The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 22, 1895, Page 16

16 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SATURDAY, JUNE NG 1895. 22, KILLED IN THE RUINS OF THE OLD HALL. “Yankee” Jim Wilkin- son Falls From the Roof to Death. GAVE A WARNING CRY. Others Who Went Down With Him Escape Almost Miraculously. THE WALLS BULGED OUTWARD. Two Men in the Building Attempt to Get Out by Jumping From the Windows. One man was killed and half a dozen men narrowly escaped a similar fate by the sudden collapse of the roof of the old City Hall about 10:30 o’clock yesterday i James Wilkinson, better known S ankee Jim,” met his death after being hurled headlong through a mass of the latter, stated that the accident was one which could not have been foreseen, and was due in all probability to the bulgin, of one of the walls, thus letting the rool i down, taking the floors beneath with it as though they were so much pasteboard, and snapping the iron anchors in twoas if they were giass. He was absolutely cer- tain that the collapse was not caused by | any weight tl i laced He Nite Neloont: broks ”‘eiarv,\ weight that might have been place flash of light through one of the windows | on the Washington-street side dashe toward it. | upon the roof in the shape of loosened Ennes of glass and was half way through | pricks efore he was stopped by the cries of the | . wag standing on the third floor. in the crowd. He made his escape later by the | central portion of the building,” he said, stairway, “when I Leard the crash. 1 rushed down- Meanwhile, into the room into which | stairs immediately and made for the iron Wilkinson had fallen with the timbers | doors, which separate the two portions of and bricks, rushed Foreman William Rob- | the building. ]p called for aid, and enter- bins, calling upon all the men on the job, | ing the room where all the material had who had come from the other parts of the | been piied up, found it filled with blinding building, to assist in the work of rescue, | d I called for those who had followed He had no idea how many men were be- | me to break the windows, and after they neati the debris, and bis only desire was | Liad done this and things cleared up the to get them out as quick]fyl' as possible. | first thing I saw was Nelson trying to Breaking in the iron door which separated | crawl out the second-story building. I the old receiving hospital from the other | called to him to come down from the portions of the building, Robbins rushed | in, followed by Gumper, who had landed | unhurt on the second story, and Casey and Heffron, who had made thejr way down from the roof with feet made faster by the sense of danger behind. Dr. G. W. O’Donnell, who was standing in the New ! ‘Western Hotel as the roof fell, also rushed | over and into the room where the huge | mass of stuff had fallen. It was absolutely filled with blinding, suffocating dust, In which the rescuers were unable to see, hardly able to breathe. Robinson immediately ordered the win- dows broken to let in the air, and those who had escaped joined with the: others who had rushed in in the search of the bodies supposed to be buried beneath. | They bad not had time, the incidents bad | followed each other o quickly, to call the stairs, and whep I saw him turn we all went looking for those who might be buried beneath the ruins. Then we found Wilkinson, as you have heard and just | succeeded 'in getting his face uncovered before he died, and the police ordered us out of the building.” Notwithstanding the assertion of Fore- man Robbins that the accident could not have been foreseen, another statement made by him sounds contradictory. “Shortly after we went to work this morning,” he said, “it was thought that the wall on the Washington-street side was saggin We immediately went to work and passed a rope over it, attachingittoa ! scantling on the outside and fastening it to cne of the roof timbers on theinside, to act as an anchor.” Aside from this, for several days past tskin'f out timbers as if nothing had hap- pened and their dead comrade was not ly- ing stiff and stark in the Morgue in the rear. | FIREMAN COMISKY’S NERVE Some of the Daring Work Done Under the 'Toppling Walls of the Wrecked Building. ‘When it became apparent that it would be unsafe to permit the firemen inside the building to extricate the dead body of Wilkinson Chief Sullivan decided that all the loose and wavering portions of the ‘Washington-street wall must be torn down. To this end five men were sent on the roof of the adjoining building to push over that portion of the bulging wall nearest them. After considerable maneuvering they accomplished this, and then it was a ques- tion how the other portions of the totter- ing wall were to be razed. The problem was solved in the only possible way, but in work. \ | In the first place the extension ladder must be set almost directly under the hanging walls that seemed about to drop | at every puff of wind. A dozen men, in- ¢luding Chiet Sullivan and his assistant, Doherty, would have been killed or very badly injured had the wall done what it threatened to do. But the ladder was finally braced against t. “Comisky, you make the rope fast,” said Assistant Chief Doherty to a small, | slightly built man with iron-gray hair and | mustache. | *“All right, sir,” said Comisky. He falling timbers, flying bricks, laths and plaster, to be buried sixty feet below in the debris. Death was not instantaneous, the luckless man living long enough to recognize one of his companions, who had nastened to dig him out, before he breathed his last. Six men were on the roof at the time it gave way. They were J.J. Gumper, the foreman; Wilkinson, John Casey of 22 Trenton street, William Heffron of 305 Filbert street and N. Nelson. On the fourth floor, almost immediately below them, was Tom Devitt, another workman. On the same floor with the latter was Wil- liam Winters, who was gathering laths for his own use. Gumper and his men were engaged in tearing down the brick walls on that portion of the building which was once the El Dorado gambling hall, late the Hall of Records and lastly the old Re- ceiving Hospital. Just a moment prior to the accident Wilkinson was at the corner of the wing on the Kearny-street side, nearest Mer- chant. He was picking away at the bricks and mortar when his companions heard him cry out suddenly, “She's going, boys, save yourselves!” making a jump inward, himself. Casey and Hefiron ran as fast as they could, barely reaching the rear roof, as the forward half fell in amid a cloud of dust, carrying Wilkinson, Gumper and Nelson with it. Down through the feeble floors below, crushing them to splinters and tearing the iron anchors out as though they were but ieces of string, the heavy mass crashed to the solid foundation and the three men with it. With a report like a great cannon the flying mass piled together, great volumes of dust arising, while the brick walls swayed and tottered in and out with the shock. For a block either way ople were brought to a sudden stand by the tremendous noise, only to hurry the next instant in dense throngs to the scene of the accident. In less than five minutes the streets sur- rounding the building and the plaza in front cts it were jammed with people, hundreds coming in steady streams from all directions. By this time the ramor had gained ground that half a dozen men were killed, and the excitement raised was largely intensified by the arrival of truck No. 2 from the O'Farrell-street station. Sergeant Esola had detailed a squad to keep order, and these were re-enforced by a number of bluecoats from the new City Hail under command of Captain Douglass. The moment the crash from the falling timbers sounded, dozens of men rushed into the tottering building to lend what assistance they could to the uunfortunates who were supposed to be wounded and dying beneath the weight of bricks and timbers. While they were thus engaged, those on the outside had their attention attracted by a dust-begrimed man, bloody and tattered, who was climbing through one of the second-story windows on the Kearny-street side with the evident inten- tion of jumping to the ground for safety. He was greatly, almost wildly excited, and did got realize that the worst had hap- pened. The man was N. Nelson, who was on the roof when it caved it and who had fallen on top of the flying timbers to the second story, where he was thrown off in some manner and lodged in a corner in the second story, from which he made a br2ak for liberty at once. Fearing the coming of the second crash, he groped his way through the blinding dust, reaching one of the windows. The crash of the glass at- tracted the crowd below and, but for their warning shouts, Nelson would have | jumped. The warnings reached him in | time, however, and, after gazing around for a few moments, he backed out of the window and reached the first floor by the stairs, when he was immediately taken to the office of Dr. G. W. O’Donnell. A similar spectacle was passing before the eyes of tlose on the Washington-street side ‘almost at the same time. William ‘Winters, who was on the third floor g:thering lath at_the time the roof fell in, came seized with a panic at the terrific noise and the ominous shaking of the building and made up hismind thathistime was up 1f he did not get 2 quick move an himself. Through the blinding dust he made a rush for what he supposed was the stairway, but could not reach it. He turned in his desperation and catching a ———————————— “THE CAPTAIN IS IN THE SWIM.” “CAPTAIN MARRYAT” CIGARS “FINEST BEYOND QUESTION,” TRY ONE! B e THE BODY OF WILKINSON IS TAKEN FROM THE RUINS BY THE FIREMEN. roll, and it was not until after the atmos- sherc had cleared up somewhat that they iscovered that Wilkinson was the only one missing. Almost at the same instant they heard some feeble moanings from the middle of the huge pile of debris and saw a hand feebly waving for h 1p. Willingly and en- ergetically they all went to work and.in about five minutes had succeeded in un- covering the face of Wilkinson. The eyes of the wounded man turned on_the face of Gumper, whoni he had known for eighteen years, and half smiling called to bim. ** ‘Red,’ he called, ‘Red,’ I'm dying.” “No you're not, old man,” replied Gumper, ‘‘we’ll get you out all right. We’ll get vou out!” The dying man smiled fainily through the thick coating of plaster dust which al- most hid his features. Then he gasped a few times, a rattle came in his throat, and as the doctor reached over to feel his pulse, he died. Outside the crowds had increased to such an extent and the walls had such a percep- tible bulge in them that Captain Dougiass, co-operating with Assistant Chief Engineer Dougherty of the Fire Department, drove them back, stretched ropes across the streets and ordered everybody out of the building. Wilkinson being dead and there being none else to save, it was decided to Y some attention to'the swaying walls before taking any more chances on human life by alloxing ‘any one to remain within reaching distance of loosened material. Around on the Washington-street side the walls appeared to be in the most dan- gerous condition and the firemen were set to work on them at once. Engineer Wills, directing the men, had ropes placed on the upper end of the wall nearest Dunbar alley. The object was to pull away any loose por- tions that might be in danger of falling, in order to allow ingress to the building. Time and again they pulled, but succeeded in_dislodging nothing but a few loose bricks, the walls then being deemed suffi- ciently strong to stand. ‘When, at last, this was decided, fuliy an hour and a half had passed. The firemen then entered the old Receiving Hospital and in a short time succeeded in releasing the dead body of Wilkinson from the debris. It was immediately placed on a litter and carried to the Morgue, where it now lies. The deceased was a short, heavy-set man, about 45 years of age, unmarried. He has one sister, Mrs. Kittie Ferris, living at Eureka, in Humboldt County, and an- other in Astoria, Or. Deceased” was well known around the town, having driven a hack for a long time for John Dwyer of Stockton street. He had been at work on the old City Hall about a week at the time he met his death. Prior to that time he had been working in the Bella Union Theater. His sister in Eureka was notified of his death by telegraph. A rapid examination of the body after it was taken to the Morgue showed that death had most probably resulted from suffocation. Both legs were broken, but otherwise, except probably internally, he Wwas uninjured. Nelson, the only other workman who was hurt, got off with a severe bruise on the left side of his chest and a cut face. His clothing was also badly torn. After | HARBURGER, HOMAN & C0., New York, Makers. H. LEVI & CO., 117-119 Market St., Distributing Agents. his wounds were dressed he went back to work as if nothing had happened. * W. W. Roboins, the foreman for J. E. ‘Whittier, the contractor who is tearing great weights of brick have fallen several times without warning to the workmen, and the walls on several occasions have swayed ominously. J. J. Gumper, the foreman of the roof gang, who made such a lucky escape, lives at 121714 Kearny street. “There were four of them on the roof with me,” he said after the accident. “There was Wilkinson; this man Nelson, who had just come to work in the morn- ing; Casey and Heffron. Wilkinson was working or: that corner of the roof of the Hall of Records building nearest to Kearny and Merchant streets. He had his pick and was _loosening the bricks, when all of a sudden { heard him cry out. ‘She’s going, boys!” and then she went. That’s all I know about it for a minute. Then I picked myself up on the third floor unhurt, and made for the first floor, where 1 heard Mr. Robbins calling for help. We all rushed in and broke the windows, and then I saw Wilkinson’s hand waving at me through a looked up to the top of the ladder, more than sixty feetin the air, and then asked simply, *“Which rope?”’ Comisky had a big wad of tobacco in his mouth, which he kept chewing vigorously all the time he was coiling the rope and waidng for the ladder to getin position. The great crowd of spectators was perfectly silent and every eye was on the little gray- | haired man. Doherty stepped up to him and said: ““If she comes, Comisky, you know how to comnie with her?”’ “Yes, sir,” said Comisky. “Just stay by the ladder; remember that.”” said Doherty. “All right, sir,”’ and then the ladder was ready and Comisky started up. By the way he mounted you could tell he was an old sailor. He mnever halted till he got clear to where the end of the long ladder rested lightly against the threatening brick wall. Then he coiled one leg around the second rung from the top and proceeded RAISING UP DEBRIS THROUGH a way that called for some very daring | { might have been a fly th STREET. A WINDOW ON EEARNY [Sketched by a * Call” artist.] ile of rubbish, We cleared the stuff off dis ;&ce, and then a doctor told us he was ead.” . For several hours after the body of Wilkinson had been removed crowds of people moved to and fro on the streets around ghe building, giving the police ali they could do to prevent further accidents. Up above on the roof that remained, close to the big gap of about thirty feet square, made by the roof, the men who had so nar- down the building, acting as spokesman for ~ rowly escaped death a few hours before worked away, tearing down the walls and i to make fast his rope. The crowd in the street was as silent as though at a funeral. | They were looking up_in within an inch of death. Comisky seemed to be the coolest man on the scene. He kept chewing away at his eud and working, very, very carefully, but also swiftly. “If she comes, come with her,” the Chief had told him, and he had so coiled himself about the ladder that if she bad come he could not have disobeyed the in- Junction, 2 y S e air at & man A little murmur of applause ran through the crowd when the rope had been made fast and Comisky started down the ladder. Then the ladder was shifted to a still more dangerous part of the wall, and, Comissy again mounted while the crowd once more held its breath. . Four times Comisky went up the ladder in the same fashion and made fast ropes to the crumbling portions of the wall. And when fiis task was completed and that portion of the wall had been pulled down there remained still a dangerous section that must be fastened onto with one of the big clawspikes carried by the hook and ladder men. It takes two men to carry this up the ladder. Fireman Brady went ahead with it and adjusted it over a jagged edge of the wall. As he did so half a dozen bricks moved, and the Chief shouted, “‘Look out! Stand fast!" Brady lowered his head, but stood per- fectly still on the ladder, one hand stretehed out to hold the clawspik Down came the bricks all grazing him here and there and narrowly escaping from killing dm. But Brady stood motionless. ; One brick crashed onto the back of his outstretched hand that held the heavy in- strament. Still Brady never moved. It struck him. And had he moved at that time, or had he dropped his clawspike. some one or more than one would have been hurt in the crowd below that was holding the ladder. All in all, there was some good work and some daring work done by the members of the Fire Department at the old City Hall wreck yesterday. The Police Ordered to Move. Chief of Police Crowley made an inspec- tion of that quarter of the old City Hall now in progress of demolition, where the Police Department yet has a station, and decided that after the fatal accident of the morning the building was no longer a proper place for the station. He later issued an order that to-day all patrolmen shall report at the new City Hall for duty, and that the sergeant in charge take u his headquarters at the new station which is being fitted up on California street, below Kearny, in order to respond to calls. The new station will not be ready for occupancy until July 1 NEWPOSTOFRCE SIT a Government Engineers Ex- amining the Lot on Seventh Street. Borings Made Under the Directions of Colonels Mendell and Benyaurd. The work of examining the site of the proposed new Postoffice building at Sev- enth and Mission streets has been in prog- ress for eight days under the direction of United States Exigineers Colonel Mendell and Lieutenant-Colonel Benyaurd. This duty is being performed in accordance with law which directs the examination to be completed by July 1, 1895. If one may judg efrom the activity dis- played by the workmen within the inclos- ure the army engineers will be ready to make their report to the Treasury Depart- ment within the time contemplated. 8. M. D. Haley, the contractor who was engaged by the engineers to do the boring, has been very much amused during the past few days in reading editorial com- ment concerning the delay of the Govern- ment in beginning the examination. ‘While he has been reading these vigorous editorial expressions his augers have been boring into the vellow clay fifty feet below the surface of the ground. W. D. Woodbury, a civil engineer, rep- resenting Colonel Mendell and Lieutenant- Colonel Benyaurd, is on the ground dur- ing the working hours. The places for boring and the depth of the bore are desig- nated by the army engineers. An ordi- nary sand pump and a seven-inch auger are used. The contractor has not yet been ordered to bore deeper than fifty feet. Sand isen- countered for a depth of thirty-eight feet, but it is free of water until a depth of thir- teen feet is reached. Passing through water and sand with the sand pump for thirty-eight feet a strata of peat is struck, and then the yellow clay is pierced by the auger. ‘When the foundation was examined three yeays ago the boring was conducted to adepth’of 149 feet, where soft material was encountered. Colonel Mendell last week, when the work was begun, directed the contractor to bore first at the southwest corner of the block, and a hole was there pierced to the depth of fifty feet. The spot selected was about eight feet from the place where the deep boring was made in 1892, Then in line with his instructions the contractor bored another hole fifty feet deep in the same locality. Since then four other bor- ings, each to the depth of fifty feet, hage been completed and a place has been staked out for another test. The army engineers visited the ground day before yesterday and gave Engineer Woodbury necessary directions for con- tinuing the examination. Colonel Mendell, chief engineer, was seen at his office yesterday afternoon. Reply- ing to questions, he said the examination was begun eight days ago and the work had been in progress ever since. ‘“Has the examination so far shown de- fective foundation?” “The borings,” said Colonel Mendell, “show that the site is all right. Colonel Benl){'snrd has immediat> charge of the work, and I think the investigation will be finithed in due time. The examination will be thorough. We have employed a contractor, with a boring outfit, and he bores as the engineers direct.” The Postoffice site, at Seventh and Mis- sion _streets, is inclosed by a board fence nearly twenty feet high, and the operations within the inclosure cannot be observed from the street. The workmen have had a quiet time since beginning the job. Mr. ‘Woodbury, the civil engineer, sai&: ‘“We have not been disturbed by visitors since we bezan work eight days ago, but since the CaLLintends to tell the public what we are doing, our quiet time will soon end. Iexpect to-morrow we will be overrun with visitors and others led by curiosity to inspect the work. [ rather regret that we cannot proceed undis- turbed.” There is a large show tent on the lot owned by the Government, and perform- ances are fiivc_n every night. The permis- sion to exhibit on Uncle Sam’s premises is obtained from Deputy Collector Jerome. There are some houses on the south side of Stevenson street on the Government's Jand. The occupants pay rent to the Government and Mr. Jerome collects from the tenants. e — The Royal Baking Powder avoids all de- composition of the flour as caused by yeast rising, thereby savinga large per- centage of its most nutritive elements, making the flour go one-fourth further. —_— Flooded Their Building. James Keating and Thomas D. Elliott as Keating & Elliatt, doing business at 312 Grant avenue, brought suit in the Justices’ Court yesterday against A. E. Buckman, J. M. Mc- Donough and Agnes M. Agar to recover dam- sges alleged to have been suffered through the negligence of the defendant. On the 1st of June the building occupied by plaintiffs was undermined by defendants, causing it to sink, the water-pipes o break and the %ullding to be flooded with water to their damage in the sum of $299. —————— Italian Editors at War. The merry war which has been going on be- tween the Itelian editors, Ceesar Crispi of the Messenger and G. Almagai of I'ltalin, is not yetover. Several daysago the former had the latter arrested for criminal libel because of cer- tain alleged defamatory articles which ap- peared in I'Italin. Yesterday Almagai re- sponded by causing the arrest of CriA?l on a like charge. When the cases come up for trial in Judge Campbell's court next week there promises to be some interesting developments. NEW TO-DAY—DRY GOODS. e et RS L » 7 . 1 keeping ; more facts about the plans we | Z MORE FACTS about our large summer stocks; more facts about our methods of store- have for your greater con- venience in shopping ; more facts about qualities; more facts about prices. That is what our “Ads” are day after day, and regular readers of these announcements save money enough ten times over to pay for the time they spend in reading them. FACTS ABOUT GLOVES. Lady Bicycle Riders wear Gauntlet Gloves, either fabric or leather. Chamois Gloves are in great demand. supply them. We can Ladies say ours are lowoer priced here than elsewhere in town. A full line of the celebrated Trefousse and the genuine Jouvin Gloves. MOSQUETAIRE CHAMOIS. Natural color white, stitched backs 3 pearl buttons, white silk ik stitched, washable, instead of 1, should be $1. 85c Pair. Alice Kid Gloves, 4-button, $1 25 quality.... Dogskin Gauntlets for bicyclists, driving, etc. . Derby Gloves, 4-button. heavy. mannish. Taffetta Gauntlets, good quality 2 Pure Silk Gloves, tan, gray and black Shirt Waists. Every lady wears them and every lady is anxious to know where to get them in prettiest styles at lowest prices. Try us. Here’s three specials: CALICO WAISTS, full front, yoke back, 4,"’0 large sleeves. laundried collars and J cufts, desirable patter SR Each PERCALE WAIST! large sleeves, full lars and cuffs. . STANLEY PERCALE WAISTS, ,of patterns worn by men, 1 dried turn-down collars, sm: that will fit inside dress sieeves. fine blue stripes, onts, laundried c Each .00 g Veilings. ‘Three new and unuo: have just come in from the pretty border veils t. medium size, chenlle black only, with tiny ¢ dots of chenille and + white Honiton lace border.... 2 $1:22 Each $1- dotted as above and 1 Duchess la 50 4-BUTTON CHATOIS. White 85c Pair. 85°| S NE -c ancy scalloped lace edge, bine, OO and white Each | BIARITTZ G Shoj o LOVES. 3 Little Things. TORTOISE SHELL SIDE plain, some metal moi preuty. s 10¢c, 15¢ and 250 TORTOISE SHELL BACK COMBS, designs, those curious twists and pal like our grandmothers wore... BACK COMBS, with rolled gold or sterling silver mountings, very pretty and stylish 2 -50¢ to 82 00 COMBS. some tings, all new and SHIRT WAIST ton, and pair lin and daintiest de 5. three studs, collar but- it buttons in the newest ns : Silver, black enameled 50 Set #1 00 Set sign. . ...$1 50 Set PEARL LINK CUFF 20c Set | BELT BUCKLES of white metal, warranted not to tarnish, in a variety of novel pat- nnot be distingu roll patterns . Engraved floral designs. Fine filagree work Persian enamel and | SKIRT BRAI oiled g No w aste for yoi ou require ... (INCORPORATED] 937, 939, 94 Market Street, SAN FRANCISCO. WLLEY ROAD_ ERGNES, Handsome Locomotives of Great Power Nearly Ready for Delivery. Construction of the Line Will Eegin as Soon as Rights of Way Are Given. The Valley road managers are now en- gaged on final preparations for beginning construction of the railway at Stockton immediately, and if everything turns out as expected grading and building may begin within the next three weeks. *"All matters pertaining to the immediate construction of the road are well in hand,” said Chief Engineer Storey yesterday. “The preliminaries have been completed, and 11 we are waiting for now is to get rights of way and the franchise from, the Stockton people. Just as soon as they have done their enterprising part—that is, when they traits of those connected with its management. The boox is well written and the artistic work is very well done. Altogether it makes an in- teresting souvenir of the Midwinter Fair. | ANTI-CDOLY LEGISLATION. E. L. Eitzgerald Is Indorsed by the American Section of the Social- istic Labor Party. For the first time in existence | the American Section of the Social- istic Labor Party of San Francisco has gone outside of its party principles and taken interest in the work of a State offi- | cer. Dr. Schultand a committee repre- | senting about 5000 Soci: s called upon Labor Commissioner E. L. Fitzgerald and | expressed their appreciation of his efforts | to abolish Japanese cooly labor and fill the places of the Orientals with unemployed white men who are worthy of State and its | | private assistance. |~ The objects and aims of the Free Labor Bureau that will be in_operation next month were also heartily indorsed. |~ The committee expressed the wish that Mr. Fitzgerald and his deputies continue the anti-Japanese agitation, and they were nledged the support of the Socialistic | Labor party. |- As a mark of appreciation, Dr. Schult THE FIRST ENGINE FOR THE VALLEY ROAD. . have given us the titles to rights of way promised by them,and all of which are now in a condition to be transferred to the company—we will be ready to start work right there and then. * “The rails will be here in two weeks, or at least thev are due about that time. Ties are ready for delivery to-day, but we don't want to take them just yet—not until they are needed. We don't intend to wait for the cars and locomotives to be delivered. 1t is our determination to start construc- tion rightaway. We can getalong without a construction train in Stockton. Within the city limits a few small flat rail cars fiee_for carrying rails to the front, s, spikes and other materials can be hauled on wagons. With these conveniences we shall run the tracks from Stockton har- bor to the corporate limits, and by the time that much 1s done we shall have con- struction trains to push the work down the | San Joaquin. ““The first locomotive will be here in,| about three weeks. It is nearly finished now in the works at Philadelphia, and the other two engines are pretty nearly as far advanced. So I believe we will have three freight locomotives in Stockton month.” The type of engine selected by the Val- ley road ranks among the most modern and highly improved in hauling freight-trains. They are five tons each in weight and are kno as te heelers, having a_compound driving system of six wheels. In every outline as well as in general formation these engines Sty- combine to a remarkable degree character- | istics of great power and durability with graceful construction e The Midwinter Fair History. The “Ofiicial History of the California Mid- winterInternational Exposition” has been pub- lished and copies are being distributed to the newspapers and others. It is a large folio volume of 260 pages, giving a descriptive record of the origin, deve%o ment and_success of the Midwinter Fair and filled with photo- gravures of scenes of the exposition and por- next | machines employed | v requested Mr. Fitzgerald and Deputy C. L. Dorn to speak at the Temple at115 Turk street next week upon the facts learned during their recent investigation. ~Mr. Fitzgerald thanked the committee for their good wishes and encouragement. In regard to making an address, the Commis- sioner saié‘!hmin is out of his line, as he prefers to be considered as a worker, and not as a talker. He said, however, that if | any of tue lecturers for the organization | wish to gather statistics for their dis- | courses, he would be delighted to furnish | all the information his office possesses. |$IX MILLIONS IN COUPONS. | Bonds in the Fair Estate Clipped Here and in New York Yes. terday. Pursuant .to Judge Slack’s order of Thursday the four boxes rented to the Fair estate at the California Bank were epened yesterday morning, and the work of ¢l | ping the United States bond coupons was | continued during the greater portion of the day. Those present were: Spec: i | trator L. C. Bresse, Charles. el, special agent representing the heirs, and William | H. Cbapman, representing the court. ‘The interest coupons are payable on the 1st of next month. About $3,000,000 were represented in the coupons clipped. A similar operation was gone through with by representatives of the estate in New York City at the same time. The amount, Mr. Bresse said, was apout the same in each case. 1 Adminis- S Meeting of Socialists. The third in a series of meetings under ‘the euspices of the Soeialist Labor Party of Cali- fornia will take place to-morrow night at Met- ropolitan Hall. Rev. Mrs. Wilkes of Oukland, Green Majors of Alameda and others will speak on “The Coming Revolution.” e The crocodile’s egg is about the size of that of the goose.