davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-05

seat, but was so agitated that he threw
down the pen, exclaiming that his fingers
we're too cold.
The commandant continued to dictate
the remainder of the memorandum, the
captain, he relates, insisting the while
mat there was something the matter with
him which made it impossible 10 write
any more.
The cOmmandant then arose, opened
the door of closet and out stepped the
chief of the secret service and Com
mardant Henry OF the statistical bureau.
The chief advanced, placed his band on
the shoulder of the doomed captain, and
sail: In the name of The law l arrest
you"
"Whatfor?" demanded Dreyfus. what
is the charge against me2'
You know very well, said Command
ant Mercier Your emotion in writing
the let er L have just dictated is sufficient
proof"
II swear that do not understand you, "
protested the captain.
Come along! 1t is useless 10 discuss
the matter in the presence of the evil
dence. Your treason is discovered"
Such Is the authentic narrative of the
most important oral evidence offered at
the court-marlial. since grave doubt had
existed as to the genulneness of the
memorandum. Even then it was only
by one ma iority that DreyIus was con-
victed.
On the 5th of the succeeding January,
in the court of the French Military School
at Paris, Dreyfus was publicly degraded
as traitor to his country. This cere-
mony, If such it can be called, constitutes
a punishment more severe in the public
repro baton and contempt it mplies, and
with which it is attended, than any in
t1lcted on the worst criminal
Outside the school tie Place FontenoY
| and streets were densely crowded with q
mob ciamoring for the life of the officer.
As 8 O'clock sounded General Darras
raised his sword, and 10 the beat of drum
Dreyius issued from u door at a corner oil
| the court. in the center OF a squad oil
soldiers. His step was firm. His features,
lar from revealing any feeling OF de-
preston, or of the guilty consciousness oil
a man overwhelmed with u sense OF his
| disgrace, rather conveyed the i'm preston
that he had all he could do to master his
/ anger and Indignation.
lie was conducted TO the center OF the
court, and the clerk of the military tri
| bune came forward 10 read his sentence
of life imprisonment on Devils Island
The general then pronounced the formula
Of everlasting degradation, and the ad.
| Jutan; approached 10 strip the lace iron
! his uniform. AT this moment, wher
Dreyius Indignantly raised his right arm
! it was thought that he intended to revolt
and assail the adiutant.
Instead, with finger pointed heaven.
ward, he exclaimed, "Vive la France
You degrade an innocent man."
The a6jatant then finished his duty
tearing the buttons from the uniform o
the captain, afterward breaking the dis
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-05

which contained this overwhelming proof
against Dreyfus. In the event of refusal the
assurance was given that Emperor William
would consider such action a provocation
Tor The severance OF diplomatic relations. If
General MERCER refused to return the docu-
ment II meant war. He complied with the de-
mand, but before returning the document had
it photographed, and il was this Photographic
evidence which had sdcE weight with the
court-martial as to render conviction in
eyitable.
Finally General MERCER was persuaded
to make public a photograph of this all
important memorandum, and this it
scarcely requires an expert to decide is
forgery. M. Bernard Lozare was engaged
TO exploit the entire case and eventually
issued brochure exposing the forgery,
with the assistance of eight graph ologists.
representing four different nations, whose
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-05

time and the indetatigabls efforts of a
statesman, distinguished for love of
justice and an irreproachable character,
have contributed TO the tireless industry
OF Mrs. Dreyfus in modifying the public
preiudlces which supported the Judgment
Of the courtmartial and in procuring evi-
dence that may secure a reversal OF the
verdict and the restoration of the exile of
Devils Island to position and honor.
From such a remote point Of view it is
extremely difficult to measure with any
degree of precision the cred Utility and
weight of the eyidence-largely hypo-
thetical at that-in a case so rom plicated
and so manifestly involved with the
policy and those secrets OF Government it
is desired especially 10 conceal.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-05

r. NJ. de Marieffe says:
My examination convinces me that these
different writings have not a common origin
because of these facts:
l. There exist in the anonymous writing
several pecunaritles plainly characteristic;
very constant, for they are produced by natu-
raj movements of the pen; instructive and
unconscious. These peculiarities are not
found i'll the writing of Captain Dreyfus.
2. 1t VIII be further Observed that the Drey-
fus letters contain marked characteristics not
discoverable in the anonymous memorandum.
The writings are from two different hands,
and Captain Dreyfus did not pen the memo
randum.
Still the irreconcilable press jeered and
accused the Dreyius family with having
secured the CO. cooperation of the Rothschilds
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-05

in creating an enormous corruption fund
to hribe the press and secure revision of
the case A member OF the academy, who
is vice president of the Senate, NJ. Scheu-
rer- kes;ner, whose name is the synonym
of integrity and purify of motive, came
into possession of facts that satisfied him
Dreyius was either the victim OF an ai-
dacious conspiracy or of a judicial errCEr.
For year or more this patient old sciHn-
tist has dug and probed ana labored, until
now he seems to have fortified himself
with such Information as has compelled
the Government to accede 10 his demand
that the artillery captain BE given a new
and fair trial on the merits of the evi.
dence exhumed in support of his limo.
cence. His firm altitude preserved
through storms OF abuse and defamation
has forced a division of opinion. lola.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-05

and disdainful. AS the escort reached
the grilled gate the crowd. although kept
back at quite distance on the Place
Fontenoy, recognized the condemned and
uttered fierce shout for his head. Had
the formal egradation been attem pied il
the presence of the people Dreyfus at
that time would have been torn to pieces.
As Dreyfus, on his way to the prison
wagon, passed the group of press repre-
sentatives he DOTTED his cap and ex-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-05

1t appears that for some time valuable
papers had been disappearing from the
files of the War Department, but in spite
of the vigilance of the officials no dew
was obtained 20 the identity of the Of
fender until the chief of The Bureau of
Statistics aud Information submitted TO
the ma jor.ge a note which n secret
agent of the Government found among a
lot of waste paper scraps in the refuse OF
the German embassy. 1t had been torn
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-05

However, through the dense fog of
Partisan invective, vituperative editorial
hatred and supposititious proof, one fact
looms up plainly, like a mountain-top
above a mist.
Chat is doubt of which Captain Drey-
f1s has never enjoyed the benefit in an
open trial.
This fact alone, this majestic doubt, for
s. apparently casts its shadow on the
gsbid utterances of his tiercest assailants
of the press including the incorrigibie
Rochefort, entities him to the tardy re-
consideration his case is receiving.
Moreover, the burden of new testimony,
explicit and circumstential. now coming
to light, points to Colonel Esterhazy as
the real criminal, and day by day the ex-
culpation of Dreyfus begins 10 assume the
form of certainty.
Colonel Estarhazy is the iiiegitimate
son OF an Austrian Count and French
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-05

OF Diplomatic relations may get before the
public. Nc doubt the military court in
the Dreyfus case had 10 deliberate in the
dark rather Than expose by public trial
the methods unavoidaby employed in
guarding the secrets Of the French War
Department while striving to gain posses
sion of those of Germany. Hence the
mystery as to the real character and COM
petence Of the evidence adduced against
Dreyfus.
Two facts, however, stand out promi-
nently in the discussion-one that the
staff OF the major-general was overzealous
in locating and prosecuting the supposed
offender; the other that the document on
which the prosecution almost wholly
rested its case was forgery. When the
latter assertion 10 maintained the cor
roborative proofs 50 far as they have be-
come known. are readily explained as
worthless.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-05

honored sword of the condemned man
across his knees and throwing the frag-
mcnts 10 the ground.
Then began the sinister promenade
around the court. DfeYfus preserved be-
fore the aligned troops the same naughty
demeanor, with his couutenance appraised
The San Francisco call., 1897-06-09
THREE CAPTAINS
BADLY FOOLED
Sent Boats to the Rescue
of a Supposed Drown
ing Man.
He Seemed to Be Struggling for
Life With a Big Pack On
His Back.
He Wes Only Testing a New Iaven.
tion for Saving Life at Sea,
However.

Three captains on three of the Oakland
freightboats were unwittingly fooled yes
terday morning.
A man swimming in the creek with a
pack tied TO his back was the cause of all
the trouble, and as steamer after steamer
lowered a boat and went to his rescue,
only 10 find that it was some crank trying
new invention. the sailors swore not
only deep but loud.
The freightboat Emma was the first TO
run across the swimmer, and Captain
Johnston tells the following story:
"As far as l can gather" said he, 1.-THE
man has a new life saving apparatus by
which he can support himself for days,
and in which he can carry enough food to
support life for a week at least. The buoy
not only keeps him afioat, but out of it he
can get his meals.
THE inventor was testing his invention
Yesterday. He and a strong swimmer
went to Alameda mole and in a boat
reached the breakwater. There the swim
mer took off his clothes and appeared in
bathing suit. His garments were packed
in the buoy and when it was attached to
him he sprang into the water and started
for the Webster-street bridge. He was
bali way up when we met him and he
only laughed when we offered him assist
ance. His companion was following him
up the breakwater and yelled to us, Call
your boat back. it's only an experiment we
are trying The man was a good swim
mer and the man on the mole had 10 hustle
in order to keep up with him"
Shortly after the Emma had passed the
swimmer the big steamer Transit backed
out from the Southern Pacific freight slip.
Her captain noticed the swimmer, and,
making the same mistake as the captain
of the Emma, lowered a boat and the
sailors were again greeted with laugh
when they proffered the man assistance.
Considerably above Pera Ia street the
Garden City, bound from Webster street
for San Francisco, also encountered the
man in the water, and there was another
stop and another boat lowered. TGis time
the sailors were within an ace of taking
the man out whether he liked it or not,
but finally desisted when the man said he
was swimming a race against time.
The San Francisco call., 1897-06-09
POINT LOBOS IN LINE.
Declares in Favor of Munici.
pal Ownership of
Water.
Resolutions Adopted Demanding That
Certain Richm ond Streets
Remain Open

At large and spirited meeting last
night of the Point Lobos improvement
Club held at Crossthwait's Hall and pre-.
sided over By George Fletcher, it was re-
solved to oppose the petition of ]. G. Jor-
dan, owner OF the Jordan Tract, now
before the Board of Supervisors, 10 close
Pennsylvania, Comm onweaIth and Michi-
gan avenues. for the purpose of turning
the Jordan Tract into recreation grounds.
To that end a committee consisting of
Luke Battles, R. NJ. Wood, l. S. Green,
Phelix McHugh and James H. Dever
were appointed, with full power to act.
The question of opening up a driveway
into Golden Gate Park from First avenue
was delegated TO James II. Dever, F. B.
Gibson and j. c. Coggins, who were in
structed to work in conjunction with a
similar committee appointed by the Pre-
sidio Heights Club.
II. +. Prien offered his resignation as a
delegate to the San Francisco Association
OF improvement Clubs and Frank Gibson
was elected in his place.
A spirited discussion ensued regarding
the City owning its own water works and
the following resolutions were enthusi-
astIcally adopted:
Resolped, That it is the sense OF the Point
Lobos Improvement Club that the City and
County of San Francisco should own its water
works; and be IL further
ResOtTed, That we instruct our delegates to
the san Francisco ASS citation OF Improve
ment Clubs to use their efforts 10 further this
measure and to vote for IL.
The San Francisco call., 1897-06-09
BALBOA BENEFIT.
A Splendid Entertainment Promise ed
Those who Attend

Those who Attend.
great call for tickets for the Balboa
boulevard benefit is expected on Thurs
day and Friday afternoons at the entrance
of the Emporium store on Market street.
Mr.. Greer Harrison will have charge of
the sale.
Tickets are now on sale at the EN- po-
rum, and Congressman Mcguire was one
OF the purchasers yes terday.
At the entertainment Mrs. Marquardt
will play one of her beautiful harp solos.
Mrs. Eva Tenny, the Clara Schumann
quartet and two popular artists from the
Orpheum are among those assisting.
Three acts OF the play Back to the Old
Home" with its pretty story, beautiful
double quartet quiet "old farm scenes"
and realistic characters will no doubt add
TO the interesting programme. n strong
professional cast will appear in the piece.
Hobrook BIinn and his pretty wife, Carl
Smith and Beatrice Lieb. Mable Gordon,
little mildred" Robert Michel and
others as well known to the public will be
seen in the cast.
Miss Margaret Craven will be present to
assist in presenting each lady with few
flowers a token of appreciation for each
lady who proves her interest in this char
liable work by purchasing a ticket.
Mrs. Lolita Coleman, who has so will
ingly assisted to an unlimited extent for
the success of this benefit, will also aid
other ladies' with the flowers. She has
worked untiringly and thinks the toilers
on the boulevard should have few dol
lars in their pockets even after the COM
pletion of this beautiful avenue.
The box office of the California Theater.
where the benefit will take place on Fri
day night, will be open for sale of tickets
on Thursday and Friday.
The San Francisco call., 1897-06-09

her was induced to take valise to is
room for sale keeping. 1t con '"i0cd
clothes which HI i took to her rother
who was then IN hiding. CURIOSITY
prompted the yourg man to examine The
stuff that renamed in the valise.
lie was almost paraly wed upon finding
counterfeIIers' molds, annoids, lead, tin
and about $50 in counterfeit coins. He re.
allied at once that he was likely to be
sacrificed by his best girl in order to save
her brother. 50 he set to work to get rid of
the stuff. He got small boy 10 take the
valise and dispose Of the contents accord
ing to his dire c,ions. Some of the molds
were thrown by the lad into q marble.
yard on Golden Gate avenue. More mOlds,
nc and plating apparatus were thrown
into the mannole on the corner OF Taylor
street
Other stuff was put down a manhole on
Eddy street and several dishes and plaster
OF paris were hurled into lot between
Eddy and Ellis streets, near the Tivoh.
About $50 of counterfeit money was put
into the manhole on Geary and Powell
streets. All this time the boy was followed
by the young man TO see that 1t was prop
erly done. superintendent OF Streets Am
brose helped the officers by having his
men clean out the manholes stated and all
the stuff was recovered and the young man
and the innocent boy were apprehended
A scarcn was then made of til Rodgers
house at 6 Chelsea street, where the otfi-
GERS found large lot OF more incriminat-
ing evidence. In fact they found that
young Rodgers used the family kitchen
for manufacturing the counterfeit. Under
the SINK was found a lot of chemicals;
on the top OF the cupboard a lot of base
metal-bismuth, tin, lead, antimony,
etc.-while deep in the basement was hid
den a lot of mo molds and under the flower
pots in the garden was the ladle.
In other words the two officers, by
working day and night, have made six ar
rests and secured all of the evidence of
the Counterfeiters. They have found that
the work of counterfeiting was performed
by young Roberts, who made the money
of the base metals, while Stark copper
and gold plated the spurious coins and
put on the finishing touches.
The other two, Gilroy and Williams,
were the principa! operators in putting
the bad money in circulation.
There are many others engaged in cir
culating the stuff all over the State.
The cases of several were called before
United States Com missioner Heacock yes
terday and continued for examination.
The San Francisco call., 1897-06-09
COMMISSIONERS
ARE INDIGNANT
Over the Slow Work Be-
ing Done On the New
Ferry Depot.
Some of the Contractors Were
Examined by the Board
Yesterday.
Another Meeting TO Be Held To-Day,
at Which Others Will Be
0veThauled.

Work is to be rushed on the new ferry
building. Commissioners Chadbourne
ana Harney have so decided, and their
word is law. Yesterday there was a meet
ing of the board, and some OF the con.
tractors were catechised. George w. Percy
of Percy 81 Hamilton was present as one
OF the experts who had gone over the
plans of the late A. Page Brown, and he
gave 1t as his opinion that there was
nothing at all in the details that should
delay the work. A remark by one of the
contractors brought forth the retort from
Mr.. Percy: when architects write speci-
tications they do not expect TO have idiots
TO deal with" The contractor subsidized
after promising to hasten matters.
At this juncture Commissioner Chad
bourne said be was resolved to have the
work on the new building completed in
contract ii me- and also announced that he
would insist upon having every contractor
and sub contractor before the board TO
explain their dilatoriness.
The representative of the Pacific Bridge
Company was then called upon and apollo
giZed for the delay. He explained that
the rock had not arrived on lime and that
caused all the trouble. He then made the
assertion that tor some time the com pany
had twenty-five men constantly at work.
That Is strange" interjecJed Ma jor
Harney. al have been a constant visitor
10 the new depot and on many occasions
l have not seen man at work"
Mr.. Mccarthy again insisted that it wa 5
only when there was no stone on han
that the work was stopped, and the mat
ter was dropped.
Now said Chadbourne after a con-
versailon with Harney, "let us give the IN
a chance. From what l can gather eac h
contractor puts the blame for the della V
on another's shoulders. Then again the y
assert that the working hours are such
that on many day they can accomplish
little or nothing. Now / move that the
board gives them a chance. Let us put in
electric lights all over the structure and
let the contractors put Oh an extra gang
of men and see If that won't hurry up
matters"
Some OF the other contra ctors were
called upon to give their opinions on the
night-work question, but were not in al
tendance. On the motion Of Major Har-
ney the matter went over until 10 O'Clock
this morning, at which hour the discus
sion will be resumed.
The members of the com mission are in
no humor to be trified with, and any of
the contractors or sub-contractors who
have not n good excuse to offer Will have
a bad quar- er OF an hour.
The tanners and commission men were
to have been present 10 discuss the elec-
tion OF the new fruit market. Not repre-
sentative was present, so the discussion
went over until to-day. The Commits
sioners have done everything in their
power to accommodate he fruit men, but in
spite OF all their efforts and in spite OF the
desires of the farmers, the free marke [
seems TO be as far off as ever.
The San Francisco call., 1897-06-09
O'SULLIVAN'S FAREWELL.
The Talented Barytone Appears at a
Testimonial Concert Given by
Representative Citizens.

Denis O'Sulivan came in as a lion and
went out as one. Not vacant seat
greeted him as he stepped upon the plat
form at Native Sons Hall Monday even
ing in his farewell appearance.
1t was the second of two testimonial
concerts given him by representative citi-
zens. He was assisted by Mrs. Walter
MacGavin, mezzo- soprano, and Mrs. Car
michael Carr, pianist.
O'Sullivan was at his best and all his
renditions were greeted with enthusiasm,
al times amounting to an ovation. This
was most pronounced in the old Somcr-
setshire song young Herchard," where
the performer entered into the spirit of
the piece by a clever bit of character act
ing that fairly conyused the audience,
Mrs, MacGavin We'd with O'SulIiyan in
the evidences OF the apprecia ton mani
tested. All three performers were the re-
cipients Of many magnificent floral trib-
utes.
The concert was given by the following
named gentlemen:
Hon. James d. Phelan, James Ellis Tucker.
Judge L. w. McKinstry, Philip Lilieuthal
William Z. Bourn, Daniel Buckley RudolnR
Spreckels, James r. Kelly. Alfred Wheeler.
William l.. Carrigar, J. J. O Brien, Dr. /. Paw
licki, r. !. Hayne, r. A Crothers, J. H Jewett
Rev. Horatio StebbIns, Thomas Magee, v Art.
simovitch, William II. Crocker, Prince Andre
Poniatowski, J. G. Hooper, Alfred sutro, Col
onel John P. Jackson. John Burnett, Judge
William T. Wallace, Alfred Tobin, John Par
rott, John Cagserly, T. S. Wensinger J. Dow
ney Harvey, Thomas l. Bergin.