The San Francisco call., 1899-01-02
DEATH OF CAPT. BATcHELDER.
Passing Away of a Well-Known Man
of Oakland.

.OAhLAND, Jan. ID. r. bdtCHeluSI,
who for twelve years was a popular spe-
cial policeman on the Broadway beat, be-
tween Ninth and Fourteenth streets, died
very suddenly at his home, 81 Isabella
street, this morning, of valvular disease
of the heart. He was a native of Bos-
ton, aged 76 years. His wife died three
years ago.
The death of Captain" .Batchelder, as
he was familiarly known. recalls suit
of no small proportions dismissed in the
United States District Court some time
ago. 1t involved the title to $50 acres of
land known as Bakers Beach, near Point
Lobos, San Francisco.
Captain Batchelder married Mrs. Maria
Bakef, widow of the late John Henry
aftrward the property referred to. and
left by j. H. Baker TO his widow. was
mortgaged by the. newly-acquired hus-
band, Captain Batchelder, for s36, 900. The
mortgage was held by the late John
Breckmystel of San Francisco, who, it
was afterward claimed. had foreclosed on
y brought the property in for $4,000.
This occurred in 1879. and in about June
of that year Batchelder commenced suit
for its recovery and the case has ever
Gently, when it was thrown out of the
United States District Court on the
ground of lack of jurisdiction
Deceased leaves only a stepson, J. H.
Baker, who is also an officer. and who
stated tonight that his stepfather's death
would by no means terminate the effort
to regain possession of Bakers Beach.
The date of the funeral has not been
determined, but the body will probably be
Inferred in the family plot in Odd Fellows
Cemetery, San Francisco.
New Year in Oakland Churches.
OAKLAND, Jan. 1.-Services appropri-
ate to the advent of the new year were
held at many of the local churches to-
day. At st. Paul's Episcopal Church the
excellent music rendered at the Christ
mas services was repeated, and the pro-
gramme is pronounced by critics to be as
fine as was ever heard in an Episcopal
church on this coast.
Rev. Charles A. Brown, pastor of the
First Congregational Church, delivered an
interesting sermon entitled, "A Message
for the New Year"
Taking Account of Stock" was the sub
ject of Rev. DR.. DiIles sermon tonight
at the First NJ: E. Church. During the
services Professor and Mrs. Dobbins sang
several selections
At the First Presbyterian Church Rev
DR.. Coyle preached New Year sermons at
Rev. Philip Graft tonight preached his
last Sunday sermon at the First Free
Baptist Church. before going to Maine in
answer to a call from the Lewiston Col
At St Andrews Episcopal Church to-
night the children held their Christmas
carol service and Rev. James Hulme, rec
tor, preached a brief sermon.
Rev. ]. n. Goss of San Francisco
preached the morning sermon at Rev. v.
Marshall Laws Church of the Advent,
and the services tonight were entirely
musical in the way of the Festival of
the Levites." Mrs. Blake-Alverson took
a prominent part. again.
1.-THE Beginning" was the subject of
Rev. ]. R. Knowdelps sermon at the Pill
grim Congregational Church this morn
ing.
At the First Baptist Church tonight
there was special music by the choir and
Rev. c. H. Hobart, the pastor, delivered
a sermon on "The Conquest of Time.
This morning he spoke on THE Outlook
for the Last Year of the Century"
Rev. j. T. Sunderland delivered "A Ser
mon for the New Year, at the First
Unitarian Church.
Rev. H w. Fraser of Minneapolis, who
returns home tomorrow, conducted the
services to-day at the Brooklyn Presby-
terfan Church.
"The Bible, the Best Guide for the New
Year" was the subject of Rev. c. M.
HIS sermon at the Tenth-avenue Bap-
tist Church tonight.
City Hall Afire.
OAKLAND, Jan. 1.-The City Hall mar
rowlv ESCAPED destruction by fire again
this morning, as the "old shack usually
does on the slightest provocatfon. Sparks
from a defective fue ignited the wood
work lust beneath the roof at the south
east corner of the building, and several
feet of shingles were burned away before