour we would suggest to you tocall on us and see what we have to offer in the line of Footwear, TAN SHOES in the latest shades and end- less varieties, for ladies, men and children, at prices that are popular and within the reach of the masses. SPECIALS TFOR THIS WEEK ! CHILDREN'S TAN OUTING S 750 sizes 6t0 8 CHILDREN'S TAN OUTIN sizes 812 10 105, HOES, WHITE the very $2‘5n CALF $l.1s CALF $2.oo We Sell the Best $3 Men’s Tan Shoe in Town. SOMMER & KAUFMANN “LEADERS OF FASHION,” 28 Kearny Street BT~ A bootblack stand in our storefor the accoms modation of ladies and gentlemen, free of charge. CONTRA GOSTA WaterCo.Bonds WILL BE PAID BY THE BANK OF CALIFORNIA PON PRESENTATION ON AND AFTER date of their maturity, July 1, 1895, aftey which date interest will cease. BOYS' ST SHOES, BOYS' STRONGLY MADE SHOES, 2343 to 6. RON 11 Holders of above bonds who have subscribed to an agreement to exchange for the new. lssue of bonds by the same company are notified that the exchange will be made upon presentation at the Bank of California on and atier the 20th of June, 05. ‘The Bank of California, THOS. BROWN, Cashier. bF T = The San Francisco Laundry. 33 Geary Street. Telephone Main 5125. NEWSPAPER PRIVILEGE. Twenty - Bighth Industrial Exposition, IDS FOR EXCLUSIVE PRIVILEGES OF rinting & newspaper and advertising In the Mechanics' Fair, which opens August 15 will ba recelved by the Commitiee on Management at the oftice, 31 Post street, until TUESDAY, June 18, at 6 P. M. For particulars apply to J. H. CULVER, Secretary.