The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-07

The explosion and fire at SantanQer
have had no precise parallel in disasters
Within few hours there were hundreds
of lives lost and great portion of pros
porous town was in ashes. The whole
population seems to have been paraiyZed
and daZed with dread and utterly helpless
to cope with the dangers. But 1t is not
improbable that had GOODNESS been dis
played all effort would have been equally
unavailpg owing 20 lack of fire-brigade
organization and appliances. Regulations
as to the transportation of dynamite must
be either nOn-exstent or altogether too
stringent and unavoidable. so as 10 en-
courage smuggling. Such quantity as
$50 cases of this high explosive on board
single ship is carving great deal too
much risk. The effect of the explosion
was evidently terrific from the number OF
small craft sunk in the harbor and from
havoc wrought ashore. The force was al
most volcanic in violence.
John McNulty has again been sentenced
to death for a murder committed more
than five years ago. A date for the dread
ceremony of the scaffold has been fixed,
but probably McNulty is firmly of opinion
that he will see New Years day, and per-
haps many others, albeit Judge Murphy
only allows him grace up 10 the Doth of De-
cember. The case Is remarka bic for the
number of new trials and expedients to
get the defendant clear. Most people have
well nigh forgotten that crime was per-
petrated, and, If they give the case
thought at all, look at it only as it affects
another life. The slow and shifty course
of the administration of justice is respon-
sibe for this Indifference and oblivion.
Actually the crime was committed long
haFn tha Gnuarnnr
and Two Legislatures have been elected in
the interval. Yet there was a case in an
other State where man underwent the
death penalty over six years after the muir
der. Seven of the jurors nave declared in
McNulty'S favor on new evidence.
Some expression of regret will have to
be rendered to England by Brazil for the
misadventure of mstaking a party of
British bluejackets for De Mello's rebels
and blowing them and powder-magazine
up together. The judicious use of marine
glass would have informed Peixoto's SOL
diers of the difference between the two
nalionalities. and il was hasty work IN
der any circumstances TO explode a mine
for the humiliation OF a small boating
party ashore 10 procure sand for deck
holystoning. The explanation will be
forthcoming, but England may be prompt
eu Dy LIE ulISduN6DluIe 10 tdhc SOl0 OlueI
action. The Brazilian war is now passing
into very fierce aspect.
Train-robbing by stratagem and the cap
ture of a locomotive is almost pardonable
compared with the iendish atrocity OF
tearing up rails and ditching train quite
regardless of consequences. a crime Of
this nature is reported on the Illinois Gen.
trail, and several lives have been sacrificed.
lNl.x md Hair
were unsuccessful. The wreck was not
complete enough for footing. Miscreants
of that stripe should receive no mercy.
a Brooklyn forger is in the tolls who can
look back on a long career of successful
fraud. He has over 200 checks to his credit
as smart rogue. and is believed during
ten years to have received over &c., 600
that he learned" by his pen. There was
prospect to end his frauds on two occa-
sions. but the parties were cOntented with
restitution and avoided the endless worries
of carrying prosecution through. II the
commercial community had its way it
would not spare such cheat, but very
likely he will only get few years in Jail
and will then resume his knavery.
1t is rather cruel to represent Lord Bur-
ton. the wealthy brewer, as putting his
daughter up in the marriage market only
for dukes. on the ground that a dowry of
S5.O0O,O0O or more is worth that at least
There are very few dukes valuable, and
the few who are worth anything in char
acter or ability are, no doubt, Indifferent
about whether dowry amounts to 500 or
several millions. Burton was made peer
by Gladstone in 1856, and ii he would only
subscribe generously to the Liberal cleo
ton funds he might hope to become a
Marquis himself.
The Oakland and San Francisco Termi-
nal Company, just incorporated, is one of
those organizations with bouudless posi-
bilities and nothing practical in sight. 1t
is not likely to be the means of bringing
in a competitive railroad. merely because
il offers facilities of access. Any railroad
that wants to reach San Francisco will be
able TO push other plans if so DISPOSED.
Mr.. F. NJ. Smith, the promoter, says that
a new ferry is needed at Emeryvlle. The
pier has been built out into the bay con-
siderable distance at that point. but work
has long been suspended, and there is
evidently no hurry to start the steamers.
Quite what was intended by this work is
left TO guessing.
The ships and torpedo boats Peixoto has
acquired in the United States are to go
south as peaceful merchantmen, loaded
with explosives and guns as cargo. They
are just as welcome to this kind of cargo
as to one of -four, so far as any embargo
can be put on their departure. But as
they are to sail under the Brazilian flag
De Mello will put his own construction
upon their mission and capture them if he
can. The crews are taking serious risks
as com5atants on vessels not built for
war.
1t is said that million dollars is the
small amount to be asked from Congress
for the improvement of the Delaware and
the harbor of Philadelphia. Very likely
Congress will vote the money. too, as there
is good support to all such proposals on
the Atlantic seaboard. Other projects are
outlined of making canal system right up
from Florida to New York harbor. which
would protect navigation from the storms
that devastate the coast. For this the
money also may be found piecemeal. To
get any appropriations for the Pacific
Coast requires regular siege. The Sac
ramentO and San Joaquin are filing up
and yet they might be made good naviga-
BILE rivers Tor great distances. They
should be improved as we'll as Eastern
waters.
PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT.