The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-12
WORKMEN UNEARTH
A BOX OF DYNAMITE
SUPPOSED TO BE A RELIC OF
THE RAILROAD STRIKE.
Deadly Stuff Nearly Exploded by the
Pick of a Street Department
Enploye.

ALAMEDA, Nov. 1.-George Smith and
James Cavanaugh, employees of the Street
Department, unearthed a box of dyna-
mite yesterday afternoon near the north
erly approach to the Bay Farm Island
bridge. If it had not been for the fact
that Smith had had experience in han
ding the explosive, the chances are the
two men would have been blown into
eternity.
The men were leveling off sand dune
wnen Cavanaugh's shovel struck some
thing that refused to yield. The sand
was cleared away exposing an old fruit
box crumbling with decay. Cavanaugh
drove his pick into the end of it to pull it
out of the way. The pick easily passed
through the box, but grazed something
underneath. Further investigation I'M
earthed a smaller box under the old fruit
case.
AS soon as Smith saw 1t he shouted a
warning to his companion. There had
been a label on the outside of the box,
but all save the word dynamite had been
obliterated. The box was removed with
the utmost care and opened with the
greatest precaution. When the lid was re-
moved thirty-two sticks of dynamite
were exposed. The explosive was dumped
into San Leandro Bay.
Various theories are advanced to ac-
count for the presence of the box of
dynamite. The police are inclined to be-
lieve that it is relic of the railroad
strike of 1893. The narrow gauge rail-
road bridge over San Leandro Bay is but
a short distance away. The strikers
made considerable demonstration in the
vicinity of where the dynamite was I'M
earthed, yesterday, and during the time
of the trouble information reached the
officials that an effort was to be made to
blow up. the bridge. 1t was Immediately
patrolled by q strong guard, both day and
night, and 1t is presumed the strikers had
no opportunity to carry out their terrible
plans.
Another theory Is that the stuff was
buried by Chinese fishermen, who used to
carry on the unlawful method of catching
water. While it was evident that the box
had been underground for several years
it's contents were in a perfect state of
preservation, and would undoubtedly have
made themselves felt If Cavanaugh's
pick had disturbed them.
Returned From Kotzebue.
ALAMEDA, Nov. IF. E. Brow, form
erly engaged in business in this city ar
rived here Saturday from an eventful trip
to Kotzebue Sound. He says in all of his
party's explorations, which were very ex-
gold was secured. Many of the prospec-
tors were glad to sell their outfits for suf-
ficient to pay their passage back to cfvili-
lost their lives by the swapping of
small boat in Hoffman Inlet.
Alameda News Notes.
ALAMEDA, Nov. u.--Alameda Lodge
No. 40, knights of Pythias, celebrated the
twentieth anniversary of the lodge at Odd
a banquet, followed by speeches appro-
pirate to the occasion.
Rev. w. E. Bannerman, returned mis-
sionary from Equatorial Africa, lectured
this evening before the members of the
Young Mems Club. His subject was
Life Among Pygmies and Cannibals."
Sheriff-elect Oscar Rogers has received
the following letter from Sheriff White:
ALLOW me to extend to you my congrat-
ulations, and also inform you that ] did
all I could honorably for your competitor;
but the battle Is over, and the courtesies
and privileges of the Office are at your
disposal"