davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26

sengeTs were unanimous in the opinion
that the men should have had a trial and
been brought into an American port"
What did you hear down on the isth-
mus concerning the Nicaragua canal?'
1.-THE people down there, so far as l
heard. are skeptical about it. They doubt
that it will ever be constructed. met an
American engineer, young man who has
been at work on the scheme. He doubted
that the plan is practicable. His opinion
is that the canal will fill up with the over
flow from the rivers and cannot be kept
open unless dredged all the time. The
canal looks we'll on paper, but it's a
mighty big job.
"They talk about those Central Am eri-
can States affording good openings for
young men. That is not true. l know of
capable and clever young fellows down
there working for $25 month.
"Fhe American flag is not respected
down there as the English flag is, or as 1t
should be. Our Consuls do not stand on
their dignity as they ought to. If an
American be arrested or gets into trouble
our Consuls put the matter off, shrug their
shoulders and procrastinate. Some of the
American Consuls are not very busy.
They sit around the hotel and drink
whisky. Some OF them gave me the i'm
preston of being political hacks sent off
there 10 get them out of the way. Their
chief representative capacity is exercised
in sitting around the hotel and drinking
whisky, as 1 said before"
What is the future of the American
bicycle down there?"
I'm Mexico it is all right, but in the
other countries not very promising. In
Guatemala do not believe there are 400
wheels. Outside of Mexico there are no
roads TO speak of. The dealers in Guate-
maia City are loaded up with English,
French and German wheels which they
can't sell at any price. All the stores are
carrying wheels and the business is over
done there as it is here in this country.
In Guatemala City couple of California
boys run bicycle and repair shop and are
doing well. They are Mr.. Hunt, who for
merly lived in Sacramento, and Mr.. Au-
ment, formerly of May field"
Mr.. Stoddard brought back two large
boa CONSTRUCTOR skins and other trophies,
which now decorate his rooms in the Bay
City Wheelmen's Club.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26
TWO WERE NEARLY
BURNED TO DEATH
A Very Narrow Escape for
John Young and His
Wife.
A Coal Oil Can Exploded in
Their House on R tch
Street.
They Are Now in the Hospital Suf.
fering From Burns Ali Over
Their Bodies.

There came near being shocking fatal
ity in John D. Young's little three-room
cottage at 1887 Ritch street yesterday
afternoon. AS it was Young and his wife
were frightfully burned about the limbs
ceiving Hospital.
1t was all caused by carelessness in
handling coal oil lamp.
Young is a carpenter we'll advanced in
years. His wife also has passed the noon
day of life. He was out during the after
noon, and about o'clock he returned to
his home and said he was ready for his
Christmas dinner. His wife at the time
was Dusy preparing the meal, so she told
her husband to fill the lamp, as she did
not have the time. Young took the lamp
and a candle to the place where the FIVE
gallon can OF kerosene was kept. a min
ute later there was an explosion that shook
the little dwelling.
Mrs. Young ran into the room to see II
her husband was hurt, and as she did so
the burning fluid set her clothes on fire.
The lamp and the can of coal oil must
have exploded. Young dashed past his
wife and ran into the street, for his gar
ments, too, were in flames.
The unfortunate woman ran shrieking
to the front door and crowd quickly
gathered. By this time Mrs. Yonng's
skirts and waist were almost burnt
through. Kindly hands seized her and a
bystander threw an oyercoat around her,
smothering the flames, while others went
to the rescue of the man.
In the meantime the fire in the house
was making rapid Roadway, so bucket
brigade was started. Officers Videau and
Stevens were among the early arrivals,
and while one sent the sufferers to the
hospital in the patrol wagon the other
called out engine 10 on still alarm. The
firemen finished extinguishing the flames.
The building was damaged to the extent
of about 500.
At the Receiving Hospital the patients
presented u pitiful appearance. Young
was badly burned about the feet and legs
His wife Jared much worse. She was
burned from her face to her feet and she
suffered terribly.
After her wounds were dressed Mrs.
Young stated that she had $50 in the
pockt of her dress, and added that it was
about all the money she had in the world.
When the dress WIGS torn off the money
must have been lost in the rubbish of
burned rags.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26

leaves are white eternaily, almost, even as
the evergreens of The Scquoia semper-
virens are always green.
The white redwood had all the appear
ance of waxen limitations of the natural
tree. The bark and wood are not differ
ent from the common redwood, but one
distinct dissimilarity marking the freak
ish tree. Wherever there Is green in the
redwood there is white in this one-that
is to say, the young shoots and the leaves
are white, with something of a waxen hue
perceptible. The odd sprays were torn
apart into small pieces and mixed SPAR
ingly with evergreen wreaths and red
berries in the Claus Spreckels market on
Market street, opposite Grant avenue.
There is only one white redwood to be
found in all the forests up the coast, eX-
planned Mr. Orr, Christmas eve, "and that
grows on the Rule ranch, near Cazadero.
There used to be another white redwood,
but the forest fires came along and killed
it, leaving this one on the Rule ranch"
docs it grow in a dark place, hidden
by larger treesr
around and through its branches. There
to bottom. Nobody seems to know why it
is white, but it grows right along like any
other redwood tree"
DR.. Gustav Essen of the Academy of
Sciences, was deeply interested in this tree
when told about it.
"All trees of the pine species" said he,
occasionally have white one. There Is
no pigment in the green of the dwood
leaf. The color is caused by an insect and
for some reason the insect cannot live in
these white Trees
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26
Taken From an American
Ship and Beaten in
Corint0.
Captain of the San Juan Blamed
for Surrendering His
Employees.
E. E. Stoddard Says Central Ameri.
can Consuis Love John Barley.
corn and Procras tiHation.

uYou may take them off and kill them
for all l care,' said the captain.
This is what E. E. Stoddard. Pacific
Coast agent and travelling salesman for a
Buffalo bicycle manufacturer, said the
captain of the Pacific Mail steamship
San Juan said in the port of Corinto.
Nicaragua, November 10 last, while tn Q
ship was lying there. Mr.. Stoddard was
then making business trip through Mex
leo and Central American States. A Span
ish travelling man had dropped his grip
containing f150 of English gold at his
stateroom door and carelessly left it. 1t
was stolen, and three of the ships crew
two walters of the dining-room and her.
culean Chilean, a coal passer-were
charged with the theft. The Spaniard
went ashore and complained TO the Com
andante OF the port, a gentleman of fe-
rocious appearance, over SIX feet tall, said
Mr.. Stcddard. Taking up the story at
this point he continued:
1.-THE comandante, who is the chief
officer of the port, came off to the San
Juan and told the captain he wanted to
take the accused men ashore for punish
ment. The captain said he did not care if
the comandante took the men off and
killed them. So the men were taken
ashore and they were nearly killed, too.
The captain had no right to let the men
be taken ashore. He should have brought
the men on into United States waters and
given them regular trial. There was q
great deal of com plant among the passen-
gers about it.
4 followed the men ashore. They were
mercilessly logged. Strips of cane were
used. The men were bent over chair and
their backs barred. They were logged
with the idea of forcing them TO confess
and return the money. Their backs were
lacerated and bleeding. 1t was awful.
The big Chilean was given 100 lashes. He
then said he thought he could lind the
gold. He did find part of it. Then they
gave him forty lashes more. One of the
others, small man, was given 140. He
feebly denied that he had stolen the gold,
but said he thought he knew where it was.
He could not find it, and they thrashed
him till the physician babe them to stop if
they did not want to kill him. When he
returned to consciousness they refused to
give him water.
II never want to see sight like that
again. do not remember the name OF
the captain OF the San Juan, butthe pas
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26
to his statement regarding his being one
of the help in the building. He was sub
sequently charged with burglary.
DEAD IN HER ROOM.
Mrs. e. Moreal de Brevans' Lifeless
Body Discovered by Her Son.

Mrs. E. Moreal de Brevans' Lifeless
Body Discovered by Her Son.
Mrs. e. Moreal de Brevans, an aged lady
of 70 years, died, it is presumed from
heart disease, in her rooms. 1913 Powell
street, either yesterday morning or Christ
mas eve. The old lady was OF quiet
disposition and seldom left her room,
consequently when no sound OF life came
from her apartments nothing was thought
of it.
Christmas morning came, and II. P.
Moreal, son of the deceased, left his home
in Alameda and came TO this City for the
purpose OF enjoyin1 the holiday with his
mother. He knocked at her door, but
there was no answer. Knowing that his
mother had made arrangements for his
visit, Moreal Immediately suspected that
ON ethipg unusual had occurred.
He procured a pass key, entered the
room, and discovered that his mother was
dead. The body was on the floor, fully
attired, showing that death had come
without warning. The young man was
almost Frustrated with grief. After an
investigation the Coroner decided that
death was due to natural causes. The
body will be removed to Alameda for in
terment to-day.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26
Construction of the New
Hall of Justice May
Be Delayed.
Mayor Sutro Preparing Veto
Message to Be Submitted
Next Week.
Claims to Have Discovered Numer Gus
Legal Defects in the In
Strument.

Mayor Sutro has decided to refuse to
sign the contract awarded to Board man &
Boardman, contractors, for the construc-
ton of the Hail of Justice on the site of
the old City Hall. at cost of $780, 600.
He was seen at his home yesterday, and
owing to the fact that he had none of the
documents referring to the m after at hand
at first declined to say anything on the
subject for publication. He finally con-
scented to do so, qualifying his statement,
however, by saying that 1t would be more
in detail and more specific if he could have
had access to the records.
after most careful examination of
the papers relating to this contract" said
the Mayor, my attorneys found several
legal defects in them, and for this reason
feel constrained to refuse to attach my
signature to the contract. 1 shall send a
communication to the Board of Super
visors in connection Herewith early next
week. In this all my reasons will be set
forth in detail.
I'm the first place the original ordinance
which l signed is defective. These defects
have only been discovered lately. The
law declares that in order to make an APP
preparation for a building of that sort it
must first be declared that the building is
a necessity. This was either not done at
all or not done in a regular manner. do
not recollect which is the case.
Secondly, the law declares that no
alterations shall be made in the building
after the contract Is given out while the
contract itself permits alterations.
Furthermore the ordinance requires
that this money should be expended upon
the lot described as form erly occupied by
the old City Hall, while the contract calls
for q building to be erected outside of this
lot for use as morgue. This is all clearly
Irregular. There are other things that l
cannot fully recall.
II would also state that this contract
would be very dangerous thing for the
contractors, for if they undertook the
work under it they would run the risk of
losing many thousand dollars, as their
right to reimbursement under the contract
could be questioned at any time. l have
had several interviews with Boardman &
Boardman, the contractors at which both
sides were represented by lawyers, and
the situation was fully explained, but
they seemed to want to take their chance
but felt duty bound to refuse to sign the
contract.
1.-The only recourse the contractors have
under the circumstances is to apply to the
courts for a mandamus compelling me to
sign the contract, and this l understand,
is what they intend to do. Ny idea would
be to let the whole matter go over for the
new Board OF Supervisors. They should
pass proper resolution and then draw up
a contract in accordance Herewith and
with law making the appropriation"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26
SUICIDE OF A HOsTLER.

Christopher Nelson Hangs Himself to
Rafter While Despondent.
Christopher Nelson, hostler, about 40
years of age, com mitted suicide yesterday
afternoon by hanging himself to rafter
in the rear of the stables in which he was
employed, 1882 Polk street. The body was
discovered about an hour after death had
taken place and was removed to the
morgue.
The cause which prom pied Nelson to
commit suicide is unknown. He had been
Respondent for some time and, as his act
would Indicate became mentally unbal-
anced and took his own life.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26

Hackett suspended by his right leg from
the transom over room q on the third
floor.
The manner in which Cornish got him
self into such peculiar position may OF
developed by an Investigation made by
Sergeant Holms.
In this building is located the Office OF
Henry ]. Croker, executor of the Nc
Laughlin estate. Frank Schilling, an at
torney-at-law, has his Office also in the
building but two floors higher than that
on which Mr.. Crocker's Office is located.
Mr.. Schilling had visited his office last
night about 8 o'clock and after transact
ing some business locked his door and was
about to take his departure when he heard
what be thought was the moaning OF
some person apparently in pain or dis
tress. AS soon as he reached the side
walk he sent messenger to the Califor-
nia-street Police Station, when Sergeant
Helms responded. In the meantime Off,
Ger Hackett had come upon the scene and
with CALL representative an entrance
to the building was gained by the SER
geant opening the front door. The Off
GERS at once proceeded to make an inves-
tigation.
On the second floor, which was dark.
the means which attracted the attention
of Mr.. Schilling were distinctly heard and
by lighting the hall gas jet the cause was
found.
The officers observed the body of col
ored man hanging by one leg from the
transom over the door. Alongside of him,
but beyon his reach, was short BAN boo
step-ladder, such as is used by window
cleaners. 1t required only few minutes
to liberate the suspended man by freeing
som frame, that held his foot like the grip
of wise.
When taken down he was completely
exhausted and foaming at the mouth, as
il suffering from strangulation.
An examination of the room, which had
been previously occupied by the Misses
Shepherd as typewriters, revealed the
presence of some turkeys hanging against
the wall.
Cornish, on regaining strength, gave his
name and residence, and claimed to be an
assistant janitor to Robert Wilson, whose
residence he gave at 021 Sacramento
street, but declined to give any explana-
ton of how he came to try to enter
room q.
An examination OF room 8, which is the
one occupied by the janitor, threw some
| light on the mystery, as case was found
there with the following address:
The Mclaughlin estate, four turkeys.
Cal.
Paid. Value $50.
Cornish was taken to the California
street station, pending an investigation II
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26
THE ALMsHOUsE DINNER.
The City Wards Christmas Dinner o
Roast Beef.

The City Wards Christmas Dinner OF
Roast Beef.
Captain E. Reddy, superintendent o.
the Almshouse, treated his boarders to 6
square meal of prime roast beef yesterday.
The City's wards number 934. the great
est number yet registered on the Aims
house books, and 30 give these unfortu
mates an extra good Christmas dinner
there were 700 pounds of frst-class beel
cooked, together with several pounds O.
shanKs. ribs and other soup producine
material, with which each inmate was
plentifully supplied.
Captain Reddy, in order to give the in
mates q choice. had q vote taken few
days before Christmas as to whether they
would have turkey or roast beef and soup
The choice was almost unanimous in
favor of beef.
Mince pie followed as desert and was
much relished by those who in their ole
age are unfortunately thrown upon the
charity of generous municipality.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26
WILL Be A BIG MEETING
Plans of the Panhandle and
Ashbury Heights Improve.
ment Club.
Resolutions to Be Prepared for Ac.
tion at the Session This
Evening.

A special meeting of the Panhandle
and Ashbury Heights I'm Improvement Club
is called for tonight for the purpose Of
demonstrating against the location of the
Pesthouse on the Almshouse tract 1t
promises to be the very largest meeting
of all the large meetings held by the
club.
A resolution condemning the railroad
tracks. platforms and fence maintained
by the Park and Ocean Railroad Com
pany on the sidewalk of Stanyan street.
between Haight and Waller, without
warrant from any authority whatsoever,
and petitioning the Board of Supervisors
to remove the same, will be introduced;
also, a resolution demonstrating against
the condition of the Treadwell estate,
which is the cause of much damage to
property, the drifting sand filing up
areas, breaking down fences, filling up
sewers and causing them to burst; and
also resolution empowering the presi-
dent of the club to appoint COMMITTEES
of five property-owners, mem bers OF the
club, to canvass the district for pure
artesian water supply and reservoir sites
to distribute the same.
The club thinks that should the Pest
house be located on the Aimshouse tract
in proximity to Lake Honda. the water
would not be improved, but that on &C
count of the infectious diseases necessarily
to be treated in the Pesthouse it would
surely be contaminated.
A resolution criticising the so-called
vapor light, lately tried in the park, and
disappearing light produced by the vapor.
izing of coal oil or gasoline, will be pre-.
pared.
The Park Com missioners will again be
petitioned by the club to light the park
and avenue with electric arc lights Of the
very latest and most modern type, and In
sufficient mum bers.
A general review of the work so far &C
compllshed by the club ana looking
after street work in course of construction
and projected, or TO be projected. A re
port from the COMMITTEES for the extension
and opening of III street, from Stanyan
street to First avenue, will be made.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26
Commercial Travellers Home.

Commercial Travellers Home.
The commercial travellers are great peo-
pie. Not to appreciate the importance of
their labors is to acknowledge ones igno-
rance of the methods of trade. They are
the most intrepid nomads that are left on
the earth. Their travels are as continu-
GUS as their tolls. They live in sleeping
cars and hotels. brave the perils of the
rail, the lunch-counter and the hotel bed !:
live single or apart from their families,
endure all weathers and any company
that offe rs-and all that the affinity
between good goods and solvent
buyers may be discerned and tri-
umph. The attention paid to them
during the late campaign attested
their Importance in the community. GreaL
pains was taken, especially in Chicago, to
equip them with sound fiscal and political
sentiments. so that they might scatter
good seed wherever they went Their ma
tional organization is building home at
Binghamton, N. Y, for worthy INDECENT
commercial travellers and their dependent
families. Il is to complete this building
that the Com merciaI Travellers Fair is
being held in the Madison Square Gar
den. 1t began on the 18th and closes on
the 28sh, and through il the travellers as
pire to raise $3.50, 200. It is great fair,
full of novel shows and managed by peo-
pie of enterprise. No doubt it will meet
with the success that it deserves Har-
per's Weekly.
-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26
A WHITE REDWOOD.

It Grows Near Cazadero and Contributed
Waxen Sprays to Christmas
Evergreen Wreaths.
One of the greatest novelties, perhaps
the oldest natural curiosity of the Christ
mas season, was wagon-Ioad of white
redwood from Sonoma County. Mr.. Orr,
who is interested in that part of Califor-
MIA, sent large quantities of redwood sap
lings to town for Christmas-trees, and by
way of variety included some lever
whites" This new-tas hioned wood is
positively necessary to meet the exigen-
cies of the occasion, for in reality these
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26
Trinity Presbyterian Church.

Christmas music Sunday evening. December
27: Organ prelude, "Hallelujah," from Bee
thoven's "Mount of Olives; choral from
Speaketh the Lord of Hosts" (Stainer); solo
and chorus, 30 Holy Night" adam, arranged
by Buck; anthem, stUnto You a Savior Is
Born" WATSON; solo, Mrs, Susie Hert Mark,
"Child of Bethlehem" (Salter); offertory
pastoral Symphony" Messiah; anthem, BE
hold 1 Bring You Good Tidings'' John Goss):
solo ana chorus, "Calm on the Listening Ear
OF Night' (Holden).
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26
A Present to Chief Jailer sattler.

One of the happiest mortals in this City to-
day to whom the visit of old Santa Claus this
year will surely be pleasing remem-
brance for the balance of his life is unques-
tionably A. Sattler, the efficient Cerberus of
the City's prisoners. 1t appears that when
Chief Ja1ler Sattler sat down to breakfast
Christmas morning he found on his plate q
magnificent gold badge studded with dia-
monds and bearing the inscription, 'sTo Chief
Taller Sattler, from the officers of County Jail
No
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26
She Took Her own Clothes.

Claus Hoffman,, residing at Is Tiff street, re-
ported at 10 o'clock last night to the Seven
teenth-street Police Station that his house had
been robbed. Investigation showed that Mr..
Holtmann's daughter and her sweetheart,
whose name was not known, had been in the
house and that the girl had taken most OF her
clothes. She left note reading as follows;
I am working on Vallejo street. VIII be back
next Sunday night.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26
John Cornish, a Colored
Man, Found Suspended,
Head Down.
Released From His Peculiar
Position, He Fails to Elk.
plain His Sad Plight.
An Inves tigalion Revealed the Pres
ence of Turkeys on the Other
Side of the Door.

John Cornish, colored man residing at
Ala Jackson street, and who claims to be
an assistant ianitor of the building sos
California street, was found last night at
9 o'clock by Sergeant Helms and Officer
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26
New Mission House.

The cornerstone of the new Good Samaritan
Mission will be laid by the Bishop of Califor
mia tomorrow afternoon at o'clock at Sec
ond and Folsom streets.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26

COSTzHIGH, BUT IT'S GOOD.
AMERICAN BEST Oh RISTMAS COFFEE.
TRY 1T.
MAKES YOC FEEL so GOOD.
GREAT AMERICAN IMPORTING TEA CO.
STORES EVERYWHERE
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26

AUCTION Diamonds, Watches and Jewelry. One
week only. vacate Jan LIST. and Third street.