The morning call., 1892-06-13
MISSED THE BOAT.
Angry Citizens ut the Oakland
Ferry Saturday Night.
The Cars Were Stepped, but the Steamer
Went Anyhow-Whole Night of Misery
Away From Home.

The Southern Pacific Company has again
shown its utter disregard for the public at
large and echoed the words of Vanderbilt.
This time 1t has given Oakland taste of its
contempt for its patrons, and the inhsbi-
tants of the Athens of the Pacific will no
doubt show their resentment at the earliest
opportunity.
On Saturday night there were at least 200
people shut out from the last boat across
the bay and they had to skirmish for lOdg-
ings as best they might.
THE CARS STOPPED.
About half-past IL o'clock fire broke out
on Market street, near Sixth, and the con-
sequence was that the cable system was
stopped The fire did not amount to much.
but the hose was stretched across the street
for half an hour or more, and the dummies
could not cross it. 1t was probably good
thing for the late crowd gong west, but it
operated very poorly for those who wanted
to reach the ferry.
AS usual on Saturday night there was a
large crowd over here from Oakland, and
some were visiting and others were at the
theater but all had timed themselves 10
catch the last boat, and just knew when to
take the last car going east. As soon as
the hose was removed from the street,
the cars were put in motion, and amid the
changing of bells they went rolling down
Market street. All along the line they were
hailed, but the gripmen had their orders
and the cars stopped for no one. From
dozen to sixteen dummies rolled up to the
depot one after another with men who were
fortunate enough to be alone.
ANGRY CITIZENS.
Many people who had tired of waiting
for the cars. not knowing what was the
matter started to walk 10 the ferry. The
majority of these arrived at the depot just
after the first car, and they surged in toward
the gate.
Among the number we're some If Oak
lands best people. who had come over in
theater parties. With wild rush ladies
and gentlemen scrambled into the building
and reached the gates just in time to hear
the loud gong claDg and see the portals
swing closed. Then followed a scene hard
TO describe. There were men with their
wives and daughters, young girls who had
never remained night away from home,
young men with awful cares suddenly
thrust upon them, and pandemOnium was
let loose The men demanded the opening
of the doors and crowd rushed forward TO
batter them down. The police struggled
through to the head Of the surging crowd
as the whistle Of the departing steamer
sounded the death Knell of the hopes of
those who were left behind. Had it not
been for the officers the walls would have
been torn down.
a GRAVE SITUATION.
i
expense Of remaining in the city over night
was not by any means the gTavest feature
of the position. What were the young
ladies 10 do and how we're they to explain
their absence from home? There were
anxious mothers on this side as we'll as in
Oakland, aud altogether it was a pretty
mess. There were weeping misses and
wrathy men, and curses strong and deep
were mingled with sObs soft and silent. 1t
was not time, however, to waste IN idle
mourning, and those who had friends on this
side or funds 10 put up at
hotel boarded the cars which were now
plentiful enough and went uptown. There
were many embarrassing incidents, too.
Some of the young Athenian gentlemen,
who had spent their weeks salary on the
charming Athenian maidens, were at their
wits end to provide a cover for the fair
ones they had spent the evening with and
dallied until the last moment. and the blue
canopy Of heaven had 10 do its best for
them. Bow these unfOrtunates managed is
a mystery, but there were some very broken
up couples crossing the bay yesterday morn
ing on the early boat.
Over in Oakland, however, there were
many who passed a sleepless night. not
knowing what had happened to the belated
ones, and all day yesterday there were ex-
plantations and explanations.
The end has not yet come. Among the
possibilities are divorces and breach of
promise suits and other calamities.