The morning call., 1892-08-22
OAKLAND And ITS ENVIRONS
A Man Suddenly Becomes Insane
After Leaving Church.
Collision Between a Locomotive and a Fire
Ensine-Engine-Dri Injured = Grapes
Damaged in Alameda County.

John Gavin, a fireman for the Oakland
| Gaslight and Heat Company, became sud-
denly insane yesterday morning as he was
| leaving services at st. Patrick's Church In
company with his wife. After they had
| emerged from the door he seized her by the
| shoulders, without warning. and shouted,
You have killed man; know you have
| killed a man. You are my wife and you
shall never do it again." Before he could
commit any violence be was seized by 9TH
ers. Rev. Father McNally tried to pacify
| him, but it was useless. He fought like a
savage animal and it required four police
men to take him to Jail, where he was
placed in a strait-jacket. The physician
| says that his insanity results from brain
| fever
| FIRE AND STEAM ENGINE COLLIDE.
| A fire alarm sounded yesterday for box
| of burning shavings in the vicinity of Third
and jackson streets. As the Sixth-Street
| engine hurried to the place it crossed the
narrowgauge railroad track just as the
| Webster-street train came rushing from
| across tie bridge. 1t crushed into the fire
| engine, wreckng it totally. The driver,
Holly Starm, was strapped TO his seat un-
able to jump. By the collision the straps
| were broken and he was thrown violently
| 10 the ground. He was taken up unconscious
| and taken TO his home. On examination it
| slightly and one of his ribs were broken and
one of his ankles fractured.
THE HOT wEATHER's WORK.
Reports from the fruit-growers in the
| eastern end of the county and from over the
border in Contra Costa County are TO the
| effect that the hot weather of the past week
has seriously damaged the grape crop. The
| crop is a light one, but the cool weather
! previous 10 last week did much TO develop
| what was on the vines. Then suddenly the
| blightlng north wind-a north wind differ
ent from that of anywhere else on the
| gl0be-came down from the desert, and
with the aid of the torrid sun withered the
| promising crop. A telephone message from
| a prominent grape-grower near Livermore
| yesteTd stated that he will lose good
many dUllars because of the tickle weather
| Tons of promising fruit were scalded and
| ruined, he said, and the market will be
| vsibly affected. While this is true of the
| grape crop, the fruit on the trees will suffer
but little
A SAN FRANCISCO MAN DROWNED.
Robert Nelson, a member OF the lodges Of
Knights Of Pythias and OF the Workmen
| OF San Francisco, was accidentally
drowned on Friday at Changers wharf.
Martinez. He was employed several
to work on his schooner Martinez. then at
the City wharf. He went with the schooner
TO Martinez. and, as he tailed 20 appear on
the vessel the morning after the drowning.
| a suspicion started that he might have
slipped and fallen while trying to board her
| the night before. A search with drag
net confirmed this belief. An inquest was
| partially held yesterday, but an aGjourn-
ment was taken to get further information
in Oakland and San Francisco from the So
cleties to which he belonged. He was
about 45 years old. and came from Working
ton, Cumberland County, England, where
his aged mother resides.
LACK OF WATER.
The town of Haywards is complaining
| OF a threatened water famine. This in
| creases the danger from fire, and the evil
| dence OF the past few weeks, showing that
| there are incendiaries in town, tends to
| make the matter rather serious one.
Chief Engineer Knudsen OF the Fire De-
| Partment took the pains to investigate the
water supply and reports that at the source
| the San Lorenzo Water Company's reser-
voir-tkere are barely II inches of water,
where, until recently, there have been seven
feet. The company has shut off the supply
Tor the pr0miscuous sprlnkling OF gardens
and lawns in order to have enough for other
| use. Because of the danger from fire the
Trustees next Saturday evening will con-
slider the matter of connecting the mains
| with the huge cistern on the Haywards
Hotel property until the reservoir can
again supply the need.
LOOK OUT FOR THE BRIDGE.
The tidal-canal bridge lately built by the
Government has not yet been accepted by
the Board of Supervisors. As a conse-
| quence it is lily cared for and is beginning
built it, the Government has offered it to
| the Board OF Supervisors, whose duty it is
TO appoint keeper. So far no good excuse
has been given for their failure to do this.
| aud they are being accused of careleSsneSS.
The machinery has never been oiled. the
| bridge has never been turned, and vehicles
| exercise no care in crossing, but go at
| breakneek speed because it is easy driving.
| The big structure vibrates and groans
| under such treatment. and In the end it will
| lake good many dollars to repair damage.
The pianking Is already becoming ruined.
| SEQUEL OF THE DAVE TRoUBLE.
| Admiral Woolsey, who made ridcu-
'ous attempt to storm Davies landing from
ponderons. leaky barge. had ample oppor-
tunlty at that time to hear the publle's esti-
nation of him. His ears are still red ant
| tingling with the expressions hurled at him
/ at the time OF the citizens mass-meeting on
| the water front There was a sequel of that
| period In the Police Court Saturday. De-
spairing Of arreSting the 5000 people who
| assembled there and shouted at him, the
| admiral conteDted himself with having
| Richard S0rensen, Tony Sylvia and George
Drake taken into custody and charged with
disturbing the peace By applying oppro-
| brlOuS epithetS. They were tried by la jury
| Saturday aud acquitted.
FOR BETTER PAY.
| There will be meeting of the Board of
| Education tonight. at which the primary
principals will make request for an in
| crease OF salary.
| The Fulton Iron Works Company will
| file articles OF incorporation on this side of
| the bay within the present week. Active
| operations toward removing the plant from
| San Francisco will begin by the end Of the
month.
| A series of concerts will hereafter be
| held at the City Hall Park every Friday
\ evening by the new Artillery band
| AN OAKLAND MARRIAGE.
| William c. Mccormick, the capable and
| well-known night manager of the Western
| Union Telegraph office, and Miss Edith X.
Harris. daughter of MIR. and Mrs j. N.
| Harris OF Tenth street, were quietly mar
| ried at the First Presbyterian Church Sat-
| urday evening IN the presence of their rela-
/ tlveS and Intimate friends. A reception
\ was afterward held at the brides residence.
| Both are well-known young people in Oak
| land. and have host of friends, who spent
| yesterday In congratulatng them after tue
happy wedding had became generally
| known.
| Alameda.
| III all the city trustees are present at the
meeting this evening. final action will be
taken on w. M. Ranks application for an
| electric road franchise on San Jose avenue.
The application has been pending for several
weeks. and several strong protests have
been filed by the property-owners The
/ company which desires the franchise is now
/ laying track fer an electric railroad on
| Park street. and in case the franchise is
l granted work will soon he cnmmpnpad IN