The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 20, 1905, Page 6

6 HE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, TH T APRIL 20, 1 N GILCREST MANSION CLAIMEDI|()LLECE MEN'S |WI BY RIVAL PURCHASERS. PROPERTY IS SOLD BY TWO AGENTS LAWYER AND LUMBERMAN INVOLVED 1GED WOMAN FACES DEATH Falls From the Seawall and Struggles Several Hours to Escape Incoming Tide e A S A 18. — Exhausted D Ap ng almost unconscious a switchman who had e m ns for help. The woman had become con- kness and, wandering f the wall, had fallen Wells struggled beyond the the waves and then fell ex- s, where nearly in the g rain before being rescued by the switchman and other trainmen She was at once placed on board a 1 train and hurried to the Re- g Hospital, where restoratives d. After several hours’ hospital surgeons pro- her out of danger after she had partly recov- the effects of her ter ce, Mrs. Wells denied that she pted to end her life and said lost her way in the dark.final- g off the mole into the water. had come from San weeks ago, after the death son, whe ad been work- of the State. ng in this yment in 1an, but the nd she was forced Yiego tw her only and made an e woman who last night at the train. the person searching y in the dark, f the mo! w was found she by the ner At the hospital Mrs. “Wells her age as 64 rs. She is with- funds d say at she know he x NEW OFFICERS ARE ELECTED BY YOUNG ORATORS e Students' t elected offi as follows: Presi e president, M. C. treasurer, J. M F. P she will do now th secure the positic s failed to executive com Wheeler, C. O. Evans Schunann M E acher and D, G. nmittee. the University ¢ d off, as it would debates wchedulel at the Such @ debate would have to be e second half-year, as Washing- late in the autumn. This would roposed debate too close to the the intercoliegiate debates with aseistant botanist at the agri- experiment stations has left the uni- e Mojave and Colorado deserts feld wo Mr. Hall is t> col- rt plants, paying par- ttention to those of economic value. then last year because his season in that region. s will be added to the ure and botany week programme has Its features are as follows: « in Hearst Hall ervices, Sunday 5; senior ball, Mey ises, May 17 The usual form of commencement exercises 1 be followed this year. It is hoped that Governor Pardee will officiate at thes presenta- omas. The exercises will be heia Theater. The usual academic e formed. The commencement be W. H. Dehm, Hugh Good. _ ton, ‘H. H. Powell and erp Etbel Richardson, all prominent etudents Seward A. Dimons, an attorney of San Fran 500 i o address the students at the semi-mon university meeting n nhFrf\ln: on ““Insurance IA"" . T rofessor J: the botany departm hes obtained a Ieave of absence during May 13; bacca. May 14; class day, 16; commencement exerc ers W, W which time he wili travel th h Buro; of plant Ilfe for the university. He expe: attend the internationsl botanical which will convene in Vienna in June = "> —_——————— ne. BABY CASE GOES OVER. OAKLAND, April 19,—The hearing of the guardianship proceedings in the matter of the baby said to have been #0ld by Mrs. Amelia Funke of Ala- meda to a Mrs. Cooper of this city for $10 was not heard by Judge Waste to- day owing to the fact that Mrs, Funke was engaged on a case she could not leave. The hearing will come up to- morrow morning, when all interested | in the matter have been ordered be in attendance. The child is il at the county infirmary. \to very ——— HOLY THUREDAY SERVICES. — April 19.—High mass will be nlebr:xh:dlu:gt morrow morning at 9 o'clock in the Catholte churches in observance of Holy Thursday. uggle against death in the | « of the bay, Mrs. Mary | w ed woman, whose home 1 s, Ind., was found early f the seawall at the Ala- | pyngnce Company, which had held a Con- | Gritfiths, | now being conducted | et. May 13; dove dance and wo- | the spot by the aged | | install OAKLAND, April 19.—Battle over the purchase by C. L. Walker, presi- dent of the Red River Lumber Com- pany of Minnesota and a several times millionaire of the Northwest, of the John Gilcrest mansion at Oakland and Monte Vista avenues is impending. T. C. Coogan, a prominent attorney of San Francisco and Oakland, is also named as a buyer of the beautiful Piedmont home, but Walker holds pos- session of the property and has set- tied down intending to stay. Gilerest, who is land agent in Oregon for Miller & Lux, the cattle kings, has scent of thé contest. He left his af- fairs in the hands of E. A. Heron, the capitalist, who holds a power of at- torney and has taken the first steps toward recovering the mansion in the hill district. The deal by which Walker acquired the Gilcrest home was completed last week through the Realty Bends and contract on the place. While negotia- tions were in progress with the Min- nesota milllonaire the firm of J. H. Macdonald & Co. was handling the same property for E. A. Heron, who represented Gilcrest. Attorney Coogan appearad as a purchaser and had made a tender for the handsome residence, which had been accepted. Meanwhile the Walker transaction was consum- mated, and correspondence with Gil- crest, who was in Oregon, seemed to confirm the deal. Three days after Walker had bought the place and was sending artisans to household belongings was served on the Realty Bond and Finance Company that its contract of sale with Gilcrest had expired. This was after word had been sent to Heron that the sale had been made to Walker. The claim is set up by Heron that the contract of sale had expired many ronths ago, that there was no proper notice sent to Gilcrest as to the trans- the it. action with Walker, and that agents had no authority to make Neither of the realty firms will disc the sale or the steps that. may be taken in view of the involved situation. At the former Gilcrest residence to- day it was announced that,the Walk- ers had taken possession regularly; that the keys had been turned over to the purchaser and that there was noth- ing but a straight buy and sell trans- | action, so far as they were concerned. —_——— s became diz- | | | ALAMEDA GOUNTY NEWS DEAN MARRIES AGAIN.—Oakland, 10.—Peter here April Dean of Alameda was married to Susanna N. Hobday, He is 1d-time resident A to-day —Oakland, April LeFevre began a suit for divorce inst Eugene J. LeFevre on the f intemperance. 'She aske to be al- lowed to resume her maiden name of Matilde Schieding. VOTE FOR UNION.—Oskland, April 19.— | The Oakiand Presbytery has voted in favor of the proposition to unite with the Cumberland branch of the Presbyterian church. The plan of vnion is under vote throughout the pres- byterigs of the United States, CHRIST CHURCH MAY FESTIVAL.—Ala- meda, April 19.—Preparations for a_three daye’ festival to begin on May day are being made by th nday-schocl and gullds of < Christ urch. The programme as planned ude an outing fete, art exhibit and rical entertainments in' Parish Hall TES ‘'WHILE ASLEEP.—Pleasanton, April 19.—Mrs. Lena Rowe, aged 03 years, died last night while asleep at her home here, death coming without warning in the way of previ- o The body was found by her hus- ‘clock this morning. The deceasod fldren. An inquest will be held. WILL INVESTIGATE RECORDS.—Oakland, April 19.—The records of George Mason and John Wiison, the “short change’” men arrested for detrauding J. F. McVey, will be investi- gated by the police, who belléve the men to be & couple of clever Pastern thieves. They were held in $500 cash bail this morning by Police Judge Emith on charges of petty larceny. LAWRENCE CASE CONTINUED.—Oakland, April 19.—Because of the absence of one of the principal witnesses in the case the pre- liminary examination of George E. Lawrence, the capitalist who is accused of having slashed his wife, Laura I. Lawrence, with & knife, dis- figuring her for ilfe, wa® continued to-day by. Police Judge Samuels until April 26. HOLY THURSDAY SERVICES.—Alameda, April 19.—%o-morrow, Holy Thursday, will be observed in a special manner at St. Joseph's Catholle Church. Commencing &t 9 o'clock there will be a solemn hign mass celebrated, the musio of which will be rendered by sev- enty pupils of Notre Dame Academy. There will also be & procession of the blessed sacra- ment LEAVES NO WILL—Oakland, Aprfl 19.— Ethel 'Pomroy Soule died without leaving a will and a petition for letters of -administra- tion on her estate wag flled to-day by Beach C. Soule, her husband. He says the estate is worth over $10,000. She was ome of the Blake heirs and her interest in the estate is thought to-be worth $100,000. Her husband and.two sons are her heirs, REPUBLICANS CELEBRATE.—Berkeley, April 19.—The Republicans of the university town celebrated their recent sweeping victory at the polls by a_ ratification meeting held to- night in Lorin Hall, on Alcatraz _avenue. Nearly all of the men elected to office were present and made es. A handsome ban- ner was presented to the Fifth Ward Repub- lican Club, that ward having polled the largest percentage of Republican votes. NOMINATES DIRECTORS.—Oakland, April 19.—The Merchants' Exchange last night nom- inated the following for directors for the suing year: Geerge W. R. M. Briare, W. Arper, D. C. Brown, J. L Champlin, H. C. Coward, ¥. G, Niben, F. M. Farwell, Herman Gard, Theodore Gler, George Hoffman, A. Jonas, E. ¥. Muller, H' M. Sanbor:, A.' H. Schleuter, Fred Sinclair, 3. F. W. Sohst, W. H. Wellbye, H. G. Willlams, J. 8. Wixson, E. A. Young, Wilber Walker, D. Crowley. MARRIAGE LICENSES.—Oakland, April 10.—The following marriege licenses ‘were fs- sued by the County Clerk to-day: Joseph Silva, 25 and Lena Gomes, 23, both of Oak- land: Willlam E. Gerdner, 25 Greensett, 23, both of Alame: 63, and Susanna Hobday, 42, R. Love, 21, na M. Johnson, 18, both of San Francisco; Robert G. Woblg, 80, Reeseville,,Wie., and Anna E. Pricson, :3 San Francisco Lawrence Galvin, 32, and An- nie Collins, 24, both of Berkeley. NEW FERRYBOAT IN COMMISSION,— Oakland, April 19.—The new Key route ferry- boat San Francisco, was put into service to- day the regular run between Oakland and San Franciseo. new boat takes the place of the San Jose, which was at once put on the drydock at Boole's shipyard for a thorough cverhauling. As msoon as the Ean Jose is re. | paired the Yerha Buena will go into drydock. When the two boats are put in first-class con. didgn the 15-minute service will be inaugu- rated. SACRAMENTO, April 19.—The strawberry Fracon of Sacramento County has begun well, | CHARGES EXTORTION.—Oakiand, April e cbipments from Florin, near here, | 10.—B. F. Sclvage, an agent, was d to- being 800 crates a day. going to Portland, Ta- | by Deputy United States Marshal o e ttle, Spokane and other points in the | H. Burnbam on complaint of John F. Erh Runhwesi. as well as to Reno, Tonopah and | a butcher at Twenty-fourth street and San e. { Peblo avenue who charges that Selvage ex- torted $5 from him by representing himself as _SACRAMENTO, April 19.—Heavy shipments | 8 United States secret service agent. Selvage of mento River salmon are being made from this point to San Franciscd, Puget Sound nd Columbia River points, and to Chicago and intermediate cities, and ail are com - ing unusually high prices. g EAN JUAN. P. R.. April 19.—Santiago Igle- sier, the local organizer of the American Fed- eration of Labor. confirme the statement that the American when the palice dispersed the Ponce on April 17, e ———— If & woman is a widow, delicate and has had an operation performed, it's & cinch; she may select the most ellS- bie man In the community in which she lives, she can have him if she wants him. £ b fag wes not imsulted or torn ' said his arrést was the result of spite, he had been instrumental In ceusing Erhai - rest several months ago at Seattie on a charge of counterfeiting. GETS VINDICATION.—Oakland, April 19.— The jury in the $20.000 slander sult brought by Mrs. Lizzie against Mrs. Annie Mc- Kechnie brought in & verdict of $750. for the plaintiff to-day. - It found that Mrs. McKech- nie was laboring under a mental delusion and that she is of unsound mind, but they did not hold her altogether blameléss for what ahe said. She accused Mrs. Triest 6f having been instrumental in breaking up. her h and having taken her husband, Captain McKech- nie of the ferry-boat Pledmont, from her. —_—— Often- bric-a-brac is sold for junk, but more often junk is sold for bric-a- notice | | i IN QUEER TANGLE —_—F PUTS A STOP 10 “SHAVING” Police and Fire Board Sets Its Foot Down Upon Dis- count of Salary Warrants OAKLAND, April 19.—Warrant shav- ing must cease in the police and fire de- partments. day by the Commissioners. Cashing of salary warrants in advance is included in the edict of proscription. The rule is aimed at the money lenders, who charge enormous rates of interest for their loans upon the assigned claims. Mayor Mott, as spokesman for the Board of Police and Fire Commission- ers, explained their action as follows: The practice of warrant shaving has become intolerable. Firemen and policemen have been contributing $4 to $5 a month out of their pay for the benefit of money lenders who make ad- vances to the men. Thiz must cease. The or- der may work a hardship on some of the men, but in the long run they will reap ‘a clean financlal gain. They need the money that goes to the money lenders, and should not be per- mitted to pay the exorbltant interest charges that are enforced. The Commissioners add that failure to obey the new order will be taken as sufficient reason to dismiss the offender from the city’s service. TELL OF HELP GIVEN YOUNG AND WAYWARD BY ZOE GREEN RADCLIFFE. OAKLAND, April 19.—The tople of chief in. terest at the meeting of the Oakland Club to- day was that discussed by the Rev. Christopher Ruess and Ezra Decoto—probation work gen- erally. The Oakland Club cannot be praised too much for the splendid work It has done and is doing along these lingg. The “‘first of- fender” that was formerly denled a chance to reform is mow not only given an oppor- tunity, but is shown the way. Frequently it happens that In the probation officers the vouthful criminal finds the nrst real parent he has ever known. But it ie not always the street walf without father or mother that falls under the proba- tion officer’s care. Too often it is the indulged heir of wealthy parents, who are too seifish or 00 busy 1o bother about their offspring. It never pays for a father or mother to be “‘too busy”” to get on friendly, confidential terms with the beings for which they are responsible, body and scul, and thelr responsibility does not cease when they have supplied all the food and clothing necessary. Mr. Decoto is Probation Otficer for Alameda County, and it seems that he ls really the right man In the right place. At any rate, his_reports Indicate promising progress in the work of redempticn inagurated by the Oakland Club. Miss Wythe read a forestry paper after the important work of the day was concluded, and then the usual “cup that cheers' was enjoyed. Miss Marion Smith’'s wedding will follow so close upon the heels of her engagement an- nouncement that her numerous friends will bave little opportunity to entertain her in the fashion =0 dear to the engaged girl. Never- theless, she has been the motif for a number of charming affairs, and the days between now and May 3 are filled with plans complimentary to the young bride-elect. To-morrow Mrs. Giles Faston will preside at a luncheon, and next Tuesday Mra. F. C. Havens will be hostess at_an affair in_honor of Miss Smith. To-day the bonny maids who will attend Miss Smith were her guests at luncheon. It was a very elaborate affalr, water lilies and lilles of the valley blending in a charming scheme of decoration. Jeweled hatpins were the favors. The luncheon party included Miss Sperry, the Misses Oliver, Miss Chass, Miss Burnham, Miss White, Miss Goodfellow, Miss Burdgs and Miss Ellls Miss Helen Dornin gave a jolly little sewing bee yesterday and one might easily guess that the dainty articles, over which twenty pairs of hands worked busily, will find thelr way into the trousscau of Miss Helen Chase, who is Miss Dorniu's cousin. Both girls belong to that gay young set that always gets so much real en- joyment out of life, including Miss Charlotte all, Miss Anita Thomson, Miss Katherine Brown, Miss Bessle Havens, Miss Katherine Kutz, Miss Nell Gelssler, Miss Gertrude Rus sell, Miss Bdna Prather, Miss erite But- ters, Miss Rose Kales, Miss Amy es, Miss Noelle de Golia, Miss Mary Van de Carr Hyde, Miss Lillie Reed, Miss Carmen Sutton and Miss Ruth Kales. Miss Chase will be the guest of honor luncheon to which Miss Chabot has invited teen guests for Thursday next, Miss Carolyn Oliver returned yesterday from the Fast, where she enjoyed a pleasant visit of several weeks. at a six- . . h Regiment, N. G. C. is these days and with g cause They have just moved into thelr cozy new headquarters adjoining Maple Hall and are now In possession of as pretty and com- Oakiand. Since the opening of the new clubrooms the young men about town have devel a war- ilke spirit and applications for mission to the company are numerous. The officers who have done much to keep alive military enthu- slasm in Company F are: Captain G. H. Weathem, First Lieutenant C. C. Cobalt and Second Lieutenant C. Sullivan Company F, Fift ““mighty_proud” Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Sammons of Tacoma and their son, Wheeler Sammons, were guests Sunday and Monday of Mrs. J. 436 Thirty-seventh street. Mr. Sammons is a veteran newspaper man, long connected with the Albany Journal. Seattle Post-Intell and the Tacoma Ledger. six years he has been_private secretary to Unfted States Sena- tor Foster of the State of Washington. = He was recently lgpoh’llufl Consul General at New- chwang, Manchuria, and salled with his fam- ily on the Manchuria Tuesday for his new post. —_——— BRAKEMAN SAVES CARS. OAKLAND, April 19.—Bruised and bleeding from a dozen cuts, John T. Davis, a brakeman in the employ of the Southern Pacific Company, pur- sued two runaway boxcars which had broken away from a wrecked train at Long Wharf to-night and succeeded in setting the brakes just as the wheels of the first car left the rails at the end of the wharf. As a freight traln was backing down the wharf the trucks of a car in the middle suddenly dro; oft and fell through the wharf the water. Davis was riding the wrecked car and he was thrown to the wharf, but he dashed after the two cars that had become detached. Davis, who was painfully infured, was taken to his home, 1067 Market street. ————— Jefferson May Recover, WEST PALM BFACH, Fla., April 19.—The change for the better in the condition of Joseph Jefferson has been so encous to the physicians and the family as to lead to the hope of ultimate recovery. This called for food and was retain chicken broth and brandy and milk after he had eaten half of a grape fruit. . ——— It's funny to watch them an the different ways men their hats to women. Such is the order issued to- | City Clerk, NOVEL SCHEME University Students Propose That Athletic Work Shall Be @iven Desired Credits —_—— PETITION IS PREPARED Authorities Will Be Asked to Make Field or Track Feats Count for Uni BERKELEY, April 19.—An Innovation at the University of California is pro- posed by men who are interested par: ticularly in athletics there, it being de- sired that athletes shall be given schol- arship credits for work done as such. The iconoclasts who propose the idea would have 80 much football work rank against so much Greek or Latin lore learned or studied and other athletic feats in proportion. A petition, addressed to the univer- sity authorities, asking that the new plan be adopted, is in circulation on the campus, and when sufficlent signatures are procured the document will be filed with Recorder Sutton. The petition reads as follows: To_the honorable faculty of the University of California: Whereas, Athletics are encour- aged by members of the faculty and students are urged to participate in the same; and, Whereas, Students who devote time to ath- letics are graded in parallel with students who are ‘enabled to spend the time thus saved in perfecting themselves in their courses; and, Whereas, It is manifestly unfair to pect of aihletes the same scholastic attain- ments as of students who spend /the aforesaid time in preparing first grade recitations; and, Whereas, A high degree of proficiency in athletics would redound to the honor and fame of the university, and to develop the highest possible degree of clency, the un- dersigned petitioners would suggest that the following umendments be made in the grading of elective credits: s ie following athletic sports, to wit: Foot- ball, tennis, baseball and boating, shall be graded by a committee of three members here- after to be appointed, one to be appointed by the fzculty, one by the assoclated students and these two o appoint a third. It Is suggented that the grading be along the following lines: Fcotball, three hours' credit; baseball, two hours; fennis, one hour: boating, two hours; track, ore hour: providing that the athletes represent California in intercollegiate contests. SATS HER LAND HAS N0 VALLE OAKLAND, April 19.—There 18 to be a contest over the property of the late Frank Silva of Pleasanton, who left an esate of over $60,000. His second daughter, Maria Silva Enos, says that her father left her a quarter-section of the worst land in that part of the country, and that it represents an in- finitesimal part of his estate, In an opposition to the probating of his will the daughter says that her father was in love with his niece, Mariana Lopez, and that he wished to marry her, but the law forbade it. He, however, took her to his home, and for her opposition in this matter Mrs, Enos says she was practically disinherited. The will was made within a few hours of Silva’s death, and she avers he was incompetent at that time to make one. To support this she points out that he has left a 50x100 foot lot on the main street of Livermore, in the heart of“the business section, for a park, which, however, the town is not to get for fifty years. He also directs that $10 a month shall be paid for masses on his soul for thirty years, but they are not to be begun until he has been dead twenty years. The property is divided among the widow and six children. NAMES TOWLE 15 INSPECTOR OAXKLAND, April 19.—John F.| Towle, a former president of the City Council and a lumber mill man for many years in this city, was to-day appointed Building Inspector by the Board of Public Works. Towle was the choice of Mayor Mott, who had served in the Council with him and holds his eelection in high esteem for integrity and ability. Towle was sworn in and commenced the discharge of his duties at once. The position is an important one, as thé new inspector will be called upon to iInterpret the building ordinance, which 1s an innovation in Oakland. General control of building operations will be in the Board of Public Works. At that office the necessary applica- tion blanks for permits and the like have been received, and work that has been delayed pending the inspector's appointment can now go forward with- out delay. The hoard has decided that after May 15 no permits to stretch banners across the public streets for advertis- ing purposes will he granted. —_————— MOTHER OF FIFTEEN SETS OF TWINS DEAD Noted Colorado Woman Passes Away at the Age of Eighty-Four Years. DENVER, April 19.—Mrs. Edith Gillespie, the mother of fifteen sets of twins, is dead. She died early on Monday morning on the ranch her son, John Gillesple, ten miles south of Denver. Mrs. Gillespie lived to reach the age of 84 years and to see her many children scattered far and wide throughout the country. , Mrs. Gillespie was in England, but came to this count more than sixty years ago and settled in Hills- borough Bridge, N. H. It was there that most of her children were born. Her husband died at the age of 58, She was finally left alone with her son John, who has never and the two came to Colorado. They set- tled on the little ranch several years Mrs. Gillespie’s Bastern relatives gradually lost trace of her, Several efforts were made to find her. Fin- ally Mrs. C. E. Upton, Mrs. lespie’s g oo e abouts of her sister. Sommers no trace of her until he saw the no- tice of.her death in a Denver news- paper. ok i ‘E’. “:::urhble mother came of o; 5 family and was one t:nglty children; " sy ROME, April 10.—Sir Charles P T LL UPHOLD THE OLD LAW Marin Officials Decide to Prevent Automobile Run- ning on Mountain Roads GIVES LEGAL OPINION District Attorney Believes That County Ordinance Is Still in Force and Effect Spectal Dispatch to The Call. SAN RAFAEL, April 19.—The au- thorities of Marin have determined to make every effort to prevent automo- biles running on the mountain roads of this county. District Attorney Boyd does not be- lleve that the Shortridge automobile law has taken away from the Board of Bupervisors the power to reserve certain roads for the use of horses and carriages and he holds that the ordinance of the Board of Supervisors prohibiting the use of these roads by automobiles has not been annulled by the legislative act. These mountain roads are narrow and in many places run along high: precipices, so that it is almost im- possible for an automobile to pass a team. ———— ELECT THEIR DELEGATES. PALO ALTO, April 19.—McKinley Post, Grand Army of the Republic of Palo Alto, will be represented at the department convention, which meets at Marysville on May 10, by Colonel F. E. Bullis, Major Charles Harkins and Dr. H. G. Wyckoftf. McKinley Rellef Corps has elected delegates to the department conven- tion, which meets at the same time and place, as follows: Mmes. Frances A. Kasson, J. P. Morton and Anna L. Corbert; alternates — Mmes. Mary Kelly and Anna Thompson. —_——— WILL LECTURE IN EAST. STANFORD UNIVERSITY, April 19.—Dr. Nathan Abbott, dean of the law department of Stanford Univer- sity, will leave fof the East at the close of the present college year. He is scheduled to give a series of lec- tures on the law of persons and the law of future interests at the summer school of the University of Chicago. ———————— STANFORD MAN WINS PRIZE. STANFORD UNIVERSITY, April 19.—W. E. Billings, a senior In the Stanford law department, was to-day awarded the first prize in a brief- making contest, open to all the law students of America. The prize was given by a St. Louls firm. ” —_—— MEMORIAL EXERCISES. BAN RAFAEL, April 19.—The local camp of the Woodmen of the World will hold services next Sunday after- noon at 3 o'clock in the San Rafael Opera-house in memory of F. A. Falkenburg, founder of the order, who died recently. —_— FORESTERS HOLD INITIATION. SAN RAFAEBL, April 19. — Court Tamalpais, Independent Order of Foresters, held an initiation at their rooms in the Masonic Hall Tuesday night and three applicants were re- ceived into the order. A banquet fol- lowed. FATHER FINDS LONG LOST SON Spectal Dispatch to The Call. PORTLAND, Ore., April 19.—Alfred Shepherd of Battle Creek, Mich., 65 years old and worth $500,000, to-day met his son, for whom he has been searching for twenty years. ‘When 16 years old, Fred D. Shepherd left home to be a cowboy. For years his father searched for him, but in vain. The boy moved to Portland finally, anl a few weeks ago sent his father a paper, scribbling his initials on it. The father could scarcely be- lieve that his son was alive, He asked the police here, however, to find his son if possible and they did so, Accom- panied by his wife, Shepherd hurried to Portland, and to-day was escorted by a detective to his son’s home. The meeting was so affecting that the father collapsed, but soon regained con- sciousness. ———————— THREE SETS OF TEETH FOR THIS CENTENARIAN Henry Essler Dies in Wisconsin at the Age of One Hundred and Seven Years, PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis, April 19.—Henry Essler, aged 107, of the vil- lage of Newton, dled to-day at the home of his daughter. He had worn out two sets of teeth and was cutting & third. Until he was 95 years old, he never wore glasses. . Essler's memory for dates and small incidents that occurred a half century ago was marvelous. He could not stay in one place long, but kept traveling around and was uneasy and nervous in the house, preferring to be out in the air. He ate without knife or fork, his meals consisting of bread and po- tatoes with several cups of tea. Essler was in Herkimer Coun- ty, N. Y., in 1797, of Germlngrenhn, and urnd“h tw: wars. He was a navigator of repute, sailing to China and the frozen north. — DAY DULY 3 OBSERVED IN ENGLAND LONDON, April 19.—Primrose day mdamrud to-day with undimin- zeal. Lord Beaconsfield’s statue ‘wag decorated on a generous scale. An :g-lon bveplwn:-d.:h:m R statue 2 hi -ue'fi i abe bearing in has not recovered | a during his recent MAY PURCHASE WATER SESTEM Residents of San Mateo in Favor of Acquiring ?he Plant Now in Operation i BOARD OF TRADE MOVES Will Appoint a Committee to Open Negotiations With Owner of the Works Bpecial Dispatch to The Call. SAN MATEO, April 19.—President Baskette of the Board of Trade has been authorized by that body to appoint & committee of three to negotiate with ‘William J. Dingee for the purchase of the San Mateo Water Company’s plant on behalf of the people of San Mateo. The movement has the sanction of the City Trustees, is the result of several years of agitation for municipal own- ership ahd seems to have the unanim- ous support of the people. The commit- ee when named will arfrange a confer- ence with Dingee. If a reasonable price is named a proposition to issue bonds to cover the purchase price will be sub- mitted to a vote of the people. The present water system is owned by Mrs. Alvinza Hayward, for whom Dingee is attornev and agent on this coast. He has intimated that if the people of San Mateo are sincere in a desire to purchase the property he will take up the matter with their repre- sentatives. The present value of the plant is sald to be about $125,000, though eight years ago Hayward offered to sell it for $30,- 000. Since then betterments to the value of about $50,000 have been added, including a twenty-flve-acre tract on the marsh, with a large pumping plant and several artesian wells. These wells now supply most of the water to con- sumers, but in addition the company owns a perpetual water supply from the Spring Valley Company of 300,000 gallons a day. The value of this par- ticulay asset is undetermined. The people want municipal water works, and if the negotiations reach the bond issue stage they will'carry by a large majority. They also desire a lighting plant, and ? the power neces- sary to operate the water system would also serve for lights it is pro- posed to secure both in one bond issue. In taking up the question the Board of Trade, which is thoroughly repre- sentative, is but carying out the wishes of the people. SCHOOL BONDS ARE ALL SOLD Special Dispatch to The Call. PALO ALTO, April 19.—The sale of the school bonds recently voted by Palo Alto has been made by the Coun- ty Supervisors at a prmium of $2985. The bonds were for $25,000 for gram- mar school purposes and $13,000 for the purchase of a block of land for a high school site. The school trustees have awarded a contract for a new grammaz school building to cost $18,000 and to be completed ready for use at the open- ing of the next school year. The bal- ance of the bond issue will be used to furnish the building and make im- provements on other school property. WITES ASSIST IN BURGLARIES Special Dispatch to The Call. TACOMA, April 19.—Alfred .Greeley and William Hudson, now in jail at Sedro, are accused by their “young brides of having compelled them to aid in systematic thieving operations. The wives are slender girls, aged 15 and 17 years. Mrs. Hudson has been married two weeks and Mrs. Greeley five months. They say that contrary to their wishes their husbands forced them to go out nights and take part in robbing stores and houses. Last week officers of Skagit County made an inv tion, following nu- merous robberies about and Ly- man. They raided Graeley’s ranch and found the house well stocked with canned goods, cigars and goods stolen from various stores. Among logs and in stumps were found dozens of stolen articles which were later to be s| and sold in job lots. Following their arrest Greeley and Hudson admitted their guilt to the officers. ———— SECRETARY LOEB JOINS THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY ‘Will Return Laden With News as to the Success of the Hunt., GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo., April 19.—With President Roosevelt and Sec- retary Loeb in camp twenty miles from the nearest telegraph office, no news of the hunt came out of the woods to-day.’ When Loeb returns to- morrow, it is expected, he will bring ormation of the luck that has at- tended the President’s hunt for big game. The President a personal diary and corre- spondents maroconed here await the return of the secretary with much im- EWS OF THE COUNTIES ABOUT THE BAY MAPPING OUT RAILWAY LINES Rival Surveying Parfies at Work in San Mateo County Cause Much Speculation LAND 1S BEING BONDED Option Secured on Property in the Neighborhood of the Proposed Route Special Dispatch to The Call REDWOOD CITY, April 1.—Two ri- val surveying parties are at work in this county, but it is not known whom 'they represent. Options on various | pieces of land are being secured and the greatest secrecy Is being main- tained. The Southern Pacific, the West- ern Pacific and the Santa Fe compa- nies and corporations of smaller mag- nitude figure in the speculations which have arisen from the quiet but strenu- ous labors of surveyors and land pur- chasers. A surveying party headed By W. B. Rodgers is mapping out a route near Big Creek, approximatély half way from Santa Cruz to Pescadero. This party is supposed to represent the Western Pacific Company. A Southern Pacific surveying party is running a line from Boulder Creek to Pescadero. At the same time the Southern Pacific Company is bonding property from Santa Crusz, by way of Garfleld Park, up the coast to Pescadero. Southern Pacific engineers are figur- ing the cost of various routes, and upon their decision will rest the route construction. It is estimated that the cost of widening tunnels and changing the narrow-gauge railroad from Santa Cruz to Alameda into a brdad-gauge would be about $1,000,000 and it is as- serted that a through line along the coast, by way of Pescadero, to the Ocean View broad-gauge, which is a distance of sixty miles, would cost no more. Such a road, however, would offer the tremendous advantage to the Southern Pacific Company of crippling any com- petition and at the same time opening a rich and prospercus country included in the Pescadero and Halfmoon Bay valleys. One of the immediate needs of this locality, and one that offers oppor- tunity of material profit to the railroad company, is that of the Santa Crus Lime Company, which seeks to tap the San Vicente grant. Immense quantities. of bituminous rock and lime are now hauled from here by wagons. There is still another route that may be taken. It would be by way of Fel- ton, leaving the narropv-gauge road at Boulder Creek, runni by way of Bem Lomond and over the Pescadero ridge to the broad-gauge railroad near Red- ‘weod: City, a distance of about seventy- four miles. WILL BUILD BRANCH LINE. Suit to Secure Right of Way Is Com~ menced at Santa Cruz. SANTA CRUZ, April 19.—That the Southern Pacific intends to build a branch line from Boulder Creek to Pescadero is showd by a suit filed in the Superior Court to-day. in which the California Timber Company seeks to condemn rights of way owned by the Santa Cruz Bank of Savings and Loan so as to widen its narrow gauge railroad from Boulder Creek to Dougherty’s-mill, a distance of seven miles, to the Southern Paciflc stand- ard. As soon as these additional rights of way are secured the line will be sold to the Southern Paciflc, which will extend the same from Dougher- ty’s mill in a northwesterly direction over the Pescadero ridge via Feeder Creek to Pescadero, opening up the immense timber lands. The new line will also open the first rail route in the Big Basin, where the State red- wood park is located. INVALID MEETS AWFUL DEATH Special Dispatch to The Oall. SPOKANE, April 19.—Mrs. Samuel ‘Weller, an invalid, who lived fourteen miles south of Ritzville, was burned to death yesterday afterncon. Recently her husband went to Paha to work and left a man to take care of the orchard and also to look after Mrs. Weller. How thé accident occurred will prob- ably never be known. The woman's screams of agony summoned assistance to the house, but by that time she had been fatally burned. It is presumed she was attempting to start a fire and that her clothing became Owing to her feebleness, due to a long spell of sickness, she was unable to extinguish the blaze. E —_——— JPRISONERS CREMATED IN 'rnu: THEY STARTED Two Lose Their Lives and One ¥Fa- tally Burned In Trying to Escape. NEW ORLEANS, April 19.—In an attempt to escape, three prisoners to- ! day set fire to the parish jail at Pont- i chatoula, La., forty-eight miles from jNew Orleans. Two of them were cremated and a third fatally burned. The dead: Henry Taylor and James Reilly. Fatally burned: Lucien Gedrge De-