davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call., 1893-09-30
THE STATUS.

The trouble ar the fo3t of Castro street
yesterday was the result of the old story ::
the railroads attempt tU hog the Oakland
water front.
Castro street runs down to the creek,
but the section of land between the creek
and First street is in contention.
This debata bic land is divided almost
into two equal parts by the South Peralta
grant line, intersected at right angles by
Castro street.
Thus the land in doubt is cut up into
four sections or quarters, the two nearest
the creek being leased by Forth on one
side of the street and by Kendall of the
lumber company on the other. Both Forth
and Kendall hold by lease from }. p.
DameIOn.
The other two gu arters are claimed by
c. B. Taylor under a lease from the
waterfront company, which is the South
ern Pacific.
Bishop built the fence across Castro
street. continuing the line of his property.
The decision which gave him his title
said nothing about the street. not attempt
ing to lay it down that public street could
be fenced off. Therefore, his action in
blockadng the street is believed to be
altogether without warrant.
The fence practically prohibits Mr..
Forth from using his wharf, and Kendall
from getting his lumber in and out. When
the railroad company some time ago =
deav0red to secure an order to have the
fence erected. it was refused on the ground
that it had not yet been decided that Cas-
tro street was not open south of First
street; hence the natural inference that il
is open to the public unless the contrary is
established by legal proof
The morning call., 1893-09-30

A. R. Cotton and j. c. Martin and George
w. Reed appeared for Taylor, the railroads
man.
The attorneys for the railroad company
asked that an injunction issue restraining
MIR. Forth from entering upon the land of
the railroad company.
Attorney Cotton said 81 did not under
stand that your Honor when ruling that
the de fehdants should consent to a iudg-
ment In favor of Taylor for the land north
OF the Peralta grant line or Il new trial
would be granted in the case of Taylor VS..
Forth and others. intended to pass upon
the question of whether there was public
street on the line of Castro street over the
land. We intend to show on this hearing
of the matter that such a street exists. and
we will also contend that a Judgment for
the land itself does not interfere with the
existence OF a public street over tho land,
II one existed. And If this is a public
street, then Mr. Forth is entitled to use it
the same as any other citizen"
Then Judge Henshaw had an inning,
and his remarks rather stumped the attor-
aeys for the railroad. He said in sub
stance:
Il distinctly did not intend TO pass upon
street. as 1 instructed the jury that thew
should not consider it as the interest in
volved. The actions were only those be-
tween individuals"
Mr.. Cotton said that if the fences were
removed he considered that his client had
perfect right to pass over what he con-
tended was public street.
Attorney Martin-If Mr.. Fortin is not
the Iarty responsible for the removal of
the fence he is the party who enjoys the
fruits of the action. If the mattrr is post
poned we think an order should issue re-
straining MIR. Forth from passing over the
land.
Mr.. Cotton-We claim that an easement
exists 10 the landing over this street. The
court should not PREJUDICE the matter of the
existence of an easement by making an
order at this time restricting Mr.. Forth
from the use of what we claim to be an
open street.
Judge Henshaw-If there is an ease
ment eXisting-and it is not for the court
10 say at this time whether there Is or
not-it is not the duty of this court to pre-.
vent Mr.. Forth from enjoying it,
Dir. Martin-Mr. Fortin has no right to
assume that there is an easement over the
pro perty.
Judge Cotton then came back at Mr..
Martin in this pat style:
"Mr. Martin says that we should not
| assume the easement. II appears to me
that it is Mr.. Martins side who assumes
good deal when they decide TO put up a
fence across what is claimed to be a public
street."
This reply stumped the suave railroad
attorney.
| Judge Henshaw cut the whole matter
short by remnrking at this stage:
I'VE will take this matter up one week
from next Monday"
A bystander remarked as the crowd lef,
the courtroom: "Well. there's one Judge
who didn't have a cut-and-drIed decision
| for the railroad company"
The morning call., 1893-09-30
THE MAYOR FIRr1.

When seen at his Office yesterday, Mayor
Pardee courteOusly submitted to an inter
view, and had the following to say:
II do not know anything about the
trouble except that Messrs. Forth and
Kendall are trying to Keep open what they
believe to be public street, and what we
also believe to be public street, and the
railroad company is fencing it up. The
people are very properly pulling it down."
do you know anything about why the
Chief of Police is interrering?" was asked.
The Mayor replied: mo. do not. |
did not know that he was interfering. He
has not received any orders from me to
interfere. and / see no reason why he
should interfere unless there is a distinct
breach of the peace.
"The railroad company wants to put up
a fence across the street and the people
want to pull it down, and do pull il down.
The railroad company thinks it i. ag-
grieved. 1t has its recourse in the courts
just the same as any other person would
have.
eff had my way about it, the people
could amuse themselves by pulling down
the fence as often as they pleased, as the
railroad company could stop them by TAX
ing them into court.
II talked with the Chief of Police about
this matter yesterday and endeavored to
get him not to interfere unless there was a
distinct breach OF the peace, in which case
he must quell any riotous proceedings that
might take place, but should not prevent
the fence being torn down, as long as it
was not done with any riotous demons tra-
tions.
IF the Chief OF Police is preventing the
people from maintaining Castro street as
an open thoroughfare, he is doing il with
out the knowledge or consent of the Coun-
Gil or Mayor. Any other report or asser-
ton to the contrary is untrue. The SYM
pathies of the Mayor and Council are
entirely aud absolutely with any citizen
who desires to use the water front for com-
mercial purposes. and they will be only too
The morning call., 1893-09-30
DIVIDED DEMOCRATS.
A Lively Struggle in the Thirty
Seventh District.

The Democratic district committee of
the Thirty-seVenth District is about as
evenly divided as that of the Forty-fourth,
and in the Twenty eighth District there is
also split The Thirty-sr venth District
committee held a meeting in a rear room
IN Burke's saloon, on Haight and Cough
streets, last night, at which a great deal of
turbulent oratory was INDUCED in.
The words harmony" Democratic, "
politics" party" "railrOading," ''per-
sonal." and similar expressions of deep
gnificanee were very freely used.
Max Pepper presided for the occasion,
according to the understanding that he
should do so for the particular business in
hand, and be did much TO keep down the
bitterness of the belligerents by his firm
ness, and yet forbearance.
The fight was between the real chair
man of the committee, Joseph Z. O'DOn-
nell, on the one hand, and its secre ary, L.
j. Hughes, on The other. 7. j. Harvey
was an able second TO Hughes. Twenty
three members squeezed themselves into
the little room and inhaled over aud over
again its atmosphere, and all but one, J.
T. Curley, stayed until the end. Tie first
ballot stood II tn II and the last two IL to
II, so that the fight may be said TO have
resulted in draw. There might have
been victory of some kind if Mr. Curlev
had remained to help his side through the
iaSi TWO rounds.
What precipitated hostiities was Mr..
O'DOnnelpS endeavor to have the resigna-
tiOn of Frank j. Mura>ky from the gem
rral committee taken up and acted upon.
The death of Daniel McSweeney left one
vacancy to be filled. and with Mr.. Mu-
rasky's resignation there would he two
NJ. ID. \ Dian and w. II Williams were the
candidates of the Hughes and O'Dnnnel
factions respectively, and DR.. j. f. Regain
was a third asprant. The Hughes faction
would have been /, afv TO fiji the vacan-
cies by electng both MesSrS. Nolan and
Regain had such been possible, hut as it
was only Mr.. Nolan was chosen. The pro-
ceedings were made decidedly interesting
by numerous points of order and Ques-
tons of privilege.
motion by P. j. Harvey to defer action
upon all designations for one mo tn fore
stalled the announcement of MuraskY's
resignation and call, d forth much hot dis
cu>sion of persona nature. Ii was met
by an amendment from +. II. Foley TO
have all designations acted upon on the
same night they are sent in. As both these
propositions received tie votes OF IL 10 IL
the matter of the resignation OF Mr.. Mu-
rasky was postponed indefinitely.
The morning call., 1893-09-30
Anti-CooIy, Anti-Grover.

Tber4 was meeting of citizens at Nine
teenth and York streets last night, which
was addressed BY p. Hartman. who spoke
for long time on the Chinese evi and on
the ENCOURAGEMENT of the Geary act by
tina President and The Cabinet. 1t was de-
cided to form the Anti-Cooly, Anti-Grover
Cleveland Association OF the Pacific Coast
to incorpora and esta blsh headquarters
at TAI Howard street. 1t was aIsu decided
to wait ON the officers of the Golden Gate
Woolen-milIs, and ask them To replace
thirty-five Chinese in their employ by that
number of white men. Tonight meeting
will be held at Golden Gate avenue ano
'Taylor street.
The morning call., 1893-09-30
moved it. They raisedltheir hands and il
vanished into space
RAILROAD WIRE, THEN.

The railroad people were astounded and
abashed by this summary proceeding, but
under the goading of their leaders the un-
derings quickly rallied.
They had not retired for good. but had
merely skulked about, taking care not to
be identified as the agents of tho obnoxious
action.
When the fence was fairly down over
1000 people were on the ground and there
was general cOngratulalion at the work so
far accomplished. There were frequent
cries Of "Don't give up possessionP "Hold
your grOundp
But the sinking hearts of the railroad
hirelings were somewhat strengthened ana
treasured about 9 80 o'clock by the arrival
on the scene of Chief of Police Schafer,
accompanied 10y squad of officers.
Deputy Sheriff Wallace had already ar
rested several membe of the crowd, but
no sooner had he arrested them than his
prisoners were quie tly released. AS it was
shown, he had no right to hinder the men
in the execution of their purpose.
But 1t was respecting crowd, and
when Chief Schafer appeared on the
scene the railroad men were suffered TO
creep out of their hiding place and fix up
some coils of feDce-wire in the place W here
the panels of the board fence had been
Only six inches were allowed TO intervene
between the wires.
Then the steam whistle on the lumber
mill nard by began to screech again and
thousands If persons assembled to view
the triumphant barricade of the railroad.
There were shouts of derision and the
crowd was evidently in a highly inflam-
mable condition. 1t was clear that only a
The morning call., 1893-09-30

swung back and did some small damage
among the onlookers. but that was laughed
at. 1t was part of the price of the first
could be learned, was seriously hurt 10 the
various rushes and tugs-Of-war.
Then the other fence on the other side
was demolished in the same way. The
leaders were systematic and saw that the
thing was done thoroughly. There should
be no scamping. Every one wanted to
have pull on the rope, and if the South
ern Pacific Company had any doubt of the
temper of the people toward them a
glim pse of what was going on at First and
Castro streets last night would have cleare
up any doubts they might have had.
There was no opposition. A crank lee
tured the crowd and melted them to even
more thorough WORK, but he was laughed
at good humoredy. A few hot-bloods
among the workers were inclined 10 pull
down some neighbOring railroad sheds aud
haul some fatcars pellmell over the tracks,
but they were restrained by the prevailing
good sense. One mild remOns STRANGE from
some one who was caught in the trailing
wire was enormously thought to be a rail-
road protest and there were instant cries
of Lynch himw but the error was ex-
planned. the crowd laughed again and all
/ was good humor.
They had won their point.
! The two hateful fences were leveled
with the ground; the rights of the people
! In this respect were INDICATED.
AS the last post cracked in it's often
/ shifted ground and came up with a rush
cheer upon cheer arose from the excited
/
cheers for tO-night's work." and it was
given with will and tiger.
The spectators slowly dispersed in the
! darkness, but the boys were not content.
! One of the first panels torn Up was a
/ huge gate. To this two big hawsers was
! hitched and team of cheering men and
boys started to haul it uptown.
Preceded by a mighty shout and fol-
lowed by cloud of dust made by the
trailing gate they hurried at quick time
up Castro street 10 Seventh and thence to
| Broadway.
1t was a most singular parade, and all
/ the town turned out 10 see it. First came
a bicycle. Its red lamp flashing. Then fol-
! lowed two horsemen, and after them the
double line OF excited men and boys. Last
of all trailed the gate, attended by another
cyclist with lamp at the cross handles of
! his machine.
Up Broadway the procession passed like
whlrlwind, or a comet-its greatest
glory consisting of its tail. the gate-and
down Tenth street to Washington, to the
City Hall.
There they deposited their triumphant
burden, rearing ii up against the free
library at the entrance to the corporation
yards, where all the old rubbish and
material which has passed its usefulness
is stored.
That done. the crowd found breath to
give one last shout of victory, and then,
still holding the rope and preceded by the
men on horseback. made tracks back down
| Washington street.
They had compla ed their nnrnnse 90 far
The morning call., 1893-09-30
VICTORY. FOR THE PEOPLE.

Last night the Oakland people cleared
off all scores outstanding with the railroad
company in respect to the Castro-street
fence.
:. AS soon as the toilers had finished their
supper leisnreiy and were at liberty they
began: 10. assemble on the field of the morn
1ng's battle. They gathered in thousands,
: coming from every quarter.
- Not only were there workingmeu there,
however. The ground in the neighborhood
of Castro and First streets was packed
with citizens of all sorts and conditions.
8: The best citizens were there-ladies in
evening dress with just a wrap thrown
around them, gentlemen in tall hats and
irteproachable evening dress. Buggies
. were hitched to convenient telegraph posts
and the occupants alighted and mingled
with the crowd.
All was expectant. good-natured. Mer-
riment was rife, and it was plain that Oak
land was out to enjoy a holiday spectacle.
The people were awake and were good
humoredly stretching themselves. They
had slept under oppression long enough.
Among the crowd there were several
police officers who kept together and did
nothing. They evidently sympathized
o Win thV pOOplO lIOu1 WUOu bucY uoIlfcu
their power.
Toward $50 o'clock il was evident that
there was organization among the crowd.
thick hawser rope made its appearance
and was quickly conveyed behind one of
the obnoxious fences.
By this time there were at least 5000 PEG.
pie on the ground, but before the drama
was finished that number was doub
At $3.50 p. NJ. the whistle on KendaIPs
mill started up its insistent screech. The
effect was magical.
: =: The comparative silence was broken by
torrents upon torrents of cheering, rising
la tumultuous crescendo, lanterns began
to. appear among the crowd and the hoarse
cries OF leaders directing action from
horseback and on foot showed that imme-
dlate action was being stimulated.
The fence! The fencew "Pull it into
tho bayF Down with itl'
There was rush. Some one fastened
the end OF the rope to the post on which
the Darbed wire was fastened, and with q
cneer the crowd tore back, pulling post
and wire helter-skelter to the ground.
Again it was repeated and again. The
spectators stood aside and the police
looked on quietly.
."Once more, boys" was the shout and
the last obstacle on First and Castro was
removed. The wires as they were released
The morning call., 1893-09-30
TWIST AND LOCK.
Mcleod Throws Acton i'm
Twenty Minutes.
The Indian Defeats Casey in a Long
Contest - The Wind-Up
Tonight.

There was large crowd at Odd Fellows
Hall last evening to see Mcleod and Acton
exchange holds. and indeed finer exhibit
ton of catch as-catch-can wrestling has
not been witnessed for long time.
The famous opponents of the art did
not put in an appearance on the padded
canvas until the lesser lights had their
innings. Mcleod. looking as red as a
lobster and in the pink of condition, ex-
eepting a few marks that still remain on
mis- back. resulting from boils. which in
variably break out on him when training,
was first on the stage.
Acton. looking as plump as a partridge,
soon followed. The men were cheered as
they stood up for a review of the audience.
Al the call of time Acton lost lot a mo-
ment In securing hold, which, however.
was broken by his opponent In jiffy.
Again Acton PLAYED for hold. but Nc
Leod. VINO is as quick as a fash, slid
away only to be era bbed again and pitched
ABOUT the mat in way that plainly
proved the great strength ''the little
demon" still possesses.
SucD quick wrestling has not been seen
Tor years, aud frequently the spectators
rose to their feet in the excitement TO get a
gnod view of the contest.
Finally Mcleod dropped to the carpet
master OF the game, but he was pitted
against man who has no equal in his
class IN the country, either in science.
activity or strength.
Acro assuredly fought hard 10 get a
favorable lock on the famous middle
weight and once or twice it looked very
blue for Mcleod, who remained The under
dog, so to speak, until Acton was pretty
well pumped out.
After wrestling about fifteen minutes
Mcleod, in the ATTEMPT to break away
| from neck aud arm hold, Slip ed, and as
he turned, both of his shoulders came
within an ace of striking the carpet; In
fact. some people thought it WAS a fall for
Acton, but the referee judged differently.
Again the wrestlers went at II and
Acton, who had an arm lock on Mcleod
when both were in a standing position,
thought that the game was his. To
everybody's surprise Mcleod broke away
| like flash. aud getting grape lock and
back hold on ''the little demon" down
went the latter on his back, thereby losing
the first fall. Time. 20 minutes.
The men must wrestle again tonight, as
the agreement reads best two out of three
falls. In tact if Acton should throw Nc
| Leod twice tonight In succession, he will
win first.
Tie result of the other contests was As
| follows: Alto, the Indian. defeated CASEY
| in So ninu es, and White defeated Johansen
J in 16h minutes. The order of the wrssl-
/ ling tonight will De: Wnlte VS.. Alto,
Casey vs.. Johansen and Acton VS.. Me-
Lend.
The Indian stands an excellent chance
of winning third prize. He is by no
| means the soft snap the whites expected
| when he put In an appearance on the
| carpet.
IL, Traveier take Beecham,s pills with vou
The morning call., 1893-09-30

spark was needed to explode 1t. Had a
leader arisen that wire fence would
straightway have been leveled to the
ground and the people would have tri-
umphed without delay.
But personal conflict might have en-
sued, and this was what the people wished
to avoid. Therefore. they contented them
selves with keeping the railroad people on
tenter-hoOks. There was no hurry. When
the time was ripe the work would be done.
AT noon all was quiet. The wire fence
remained in position. but the railroad peo-
pie were in frightened condition. When
would the bolt fall?
The morning call., 1893-09-30
THE RAILROAD PAUSES.

1t was ascertained that Mayor Pardee
and some of the waterfront committee OF
the Council went over to San Francisco
yesterday and saw W. F. Herrin, the at
torney for Bishop. aud also for the rail-
road corporation.
The Mayor represented the danger of
bloodshed, and the futility of the course
up to that time attempted by the railroad
in persisting to thwart the will of the
people by erecting the obnoxious fence
He clearly EXPLAINED the legal weakness
of the position taken by the fence-erecters,
and strongly advised that they be "caIled
off"
All this Attorney Herrin digested and
evidently Endorsed. Finally he said ne
would consult with his people to-day and
advise their going slow until the matter
had been decided by the courts.
This probably means that the Oakland
ers' triumph of last night is permanent
and that the obnoxious fence will not be
rebuilt again.
The morning call., 1893-09-30

hearty ovation of which be was the GEN.
trail fiIure.
There were several reports of persons
having heen more or less injured by the
barbed wire. which. as it became loose.
whipped around the limbs ana bodies of
ieople standing neal. A number of people
became entangled, and only extricated
themselves with difficulty. Ono boy,
whose name was not learned, was reported
TO have been quite badly hurt by the ugly
barbs. the latest allies of the CORPORATION,
The morning call., 1893-09-30
Evangelist Smith.

Frank l.. Smith, the evangelist, will con-
duet gospel services at the Christian Union
Mission. l07 Mason street. beginning to-
morrow. SUNDAY, at Z As j. NJ. and cOn:in.
ung from night TO night. Mr.. Smith has
BEEN conducting ,ervices in the State for
several weeks, and has stirred up every
community where he has labored He is
PHEASANT, forcible speaker, and con-
vlnces his hearers that be is deeply in
earnest.
The morning call., 1893-09-30
LEGALLY OPEN.

Y. L. Forth was cited to appear before
Judge Henshaw yesterday. a petition hav-
ing been sworn out by E. 81. Woolsey.
The petitioner wanted to know why Forth
should not be punished for contempt of
court
Mr.. Forth was represented by ex-Judge
The morning call., 1893-09-30
A DETERMINED PEOPLE.

A DETERMINED PEOPLE.
OaNanders Refuse to Submit to
Railroad Rule.
AN ENFORCEMENT TWICE LEvELED.
Ten thousand People Assemble to Indorse Its
Demolition.
= FIRST STREET CLEARED OF ILLEGAL FENCES.
Exciting Scenes in the Morning and at Nghtfall on
the Water Front.
THE MAYOR AND CHIEF OF POLICE ACoUIEscENT.
After Hauling Down the Obnoxious Emblem Last
Drag of 1t in Triumph Through
of
The morning call., 1893-09-30

Hol Traveller. take Bescham', Pills with you.