The morning call., 1893-09-13
JENKINS is OUT.
The Weather Prophet Has
Been Suspended.
NEGLECT OF DUTY a CAUSE.
Complaints of Creditors Induce the
Washington Authorities to Re-
lieve the Forecast Official.

the United States Weather Bureau was
quietly effected yesterday, although it sub
sequently occasioned considerable COM
ment on the tenth floor of the Mills build
ing.
The receipt of a telegram from Chief
Harrington, who is at the head OF the
Weather Bureau at Washington. under
the Secretary of Agriculture. suspended
p. T. jenkins from the position OF local
forecast official and placed James j. Gray.
chief CLERK of the Office, in charge of the
work until further notice.
According to the tenants on TIE same
floor there was an unpleasant scene in the
weather Office yesterday afterno DON. Jen-
kins had been absent from duty for about
ten days. with exception of three visits,
each Of fifteen minutes duration. He re-
turned yesterday TO make a weather lore
cast, but Gray. acting under his instruc-
tons from Washington, refused to allow
him to transact any official. business.
jenkins is said to have questioned the
genuineness of Grsy's telegraphic author
ity. and subsequently tried to gain posses
sion Of the bit of yellow paper. When
this was refused him he left the office and
the evening forecast was made by Gray.
1u6 IcheOU RlNcH JOI OeUkluS SuSp6U-
sion is neglect of duty aud indiscretiOns
in his private life.
The position Of local forecast official at
San Francisco Is the most important west
of Chicago. Weather predictions are made
for California, Nevada, Arizona and
Utah twice every day. The officer at the
head of the Department OF California as
it is called. has not. however, very onerous
duties. He is required to make these
f0rHpa aSten1 the
and direct the general work of the office.
Five clerks attend to routine matters, COL
lect statistics and make the weather maps
which accompany the Issuance of each
bulletin.
Although light. requiring not more than
three or four hours steady work daily,
the duties of forecast official require a
regular performance. Copies of each pre-
diction, signed by the officer making the
forecast, are sent to Washington, where a
record of the individual work is kept.
During the last month Only about half the
predictions have been made by Jenkins,
the other prophecies being signed by Gray,
al acting forecast Official, in the absence
of his superior officer.
For several months practically the same
state of affairs has existed. although Jenk-
ms visits to his Office were less frequent
on each succeeding week. Few Of the
letterSsand kilograms sent TO Washington
were signed by Jenkins and the CORE
spondence was greatly neglected. The
Washington authorities have been sus-
picious for some time that something was
wrong in connection with the California
department and The suspension of jenkins
indicates that the trouble was with the
head of the Office.
When Jenkins came here last December
TO succeed Lieutenant John p. Finley his
prospects were exceedingly bright. He
had been transferred from comparatively
small station at Cincinnati TO an important
office here, and an excellent opportunity
was presented to make a record. His first
work was highly satisfactory. Finley had
made some mistaken predictions, and Je1-
kins' first forecast was for the biggest
storm of the season, lasting several DAYS
and proving very destructive 10 shipping.
This and subsequent successes gained
him the confidence of the merchants and
shipOwners, and especially of those con-
neeted with the Merchants Exchange. He
was taken up by prominent men and IA
vorably noticed in many ways. The fiat
terry seemed to turn his head He became
somewhat OF sport and was an almost
daily visitor at the Bay District track.
He always played the races on tips given
by owners of horses; was reputed loser,
although he always claimed to pick a
winner as successfully as he did the next
days weather.
As Mr.. jenkins salary was only s125 a
understand how he regulated his expendi-
lures, particularly as he lived with his
wife and two children at the California
Hotel However, he reassured his friends
with illusions to private means. and as he
was exceedingly genial they did not hesitate
to accommodate him with loans of money
About the same time he was persuaded
to become proprietor of the cigar-stand in
the California. He employed boy to sell
papers. magazines and cigars, running
bills for these goods. AS the receipts were
turned over to him by his employee he used
them in his private expenditures and at
the racecourse, leaving nothing for the
dealers and the news company from whom
the goods were purchased. After a time
Jenkins sold out the cigar-stand, and then
his creditors began TO press him for a set
Element. To most Of them he gave his
note and the holders were temporarily
pacifed.
The notes fell due when the financial
strDgency struck the coast When ap-
preached jenkins was always affable,
treated his creditors to cigars and other
Injuries, and never hesitated to make
definite promises about date for settle
ment. The creditors assert that the
promises were not fulfilled however, and
they said hard things about the wea Their
prophet The wholesale cigar-dealers were
not alone in their grievances. Butchers,
bakers, tailors and matters joined the
weather Office il the Mills building
Occasionally they received something on
account, but not often.
1t was the beginning of the end when
his creditors began sending in a statement
of their claims to Chief Harrington in
Washington.
Nothing hurts an official connected
with the Department of Agriculture more
than complaints of unpaid debts from the
town wherein The officer is stationed.
The dealers knew that Jenkins salary
could not be garnisheed and he had nothing
which could be attached, so they got even
by sending in copies of their notes and
bills against Jenkins, with statements
that be was frequently absent from his
office and FROM the city for days at a time.
Ii they lost their money they vowed il
would cost the weather prophet his place,
and 1t has.
1t is probable that an inspector will be
sent from Washington to investigate Mr..
jenkins career.
The members of the Merchants Ex-
Change are also said TO desire a change in
the weather office.
jenkins IS son OF the late Admiral
Thornton Jenkins, is a graduate of West
Point and well connected. Ii is consid-
cred that he will hardly he dismissed from