The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-30
SPADES AND CLUBS.
Competing Cable.Car Companies
Engage in War.
Dispute Over a Franchise Leads to a
Wrangle in Which Several Men Are
Badly Bruised.

There is big fight on between tho Omni-
bus Gable Railway and the Market-street
Cable System of the Southern Pacific. 1t
seems to be a question of which corporation
has the legal right TO construct street rail-
road on that portion of the earth known and
designated as Stanyan street, between
Haight and Waller.
Facts concerning the wrangle, which must
ultimately be settled in the courts, are hard
to get, for everybody has a different version
of the affair and the circumstances which
have led mp to the complication. 1t seems
that the Omnibus Company has held fran
chise for a cable extension out Stanyan
street since the completion of the road to
its present terminus at Haight street. In
order to hold the franchise a hOrse-car
track was laid down for some distance and
a ''bob-tai" line has been operated for
several months past.
No sooner did the Market-street people
hear of an intention to extend on the part of
their competitors than they at once set
themselves TO work to cut off the new line
by running the Cliff House steam dummies
out on Stanyan street and to point con-
meeting with the horSe-car line.
TORE UP THE TRACKS.
In this condition matters rested until
Tuesday, when the MaTket-street folks an
nCunced their intention of extending the
Haight-street line out Stanyan, claiming
that they possessed n franchise granting
them the right of so doing.
But the Omnibus horse-car tracks were
IN the way. To less powerful corporation
this might have been considered a slight
barrier The fact, however. of another
company property occupying the coveted
highway seems in this particular case TO
have had little weight, and late Tuesday
evening large gang Of men was set to
work with orders wine the nrOnprty nf
the Omnibus Company from the face Of the
earth and Stanyan street.
The work went merrily on throughout the
night, and when. yesterday morning, Super
lnIendent Anderson took his usual ride
over the line, he was surprised to see an
extension of the Market-street system
nearly ready for operation, and all that
was left of his POOR little horse-car road
piled up in 4 scrap heap along one side OF
the street.
HE GOT MAD.
He got off the car, and, after wiping some
tears from his eyes, attempted TO drive the
gang of men away and relay the tracks.
Then he got mad and went TO the head Of
fee of his company for men. \ battalion
was quickly mustered and sent TO the front
under command Of Foreman Michael
OShanahal.
In less than an hour the track was relaid,
and leaving small guard the main body
was allowed TO fail back.
Then appeared on the scene Special Officer
Harry Hook, with a special detachment of
Market-Street men. Superintendent Barron
was second III command, while Chief Engi-
Deer keighen brought up the rear. The
latter carried stout club, and in the con-
fiict which followed his conduct is said to
have been highly cOmmendable. lie was
everywhere III the tnic keSt of the fray, and
by lis manly courage nerved the men to
desperate daring.
An order was given to tear up the tracks,
and the men fell to their work with vigor
The small guard on hand could offer little
resistance, and soon the Omnibus hoIse-car
line was again a pile Of rubbish IL the
gutter.
A FREE FIGHT.
Somehow the main body learned of what
was going on in front, and forming behind a
ne1ghborng saloon advanced IN close order,
under the direction OF Superintendent An
dersOn. Hook was asked to call off his dogs
and then go and jump in the bay.
He replied by taking off his coat and warn
ing his men to prepare for the slaughter, at
the same time picking up rail aud point
ing II at Anderson. One OF Anderson 5
staff objected and, according to the Omnibus
people. Hook struck the man with brick.
Hook denies that lie struck first, but at any
rate, there was sharp lighting all along the
line In less than TWO minutes. Spades,
stones, dinner pals, picks, scraps of rail
road iron, ETC., flew like hail-stoneS
There were about hundred men on each
side, all good fighters and all greatly ex-
cited. and the only wonder is that some one
was not killed.
THE POLICE INTERFERE.
Before much damage had been done a
squad Of police came down the street in
dOuble-quick time and the opposing forces
wbTe separated before anything more seri-
GUS than a lew black eyes and several
badly bruised heads resulted.
At a late hour last evening the situation
was about as follows: The Omnibus Com
pany had possession Of the horse-car tracks
which had been removed and cable bitches
sunk.
The Market-street Company from the
Omnibus terminus had laid tracks for about
a block up Stanyan street.
AT 10 O'Clock both parties ceased work.
and the men rested on their spades in the
trpncbpS