The morning call., 1893-07-09
FRONT.
THE OAKLAND WATER

almost doiorously. ''to see how much they
will leave u.s.
Nor were the electric-light poles all.
Early in the morning force OF men had
dug holes On the line Of the street just
under the rails of the two spurs of the
railroad track and big pile of dirt was
piled up against the end of one OF the
Southern Pacific coalcars. This was done
long before daylight. while Chief Of Police
Schaeffer and detachment OF twelve
policemen played the roles Of sentlnels
there for the night. The purpose OF these
holes was plain enough. Should the rail-
road company essay to back up the coal
cars or TO run any cars on the unoccupied
track little wreck would ensue in either
case.
"Who ordered the holes dug?" was asked
of the Mayor.
II did," came the prompt reply.
That meant that the Mayor believed he
knew what he was about.
Chief Schaeffar with his squad of police
remained on duty all night. He did not
leave the scene Of operations until A. M.
when he was relieved by Captain Wilson
and detail of four officers.
All was quiet enough during the day.
but Chief Schaeffer was fully prepared for
any emergency that might arise. He was
out of bed as early as II o'clock and
promptly on hand again. He remained
at the wharf during all the afternoon. 1t
was said that plenty of policemen were
handy-pretty close by. The green shut
tiers of the two-story white wooden build
ing OF George F. Lafleche. just at the cor
uer, where the electric car lines track de-
scriDes an astonishingly sharp curve, close
to the sidewalk. were suggestively closed
all day long.
Mr.. Lafleche's place 10 called the Capital
House. and the proprietor is not lover of
the Southern Pacific by long way. As
ne stood behind the bar he let it be known
pretty effectively that he was possessed Of
some information not haired in common
with the rest of humanity.
They're prepared, all right enough"
said he, with a meaning look from his one
expressive eye. "There are plenty of
policemen not far away If they should be
needed"
do you know where they are?"
"Oh. they're around, all right enough"
Have you them in your house"
mo"
1t may be said. also. that what force of
police was kept secretly on hand-sleep-
Ing of course, but with one eye open ready
to obey moments beck-had few shot.
guns among them. But if that was fact
Chief Schaeffer was keeping it profound
secret. At noon. however, orders wero
sent out through the police alarm system
to the different officers. who then reported,
telling them not to appear for duty at that
hour, but to report at P. NJ. for a ten-hour
watch until relieved at o'clock this morn
ing That indicated that the city proposed
to be fully prepared should anything make
summary measures necessary during the
hours. The electric lights would then be
very convenient, too.
The absence Of Nagle, the Deputy
United States Marshal lat that ttme), who
shot David S. Terry. and who is said to
now be in tho employ of the Southern
Pacific Company. was a significant fact
among others. Not once during the day
had the police seen him around, so it was
OWNED that the railroad company did not
intend to resort to means of violence hav-
Ing a shadow Of legality. for Mr.. Nagle's
career shows that he can go through a
pretty sudden metaNorphOsis and become
Deputy United States Marshal ON short
notice If necessary, and he has proved him.
self gun-fghter. too.
There were the usual crowds about for
the entire day. but not In such great num-
beers as on Thursday and Friday. Road
master Horn commingled freely with the
talkative loiterers, and joined in the con-
versation with arms aKimbo. Once the
original Carpenter himself. so it was re-
ported by the police. came and took in the
situation.
The little tug Rival continued to steam
into the Alameda's slip whenever that
freightboat was out and either the Rosalie
or the Frank Silva hove in sight. Just
why has already been explained; still it is
quite patent that the entrance to the slip is
not within the line Of Broadway. 1t kept
the tug busy. though, apprehensive as she
seemed to be Of a possible effort on the part
Of the Davie boat to break the blockade.
The two mudscows were still at the edge
of the wharf, but one had been hauled
alongside the other to make room for the
schooner Signal to back up about thirty
feet. There was no opening left to be
taken advantage of.
The Rosalie came In to her wharf at
Franklin street at 80 p. NJ. alive with
passengers. She had 594 on board: that
is. that many fares were collected accord
ing to j. L. Davie. who was up on the
hurricane deck himself. leaning over the
rail to give an occasional order as the boat
pulled in.
''If you could get an opening at the
Broadway wharf, would you land there?"
was question fired at him point blank.
"We would" he replied.
'When do you expect to get formal per-
mission from the city to land there ?"
Next Monday"
Suppose the railroad company tries to
hinder your"
1--WE won't let them"
1t will probably be later than next Mon
day, though. when Mr.. Davie will receive
the coveted permission. Chairman Smell
of the Waterfront Committee was still
out of town yesterday, and at the Snsll
Seminary it was told THE CALL reporter
hat hA