The San Francisco call., 1897-06-09
An Outsider Attacks Super
visor Britt After the
Adjournment.
Samuel c. Irving Precipitates a
Scene ct the Liveliest
Character.
The Lie Given Concerning a State.
ment About the Asphalium
Roof Ordinance.

An exciting renconter filled ont and
added a climax to the long and exciting
session of the Board OF Supervisors yes
terday afternoon. There had been an ex-
change of tart personalities, and even
threats OF personal violence sotto voce
and on the side between mem bers of the
majority and of the minority during the
discussion of the water order and other
matters related thereto. Smith and Clin-
ton, who sit side by side, had compli-
mented each other after the manner of
cats and dogs and Smith had threatened
to smash the nose of the Supervisor from
the Eleventh. In this hot -blooded tenn
per the board adjourned, aDd then the
scrapping broke out from a wholly un-
looked-for quarter
The board had passed an order recurring
that in the laying of asphaltum roofs q
layer of asbestos must be placed next to
the wood. Britt fathered the order as
chairman of the Fire Committee. When
the order was called up DR.. Dodge moved
that the opportunity be given to certain
persons whose interests were affected to
be heard. This was met By opposition
from Britt unless others who favored the
order, especially mem bers OF the Fire De-
lege-they, however, not being present.
DR.. Dodge then moved that the matter
be laid over and representatives of both
sides be invited to be present and state
their case.
To this Britt objected strenuously. He
said the matter had been discussed thor
oughly and sufficient time had been given
every DO Y. He wanted a vote al once; he
wanted the board TO go on record in this
matter at this time, following close, as il
did, upon the fire of last Sunday, when
the lives of three brave firemen had bee
crushed out by falling wall, occasioned
by a burning roof of asphaltum. He was
there when the roof and wall fell, he said,
and when they dug the bodies of the un-
fortunate men out from under it, He
knew the evils OF asphaltum roofs and
wanted a vote upon it now.
Dodge insisted on his right to have time
to satisfy himself upon points whereof he
was not well informed and could not see
the necessity of hurry. He was backed by
Clinton. The roll was called and Dodge
RottanZi and Clinton asked to be excused
from voting, the others voting aye, and
the order was adopted.
At the moment of adjournment Samuel
{. Irving, preSIdent of the asphaltum
roofers, stepped forward with the purpose
of presenting the statement that he had
prepared concerning asphaltum roofs.
The disintegration of the board was so
rapid, however, that he saw he could not
get the attention of the mem bers. He
then walked over to Britt, who was still at
his desk, and said:
Il wish to say that your statement to
the effect that the death of those firemen
was caused by an asDhaltum roof is en-
tirelv false. The roof of the building that
fell was tin and not asphaltum."
DO you mean to say that l liep' re-
turned Britt holly.
II mean to say that your statement as
to an asphaltum roof causing the death of
the firemen was false" repeated Irving.
Britt struck out from the shoulder and
Irving returned the blow.
rush and scramble and general con.
fusion followed, with Mayor Phelan in
the thick of it.
The sergeant-at-arms grabbed Irving by
the throat, and Irving turned his atten-
ton to the sergeant-at-arms and tried to
return the choking, while Supervisor
Sheehsn, who claims to be something of
a hitter, struck out toward the asphaltum
man, and Supervisor Delany called upon
the policeman present to arrest Irving for
"having struck a Supervisor" Rivers
also clamored for his arrest
Mayor Pnelan rushed into the scrim-
mage and demanded that the men be
parted and peace restored. Clinton also
came to the assistance of Irving. The
greatest confusion prevailed.
Irving was iostled through the door
into the clerks Office and there, they being
feed from the others, Britt made another
run at him, but was this time caught by
his friends. Sergeant Shea, who was
present in plain clothes, hurried Irving
into the corridor outside and advised him
10 go home. He acted upon the advice.
II is not unlikely that the matte rwill
get into the Police Court.