The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-12
KICKED OFF THE GROUND.
Another Phase of the Oakland
Water Front Row.
BOOTS VIGOROUSLY USED.
Two Men Who Wanted to Fence in Property
That Is Claimed BY john L. Davie.
Their Explain stion.

There was sharp, but brief struggle for
possession of the waterfront land at the
foot of Webster street yesterday forenoon,
in which weapons were displayed ana ireeiy
used.
The weapons in this instance were the
strong boot toes of John L. Davie and j..
NJ. Bassett.
They bodily kicked off two men who had
gone there and commenced to fence In the
lan0.
1t was the only real fight that has taken
place since the dispute began, and even
then Davie, like Corbett, had 1t all his own
way.
He will, however. have to get new toes
put in his boots.
The two intruders were Archibald, better
known as ''Scotty" Gibbs, an employe OF
lumber company on the city 'front.' and
fisherman named Durham.
Gibbs and Durham. in their sober senses.
went down arly in the morning and began
10 drive stakes for fencing in 100 square
feet of Davies wharf.
When they were kicked OF they got drum
and talked about it yolubly.
Gibbs claimed the property. 1t IS new
claim. never heard OF before.
Several years ago he pulled dilapidated
old scow ashore, and in this Durham made
his home for two or three years.
While drunk yesterday gibbs said that he
bought the scOw from an Englishman and
that the purchase included the title to the
water front. He could fine the English
mans name il q little time was given him.
He thought it was about time to assert
himself, and so he and Durham took their
tools. got some stakes. and went to work.
"And the first thing | KNEW" said
Gibbs, "Davie came down and kicked me.
HE took me by the back OF the neck and
kicked me clear off.
more than that, he threatened to throw
me into the bay. What could l do?
~ didn't have my shotgun.
"Ihen he went to wOrk and tore mp my
scow and yelled TO lot of boys that had
gathered to carry it off. They did so, and
l have lost both my scow and my prop
erty."
M. Davie was seen in relation to the
matter by CALL reporter. He stated that
word came 10 him that men were fencing
In his property and he FASTENED there with
Bassett.
He found Gibbs and Durham at work
and ordered them off. They did not want
to go and he FASTENED things by using his
boot.
Mr.. Davie could not account for it ex-
ceDt on the grounds that the Waterfront
Company had put the two fellows up TO it
in order to get him into fight and cause
trouble.
He stated that both are witnesses In the
waterfront suit. Clubs. however, denied
this, saying that he wanted TO be a witness,
but that the company wouldn't have him.
By the time Davis and BaSsett arrived a
crowd had gathered. and they began to
moot when the two new "squatters" were
so easily vanquished.
One If WoolSey's men, whose name is
said TO be Ed Lawrence, stood on the barge
and shouted
Il told you 50, Gibbs, you fool; told you
Davie would kick you"
1t was most laughable scene. and Gibbs
felt rather hurt in mind as we'll as in body
at Davies rough treatment.
Davie had been claiming the old scow,
which was deserted long ago.
Gibbs had put q new lock on IL early in
the morning. but Dave took this off and
allowed a lot of boys to carry the frame
work away for klndling wood. He kept
man on guard the rest of the day, but was
not given any trouble