The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 15, 1895, Page 13

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1895. 13 ed him through the fields of imagin- picturesque literature rather fact in letters should intrude elf largely into this very serious Te- | This is the rrason for taking refuge | n the more reliable statements of | more conservative men and gathering lib- erally from those who are learned in the nature of this ancient and terrible malady. And yet this leprosy of to-day, in what- ever part of the world, is hardly the old | leprosy of the Bible. 1t would seem that medical science has met it face to face, as it met the terrible scourges of cholera nearly half a century | gince, and so modified the rigors of the affliction that it is not so much to be| dreaded now. In a former paper it was shown that, numerous as are the lepersin the islands | proportional to the population, they are | but a small part of those on_the globe, the | lepers of India outnumbering them hun- | dreds to one. | The following statistics were handed me by Dr. Milan Soule, a man who ranks Whigh in the profession in London and hes made himself familiar with leprosy in al- most every ind. The lates! statistics show that there are | 71,287 lepers in Bengal, 13,944 in Madras end 13,842 in Bombay. The lepersin the i States are not included in these | I comparatively no lepers on the islands | until after the natives, during an epi- | demic of smallpox, were vaccinated with | matter taken from the arms of a China- man presumably afflicted with leprosy im- ported from the Orient. It was further stated in that former | paper on the best suthority that not only | has the further spread of the piteous | malady been arrested but that cures have | been effected recently both in the islands | end India. There is a Japanese doctor in Honolulu | who is credited by the people with great | work in this line, and the lepers espe-| cially have boundless confidence in his power to cure them. Of course, as usual in | all lands, “doctors disagree,” and you may | hear tl learned Japanese doctor sadly abused by learned doctors of other nations. | 1 found, on inspection of the books kept | by the Board of Health of Honolulu, that | about fifty white lepers have ever | n knownon the islands, all or nearly all of whom were {rom the most humble walks in life—seamen mostly, and presum- ably more or less unclean in body anain mind. | And right here we must face one of the | many contradictions met with in the study | of this sad malady. The natives literaily | five in the water—clean, heaithful, warm end invigorating sea water—and of course | s must be the cleanest in body of all primi- | tive people to be found. Yet these clean, emphibious natives are the lepers, as a| yule. One other notable contradiction: W hile leprosy is held to be contagious, and even infectious in some cases, there are women in the leper settlement who have | had one, two, and in one case even three | jeper husbands who have died of their | effliction, and yvet these women are unaf- Piected. It is claimed by the authorities, and I bave no meansof disputing it even if there was resson to doubt it, that many children born at the.leper settlement of leprous parents have shown no signs of the dis- ease, and that a few children have actually been brought away from there and placed st one of the excellent schools in Hono- fulu. Indeed, this paper might be filled with all sorts of like improbable contra- dictions in the tortuous course of this gnake-like disease. It is argued that it is an insect, a sort of black scale or white scale, that fastens on the body, as the scale fastens on the olive trees of California. The orchard scale, vou observe, does not take hold of the healthy and cultivated tree that has water and so1l at the roots. So it would seem, in & general way, the infinitesimally small scales that breed their millions and billions to the square inch fasten only on the meager, feeble and meanly fed bhuman body. Andeven then, like a tree, it dies but slowly, about five years being the average allotment, although some live as long as anybody. The eyes of the scientific as well as the epiritual world are fixed on the stricken patives of Hawaii, and learned men of medicine from far away are going, true and fearless, as Father Damien of the church went there—fearless of everything, careless of everything except to do'good. We can get much light on the real situation and comfort as to the condition of the lepers at Molokai by reading the following from one i those good men of our service, G. W. Wood, Medical Inspector, United States | way. Yielding to the swell of the tide, in- | | he was a leper by noticing an entire ab- | of the nose in consequence, and deformity | of the fingers, carefully concealed by | worship. e from the shore aswe appeared in the offing and pulled rapidly toward the Lackawanna | as she slowed down and stopped her head- | creased by a strong southerly wind, the | ship rolled deeply, so that it was impossi- | ble for the heavy boat to be brought to the | ladder, and, after many failures in the at- | tempt, I descended, hand-over-hand, by a | boat’s fall, dropping from its extremity into the arms of the leper crew, whose | mutilated bands were extended upward | to receive me, their disfigured faces | looking a welcome, while their lips gave an | ‘Aloha!’ m chorus. A long promontory of low rocks affords a landing, and as we slipped abreast of them, as if by magic, I was seized gently by those at the head of the long line and passed from hand to hand over the slippery rocks and up the bluff, where I found myself confronted by | at least a hundred men and women on | horseback and three times as many on foot. They formed a unique sight in their gayly colored attire, heightened by bright flowers in vpendent wreaths on neck and | hat as the foreground of a village picture— the village of Kalaupapa—a small collec- tion of neat dwellings and a parish church surmounted by the emblem of our faith. To one side a beach, to the other a pali or precipice, the inner wall of this leper prison, and the intervening land the floor of a half-submerged volcanic crater. *As I confronted these people, all more or ss indicating by distortion of features or some deformity of face or limb that they were the outcasts of the Hawaiian race, two horsemen advanced and dismounted. The first came forward and announced himself as Governor Ragsdale, presenting to me his contracted claw-like gloved hand, and introduced to me the second as Father Damien, the priest to the lepers of Mo- lokai. “Mr. Ragsdale was a leper who had vol- untarily exiled himself as an example to | his people, who then, as now, oppose this | banishment, and with the aid of friends | try in every way to avoid the officers of the law. He accidentally discovered that sence of sensation on lifting an exploded oil lamp intensely heated by the flames, and at once denounced himself to the authorities. “Governor Ragsdale’s father was an American, his mother a Hawaiian, the native characteristics predominating in features, color of sk'n and hair. His father was a lawyer, to which profession the son succeeded, and had attained in it | a high reputation, especially as an elo- quent pleader. At the time of my visit he had not been in charge of the settle ment for more than two years, and leprosy | had only developed to the extent of affect- | ing his nasal bones, with some flattening gloves. *‘After a few words of cordial greeting, a horse, in new saddle and bridle, was led up, which I mounted, and the procession moved onward to Kalawao, the central village, where were located the residence of the Governor, the agency or Govern- ment stores, the hospital and the principal Catholic church with itsattached parochial house, and also a place for Protestant “I rode in the center, with the Governor and Father Damien on either hand, the cavalcade straggling before and bpehind, with countless others on foot running along the road to keep pace withus. En route I was entertained by the Governor with a little history of the settlement and of the great improvements since Father Damien’s advent but three years before; and, as we approached Kalawao, he called my attention to the churches, the hospital, the store, the numerous comfortable whitewashed houses surrounded by gar- dens—all the work of the people them- selves under the supervision of my two companions—the gardens most attractive with the scarlet hibiscus, outshining all the other beautiful tropical flowers. “The porches were shaded with palms and other graceful trees. Here Wwere crowded together men, women and chil- dren in gaudy holiday attire, and, after the manner of Hawaiians on feast days, decorated with flowers. “All cried, ‘Aloha, Kauka!’ and we were compelled to pause many times while girls and boys came to my horse’s side and pre- sented leis of yellow flowers, which I placed around my neck until I could sus- tain no more. “We were escorted to the Governor's residence, and there Father Damien said au revoir, and promised to return after benediction. With him he drew away the curious crowd, who otherwise would have camped within the Governor’s yard, and all shouting ‘Aloha!’ they galloped or | Louis Stevenson. 2 ‘o A /"\\ P {"‘ 4 \ e Ve Z=. ZZA brought the great remedy to relieve them | of their awful affliction.”” | Thus it will be seen, from the words of one who speaks from authority, an officer on his honor, that life goes on among the | lepers quite pleasantly, and that they are | not only comfortable, but even quite hope- ful. Those who care to do so may also note that this Protestant officer, as well as the native and Protestant President, gives all the credit to Father Damien for the improved condition of things at Molokai; and I, a Protestant, pause here in this nar- rative to stick a pin and call attention to this in the report of the learned Inspector of the Navy. Why? Simply because Dr. Hyde and Mr. Jekyl (Jackal?), and his set at Honolulu, deliberately proceeded to dig up the dead priest and defame him most shamefully. Then it was that Robert Louis Stevenson passed that way and roasted, flayed and gibbeted the Rev.(?) Dr. Hyde, Jackal & Co. Stevenson knew well what must follow from the foul mouths of such men, but the brave, dying genius pre- ferred to be abused, living or dead, with the humble priest, Father Damien, rather than be praised by such sickening impos- tors, who are now trying to get some little tithe of the dead man’s glory. The truth is, if there is one dead man more heartily hated by Dr. Hyde and Mr. Jackal in Hon- olulu than Father Damien it is Robert But if there is one| memory more revered than Father Damien at Molokai it is that of Robert Louis Stev- enson. May I merit and receive abuse enough from those ‘“hired hypocrites” to give my name place at his feet in the end. The eminent physician, Dr. Milan Soule, before referred to, has visited Molokai. As he gives an exact account of the situa- tion there, and also the manner of send- ing the afflicted to that center, it<is best and ought to be more satisfying to quote at length from him. He handed me the following on board the Australia: Having recently visited the settlement I will endeavor to give a concise description of the island and of its unfortunate inhabitants. Molokai lies about 25 miles from the island of Oahu and about 56 miles from Honolulu. Its native name is Kaainapali—a land of preci- pices. It is the fifth in size of the Hawaiian group. It is forty miles long, seven miles broad, and has an area of a litfle more than 200,000 square acres. An almost impassable range of precipitous mountains divides the island into two unequal parts. The leper settle- ment is situated on the elevated grassy plain of Kalaupapa, which lies on the windward side of the island, and has an area of 8000 acres. This plain is bounded on three sides by the ocean, and on the landward side by perpen- dicular cliffs—the Pali of Kalae. The fertile plain of Kalaupepa is nearly & thousand feet above the level of the sea at its highest point, and is one of the most salubrious and attractive spots in the Hawaiian group. It is covered with rich tropical verdure, while the sides of the mountains and ravines are resplendent with flowers and shrubbery of beautiful and varied hues. Several small cascades of pure, sparkling water, falling from lofty cliffs in never-ceasing showers, lend an additional charm to the scenery, and form a picture of great natural beauty. Lying on the windward side of the island the soft languorous atmos- phere of the tropies is agreeably cooled by the trade winds from the north. There is always & delicious blending of warmth and coolnoss in the air which indisposes one for mental or physical effort, and gently induces a condition of blissful and tranquil repose. The whole number of lepers at the Molokai settlement was officially reported at 1191, viz.: 741 males and 450 females. There would be, therefore, nearly seven acres of productive ground for every member of the settlement. It was a great pleasure tome to find that every Decessary provision had been made for the tem- poral and spiritual welfate of the members of this colony. I certainly was mot prepared to find such a large number apparently free from the ravages of disesse. In many instances the affiiction had been arrested before any appre- ciable amount of deformity or disfigurement nad been produced, and the casual observer would have noticed few, if any, traces of thedis- ease. Iam fully convinced that leprosy has as- sumed a milder form in this settlement than it took before sanitary measures were enforced andbrought to their present state of perfection. Unsightly deformities unfortunately do exist, but such results are very unusual when com- pared with the horribly disfigured wretches I have seen in other parts of the world, where no attempt had been made to stay or check the progrees of this protean malady. It wasalsoa great pleastre to me to find the lepers cheer- {ful and apparently happy, in spite of the dis- ease and restricted freedom. Although no person is permitted to visit the settlement without & permit from the Board of Health, there are so many sensational and absurd stories in circulation, describing in horrible detail the brutal manner in which healthy, unoffending people had been forcibly taken from their homes and “banished to a living death on Molokai,” that I will explain, even at the risk of tedium, the only method of procedure when residents of this kingdom are sent to this island. My information was gained by personal observation, hav- ing witnessed several examinations. There is at Kailihi, near Honolulu, a comforta- ble well-equipped hospital and home, to which are sent the ‘“suspects” from all parts of the kingdom to be examined by a reg- ularly appointed Board of Medical Examiners. This board, consisting of five legally qualified medical practitioners, assembles at stated plied with fresh water, and kept in good condition. Cottage residents requiring med- ical treatment are attended at their homes by the resident physician. Nearly 800 saddle horses, the property of lepers, may be seen grazing about the plain. Trials of speed are | of frequent occurrence, and the event eagerly watched by the entire population. An abund- ant supply of fresh, wholesome food is pro- vided and issued at frequent intervals. Every man, woman and child may draw twenty-one pounds of fresh beef every week, a liberal sup- iy of taro, flour or bread, rice, tes, sugar, salt, tobacco and matches, and as much good, cloth- ing as required. A small sum of money is paid to those who do not draw the full ration, which enables them to purchase articles not included in the regular supply. I have said nothing about the cause or na- ture of leprosy, as they are not yet fully un- derstood. I will add, however, that it is known to be a parasitic disease, as a leper bacillus has been discovered. Attempts to inoculate the lower animals have always failed. Itnever originated spontaneously, as its origin could al- ways be traced to a human agent. The history of its development and course in the Hawaiian Islands affords most conclusive evidence of its being contagious. In almost every instance & history of exposure could be obtained, but it would appear that in leprosy, as in other con- tagious diseases, the system had to be in a re- ceptive condition before it could be acquired on exposure, forin some instances persons had remained “clean” during an exposure of many years, then contracted it and perished. MILAN SOULE, M.D. P.S. The invariable presence of bacilli in the tissues of the tuberculated form, and the fact that the prevalence of leprosy in Norway has been diminished 50 per cent in twenty years by strict segregation, are circumstances which are also in favor of the theory that this disease isalways conveyed by prolonged con- tact and association with leprous people. M. 8. I perhaps should state that his visit, as well as that of the medical inspector of | our navy, was made before the present Government, and that this caregand kind- ness must be credited to native rulers. LATE SPORTIN NEWS. A Game Seller Pleads Guilty and Is Fined Twenty Dollars. Stockton Sportsmen Who WIIl Contest In the State Inanimate Tournament. Bome of the first-class pigeon-shooters of this City will take part to-day in an open- to-all pigeon shoot, which will be held at Antioch under the auspices of the Antioch Sportsman’s Club. The secretary writes that a large supply of pigeons will be on hand and that good sport will certainly result. The Lincoln Gun Club will hold a live- bird shoot to-day at Greenbrae, the Sports- man’s Association of Alameda and the Recreation Gun Club will shoot at live birds on the Oakland track and the Nimrod Spn Club will pulverize clay birds at Bay 1ew. E. T. Allen, who is at present enjoying an outing on the Truckee River, has writ- ten to Henry Skinner from Boca thata heavy rainstorm has discolored the river, and that resident anglers are looking for- ward to some excellent fly-fishing when the water will have regained its usunal summer appearance. Arthur J. Buckley, who was detected in the act of selling game birds a few days ago, pleaded guflsy in Judge Conlan’s court yesterday and was fined $20. A prominent angler, a resident of For- tuna, Humboldt unty, is desirous that TuE CALL should inform the anglers of this City who contemplate visiting the Eel River this year that neither trout nor salmon can be lawfully taken above tide- water after October 1 of this year by any means. The Supervisors of Humboldt Coung recently passed an ordinance to this effect so as to give the fall run of fishes an opportunity of reaching the headwaters of this grand river. John Gallagher of Oakland, who is now whipping the river in the vicinity of Scotia, writes that he is enjoying the gnndeat sport imaginable, and that fly fishing for small steelheads of about three-fourths of a- pound in weight 18 really excellent. The following interesting letter from Tae CALL’s correspondent at Stockton will afford sportsmen some good reading: Great interest istaken here among the members of the gun clubs in the State shoot, which takes place next month for the trophy offered by the State Inanimate Target Association.” The Stockton Gun Club has decided to send a team of sixteen men to take part in the contest, and also to send two teams of six men each to cone test for the Overland Monthly trophy, which is to be shot for at the same time. Four members of the club—C. J. Hass, A. A. Merrill, George Ellis and E. 8. Rich- ards—have already been selected to repre- sent the club. The other twelve will be se- lected according to the scores made at the 100-bird match, to be held Sunaay at the grounds of the elub at Jackson’s baths, periods and carefully examines all persons brought before it. Each examiner is provided are three spaces on each form in which each writes his opinion, viz.: “Clean,” “suspect” or “leper. have been examined the papers and opinions jon exists the subject is entitled enother examination. No person can declared leper except by the unanimous consent of this board. I would add that many Datives voluntarily appear for examination. The Hawaiian Gov- ernment provides very liberally for all lepers sent to Molokai. Nearly one-tenth of the rev- enue of the kingdom is annually expended for their support and medical treatment. In no other country have their wants received such careful consideration. There are comfortable homes for homeless boys and girls, and the in their efforts to promote the welfare and hap- piness of these helpless creatures. There are mavy: “Being expected at Molokei, a large whaleboat manned by eight lepers put off l ran down the road and scattered to discuss the visitor who had come to study them ap3 their disesse; bad, perbaps, et last also hospitals, numerous comfortable cottages for accommodstion of families. These cot- | name presented one at & time, and in every instance | the wremingv & thorough examination is made. When all | and Geo! . red. When sny difference of opin- | Off on the 20thinst.in it L W; city, Steeley has been in San Francisco be | for the past two weeks practicing with Joe and sent to Molokai | ACton, Who is coachin aispensaries, churches, and | The word means ‘‘one-e] the | **dingy,” and the supl south of this city. The Gun Club Annex of the Stockton with a form upon which has been written the | Athletic Association has been practicing names of the personsto be examined. There | every Wednesday afternoon at the traps at Goodwater Grove. There are some good examiner, without consulting his confreres, | shots among the members, and they are working hard. " The subjects for examination are | Considerable interest is shown here in atch between Charles Moth Steeley, the latter a young this county. The event comes asonic Hall, in this farmer of him at catch-as- catch-can wrestling. Moth has the advan- tage of weight and experience, but Steeley is well trained and naturally skilifal. The fair opens here next Monday after- neon and a good race programme is looked or. Directors Benjamin F. Langford and L. U. Shippee of the Agricultural Associa- tion have been in Sacramento for the past few days looking up emiries for the race meet here. The track is in good shape for the events, and a large attendance isex- good Franclscan Sisters in charge’are untiring pected. Lake Borgne was named by the French. ,’ and also tion 1is that the ted in some fanciful tale or tazes sre well veutilated, sbundantly sup-Lin the color of the water. COLONEL MENDE LLS 42 Years of Service. BY TALIESIN EVANS. Next month will mark the close of forty- two years’ continuous active service in the Engineer Corps of the United States army by Colonel George H. Mendell, now the officer in charge of the engineering works conducted by the United States Govern- ment on the Pacific Coast. This distin- guished officer will thea be placed on the retired list at the age of 63. Of this long | period of service to the Federal Govern- ment twenty-seven years will have been spent by the retiring veteran on this coast. He came here in 1868 from New Bedford, Mass., to take a place in the United States Board of Engineers for the Pacific Coast. As such he was associated with General B. 8. Alexander, who was president of the board, and Colonet C. Seaton Stewart. General Alexander died in 1879 and the board was then abolished, Colonel Mendell becoming thereafter engineer in charge by virtue of seniority in rank. Colonel Stew- art is now on the retired list and is resid- ing in comfort on a retired officer’s pay at Cooperstown, N. Y. Although the larger part of Colonel Mendell’s life as an officer of the United States army has been spent in this City in the development of im})ortam engineering works for the defense of San Francisco har- bor and the greater convenience of Pacific Coast commerce the preceding fifteen years of his army career were fuller of thrilling incident and active experience, because they embraced the period covered by the War of the Rebellion. Throughout that long strife he was in active service in the field under General Duane and he distinguished himself to such a degree that when the war was over he was intrusted with the important duty of p]snnin§ and erecting the fortifications for the defense of New limited only by the measure of the favor of Congress in the matter of appropriations for defrnyinf the expenses incurred. Un- fortunately for California’s well-being, her commercial development has been largely retarded by Congressional parsimony, and the operations of the Federal engineer in charge of these river and harbor improve- ments have been hampered very often in | consequence. The more important harbor improve- ments in this State which have been con- ducted directly under Colonel Mendell’s direction have been at Oakland and Wil- mington. The latter is the port of entry for Los Angeles and the region tributary to it. These two improvements have been the most important, because they have involved the expenditure of the larger sums_of money, have covered a greater Eeriod of time in their development and ave produced the most notable results. The improvement of Wilmington harbor was begun in 1871. At that time Los An- geles had a population under 10,000 and very little commerce of any kind. The tidal slough or estuary now known as ‘Wiimington harbor opened on the ex- posed roadstead of San Pedro, which Darta made famous in his story, “Two Years Before the Mast,” as one of the points on the California coast at which, in his sea- faring days, the hide droghers called for cargoes of hides, horns and tallow. When the work of harbor improvement was begun under Colonel Mendell there was only one foot of water at low tide on the bar which crossed the mouth of the estuary from Deadman Island to the mainland at the old embarcadero of San Pedro, and the beach between Deadman Island and Rat- tlesnake Island was high and dry at low tide. The improvement of the harbor con- sisted of the construction of a breakwater joining Rattlesnake and Deadman islands and the dredging of the bar. Now there is a depth of about 14 feet of water on the COLONEL GEORGE H. [From a& photograph.] MENDELL. Bedford, Mass. He was thus engaged un- t1l 1868, when he was ordered to gun Fran- cisco to take his place on the Board of Engineers for the Pacific Coast. Colonel Mendell’s first work asa mem- ber of the board was in line with his New Bedford experience. He was placed in charge of the fortifications of this harbor. Up to that time the only guns that Point, ¥ort Point, Alcatraz and Angel Isiapd. Once in charge, the veteran en- fiueer set about devising a new line of de- enses for the entrance to the harbor, and the mounting of the great guns in the forts erected on the height flanking either side of the Golden Gate, which is now pro- gressing, constitutes the crowning effortin the development of these defenses. When Colonel Mendell came to San Francisco the harbor was virtaally at the mercy of any naval force that chose to at- tack it. The Civil War had revolution- ized naval architecture and armamedt, and the forts and kuns here were so farout of date that they were practicaliy of little if any value. Itisall different now, on the eve of his retirement to private life. Be- fore that event will have been actually consummated, the Golden Gate will be guarded by two batteries, mounted with guns capable of dropping their mammoth shells in the hull of an enemy’s ship twelve miles off the coast—that is, nearly half way to the Farallon Islands. These are, of ‘course, supplemented by a series of mortar and other batteries of shorter range, but of much greater danger, per- haps, to an invading force. Two of the more important of the new batteries erected under Colonel Mendell's direction are situated at Gravelly Beach, Lime Point, and at Point Cavallo, a headland lying east of Lime Point and between it and the town of Sausalito. These are water bat- teries, whose big guns sweep the Golden Gate and the bar. Another battery stands on Lime Point Bluff, elevated feet above-the water level. Thisis one of the batteries in which one of the new sixty-ton steel guns will be mounted. On the summit of the bluff on the south side of the Gate are a series of other batteries, known only by their dis- tinctive numbers, while on the elevation overtopping Fort Point will be mounted two oeger sixty-ton twelve-inch rifled can- non, corresponding with the one to oc- cupy the Lime Point Bluff battery. One of these guns is now being slowly hauled up the steep alose. Then, again, Fort Alcatraz has been re- modeled. New batteries have been erected on that rock at every available point, so that it is now literally bristling with guns of great destructive power and long range, ready to challienge the entrance of the in- vader long before his keel shall have crossed the bar. With these new batteries and remod- eled forts, and a perfect system of torpedo- ing, the Golden Gate of San Francisco Bay is considered as secure against attacks from the sea as any fortified place on the shores of the Pacific. Harbor defense has, however, consti- tuted only a part of Colonel Mendell’s offi- cial work during his twenty-seven years’ residence here, and it has been, perhaps, the least important part of it in some re- spects, for we are living in piping times of peace, with no sign of a war cloud darkening the horizon, and the guns which guard the Golden Gate may never be needed for more serious work than prac- tice or for the ulntins of some important di niur{‘ on peaceful mission bent. Ooionel endell’s chief work has really been in the aid of commerce and industry flmugh the improvement of the harbors d rivers of the coast. In this line of engineering Colonel Men- dell has had a b field for the exercise of his talents. The field has, in fact, been guarded the Golden Gate against invasion | were mounted in the old batteries at Black | bar at ordinary low tide, and vessels araw- ing over 15 feet can enter and loaa at the wharves. An immense commerce has been, in consequence, developed. The | work has cost the Federsl Government | less than $900,000. Plans have been made | for further development which will admit the larger deep-sea ships to its wharves. The improvement of Oakland harbor has been something similar to that of Wil- mington. When Colonel Mendell sur- veyed the estuary of San Antonio in 1874 with the view of improving it for the ben- efit of navigation, there were only two feet of water on the bar at low tide. Now there is a channel 300 feet in width with a | depth at low water of fourteen feet, admit- tmfi vessels at high water of nineteen feet draft. This improvement has been accom- plished through the construction of two parallel jetties, one two miles and the other two miles and three-quarters in length. These jetties lie 800 feet apart. The channel between tnem wiil ultimately be dredgea to a uniform depth of twenty feet at low water for a width of 400 feet. The Government has spent on this work, under Colonel Mendell’s direction, about $1,800,000 and it will take several hundred thousand dollars more to finish it. The construction of a breakwater at Port Harford, San Luis Obispo County, which when finished will be 2300 feet in length, was begun in 1889. Other harbor improve- ments of minor importance have also been made under Colonel Mendell's direction at San Diego, Petaluma, Stockton, Redwood City, Humboldt Bay and elsewhere, and surveys for other harbor improvements have been made by him at S8an Buenaven- tura, Santa Monica, Monterey, San Diego, Alameda Creek and other points, with the view of accommodating commerce. Some of these principal harbor improvements involve the construction of costly break- waters. It is estimated that a breakwater at Santa Monica would cost $6,000,000, and another at Monterey from $7,680,000 to $11,988,000. The veteran engineer has not declared against any of these expensive improvements, he has merely recom- mended that action be deferred by the Government until the necessities of com- merce require their consummation. Several years ago Colonel Mendell was appointed on the board of engineers to se- lect a site for the construction of a harbor of refuge for the coasting vessels plying between this port and the Columbia River. Trinidad, Crescent City and Port Orford were inspected and the board reported in favor of the latter place, accompanying the report with estimates of the cost of the work necessary to make it a safe har- bor in which shipping in distress could obtain secure shelter, no matter in what direction the wind blew. On the 30th of June, 1892, Colonel Men- dell was appointed supervising: engineer for the entire Pacific Coast. As such his jurisdiction extends from the Mexican line 0 British Columbia. All United States engineers engaged in coast improvement now report to him. Formerly they reported directly to the chief engineer at Wash- ington.” As supervising engineer he has charge of the important improvements which the Government is making at the mouth of the Columbia River. These im- provements consist of a stone jetty ex- tending outward from the low spit on which Fort Stevens is located, a distance of five miles. This jetty is now what is known as a half tide embankmerit. It has been extended as far seaward as designed and hereafter it will be raised clear of the highest high tide. Something like $2,000,000 has been expended by the Government on the jetty up to date, but although only half finished the great value of the invest- ment has been al readg demonstrated, for the bar at the end of the jetty has now thirty-two feet of water atextreme low tide, whereas it formerly only had twenty-two feet. The success of single h% is regarded as even more marvelous than the Eads jetties erected at the mouth of the Mississippi. : Another matter of the greatest import- ance to the State with which Colonel Men- dell has of 'late years been closel{ identi- fied has been the improvement of the in- ternal navigable waters of the State and the development of a plan for operating the hydraulic mines without impairment to navigable streams. In.the latter work he has n_associated with Lieutenant- Colonel W. H. Benyaurd and Major W. H. Heuer. These three officers constitute the Debris Commission, organized under the Caminett1 act, to regulate mining by the hydraulic process. Of this commis- sion Colonel Mendell is president. Despite the magnitude of his official duties Colonel Mendell has found time and inclination once in a while to_serve the public in n“rri\'ate capacity. He was chief of the Water Supply Commission appointed in 1877, during the time A.J. Bryant was Mayor. The commission made an exhaustive report on the various sources of water supply available for this City. His associate on that commission was Colonel Isaac Smith, now engineer of the water works supply of the city of Port- land, Or. _Last year Colonel Mendell was asso- ciated with Professor George Davidson on the commission appointed to report a plan for the disposition of the sewage of San Francisco. Like the report of the Com- mission on Water Supply, the work of the Sewage Commission was of great value to this community. After retirement from active service it is not unlikely that the veteran officer will settle down here with his wife and_three sons, who have been born and reared here. Who will be Colonel Mendell’s suc- cessor? is a question that has been dis- turbing the gossips, and it has been the subject of speculation among them ever since the Colonel’s coming retirement was announced. TALIESIN EvaNs, Oakland, Cal., 1895. MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE: The Elaborate Manner Which It Will Be Cele~ brated To-Morrow. in A Grand Parade, Literary Exercises and an All-Night Ball the Features. To-morrow being the eighty-fifth anni- versary of the independence of Mexico, the local Mexican colony will celebrate the occasfon with due honors. For several years past two celebrations have been held, owing to the rivalry existing between dif- ferent factions in the colony. This year there will be only one celebration, under the auspices of the three Mexican societies of this city—the Juarez Guard, Mexican Ladies’ Circle and the Porfirio Diaz Club. The local Mexican coleny, which numbers nearly 4000, will celebrate the occasion in enthusiastic fashion. The memory of Miguel Hidalgo, the Washington of Mexico, will be reviewed. The warrior-priest first fanned into flame the smoldering fire of liberty engendered by centuries of aristocratic rule and op- pression by the Viceroys of Spain. He did not long survive the outbreak, for after some few successful engagements, the troops of the surprised Spanish defeated and dispersed the ill-organized and ill- armed battalions of the liberator. He, himself, was taken and executed in 1811, but the example he bad set spurred others on to emulation, and the sword he Lad been forced to lay down was taken up by Morelos, who, like Hidalgo, was a riest and shared his fate in 1815. But he ad called a national assembly at Chil- panzingo, and by this body Mexican in- dependence was for the first time officially proclaimed in 1813. Under the leadership of Iturbide, Mexican independence was again proclaimed on February 24, 1821, To-morrow evening there will be a garsde through the principal streets. The uarez Guard, under command of Captain A. de la Torre, will act as escort of honor to the executive committee and A. K. Coney, Consul-General of Mexico, who will be president of the day. The parade will start from Stockton and Pacific streets, and will march to Odd Fellows’ Hall, where the literary exercises and grand ball will be held. The hall has been profusely decorated for the occasion with American and Mexican colors. Following will be the programme: Overture, “Nabucodonosor”; installation of the committee; reading of the Declaration of Independence, F. Gillespie; oration by the orator of the day, Francisco Carranza; “The Star-spangled Banner,” by Ellen Coursen- Roeckel and a chorus of fifty American young ladies; solo, “Esla Flor,” sung by Miss Angela Vergez; solo, by Miss Adela Galvez; piano duet, by Miss Mary Rahn and Miss la\uu- solo, by Mrs. L. George; overture, “Andaiusia,” by the California_Mandolin_Club; duet, sung by Miss Andrea Mojica and Ellen Coursen- Roeckel; the “Mexican Natfonal Hymn,” by & chorus of fifty Mexican ladies. The evening’s entertainment will con- clude with a grand ball, which will last all night, under the direction of A. de la Torre Jr.. who will be the floor director. Following is the committee in charge of the affair: Officers—Consul A. K. Coney, honorary president; A. Montero, resident; F. Romo, vice-president; A. de a Torre Jr., secretary; Mrs. M. G. Romo, assistant secretary; Miss Esther Silver, treasurer; executive committee—A. Rojo, C. Torres, F. Carranza, C. Baez, C. Sis- neros, J. Meneses, F. Gillespie, C. Mesich, Arturo Perez, Miss M. Villa, Miss B. Soto, Mrs. C. Ybarra, Miss F. Mondragon. FOR A $9000 ESTATE, Mrs. de Campos and Her Step-Children Battling in the Probate Court. Joaquin de Campos deeded to his four children a $9000 estate shortly before he died last month. The children are Marian, Henry, John and Manuel de Campos. Mrs. Bridget de Campos, the widow, who is a step-mother to the children, received no benefit from the deeds, so yesterday she produced a will conveying the greater portior of the property to her. Now thetr; ¥ be u:;urt bnltxlle for th.' roperty, the widow and her will agains fhe‘::ehildren and their deeds. The will is dated May 27, 1889. While Mrs. de Campos is made the principal beneficiary the children are the residuary legatees. ~ The estate, according to the widow’s petition, consists of $75 in cash, a house and lot at 2556 Geary street worth $5000, a lot on Wood street worth $3000 and 160 acres of land in San Benito County ‘worth $800. —————————— Medical Evangelist. Something out of the usual order of evange- listic work will be undertaken at the Christian Association Auditorium this afternoon 3 o'clock, when Dr. Dorman of New H: Conn., will deliver his first lecture in series to young gentlemen only. His subject to-day wiil be ‘‘The Secret Sinsof Men,” and will be illustrated by oil paintings. SMOKE La Belle Greole CIGARS, 3 fur 2i-10c Straight--2 for 250 ASK DEALERS FOR THEM. RINALDO BROS. & CO., Pacific Coast Agents, 300-302 BATTERY ST, S. F.