davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
MAY INV ALIDATE THE TAX LEVY Supervisors Have Appar- ently Made a
 Blunder.
No Right to Agree to Appro- priate $4OO,OOO for a
 County Hospital.
A Prominent Official Cites the Law to Prove His ASser-
 ton.

The startling theory has been ad- vanced by one of the most prominent of the public officials that should the Board of Supervisors attempt to carry out the spirit of resolution passed at a recent meeting it may invalidate the next tax levy and plunge the city into financial chaos such as it has not known for many years.
 At meeting that took place not passed pledging the board to appro- priate $400,0O0, to be provided for in the next tax levy. for the purpose of providing a new City and County Hos pital. This action was based on an en- abling act passed by the Legislature that ostensibly gave the board the right to adopt such a measure but now there appears to be hitch
 An act passed on February 16. 1897, has been brought to light and the enabling" act appears to materially conflict with it.
 The act of February last specifically states that the Boards of Supervisors of counties, or bodies having similar power, may appropriate funds for the building of county hospitals and carry out the projects, but that in any event the cost of the structure must not ex- ceed $300000. As this act supersedeS the enabling act the inference Is drawn that only $300,000 can be appropriated.
 If such is really the case the appro- priating s40O,000 for the hospital seems to be sufficient to invalidate any tax levy in which the appropria- tion may be included.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
sMoKELEss POWDER.

Tests of smokeless powder of California manufacture will soon be made by officers of the ordnance corps of this department. Tn making the tests one of the ten-inch breech-loading rifles planted near Fort Point will be used. In order to ascertain the strength and adaptability of the pow der, solid projectlle will be fired through two wfre-netted screens. Between the screens on the direct line of fire a space of 100 feet intervenes. The initial velocity is registered by a magnet connected with each screen.
 Several large lots of powder manufac- tured by the Santa Cruz works have been purchased by the Government. and. there fore, it is believed that the manufactur- CTS have compiled with all the require ments imposed by the Ordnance Depart ment.
 recently assigned to duty in this deDart- ment as chief paymaster on the staff of General Shafter, arrived in the city yes terday. He succeeds Colonel Alfred E. Rates.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
NOTICE TO MARINERS.

A branch of the United States HydrographIc Office. located in the Merchants Exchance Is maintained in San Francisco for the benefit Of mariners without regard to nationality and fres of expense.
 Navigators are cordially invited to visit the office, where complete sets of charts and sail- ing directions of the world are kept on hand for comparison and reference. and the latest inf0rmation can always be obtained regarding lights. dangers to navigation and all matters Of interest to ocean commerce
 The time ball on top of the building on Tele- graph Hill Is hoisted about ten minutes betors noon and Is dropped at noon. 12oth meridian by telegraphic signal received each day from the United States Naval Observatory at Mare Island. Cal.
 notice stating whethor tne time ball was cropped on time or giving the error. If any. Is published the same day by the afternoon pa pers. and by the morning napers the following day. W. g. HUGHES.
 Lieutenant U g. N. in charge.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
ARE NOT GOING
 TO KL0NDlKE Instead a New York Company Proposes to Prospect in
 California. The Secretary of the State Board Trade Receives an Important
 Letter.

J. A. Filcher, the secretary of tha State Board of Trade of California, has received a letter that has brought joy to his heart. The letter is from a rich New York Company, headed by John H. Harrell, who proposes, instead of going to the Klondike to come to California to prospect for gold and silver.
 You see," said MT. Filcher, "Califor- nia, with it's $20 0O0 900 annual output of gold, is still a State of great resources, and there is yet plenty of the yellow met al unmined here. When the Klondike fever is over there will be another rush for California
 The letter is from New York. under the datoo February 4, and is signed by John H. Harrell. That part of it which asks for information and tells of the purpose of the company is as follows:
 ''Will you kindly give me the names or any persons owning good gold mining claims in your State. l am desirous or heading an expedition to the coast in search of gold or silver. We will not come empty-handed, but with the most modern equipments ever used in mining We will be able to do all that we under take so far as the money is necessary, and we will use local labor.
 From the general tone of the letter Sec retary Ficher thinks the combine be- lieves it will be more profitable to come to California than to go to the Klon- dike.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
4 QUEER CASE
 OF BURGLARY
Money Alleged to Have Been Stolen From a Trunk in a
 House on Green Street.
The Police Investigate and the Illus band Blan1es the Wife and
 Vice Versa.

A tangled up case of burglary is bel g investigated by Detectives T. B. Gibson and Ellis, but they have about concluded that they might as well give it up.
 Louis Matti. who lives with his wife in the rear of 632 Green street, reported that the house had been entered by bur- glars Thursday afternoon and $500 stolen from a trunk that had been forced open with a file which was found on the foor Mrs. Matti, when seen by the detectives. told different stories as to the amount taken from the trunk and finally said that it was not more than $500
 Matu was questioned by the detectives at police headquarters yesterday alter noon and told a curious story. He and his wife were both cooks in the same place. She Is an old woman, and when the subject of marriage was broached oy her he said he would marry her if she started him in the saloon business. She had money and she gave him $500 to November 22 last they were married.
 Shortly afterward Mrs. Matti blamed her husband for taking $200 out of a satchel, where she kept her money, and they were both arrested for disturbing the peace. Mrs. Matti had her satchel with her, and Matti took possession of posted 1t in the Italian bank. Later he placed 1t in the Safe Deposit Company s vaults.
 Thursday afternoon Matti asked his wife to call at the saloon on Clay street and bring his four children by former wife with her. She did so, but Mattl did not show up till in the evening. He told her he had bought the Vallejo lodg- ing house on California street, and took her and the children there. Mrs. Matti remained till 10 o'clock, and when she went home she found the front door open and the trunk rif1ed.
 Matti insinuates that his wife took the money herself out of the trunk, while she hints that he got her away from the house till he went there and took the money As it is supposed to be ques- ton of husband and wife, the, police will not trouble to search for the burglar.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
UNION IRON WORKS swINDLED.
A Clever Scoundrel Receives the
 Salary of Two Employees From the Cashier

The Union Iron Works was mulcted out of s120 on their last pay day by a clever swindler.
 On each pay day the men employed in the great works stand in line and march toward the window, giving their number as they pass, and then are handed out an envelope containing their months wages.
 The swindler, taking advantage of the darkness, crept into line, and. as he passed the window, called out the num- Der of some man lower down, and the cashier. not knowing him to be otherwise than what he claimed to be, handed out the envelope The daring fellow, seeing that it was so easy, tried again with the same result He then disappeared When the men to whom the money was due called for their salary they were politely told that they had 1,L, received it.. The men Works had to make good their loss.
 In future the for ma Gartie Of each depart ment VIII ssanu a tbeye viii iuay he n men men un- made.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
OWNERS OF
 OLD DEPOSITS Oscar T. Shuck Discovers Two Long Lost
 Heifs. Claimants Will Soon Reach This City From Foreign
 Ports.

Oscar T. Shuck, who is known as a To- cal sleuth who discovers lost heirs, has just unearthed two mysteries that have puzzled bankers for many years.
 The first case is that involving the unclaimed bank account of John Buck ley. who deposited money with the Savings and Loan Society in the spring of 1874, after which he was never heard of again. So far as the bankers were able to discover he disc ppeared from the country as completely as if the earth had swallowed him. Year after year the fact has been published that nearly $2000 awaited the appearance of the rightful heir, but no clew seemed possible until a few weeks ago. MT. Shuck discovered, after searching through the city papers, that the last heard of the man was that he was ar- rested in this city for insanity on Sep tember 19, 1874, by Policeman Gillespie. He was sent to the Stockton Asylum. where he died in two months.
 This mans heir is now on his way here from a foreign port" said Attor- ney Shuck yesterday, land there is lit tie doubt that he will soon have the money"
 The other mystery is that that has hovered for years over the unclaimed bank account of Mrs. Gumesinda Torres, who left half a thousand dol lars with the French Savings and Loan Society in 1865. By reading the Sac ramento papers, Attorney Shuck dis covered that she was last heard of by reason of her attempt to get her child by habeas corpus when it was detained by one Eugene UZeto in 186S Follow ing the clew thus given 1t has been discovered that the woman's heir lives in Mexico. He is also on his way here tO claim the estate
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
KIRCHHOFF WAS RIGHT,
Case Against the Man Who Criti- cized the Examiner Building
 Dismissed

B. Kirchhoff, the Mission grocer who was arrested by Special Officer Kelly for expressing his opinion that the new Ex- aminer building was a shake and a shame and disgrace to that part of the city, was given his liberty by Judge Campbell yesterday afternoon.
 Kelly told his story and then Kirch- hoff remarked: 1T don't see why a man should be arrested for saying that a building like the Examiner gives him a pain I did not make the remark in a loud and boisterous manner, and could not be charged with disturbing the peace"
 You were quite right in expressing your opinion" said the Judge. "The pa per freely expresses its opinion upon men and matters and the proprietor is not arrested for disturbing the peace. The case is dismissed
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

ARRIVED.
 Friday. February Il. Br stmr Wellington. salmond. days from stmr Weeott, Miller, 30 hours from Eureka Stmr Walla Walla, Gage, 67% hours from Victoria and Puget Sound. Stmr Alex Duncan, Parsons 101 hours from all. Perkins 6c Go. stmr Homer lessen. 30 hours from Eureka. Stmr Alcazar, Gunderson, 45 hours from Flaw bark Santiago Johnson, 16 days from Hilo.
 schr Bender Brothers wetzel. 24 hours from schr Sailor Boy. Peterson. IS days from Ev- erett.
 CLEARED
 Friday. February IL GoodalI. Perkins & Co. '7''-- i''eso' stmr State of California. Green. Astoria; Goodall, Perkins & Co.
 SAILEr
 Friday. February IL Aust stmr Burma, Mikulicich, Nanairno. stmr Gipsy, Leland, Santa Cruz Stmr Sunol. Dettmers Schr Arthur I, Jacobsen. Tillamook
 TELEGRAPH1C. POINT LoBos-Feb lilo p. m.-weather. thick; wind, calm
 SPOKEN Feb 9-Lat 37 15 N. long II 54 ", bark St James, hence Sept IS, for New York
 DOMESTIC PORTS. PORT BLAKELEY--Arrived Feb I1-Bark SAN DIEGo-Arrived Feb 11-schr Azalea, from Grays Harbor; U s stmr Monadnock coos BAY-Sailed Feb 11-Schr Wing and Wing. for San Francisco. PORT LINCOLNSHIRE Feb 11-BarlS Fresno. for Honolulu. GREENWOOD - Arrived Feb Il - Stnr Whitesboro. hence Feb 10. BOWENS LANDING-Sailed Feb r-Schr Newark for San Francisco coos BAY-ArrIved Feb 11-Stmr Arcata, ALBfoN-Arrived Feb 11-ship Yosemite CLE0NE-sailed Feb 11-stmr Alcatraz, for San Pedro.
 AsToRiAEArrived Feb 11-stmr Oregon, i'm FISH RocK-saiied Feb-schr Reliance. for PORT TOWNsEND-Arrived Feb 11-schr Vega. hence Feb 3. SAN PEDRO-Arrived Feb 11-Bktn Willie R Hume from Port Blakeley. Sailed Feb 10-Stmr Alice Blanchard, for San Francisco; stnr Hermosa- for San Fran cisco.
 EASTERN PORTS NEW YORK-Sailed Feb 0-Ship D Rice for San Francisco; stnlr Alianca, for Colon. NEW YORK-Arrived Feb 11-Bark St James, hence Sept IS.
 FOREIGN PORTS. KAHULUI-sahed Feb 1-Haw bark Nu- uanu, for New York MAHUKoNA-Arrited Jan 2s-schr Anna, HULL-Arrived Feb 1o-Br ship Andro- meda, hence Sept 12. EANCOUvER-sailed Feb 11-Br stmr War rimoo. for Sydney.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
LYNN's ADMISSION.
The Murderer Makes a Mistake That
 Nav Prove Fatal.

OAKLAND, Feb. 11.-Tonight Wife murderer Lynn made a fatal mistake He showed a knowledge of events that transpired subsequent to shooting his wife which showed conclusively that his statements made earlier in the day were false.
 When he was arrested he had s19 in coin in his pocket. This evening his brother in-law, Roth, visited him, and Lynn told the Jailer that he had Sl9 on him when This knowledge of the contents of his pocket shows that there is no truth in Lynn's claim that his mind was a blank for some time before the shooting fill this afternoon. Captain Fletcher says the admission of such knowledge is post tive proof that Lynn knows all that has transpired
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
Dr. Melvin Dead-

OAKLAND, Feb. 11.-After 69 years of active, honorable life, Dr. Samuel H. Mel win died early this morning, while sleep ing. For some time he has been a suf ferer from Bright's disease, and on more than one occasion his death has been ex- pected.
 He came to Oakland in 1878 and estab- lished the pharmacy in East Oakland. He leaves a widow and five children: James B., Charles S., William F., Henry
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
OMAHA LIVESTOCK MARKET.

OMAHA. Feb. 11-CATTLE-Receipts 1900: steady; butchers, strong Beef, s SeG4 50: COWS and heifers, 8 2593 75; bulls ssaS 50: stockers and feeders, $3 5014 75.
 HOGSReceipts, $500; strong and active; steady at yesterdays prices; heavy, s3 s0g3 75: light, s 75@3 s25a.
 SHEEP-Recelp.s. 1400 slow; steady; West erns, $3 7594 co; lambs. s4 s095.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
Sudden Death of George Nemethy.

Policeman A. B. Thompson found an unknown man In an unconscious condf- tion on the corner of Grant avenue and Sutter street at o'clock Thursday morn- ing. The City Receiving Hospital am- bulance was summoned, but the man died before reaching the hospital, and the body was taken to the Morgue. Yesterday afternoon Charles Sladky, proprietor of the Hammam baths, identified the dead man as George Nemethy, a rubber em- ployed in the baths, residing at IS Stock tor v1o
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
THE TIME BALL.

Branch Photographic office. U. S. N Mer- chants Exchange. San Francisco. February H. 1898
 The time ball on Telegraph Hill was dropped exactly at to-day-i. e., at noon of the 120th meridian, exactly ?. m. Green wich time w. s. HUGHES.
 Lieutenant JJ s. IT., in charge.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
Sudden Death.

ALAMEDA, Feb. u.-Mrs. Beebe died this afternoon at 3:30 o'clock at the home of Charles Dittmar on Park street Death was caused from heart failure. The lady took suddenly i'll yesterday afternoon Deceased was the sister of Charles Ditt- mars first wife MT. Dittmar is away on his honeymoon trip.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12

NOTE.-In the above exposition of the tides the early morning tides given in the lef, hand column and the successive tides Of the day in the order or occurrence as to time. The second time column gives the second tide Of the day, the third time column the third tide, and the last right hand column gives ths last tide of the day. except when there are but three tides, as sometimes occurs. The heights given are additions to the soundnRs the United States Coast Survey charts. except when minus sign (-) precedes the height and then the number given is subtractive from the 6epth given bv the charts
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
Assemblyman Austin Dead.

STOCKTON, Feb. R.-Charles Austin, Assemblyman from this county, died at his home in Pennington at an early hour this morning after an illness of sev- eral weeks duration of pneumonia.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12

D. and Mrs M M Dewing. The deceased was a member of Brooklyn Lodge of Masons, and they will attend his funeral next Sunday afternoon from the Pilgrim Congregational Church.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
Compagnie Generate Transat!antiqns
STOCKTON STEAMERS

Leave Pier Mo- 8, Washington St., at
 D. m. Daily.
 FREIGHT RECEIVED CP TO 5.30 F. M- Accommodations reserved by telephons. The only line selling through tickets and giv. ing through freight rates to all points on tbs Valley Railroad. T. C. WALKER, J. D PETERS. MAT3y CARPATT CITY OF STOCKTON. Tslephone Main sos Cal Nav. and Impr Co.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
For San Jose, Los Gafos & Santa Cruz

Steamer Alviso leaves Pier 1 daily Sundays ercepted) at 10 a. m.: Alviso daily (Saturdays ercepted) at D. m Freight and Passengers. Fare between San Francisco and Alviso. 5oc: to San Jose 75c Clay street. Pier l. 41 North First street. San Jose-
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
FOR U. 5. MAYNARD AND VALLEJO.

Stealncr MOnticcIIo' VIII lie up to receive new boiler and general overhauiing on February l, and resume heR route on March l. HATCH BROS
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
STEAMERS TO SAIL.
SUN, MOON AND TIDE.

SUN, MOON AND TIDE. United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Times and Heights Of High and Low Waters at Fort Point. Entrance to San Francisco Bay. Published by Official Au- thority of the Superintendent.
 NOTE-The high and low waters occur at the city front (Mission-street wharO about twenty-five minutes later than at Fort Point; the height of tide Is the at both places.
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-03-09
SPAIN PURCHASES
FIVE WARSHIPS
10 Spite Of the Denials Published 10
London Yesterday.
PIECE OF CLEVER DIPLOMACY
Surprise at tsf rONer 10 Haise HOasy--
Johs Ball Says We Are Too Late to
Get War Supplies 10 rngiand.

London. March s-EnglIsh newspapers
confirm the news Of the spanish pur-
chase OF warships. The st. James Ca
zette. which yesterday published the de-
nlais Of the Spanish embassy and Spanish
raval commission which has an ofice in
London. says today:
1T Is ascertained on high authority, N
spite Of denlals that the Spanish gov
ornment has almost certainly succeeded
In buying three nearly completed eruIs-
ers here and two coast defense vessels
which are about 20 be launched In
France. Experts are almost as much
surprised at the success OF Madrid In
raising the money as by the clever dip
lomacy which secured the Chilean and
Brazilian cruisers Of Armstrong; al a
cost believed to a a million pounds sterl-
ing. almost before the move was sus.
pected"
lhe lhiv"u''VH III NDHb'N'o sN'N''N-'
OF a bill appropriating 100000 for the
national defense has excited the utmost
lrtercst among English dealers in war
munitions Hiram Maxim. OF rapId-nre
gun fame. said significantly that II the
United States intended to make purchases
In England she should have begun a
week ago.
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-03-09
SPAIN PREPARING.

New York. March S.--A Tribune dispatch
from London says:
There has been heavy fall in con-
soils and American stocks Of all
kinds today in consequence OF rumors
from China, West Africa. Spain and
America. with rumbiing thunder ell
around the sky. There were signs OF
alarm in every section OF the stock list.
American securities showing the greatest
weakness. All the startling rumors cur
rent last week OF Spanish preparations
for war have been revived; one hears
them at every turn. but II is never prac-
ticable to find any one to vouch for them
OF allow his name TO be used in connec-
tiOn with them. II is again rumOred that
the Spanish government has purchased
six warships in process OF construction
in England and France for Chile and
Brazil, including one armored cruiser,
two coast defense vessels and three pro-
tected cruisers The Spanish embassy
denies the story. but the rumor will not
down.
Another report current in milit'-ry cir
clts is that the Spanish government has
secured the control of a large number
OF heavy guns and considerable torpedo
equipment and other war material IN
England and France. This rumor cannot
be confirmed. but II is believed by some
experts to be true Information which
comes from sources entitled to confidence
leads to the belief that the Spaniards
have found the money required for COM
pleting various purchases Of ships and
guns. How or whence Il has been OBJ
tained may be a mystery, but the as
sumption that Spain is prevented by lack
OF money from making naval and military
preparations on a large scale is not well
founded
purchase OF warships has been prema-
ture. 1t is not probable that the Bra
LILLIAN and Chilean are in the market for
American purchase, They could not be
had even il the United States govern
ment made liberal offer for them.
Spain has secured them II they have
been purchased The only vessels in
England. Germany or elsewhero which
could be bought on any terms by the
United States are those now being built
for China and Japan, and neither power
has shown any willingness to entertain
offers from them. China is believed to
have refused to consider propositions
made by Spain for the purchase of sew
eral ships. Japan is in hot haste to
strengthen her own fleet and fresh ru-
mors of Russian aggression will not
check her ardor,
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-03-09
THE SITUATION IS
MORE FAVOR ABLE
General Feeling in Washington That
Spanish Relations Are Peaceful.
CAPT. BRowNsoN's MISSION
viii Inspect rofeisn War Vessels for Sale
Unitsd States Nay Purchase Japaasss
Ships NoN BniIding.

washington. March a-In spite Of the
numerous conferences OF oElciais on the
continuation Of preparations now in pro-
gress on a large scale to put the country
in a state Of defense. there was a certain
feeling apparent In the best Informed cir
cles. that the situation as to our rela-
tIons with Spain we're today much more
favorable than yesterday. Perhaps the
seml-officiai advlces received through the
Associated Press from Madrid. indicating
peaceful purpose on the part Of the
Spanish government. contributed In a
large measure TO that feeling. or Il may
haye been that the growing knowledge Of
the vast extent Of our own resources
tended to the belief that they would I'm
press others with the futlIty OF attack
ing the United States.
However that may be the feeling pre-
vailed. and at the white House. too, after
the cabinet meeting. where all facts that
were known to the president as to the
existing state Of affairs were laid unre-
servedly before the cabinet members and
discussed
while Captain Brownson is going
abroad for the government TO learn Of
ships OF war that are for sale and their
condition. he will not necessarily make
any purchases.