The morning call., 1894-12-10

occurred yes erday, and all this occurred
during only few hours in The early morn
ing. inc wind was terrific. L. drove .he
huge drops Of rain before / IN til the water
seemed TO come down in torrents. IL
twisted and whistled through the streeta,
tearing signs from their fastenings; eddled
into gardens and uprnOted sarllngs ana
Ienuer plants, and played havoc with the
1ower-pots In more than one petted WIN
dow garden. It was the fercest wind
Oakland has experienced for long time,
yet wnen the rain stopped ltsteadled down
ana ala good service 10 drying the stfeets.
Surrounded by Mud.
The complaint has gone forth that the
new Grove-street wharf, recently Dullt al
cost OF $4,000, is of no use. 1t is claimed
that no vessel drawing more water than
the average scow-sch ooner, which type is
so familiar upon the bay. can nose up TO
the wharf even at the highest tide;
whareas, when the wharf was built it was
intended to accommodate the largest ships.
At low water the wharf is perched upon
bank OF Shiny, ooZy mud. and the snip
channel is about I50 feet beyond the pier
head.
The wharf itself, however. is very
substantial structure and with sufflcent
depth OF water on either side would &C
eommodate four large vessels at time.
Ii is 200 feet long and 40 feet wide, ana IS
approached by plank roadway 20 teet
wide and 300 feet long.
Commodore E. a. Won Schmidt. who
has been dredging the ship channel for
the Government, it is said would dispose
In view of the depleted condition of the
city treasury, however, it is doubtful
whether the City Council will order the
work done. Until they do, however. IT Is
certain that the Grove-street wharf will be
practically useless.
To Fight the Water Front Case.
Councilman R. B. Shell received brief
telegram from Special Waterfront Attor-
ney w. X. Davis. now in Chicago, an
nounclng that Attorney John 5. Merrill OF
that city will represent Oakland in the
waterfront case before the United States
Supreme Court at Was hington for fee of
$500 and $500 expenses. Accordngly at
the Council meeting tonight Mr.. BarStOw
VIII introduce a resolution approprlatlng
the amount of the fee and expenses, and
the resolution will undoub eddy be carried.
Mr.. Merrill and Mr.. Davis will remain
IN Chicago this week working up the
points In their case. They will reach
Washington in time for the opening of the
case on Monday, December IL. and Will
remain there until The great contest has
been won or lost. The city decided upon
employing Mr.. Merrill to assist the ex-
Mayor for the following reasons: First.
He was the leading lawyer in the Chicago
case. Second. He knows the persnnnelof
the court. and is in high standing with
them as counsel in such cases. Third, He
has vital interest in watching to see that
no principles are esta blished in this case
that might modify the Chicago case.
Lectured by Naval officer.
Lieutenant A. V. Wadhams. United
) ateS navy, Interested about three hun
dred men IN the Young Mems Christian
Hal ord U q 70 a,
a bright and instructive discourse entitled
Elements OF Success as Observed Round
the World" The speaker has been in the
navy for thirty years. and during that time
be has been in all the ports OF the world.
Hence his opportunities for observing all
PEOPLE under many different conditions
have been magnl ticent ana the officer made
the most of them. His Talk yesterday was
replete with amusing anecdotes and good
sound advice. and both were received very
heartily by his hearers.
Woman Betrayed Him.
A prisoner in he Oakland City Jail
named Edward Lang, against whom a
number of burgla Y charges are pending,
made an unsuccessful attempt to escape
from prison last night When discovered
at about IL O'Clock he had succeeded in
his cell. is not known how long he had
been at work and there Is no telling where
he would have landed had he not been
betrayed by woman prisoner, who heard
him at work and surmised his object.
After being discovered Lang was removed
to the iron tank and securely locked up
by Captain Wilson.
Captain Thomas Ambition.
Although the next department encamp-
ment of the Grand Army of the Republic
is yet remote, Cap ain w. r. Thomas of
this city has already announced his candi-
dacy for the commsndership of the De-
partment of California and Nevada.
Captain Thomas has an enviable war
record, was once Chief of Pol ce of the
city of Oakland and is serving his fifth
consecutive term as commander of Apo
mattox Corps OF this city.
Fruitvale school Bonds Sold.
The entire issue of the bonds of the
Frutvale School Dis riot, amounting TO
10000, have been purchased at par by the
Plrtle Real Estate and Truss Company of
Los Angeles. The bonds are twenty in
number, the denomination of each being
$1,000 The interest is 6 per cent per
annum and two bonds are payable each
year. Thus if all gees well the district
will be free of debt in ten years.