The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-07-14
RAIDED THE TARS.
A Political Move on the
Water Front.
SAILORS ACT AS SUFFERS.
They Were Promised Coin They
Didn't Get.
FOR SIGNING A ICLUBROLL.
That Was Said to Be ga Petition
for Big Government
Contract"

The ways of the willy politician are as
| strange as are the workings of the nickel
| in-the-slot machine.
He wanders about the earth like the
much-feared dragon of yore and occasion
ally drops down on the water front
He comsth not on horseback, neither
doth he walk, for express-wagons are
plentiful, and into these can be packed
numerous suffers OF rolls.
Suffers OF rolls are not considered by
him guieless citizens, who beg of you for
10 cents that they may partake of the bun
and the weak and whitish cup of coffee.
They are muscular persons, who reside in
sailor bOarding-houses and who frequent
the corners of streets that are favored with
the presence of a saloon. .
Several nights ago Curtin's sailor board
ing-house was raded. as was corner grOg-
shop on Third street, likewise the water
front in the immediate vicinity of Folsom
street wharf. Forty men we're shanghaied
to polling place in the Western Addition.
They escaped and live 10 tell a terrible tale
of woe.
On the night in question at about
o'clock a wagon drove up to CurtIn's, a
dozen or more sailors that he had job for
them. The men were suspicious but they
listened.
MY partner and myself" announced
the speaker, "are trying to secure big
contract from the Government. We need
500 signatures to the petition we are get
ting up. and if You boys will get into this
wagon, go with me and sign the papers |
will give you 50 apiece"
The Jack tars had not worked for two
months and were only too willing to ac-
cept. They piled into the wagon a dozen
strong.
On the seat Of the vehicle was Tom
Delaney, a pug from Oakland. Beside
him was man whose name is moi known,
but who identified himself by means of a
stout club of Preside iron. They were
there to keep order"
The wagon drove down Main street to
Third aud there picked up Sam Black,
waterfront Waterman; Jerry Sullivan. an
expressmaD. who has his stand at Folsom
street wharf, and several of the boys in
the neighbcrnood.
None of these men knew where they
were going, but supposed, like the sailors.
that they were going TO the Western Addi-
tion to sign petition to allot Govern
ment contract. All we're promised the
81 for their trouble.
In the meanwhile another wagon, also
presided over by man with club, was
going the rounds of the front scooping up
idle seamen in pairs.
Kane's boarding-house was visited, as
was the corner of Mission and East streets.
Only one man went from Kane's, but at
the Mission-street corner two were per-
suaded. Seven men got on at Howard
street wharf 8.
The wagon under command of Delaney
drove through the city to the corner of
Van Ness avenue and Geary street, turned
north up Van Ness avenue and stopped at
Vallejo street. There the crowd was met
by delegation of politicians who directed
the boys to follow them.
Along Vallejo and down several inter-
secting streets the crowd went closely fol-
lowed by foot patrol of Democrats from
the Porty-frst District. All stopped in
front of a barn-like structure, and were
told to get into line.
Men with clubs were at hand, and Door
Jack, by this time thoroughly frightened,
thought he saw visions of brutal ships
officers with belayDg-pins ready 10 beat
his brains out. He even imagined that he
saw a man standing at the door with
Winchester rifle.
Ore by one the sailors signed roll and
were told to skip.
Two dollars? What? Oh. no; you
don't get It'll Get out of this"
EXpressman Sullivan and man named
Gates, who were near the end Of the line,
knew that job had been put uD on them.
They made their escape, and left the tars
to look out for themselves.
A small-szed riot was almost started
when the second wagon drove up. Some
of the sailors wanted to get away, but the
politician wouldn't let them. Some of
them broke away and ran down the
street.
Sullivan says that he walked away with
out being noticed, and made his way back
| home.
None Of the men who were "shanghaied"
could say just what political club it was
they were called upon to help job. but all
aver that they are able to identify the
headquarters, and will do so if necessary.
The place was on Jackson street, and in
the Forty-first District, and Expressman
Sullivan and Watchman Black say that it
| is a very strange coincidence that a cer-
tain Democratic club met on the night in
| question and certain faction won fight
| for place.