The herald., 1898-12-13
ABOUT THE STATE

Nine horses were burned to death and
25O tons of hay destroyed by fire on the
Kerwin property at Elmhurst yesterday.
Manuel Chavez, who Is to be hanged on
December 16 for the murder of Gregoria
Rodriguez in San Diego county in April
1897 was yesterday taken to the condemned
cell at San Quentin.
Mrs. W. a. Slmons, an elderly woman,
while shopping at Sacramento yesterday,
dropped dead on the street from heart dis
ease. In falling Mrs. Simons erasped a
little boy. relative. In the fall the boys
head was severely bruised.
At conference of the prison directors
and lunacy commission held at Sacramento
yesterday, it was agreed to ask the legis-
ature to provide for the construction at
Folsom of an asylum for the custody Of
insane criminals.
Two San Francisco workmen, Pippy and
Olsen, who were working in the rigging of
the whaler Narwhal, yesterday, were pre-
cipitated to the deck by the giving way of
their footing and seriously If not fatally
injured. The men fell a distance of sixty
feet.
Jacob Obbergall of San Francisco, a,
peddler, 45 years of age, was found dead in
the Jewish synagogue on Folsom street
yesterday. A note was found on his body
to the effect that he did not want his body
QiSSeCttu, utuCt IL Is lHOuSu ut
suicide.
Mrs. Catherine Ragan 1O6 years of age.
and believed to be the oldest woman in the
state. died yesterday. She leaves one son,
several grandchildren and a number of
great-grandchildren One of her grand
children Is School Director Ragan of San
Francisco.
The dead body of Lizzie Schaeffer, aged
Is years. was found in vacant lot at Fort
Bragg yesterday. She had killed herself
with revolver. which she still clutched
in one hand Her father committed sui
eide al the Soldiers home in Santa Monica
eighteen months ago.
William Thompson, an octogenarian res
ident of Berryessa, who disappeared from
his home week ago, was brought to the
county jail at San Jose yesterday, having
fallen from a building dn Mountain View
and fractured his skull. He rs feeble
minded. and is not expected to recover.
President Craig of the San Francisco
chamber Of commerce. who is now in Wash
ington, has sent a dispatch there to the
effect that President Mckinley has au-
thor.zed the statement that California
fruit growers need feel no alarm about
the Zante currant question, as he will hold
the interests of California fruit paramount
to all other consideration
The Lake Tahoe Railway company was
incorporated yesterday, with q capital
stock of 500. 0O0 The directors are: N X
Masten, F. l. Kendall and C. 7. Bliss of
San Francisco, and w. b. Tohey and ID. l..
Bliss of Carson City, New The company
proposes to build a narrow gauge road
from Truckee to Lake Tahoe
Judge Webb of Fresno gave the trading
stamp scheme the first Knockout blow yes
terday, when he dismissed the Injunction
which the company had taken out against
1n nf Ac tJ,a o,4xx
quarter. 1t is expected that the propre-
tors of the trading-stamp store will now
submit to arrest, to directly test the con-
st.tutionality of the ordinance
AT Sacramento Sunday evening fire
caught in the basement of the American
cash store. at Eighth and K streets, and
was only got under control after two hours
stubborn work by the fire department.
Much of the surplus stock carried was
stored in the basement. The damage to
stock and building was s3000 c. A. Dodge's
printing office was gutted. Loss, $780,
Joseph Nevis, member of the board of
trustees and a very prominent resident nd
politician of Pleasanton, was held up and
robbed of $3.50 in his own yard last night.
The robbers were two masked men, one
of whom held Nevis by his beard and re-
strained. him with the aid of a revolver,
while the other took the money from his
pockets. The robbers made their escape.
The rebuild,r1 of the United States cru;s-
er Ranger at Mare island Is progressing
rapidly The wheeling came out Of the
dock yesterday. She will receive her sup
ply of coal and provisions in few days
and will then sail for the northern seas
The Iroquois has been thoroughly over
hauled and Is ready to go into commission.
Commander Henry Nichols has been or
dered to Manila to take charge Of the Mo-
nadnock.