The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 21, 1901, Page 1

SAN FRANCISCO, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1901. PRICE FIVE CENTS. INQUEST IN SITKA OVER VICTIMS OF ISLANDER DISASTER CONFIRMS CHARGE OF CAPTAIN'S DRUNKENNESS Calision Occurs While He and Other cated in the Saloon and Many Lives Are ‘Sacrificed by His Refusal to Permit the Vessel to Be Beached Officers Are Intoxi- EATTLE, Aug. 2.—J. T. Snyder, a | { resident of Juneau, arrived on the steamer Farallon to-day from Juneau. Mr. Snyder was on the 1 but returned to Juneau | r escaping death in the disaster. He e water three hours, clinging to ‘ finally picked up in an He left the boat [ after the captain - o+ =1L~ -VILLE CHANNEL ., e TOURIST i | RODTE- . 2 | : | | i | { H | ] | | B e | SCENES IN THE VICINITY OF THE STEAMSHIP ISLANDER DISASTER. THE FIRST NEWS OF THE WRECK WAS RECEIVED AT THE TREADWELL MINES, WHENCE AN EXPEDITION WAS AT ONCE DISPATCHED TO PICK UP AND CARE FOR THE SURVIVORS. * T e —% jumped overboard and they both held to | three brothers, and Arthur Longemak, a the same raft for fully a half hour. In|party of miners who have been at Forty conversation during that time the captain | Mile for the past four years, were return- sald he could not understand why the |ing on the Islander. Mr. Longemak sald boat went down so quickls | in an interview: The capt: ai “Boys, T tannot stand “The captain had been drinking most of 1t any longer,” and, casting his life pre- | the time after we left. I saw him at the k at once. At the inquest | bar after 11 o'clock that night, accom- server aw held in Juneau, which Mr. Snyder at- | panied by one of the other officers, and tended, evidence developed which may |they were quite noisy. When the boat tend to excuse the captain for not having | struck we came on deck as soon as Wwe besched the Isiander at onmce. Mr. | could, but at no time saw the captain or S el | pilot. The steward was taking an active “At the inquest it was established be- [ part in lowering the boats, although some vond Goubt that the captain had been |one had told him not to do so. There Is Arinking more than was good for him and | no doubt that the boat could have been was in the saloon when the ship struck, heached.snd the lives of all the pass- considerably intoxicated. The pilot testl- | engers sdved. fed + he was on the bridge and that | her until she stood at an angle of about as soon as she struck he told the captain | sixty degrees and then abandoned her he was going 1o beach her, but the cap- | just as she plunged under the water. To ain said, “No, there is a better place | his 85“7aty, courage and judgment many bout three miles from here, and she will | 0% &s owe our lives. There was simply s Bout eaik e | o aiscipline whatever among the crew or “The testimony showed that there was | officers.” the forward water tight| yocerpn tor coay BUNKERS. stowaway In compartment, and when the vessel struck ‘ VICTORIA, B. C., Aug. 20.—Interviews with the survivors of the steamer Islander the water rushed in on him and he set up | who reached here last night and a cry. He was immediately under the | morning failed to throw further light saflors’ quarters, and in response to his | chouts the sailors thoughtlessly rushed | upon the disaster and none were able to glve additional names of victims. down and openad the compartment, which | The quartermasters who were at the allowed the sea to come rolling into the wheel at the time corroborate the story hold, carrying the body of the stowaway | and a saflor with it. This was done with- of Pilot Le Blanc as to ice having been seen, and also as to the condition of the out the captain’s knowledge and I belleve | weather, and they reiterate the state- afforas an excuse for his error in believ- ing that the vessel would float several ments so often made of the coolness of | the officers and crew, and of the efforts This it would have done had the | to save the passengers at the risk of their hours water tight compartment not been opened. and he could have beached her in a small bay about three miles away. It was| own lives. Second Mate Powell has established that if the pilot had carried | modified his statgment that a man on a his intention he could have got her | raft drew a revolver and threatened him on the beach without the loss of any lives | and Captain Foote in his efforts to get except that of the stowaway and the | them to leave the raft, and he now says sailor. After I got on deck there seemed | that the man simply threatened them and did not draw a revolver. But the man ac- cused, A. C. Beach, a member of the First Canadian contingent, has come forward and admitted he was the man who threatened to shoot any one who attempt- to be 1o one, in charge, although it ap- peared to me that the steward did more than any one else in lowering the boats and getting the passengers upon deck.” V. L. Doyle, C. Doyle and G. Doyle, i | | | i | | r’ 1 The steward stayed with | this | ed to board the raft, saying in justifica- tion that the raft was already overloaded. and that he did not have a life preserver on, while the others did. He admits hav- ing trfed to throw a Chinese off the raft, because he was rolling from side to side | and causing the raft to capsize. Captain Ferry, one of the quarter- masters, says that when the doors of the bunkers were closed to prevent the inflow of water, there were eleven stowaways in there passing’coal, and they went down in the ship. The chief engineer, who ordered the bunkers closed, did not know that these men were still in the bunkers. | Captain Harris, formerly a sealing cap- | tain and later on one. of the Yukon | River steamers, was coming down as a | passenger. He was with Captain Foote in fhe dining-hall when the ship struck | and was on the bridge up to 12:3) o’clock ‘:Whh Pilot Le Blanc. He verifies the pi- | lot's statement as to the condition of the | weather. When the ship struck he went | on the bridge with the captain and heara him give his orders in the coolest pos- sible manner. When the boats were low- ered Captain Harris went to the port | side, as the second mate had not yet been called, and he says that every per- | son wha was in sight was taking to the boats, he being the last one to leave, | As to what happened on the starboard side, he is unable to say. Every life that it was possible to save, he says, was saved. The stewards did their utmost to | awaken passengers, Second Steward Fow- ler giving up his life in the effort, but the captain believes many did not realize the danger and went down as they slept. Had others presented themselves there was room for them in the port boats. Andrew Keating and his two sons of Los Angeles and this city were not seenl after the ship struck, and it is believed they slept through it all and went down with the steamship. The Islander was insured for $100,000. but’ the company estimates that it lost $50,000 by the disaster, beside losing its best steamer just as business was get- ting good. ? The census of the north will have to | out their arms carly, but several applica- | tions from | fled to the | be obliged to go. PIERGE. GITY MOB DRIVES OUT NEGROES Slaying of Three Men a Result of Girl's Murder. Real Culprit, Howéver, Seems to Have Escaped the Avengers. Mob of a Thousand Enraged Mis- sourians Burns Settlement Oc- cupied by Colored People. PS5 SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Aug. 20.—After all | the conflicting stories from Plerce City have been sifted it develops that three ne- groes lost their lives there as a result of the murder of Casella Wild. The dead: | WILLIAM GODLEY, hanged from the porch of the Lawrence Hotel and his body riddled with bullets. | FRENCH GODLEY, grandfather of | Willlam Godley, shot in his own house. | PETE HAMPTON, burned in his own house, but probably shot before the fire. Eugene Barrett, also known as Carter, in a confession while a rope was around his neck, accused Joe Lark, a Frisco por- | ter, of being implicated in the crime, and | Lark was arrested to-day in this city. This afternoon he gave a detailed state- ment as to his whereabouts Sunday, and he is believed to be not guilty. Some here think that Barrett told any story in order to save his life. The funeral of Miss Wild took place to- | day and was witnessed by several thou- sand people. Armed Men Bent on Bloodshed. Pierce City is near the junction of four divisions of the Frisco, and trains from all directions brought in large numbers of armed men bent on bloodshed if neces- sary. When the mob last night went to the section of the city occupied by the negroes some one in the cabins opened fire, but no one was hit. The mob then | destroyed the settlement, but the finan- | clal loss is not great. Reckless firing broke several plate glass‘ windows_and-a.train was fred Fito, : The rifies were taken from the Plerce City military barracks. but it is expected they will all te returned. Members of the company themseclves were out hunt- ing for the escaping negroes with rifles, ard this suggested the idea of taking all the guns. The local hardware stores sold negroes were refused. The niob was cemposed of a thousand or more and no masks were used. ro families were driven from Many of the negroes who ere hiding in the surround- ing woods, while others have gone greater distances in seeking safety. Real Culprit Not Lynched. It is now Feieved that Will Godley, who was lynel was not the real culprit. Citizers say that negroes will not be per- mitted to live here in the future and that the few negroes not already expelled will | The cause of all the bloodshed was fhe killing of Miss Casella Wild Sunday after- noon as she was returning to her home, one mile in tLe country, after attending church in town. She started home alone, | her brother lingering behind. About one mile from tcwn the brother found her with her throat cut, lying lifeless near a culvert. under which her assailant haa attempted to drag her. Evidence of a territls cirugple was shown. A copper | colored negra was seen sitting on tiie bridge a shert time before the tragedy occurred. 1t is supposed that the negro sprang upon her when she was passing and attempted to force her beneath the bridge. She fought with such desper- ation that he could not accomplish his purpose and he cut her throat in the struggle. Her body was not violated. On Monday bloodhounds were taken to the scene and the girl’s bloody handker- chief was laid before them. They im- mediately caught the trail and ran with full speed to the home of Joe Lark, where, on being admitted, .they rushed into the bedroom and sprang upon the bed. NEGRO B'ET_BNED IN TEXAS. Murderer Suspended From a Tree and Slowly Cremated. DALLAS, Texas, Aug. 20.—A dispatch received here to-night from Whitesboro, Texas, says the negro AIf Wilder, charged with the murder of Mrs. Cald- well, the wife of a Grayson County far- mer, at her home on Saturday last, was captured by a mob and burned at Nel- son's ranch, two and one-half miles east of Red Ranch. The burning occurred early to-night. The mob was composed of 300 men. The negro was taken to a tree and swung up in the air, wood and fodder were piled beneath his body, and a hot fire made. Then it was suggested that the man ought not to die too quickly and he was let down to the ground, while a party went to Dexter, but two miles distant, to procure coal oil. This was thrown on the flames and the work completed. It is sald that it was the intention of the mob to take Wilder back to the scene of his crime and there lynch him, but messages by telephone and telegraph gave warning that the authorities were hastily repairing to the scene with a con- siderable force, and the work of execu- tion was expedited. Mrs. Caldwell was a bride of but six months. Dexter is far from railroads, there are no telegraph facilities, and it POLITICIAN AND LABOR LEADER KILLS A PLUMBER'S APPRENTICE IN APARTMENTS OF THE LATTER George D. Gillespie Raises His Pistol and Fires a Fatal Shot at His Tenant, William F. Griffin, Striking Him in the Right Eye, Then Says the Discharge Was Accidental e ILLIAM F. GRIFFIN, a plumber’s apprentice, was shot and killed by George D. Gillespie, a lodging-house keeper, well known in politi- cal and labor circles, during an argument last night. The shooting occurred in the murdered man’'s room at 119 Ninth street, and was witnessed by the wives of both men. Stories concerning the affair dis- agree to some extent. Gillesple says that he flourished his revolver, believing his = life to be in danger, and that it went off accidentally. Griffin was but 24 years of age, but his reputation for sobriety was bad. He is alleged to have abused his young wife, and quarrels between them were frequent. About one year ago he rented apartments in Gillespie's lodging-house and gave them up one month ago. He came back a week later and took other rooms, #hd in one of these he met his death. The landlord took him back to the house on condition that he would keep sober. but his desire for stimulants was too strong for him to resist, and last night he came home Intoxicated, stirring ‘up strife and disturbing the other lodgers in the place. When asked to desist Griffin, it is said, insulted Mrs. Gillesple and exhib- ited a knife. Gillesple, who had followed his wife to the room, secured a revolver and returned. More words followed and a shot was fired, the bullet striking the plumber in the right eye, and causing him to drop back into a chair insensible. He expired a short time later at the Cen- tral Emergency Hospital and his was sent to the Morgue. When Gilles- ple returned to the room Griffin had no weapon out, nor was there any found on his person, but the shooter says Griffin made a motion as if to draw a revolver, whereupon Gillesple raised his own weapon and pulled the trigger uncon- sciously. Mrs. Grifiin says Glllespie fired with deliberation, and the shooter does not dispute that his motion might have left that impression on her mind. Still, tend to fire when he did. Gillespie, atter the deed, iooked arcuni for a policeman to arrest him. There was none in sight and he telephoned to the detective department in the Hall of Jus- tice, stating that he had killed a man and wished to surrender himself. McMahon and Anthony were detailed on the case and found the man where he had agzreed to meet them. He was charged with. murder and locked up. He made a statement freely and secured an attorney to defend him. “Griffin has been in my lodging-house nearly a vear,” said Gillespie. “He drunk excessively and was frequently delinquent in his rent. The meney part of it did net. bother me so much, but in his periods of iatoxication he abused his wife and creat- ed much commotion in the house. Iis wife was young and had a sickly baby and they had my compassion. Otherwise I would have ejected the fellow from my house as soon as he commenced to make trouble. Many times I was attracted to nis apartment and only after a vast be taken over, as the list was lost in the wreck. will be some time before all the details of the lynching can be learned. ot amount of argument succeéqed in pacify- ‘ing him. body | Detectives | — PRINCIPALS AND SCENE OF MURDER IN A NINTH-STREET LODG- ING HOUSE, WHICH WAS WITNESSED BY THE WIVES OF BOTH THE SHOOTER AND HIS VICTIM. 5 “One month ago the furr'my gave up their rooms and went away. I heard no more of them until a week later, when Mrs. Griffin came back and asked for ac- commodations. She said the baby had died but three days before. I told her that her husband’s conduct had made him an objectionable tenant and that T would like her to seek quarters elsewhere. She | replied that he kad taken the pledge and he says In his defense that he did not in- | promised to behave. On condition that he would, I accepted them and assigned them to a room near my own apartments, | intending to watch him closely. “Last night my wife heard the sound of dishes’ breaking in Grifin's room. and went to the door. Griffin was using abusive language and hurling ery and glassware about the place. him to be more guiet and he insulted her. I stepped from my room at this time and my wife called me. I entered the room where the strife prevailed and inquired what the trouble was. Griffin replied with an oath and ordered me into the hallway. I told him that I would not go eroc until T had an understanding about his| future behavior and the wordy war be- gan. He said he paid for the room apd he could do as he wished, but T sald that he had no right to destroy property /and dieturb the peace of other guests. One word led-to another and I found myself vnable to quiet him. Finally he ordered both myself and my wife out of the room, and rushing to a cupboard seized a large knife. “When I saw the weapon I realized that he had murder.in his heart ard ran to my room for m# revolver. As quickly as She told | ;e | I got it T came back and told him that T | could play that kind of a game mysels. | Then, with an oath, he placed his hand to | nis nip pocket. I saw the motion and raised my svn. As I did so I must have | thrown great pressure on the trigger, for | the revolver went off and I saw Grifin drop Fack into a chair and bis head fail | over on his shoulder. T did not intend to | fire 2t that moment. I simply wanted to | cover bim, so that he would not draw a revolver, which T supposed he had.” Criffin the argument was over | unpaid rent weil as the disturbances {in the house. She says her husband did | not have a weapon and made no motion whatever and that Gillespie had no reason to suppose his life in danger. She also avers that her husband was seated in the | chalr when the shot that killed him was | fired. Soon after the ambulance arrived she went to the Emergency Hospital and was with her husband when he died. Then she went to the home of her sister. Im- mediately after the tragedy both she and Mrs. Cillespie went into hysterics and were carried from the room. George D. Gillesple has been a resident of San Francisco for a number of vears and has gained muech notorfety as a. labor agitator and a politiclan. He was the State and county secretary of the Peo- ple's Party committees at the time of its organization in California and was de- feated for the Assembly in the Thirtleth District when he was a candidate several years ago. He was also the secretary of the Knights of Labor in San Franclsco and when that organization w: rong in Denver became its secretary at that place,