The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-24
FROM THE FRONT.
Condition of Affairs on the Oak
land Side Of the Bay.
Armed Men on Guara-A Show Of Weapons
A Notice About the Southern Pacific
The Advics of Lawyer.

Late yesterday afternoon the situation on
the Oakland water front was a most threat
enipg one. For the first time guns were
openly shown. John L. Davie had dozen
armed men on the shore, vigllantly waiting
for the railroad men to make an aggressive
movement.
In the middle OF the afternoon Davie put
men to work fencing in the shore, and by
dark they reached the waters edge, thus
ineosing the entire disputed strip with piles
and planks.
The first alarm to Davie came when Wool
sey left the barge and took the l 80 o'clock
train for the city. Various facts led to the
belief that he had gone 10 help arrange a
plan by the Water-fron Company to storm
the place at night and take full possession.
Whatever the exact grounds Dayie had
for this belief, they were strong enough to
make him unusually active. he sent for a
reinforcement Immediately and then be-
gan to erect the fence. Only few men
were kept on duty with guns, but IN the
Office were stacked guns as in an arsenal
ready for instant use.
What do you expect to-nightY asked
CALL reporter OF DaVie.
Il am ready for anything" he answered.
They may have hundred men here to take
my property. | vail be ready for them,
and with the first move on their part VIII
shoot them down as they deserve!
TO ESTABLISH FERRY.
els your object TO establish ferry here ?'
Yes, aud that IS the basis Of their opp0-
sition. This place will be- used for COM
petiug ferry"
The reporter then boarded The leaky old
barge and sloke to Woolsey.
what are you going TO do ?"
No III
"What are Davies men doing with
guns?"
aggreSs0r."
Another question was put to WOolsey ::
Are you gong to bring reinforcement OF
men heleY'
Il decline TO answer that" said Woolsey.
WO0lsey and his handful OF men on the
barge were the only ones representing the
company at that time.
X. NJ. Fitzgerald anticipated trouble, but
said that his own side would not begin it.
Why don't they appeal 10 the law.
asked Fitzgerald. instead Of coming here
armed to Kill? If their cause is good why
don't they eDjOin US? 1t is a sad thing for
Oakland, but il IS our land. and if they're
going 10 shoot we'll shoot back"
Mr.. Fitzgerald SAID that his only fear was
of cIanks, who in their excitement might
attempt TO blow up the barge. Such pro-
pOsal had been made to DAVE the night be-
FORE but the man who made it had been
warned of arrest.
Toward night squad of Il officers were
sent 10 the S enc By Chief Tompkins. Sher-
i'll Hussey and q number of his deputies
were on hand. Davies men had requested
the Sheriff to appoint them special deputies
in order That they might the more efficiently
prevent the threatened trespasS. This the
Sheriff refused 10 do, but stood ready with
his regular men to arrest the first one who
should make a show Of violence.
= NOTICE.
At o'clock the following notice, I'M
signed was posted at various places on the
streets:
Cltizensl Tie Southern Pacific Railroad Com
pany has inaugurated high-handed measure 10
disposseSs private CITIZEN Of his properly. You
are requested 10 mret az Tie water 'front.', the
seat or war, this evening, AZ O'Clock 10 con
slider tie situation. Oakland is Involved. Come
prepared 10 defend your lois!
This, together with covered wagon an
nOuncing The meeting attracted 5000 or 1000
people 70 the place by o'clock. No rail
road men with guns appeared, however,
only WOosey ana his half-d0Zen men being
on the barge. Davies men still patroled
their beats.
As the crowd began TO gather Davies
piledriyer was put in operation on the Gov
eminent line outside the barge, and by the
time the crowd dispersed it was inci0sed by
piles
Ben Morgan, Davies attorney, made an
address to the crowd, condenniug in scath-
ing terms the Southern Pacific of Ken
lucky" and defending Davie in his rights
to the property. He referred to the railroad
as creature that buys legislatures and
pays no taxes, but EFFORTS revenue from
people who submit like crayenS.
DAVE WANTED ADVICE.
. Davie asked me for advice, he said,
"and | gave a soldiers advice-'Wh an
armed assassin comes hold the fort Let
any II an come and vindicate the railroad
Is there any law for its present action?
No; none, item nor unwritten."
David Hoffman also made an address, tell
Ing. among other things, the history of me
water front.
Dave himself mounted the stand under
the electric light. They have come TO dis
possess me" he said, ''of that for which l am
paying lease rent TO a man who mas he'd
peaceable possession for 20 years They
call me beggar and squatteT, but ;ua0k
CD Pm peaceable. law-abiding m n, hold
ing my lease from such man. They eau I
hire an assassin to stand before me. I've
filled in this strip and Pm here TO stay"
Other speeches were made. some of them
radical, but the crowd cheered Justify for
Dayie.
Finally the people went home. the pile
driver ceased work and all was quiet.
-----
In vain the eyes are filed with light;
In vain the cheek with beauty CLOVIS
Unless the teeth pure and white,
Unless the fs 20 no