The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-26
University Boat Clubhouse
Totally Destroyed by
Fire.
MANY SHELLS ARE CONSUMED
Rival Captains Almost Come to a
Battle - George Gray Is
Acquitted.

boathouse Of the University Boating Asso-
citation, situated on Sessions basin, together
with several valuable boats, at an early
hour yesterday morning.
When an alarm was sounded from East
Oakland the fire engines at once dashed to
the scene, but owing to the situation of the
house which can only be reached by a
long narrow footbridge across the mud
fats were unable to render any assistance,
and were compelled to stand at Clinton
station while the structure burned to the
ground. The building was of wood, and in
less than two hours was mass of smol-
dering ruins.
The loss will be large, as in addition to
the house a number of costly canoes,
small yacht in course of construction and
two racing barges were destroyed. The
loss falls very heavily on the university
men, as their new racing barge, which had
iust been finished tor the race with the
crack crew of the Columbia Boat Club was
burned, and the race, which had been
looked forward TO with much pleasurable
anticipation. will now have to be post
poned or perhaps altogether abandoned.
Trainer Garnett who had his crew in
fue trim, feels particularly sOrrowful over
the affair as he felt confident of winning
and hoped by a victory to spur Stanford
University on to form q boating organiZa-
ton and challenge the State University TO
collegiate races. 1t was with tins latter
object in view that the association was
formed.
The rowing section of the Acme Club
also loses heavily by the condagradon, as
a barge borrowed from the Ariel Club of
San Francisco was kept IN the house and
went up in smoke with the rest of the
craft. Ii was valued at about $500, which
the Acme oarsmen will have to stand.
The building and contents were insured
Tor 5000 IN the Phoenix and Home COM
panies, and the loss viii be about twice
that amount,
The origin of the fire is unknown,
though 1t IS supposed that the careless
dropping OF q cigar stump by some one of
the members may have been the cause.
The house Will be rebuilt in the near fu-
ture and viii be provided with apparatus
adequate to contend with fire.
Among the heaviest individual losers
were George Morrow, yacht $500; Arthur
Smith, canoe, SIPS; W. q. Morrow, racing
shell, $3.50.
Almost Fight.
The barkentine C. c. Funk which is
discharging lumber at the city wharf, was
ne scene of q wOrdy war Yesterday, which
threatened for time to become sanguin-
arV.
The vessel came into port a few days
ago in charge of Captain Andrew Olsen.
who was employed by the charterers, Ken
nedy English of San Francisco.
Captain John Charleston, a part owner in
the craft decided yesterday, with the con-
sent OF the other owners, to take charge OF
.tho.tunk himself and demanded posses
SION from Captain Olsen. The latter re-
fused TO give up the ship, saying that the
:: Eharterers were his employers, and, on
.:Captain Charleston stating that he would
s0E T0n at any ri Il
the. Z tst man who stepped on board With
:. eQt his permission would be shot.
.+:>e:aptain Charleston at first determined to
=. M Get force with force and 60 aboard gun in
;h+Fid, ::bnt later sought an attorney and in
:sfructed him to bring suit to GUST his rival.
.: :-:. -. : Gray Was Acquitted.
:. It took a jury in Judge Ogden's court
lust two. minutes TO acquit George GRAY
yesterday OF the shooting of C. R. Bennett
TIE latter did not appear in the courtroom
: *:..- After hearing the testimony Of Miss Ella
= Gray, whose troubles with Bennett led to
: :tEle.sEi0oting, telling the story of how the
J: ,ex2sAeTaraFy OF the Society Tor the Prevent
:>t[oll ;uf. y ice had prosecuted her and tried
:. t9.haEe her discharged from various posi-
=: -trGlls, the jury took one ballot, resulting in
favor Of the defendant.
III Bennett viii come up for trial in few
: adIl=s. on q charge OF assault to murder
:.erGiWing out OF the same fight. He was
T. G.9nvicted:on the first trial, but was given
" another. Chance TO escape prison through
errors in the record.
.:%.*> = Now to Separate.
-: rs. >Lucinde Austin has brought suit
against her husband, S. S. Austin, the
: IFonjnent >real-estate dealer of East Oak
lard, fora divorce.
. he. Austin troubles have agitated Oak
: Hand: social circles for some time past
About a month ago Mrs. Austin was
<StandinE at the corner of.Ihirteenth street
and Broadway talking to w. Ii. Stollard,
"a. Southern Pacific gateman, when that
B. gehtlemaR S wife arrived on the scene and
gave him q severe hOrsewhipping, much to
the delight of large audience. Austin
endeavOred to procure separation at the
time, but failed. The present suit, it is
frumored, Is the result OF a mutual agree
ment.
Brotherton Acquitted.
Thomas Brotherton, the Berkeley Con-
stable who was indicted by the Grand
jury on charge Of felony in allowing
prisoner to escape, was tried in Judge
.Greene's court yesterday and acquitted.
Brotherton was accused of allowing a
young man whom he had caught shooting
within the town limits of Berkeley to go
On consideration that the prisoner pre-
scented him with his gun. The defense
was developed that such proceeding was
not uncommon in Berkeley, the jury took
a lenient view of the matter and exonerated
the Constable.
Charged With Robbery.
=. George Fisher and Sam Reynolds, two
tough young men, were arrested by Officer
:: Lanlping on Wednesday evening on a
charge of burglary, for entering restaur-
ant on Brush street and stealing a guam
: tity Of bacon.
Yesterday an additional charge of rob-
berry was placed against their names on
complaint of A. J. NJ. Lopez. The latter
claims that after drinking with him, the
two men followed him to dark portion of
Brush street, and held him up, securing
small amount OF silver and a package of
groceries which he was carrying.
odd Fellows Day.
Odd Fellows day will be celebrated at
Shell Mound Park to-day with appropriate
ceremonies under the auspices Of Canton
San Francisco No. 5, and Canton Oakland