The San Francisco call., 1896-07-06
Banning Men Patrol the Beach
to Prevent Tramp Yachts
From Landing.
THE GAUNTLET RUN AT NIGHT
Two Ladies Without Passports Re.
fused Admission to the Com.
pany's Ballroom.

AVALON. CATALINA ISLAND, July g.
For the past week reports have reached
the island almost daily that certain Long
Beach craft would again attempt to force
landing at Avalon on July 4. Fore
warned is forearmed and so the company
quietly took steps to prevent these tramp
yachts from accomplishing their purpose
should they make the attempt. Constable
w. III. Cline has been here constantly on
the watch for pirate craft for a week and
on Friday was joined by fifteen deputies
from Los Angeles. These added to the
force of employees already on hand made
company of about seventy men, who were
detailed to guard the beach. AS there are
only about 1000 feet of beach where it is
possible TO land skiff, between Sugar
Loaf and the high bluff on the opposite
side of the bay, it will be seen that this
number OF men could quite easily protect
the shore.
The trespassers, however, whether they
were cognizant of this force of men on
guard or not evidently chose to effect
landing under cover of darkness.
carrier pigeon message was received
from San Pedro early in the day announce
ing that Long Beach yacht had headed
for the island at $50 A. NJ. Later in the
day another carrier pigeon, liberated in
midocean from the steamer Hermosa on
her return trip from the island to San
Pedro, arrived with a message that two
yachts-the Morning Star and Ranger
one with party of ten and the other with
party of sixteen on board, had been met
by the Hermosa ana were under full head
way for the island. Twilight was deepen
ing into darkness when the two yachts ap-
preached the island. Each fingered Just
outside Avalon Bay for some time and
then a string of new boats were seen to
glide out from the shore manned, it was
afterward learned, by friends of the pi-
rates, who were evidently in connivance
with them, and the Morning Star was
towed in the bay, where she cast anchor,
the Ranger remaining outside taking OBJ
servations.
Constable Cline and his deputies, rein
forced by others in authority and throng
of 5000 onlookers, gathered on the beach,
and the excitement became intense A
rowboat shot shoreward from the Morning
Star. In it was the captain, J. T. Nevins.
and +. b. Fuller of Los Angeles, one of
the passengers. The captain asked to be
allowed to come ashore and get some pro-
visions. permit from the company was
written out and given him. Mr.. Fuller
OOuSAt q lChCb 1TOA bnG w AIUlQgLOn
Transportation Company, pungling up
81 25 therefor, and was also permitted to
land.
Under the advantage of darkness and
with the connivance of friends on shore
two women afterward succeeded in land
ing. They were promptly spotted by the
alert deputies and put under the watchful
eye of the authorities.
So long as they remained on the public
highway they were unmolested, but later
in the evening the women undertook to
enter the pavilion, private property of the
Banning Company, to participate in the
dancing, and were promptly met at the
door by an officer of the company, who re-
quested them to present their transporta-
ton tickets before entering. This, of
course, they were unable to do, and were
therefore left in outer darkness.
The party on the Morning Star included
Mr.. and Mrs. f. P. Fuller, Mr.. and Mrs,
Julius Pease, Mr.. and Mrs. U. r. Bowers,
the Misses Maxwell, all of Los Angeles;
Charles Anderson, deputy postoffice in
spector, and a man from San Francisco
whose name was resolutely withheld.
Mr.. Fuller, when asked if transportation
fees were paid the captain of the yacht,
hesitated slightly and then replied: 1--WE
are guests of Captain Nevins.'
Later it was learned that this was only
a ruse as it was understood that col
lection for the captain was to be taken up
on the return trip. Mr.. Fuller's propo
sition that they we're guests and not paid
passengers, however is overthrown by his
own action in paving the transportation
fee to the Wilmington TRANSPORTATION
Company, for if they were merely a
pleasure party they would not fall under
the ban OF trespassers, as the point at
issue with the Wilmington Transportation
Company is the competition in paid traffic
from outside parties.
All pleasure craft is warmly welcome
and such parties are extended the privi-
leges of the island free of charge.
The beach was patrolled by officers all
night. So far as learned none of the
Rangers passengers attempted to come
ashore and this morning both yachts re-
turned to the main land. The presence of
a Deputy United States Postotfice In
spector on board the Morning Star is per-
h.r.s net. hc1 S;er