The morning call., 1893-04-18
ALONG THE FRONT.
A Crazy Man Commits
Suicide at Sea.
Trouble Between Rival Stockton COM
panies About Salvage-A Revenue
Officers Mistake.

Robert KIoer. a steerage passenger on the
Oceanic steamship Alameda, which left here
on March 81, committed suicide at sea on the
morning of April by jumping from the
upper deck of the steamer. Koer was
German, about 40 years of age and tailor
by occupation. While in this city he roomed
at the Avenue House. go Montgomery
avenue, and was known in the vicinity as
very peculiar sort of a fellow with more
money than gray matter.
Kloer is supposed to have ended his life
for the reason that he got on the wrong
steamer and because overcome with fear at
the idea OF being landed in a foreign country
among strangers.
A friend of the man, however, states that
Kloer was infatuated with woman who
resides in Oakland and whom the queer fel-
low claimed had wheeded him out CT sew
eral hundred dollars.
The loss of his love and money evidently
upset the unfortunate mans mind and led
him to commit the rash act described.
Two days before his suicide koer
deposited his valuable gold watch and S225
in gold with Purser Sutton of the Alameda.
After klOer's plunge boat was quickly
lowered by the crew of the Alameda, but
the determined man kept his head under
water and was drowned before assistance
could reach him.
His relatives in Germany will be COM
muncated with; In the meanwhile the Pub
lie Administrator will take charge Of his
personal property.
The tug Fearless returned yesterday
afternoon from her search for the King
James.
The Fearless crused several hundred
miles, but saw no signs of the burned ship
Sailor Spence was found in good health on
Santa Rosa Island and brought back safely
to the mainland.
The steamer City of Puebla went to the
coal-bunkers yesterday. her cargo having
been removed and no opium found.
The California Navigation and Improve
ment Company in a tersely w0rded letter to
its competitor, the Union TRANSFORMATION
Company of Stockton, demands the sum of
$4,000 salvage for hauling the latter's
steamer Captain Weber off a mud bank in
the San Joaquin River on the 2lst Of March
last
The Weber collided with the rival compa-
ny's boat. j. ID. Peters, Oh that date and
ran aground. The Peters pulled her enemy
out of the mud and assisted her to Stockton,
hence the demand.
c. NJ Knowton, manager of the Union
Transportation line. replied to the demand
for ducats in thousands by telling Manager
C0rcOran of the California Navigation and
Improvement Company in very plain Eng
llsh to take trip to the center OF the earth.
An investigation as 10 the cause of the
collision is now pending before the local
Inspectors of Huils aud Boilers.
Mr.. CorcOran announces that suit for
salvage will be Instituted in about ten days
in the United States Circuit Court.
1t is not often tnat United States Gus
toms official is surprised, but such things do
sometimes happen. il was pretty young
girl who came tripping down the gang
plank OF the City Of Puebla Sunday after
noon. carrying something in her hand that
was daintilY deposited on the wharf.
please examine my baggage, sir" she
said Shyly to one of Uncle Sans dlligen
revenue workers, who was going through
valises in vain search tor part of that
S25. 600 worth of opium.
The defendeC of the tariff system replied
sharply, wiping a bead OF moisture from his
inqustlve nose:
Where are yOu from. misS-Seattle, Vic
tOra, SnOQualmie or Taeoma?"
"N ictoria,' was the answer.
"All right. I'm busy now. Got to ex-
anime very carefully, you know. Don't
know what m light turn up"
Cant help it. madame; must 90 through
all your baggage carefully. Pll be through
with these passengers in moment"
But my"
"All right all right, Pm coming; unlock
spector, chalkIng few marks on the side
of steerage passengers trunk.
Having finished, lie turned to wait on the
fair maiden. She smiled sweetly and held
open before him small-Sized handbag not
much larger than an ordinary purse. The
Cust0m-house man gasped family. looked
within as though he expected to find a five
tael tin OF the best extract of poppy. but
alas! the satchel contained only a silk
handkerchief and French novel.
The arm of the law was in the next sec
ond engaged in chalking something on the
side of the pretty girls baggage, which
looked very much like swear word, and
the fair damsel glided down the dock with
smile Of extreme satisfaction bespreading
her handsome face.
The ferry-boat Encinal has been laid up
for repairs Her place has been taken by
the Garden City.
The steamer Mackinaw. which, it was
reported. would be selected as tile North
American Navigation Company's fourth
vessel, sailed for Tacoma yesterday.
Shipping was very light yesterday. Only
three departures were reported.