davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
OIL EXPLOSION
CREATES HAVOC
Wrecks Furnace-Room in
City Hall of Alameda and
Janitor Has a Close Call

ALAMEDA, Jan. 14.-Wrenched from
it's hinges and hurled with terrific veloc-
ity by an explosion of oil, a heavy iron
furnace door just grazed the head OF
Janitor Edward L. Ward in the fire.
room of the City Hall this morning.
The weighty missile tore through the
side of the building, carrying two WIN
dows with it. Ward was upon his hands
and knees endeavoring to regulate
valve in an oil tank when the flying
door passed over his pate, otherwise he
would in all probability have been
killed. Bricks from the walls of the big
furnace were scattered all about the
fireroom, and it was with difficulty tnat
Ward extricated himself from the oe-
bris after the explosion.
Ward attributes the explosion to q
leak in an oil pipe in the furnace lead
ing up to one of the jets. After igniting
the burners in the furnace this morn
ing he went to another part OF the
building to do some work. When he re-
turned TO the fireroom he observed from
q gauge that there was but little oil in
one of the supply tanks. He turned on
the furnace Jets and was filling the
tank when the explosion took place.
oil from a defective pipe in the furnace
had trickIed over the heated fiues, gen.
Grating a great volume of gas. This. 1t
is s,,pposed. was ignited by stray
shark in the furnace and the explosion
followed. The detonation Jared the big
municipal building and caused wide
spread CONSERVATION among the city
officials.
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
abbey,s Coronation Picture.

Edwin e. A. Abbey has almost fin-
ished his picture of the gorgeous coro-
nation scene in Westminster Abbey.
The final strokes were deferred in a
curious way. King Edward had seen
the great canvas and was much
pleased. About that time a courtier
whispered in the royal ear that the
coronation robe hid the royal legs from
view. His Majesty, who is very human.
bit at the bait. and Mr.. Abbey was
asked to readjust the robe in such a
way as to reveal one of his Maiesty's
legs. The leg was painted from a model
with handsome limbs When the King
saw the picture again he was delight
ed. The firm, graceful line of the calf.
curving so elegantly in white silk hose.
stirred the royal imagination. He insist
ed that both legs should be shown.
This, of course, necessitated a more
serious change in the arrangement of
the robe. the key of the whole scheme
of color. and therefore modification
of the general tone of the picture.
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
HUMAN FLESH USED
FOR SHARK BAIT
Method Employed by Hawaiian Chiefs
i'm the Catching of Man.
Eaters.

1t appears that the Hawaiian chiefs
of some years ago were much addicted
to the use of human flesh as bait Tor
sharks. 1t came cheaper than pig, was
equally acceptable to the shark and
gave the chief an opportunity to kill
any one whom he disHked. The vic
tim was cut UP and left to decompose
for two or three days in a receptacle.
Kamehameha l was a great shark
hunter and kept those of his victims
who were intended for bait penned UP
near the great temple of Mookin1.
Mrs. Beclley gives a particularly IN
terest account of another method OF
capturing the huge niuhi, or man-eat-
ing shark, followed by the natives,
They first of all captured large num-
Der of the small common shark, saved
their lfvers with a portion Of the hesh,
wrapped them in XII leaves ana baked
them underground. From fifty TO
hundred canoes were loaded with the
baked meat and large quantities of the
pounded roots of ava, mixed with a
little water and contained in large
gourds The fleet would sail many
miles out to sea in the direction In
which the niuhi is known to appear
Arrived at a comparatively shallow
place. the canoe containing the head
fisherman and the priest and the sor-
cerer who was supposed to be indis-
pensable would cast anchor; meat and
the baked liver would be thrown over
board, few bundles at a time, to at
tract sharks. After a few days the
grease and scent of cooked meats
would spread through the water many
miles in a radius. The niuhi would al
most always make dts appearance
after the third or fourth day. when
bundles of the baked meat were
thrown to it as fast as 1T could swallow
them. After while it would become
comparatively tame ard would come
up to one or other of the canoes to be
fed. Bundles of the liver with the
pounded ava would then be >given 1T,
and 1t would become not only satiated,
but also stupefied with ava.
A moose was then slipped over its
head and the fleet raised anchor and
set sail for home, the shark following.
a willing prisoner, and the occupants
of the nearest canoes being careful to
feed it upon the same mixture from
time to time. 1t was led right into
shallow water until it was stranded,
and then killed Every part of the
bones ard skin was supposed to con-
fer unflinching bravery upon the pos
SCISSOR, and the actual captor-that is,
the one who slipped the moose over the
niuhi's head-would also, ever after,
be always victorious.-Forest ana
Stream.
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
NOIIOUS FUMES
EXPEL FIREMEN
Attempt at Fighting Flames
Leads to Partial Asphyxia-
tion of Those Employed
RESULT OF BLIND FIRE
Family Flee From House
Filled With Smoke, Mar
rowly Escaping With Lives
RESULT OF BLIND FIRE
Berkeley Office San Francisco Call.

214S Center Street, Jan. IA.
Escaping gas from mains that were
cut by firemen while attempting to
save the home of Mrs. Alice S. Smith
at 223S Atherton street this morning
rendered the Fire Departments task so
hazardous that a half dozen robust fire
fighters were forced to leave the build
ing to avoid asphyxiation.
Chief Kenny declared the fire was
one of the most remarkable, in some
respects, that he had ever seen, or un-
dertaken to fight. Aside from the es-
cape of gas, due to the mems reckless
hacking of pipes while seeking to find
the seat of the blaze there was the fact
that two hours were consumed in
steady work by. the firemen before the
blaze was finally put out. The house
was filed with smoke when the depart
ment engines arrived at o'clock. The
family, including Mr.. Smith, his wife
and several children, had already been
ly escaping with their lives and fleeing
In their night clothes to a neighbor's
house, where fire alarm was sent in.
They could give no hints to the fire.
men regarding the cause of the fire,
nor where it started. The men were
forced to hack away at floors and par
titions, seeking the blaze, which was
what the men called "a blind fire." The
damage by fire amounted to about $500.
That from water and axes is expected
to foot UP as much more. The house
and contents were fully insured.
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
TRAIL FRIEND
And TAKE NAN
Police Arrest Fugitive Who
Is Charged With Part in
Gem Theft at Los Angeles
EFFORT TO WARN FAILS
Emile Formus Caught While
Attempt Is Being Made to
Tell Him He Is Pursued
Oakland ONCE. San Francisco Call,

Oakland Office, San Francisco Call.
1915 Broadway. Jan. IA.
Emile Formus. charged with com
plicity In a theft of diamonds at Los
Angeles, was arrested this morning
near the residence of Andrew Schmidt.
500 Fremont street, by Detective
George Kyle, Sergeant of Police Frank
Lynch and Patrolman T. Brown. For
mus was captured because of his friend
Schmidts efforts to warn him that the
police were on his trail.
Word was received last night from
Los Angeles asking the Oakland po-
lice to arrest Formus at the Schmidt
place The police went to the house.
but in their effort to enter were met
by Schmidt, who became so obstreper-
Gus that he was sent to police head
quarters, after his house had been
searched and no Formus found. There
he agreed to return home and to no.
tify the police as soon as ~Formus
should appear The police suspected
Schmidt would not keep his word and
they trailed him after he left the sta
ton.
Instead of going home Schmidt went
to Golden Gate station on the Berke-
ley broad gauge line and there Walteu
until Formus arrived on the last tram
from San Francisco.
The police took Formus into CUSTODY
before Schmidt had chance to warn
him to get away.
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
MRS. AMELIA HUFF PASSES
AWAY AFTER LONG ILLNESS
Wife of President of Bank of San
LeandrO Is Called to Her
Final Rest

SAN LEANDRO, Jan. 14.-Mrs.
Amelia Huff, the wife of Socrates
Huff, president of the Bank of San
Leandro, died this morning at the
family home on Estudillo avenue af-
ter long illness. Four months ago
Mrs. Huff suffered a severe stroke of
paralysis and since that time she has
been steadily sinking. Last Thursday
she became unconscious and hope of
saving her life was given up.
Mrs. Huff came to California with
her husband in 1853 and in 1859 they
came to San Leandro, where they
have since resided. She was a native
of Pennsylvania and besides her hus-
band she leaves six daughters, Mrs.
Bush Finnell of San Francisco, Mrs.
A. P. Downing of San Francisco, Mrs
James s. Sloane of Spokane, Wash,
and Miss Jennie, Miss Carrie and Miss
Mamie Huff, all of whom reside in
San Leandro.
The funeral will be held on Monday,
January 16, at IL a. m. from the fam
lily residence. The services will be
conducted by the Rev. William M.
Jones, pastor of the Unitarian church
of Oakland. Interment will be in
Mountain View Cemetery.
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
Big Profits for Kansas Roads.

A report of the State Railroad Com
missioners shows that in the fiscal
year ending June 30 the Kansas rail-
roads made profit of more than
SIS, S,000, ,000
The gross earnings of all the rail-
roaods of the State for the year were
about $56, 100000. The revenue from
the freight business was s39,765,310 81
and from the passenger traffic $12,-
262.653 II. The total number of tons
of freight hauled by all the roads was
19.O63,178. The expense of operating
the railroads for the year was about
$4,000, 600, leaving net profit to the
stockholders of $1S,000,000 81. The
Leavenworth, Topeka and Southwest
ern was the only railroad run at a
loss. The deficiency amounted to
s9117 S2.-New York Press.
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
NIGHT IN JAIL
FOR A SENIOR
University Student Spends
Time Behind Bars Instead
of Attending the Theater
FRIENDS HELP HIM OUT
Sequel to Attempt of Youth
to Hypothecate a Type
writer He Had Borrowed
Berkeley Office San Francisco Call,
214S Center Street, Jan. IA.

Berkeley Office San francisco Call'
214S Center Street, Jan. IA.
Friends came this morning to the res
cue of William Craig Martin, student
in the college of Social Sciences at the
State University, who was arrested last
night for pawning a typewriter ne nad
rented from an agency in San Francis
CO, and he was released from the Coun-
ty Jail in Oakland. Representations
were made to the typewriter people
which convinced them that Martin was
not deserving of prosecution. Payment
of the sum due on the typewriter was
made, and Martin returned to his home
at 2429 Blake street in Berkeley.
When found by Deputy Marshal
Howard last night the youth was dress
ing to attend a theater with "co-ed'
of his acquaintance, and expressed as
gust when told that the dressing opera
ton would have to be postponed. He
refused to discuss the affair at the
County Jail. where he spent the night.
Martin is the son of a Presbyterian
minister, who came from England SIX
years ago, and is now living at Santa
Rosa. The son is a senior at the uni
versity, where his career has been
variegated and picturesque. His most
IeCeHC escape was lllebL lOA "hlSu -
Moore, a woman physician of Berkeley,
charged him with having sent bogus
telephone messages to her office at mid
night, telling her to come and attend
his wife, who, required the services OF
physician instantly.
DR.. Moore sailed forth on receiving
the call, and after inquiring at the ad-
dress given her, was told that no wom-
an lived there who required a doctors
services. Three times DR.. Moore an
swered the fake messages, each time
with the same result. She traced the
calls to Martins ROOM as she alleged,
and demanded that he settle the mat
ter by paying her the regular fee.
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
Rough ON Iowa Boys.

Tom Sawyer and "Huckleberry
Finn" will hereafter be deAied boy pa
irons of the Des Moines, Iowa, public
library. That Is, it will be within the
discrimination of the librarian to de-
termine whether the boys look as IL
they would be immune to the harmful
influence of Mark Twain" At least
the books will no longer be permitted
on the open shelves and only particu-
larly good little boys-or, it may be,
hopelessly bad little boys-will be
given them. All others will be directed
to How Charlie Learned to Be a Good
Little Boy or other high class juven-
one reflects the more wonderful does 1t
seem that boys turn out as well as
they do to-day considering the fearful
handicaps they are obliged to over
come, such as now furnished by this
Iowa library. New York Globe.
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
PERSONAL RAID
BY THE MAYOR
His Honor Causes the Arrest
of a Shopkeeper Who Uses
Some Over-Strong Epithets
WANTS NO OBSTRUCTION
Executive Attempt to Clear
Sidewalks Subjects Head
of City to Insolent Abuse
NO OBSTRUCTION
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
T..

1016 Broadway, Jan. IA.
Mayor Warren Olney took hand to-
day in the work of clearing obstruc-
tions from the public highways. He or
dered the arrest of Edwin F. Lee, a
Lee, it IS charged, had refused to move
a lot of merchandise from the sidewalk
and had savagely abused his Honor for
interference. Lee was sent to the City
Prison, where he refused to accept the
privilege of bail. The irate merchant, of
his own motion, was locked up in tank
one.
The Mayor was passing Lees stand
this morning when he noticed the side
walk crowded with an assortment Of
wares belonging to the merchants es-
tablishment.
Il called your attention a week ago
to this unlawful use of the sidewalk, ;"
remarked Mayor Olney to the fruit
dealer.
You'd better keep on to San Fran
CISCO" replied Lee, in ugly tones. "All
you do is to bother merchants. You've
made enough trouble already"
His Honor repeated his request that
the sidewalk be cleared for the use of
pedestrians. This is said to have
brought volley of profanity from Lee
and further hint that unless the
Mayor moved on the fruit man might
punch the Mayors head"
The Mayor sent to the City Hall and
directed Policeman Tobin to arrest Lee
on a charge of obstructing the side
walks. Lee sent for friends, who gave
a bond for Lees appearance Monday
morning in the Police Court.
In connection with the crusade for
unobstructed thoroughfares Street In
spector w. w. Blair has reported to the
Mayor. under orders. the location of ali
wooden sidewalk awnings erected with
in the fire limits. These will be ordered
down at once, Legislation touching the
removal of telegraph, telephone and
electric light masts in the business dis
trict is under consideration by the city
authorities.
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15

OAKLAND, Jan. 1.-THE new
clubrooms and gymnasium provided
by the management of the Oakland
Traction Company for the use of the
carmen employed on its Oakland.
Alameda and Berkeley system and
those on the lines of the San Francis
co and Oakland and San Jose Rail-
road were formally opened this even
ing. The new quarters, which have
been completely furnished by the
company, are in the headquarters
building at the corner Of San Pablo
avenue and Jones street. They in
clude a spacious gymnasium, fitted
throughout with modern apparatus, a
splendid bowling alley, billiard, card
and reading rooms, tub and shower
baths and a locker-room.
All the work of fitting up the club
has been done by the management of
the Oakland Traction Company and
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
ENCROACHMENTS OF SEA
CUTTING BRITAIN'S AREA
Alarming Shrinkage Taking Place on
Many Parts of Her Seagirt
Coasts.


The alarming extent to which the
sea is diminishing the area of the
British Isles is hardly realized.
1t is no longer safe to build near the
coast line in many places. so persist
ent is the encroachment of the waters.
Freshwater bay, in the Isle of Wight,
is a case in point. Here there is great
danger that Freshwater and Totland
will be entirely cut off from the rest
of the Isle of Wight, and a circum-
stance making the matter exception
ally serious is that on the portion
which would be isolated are all the
Notifications of the western part of
the isle, including the Needles fort,
with it's powerful ordnance.
The extent of the ravages of the sea,
says the London Express, may be
judged by the fact that the continuous
cliff road which formerly went round
this portion of the isle has been cut
and now leads straight over the cliff
into the sea.
In the current issue Of the Lifeboat
Societys journal an astounding state
ment is made. 1t is said that parts of
the Holderness coast, in Yorkshire, be-
tween Bridlington and Spurn, are be-
ing swallowed up by the sea in ex-
ceptional years by as much as twenty
feet a year.
At Pakefield, Suffolk, in 1884, the in
stitution had two lifeboat houses on
the seafront with timber slipways for
launching the boats. Not only has
every vestige of the houses and slip
ways disappeared, but many Of the
buildings standing some distance far
ther inland have been washed away
There are other parts of the coast,
according to this journal, where to
erect anything of a character intended
to be permanent would be simply
throwing money into the sea.
The difficulty of dealing with the
encroachment is that the sea is mex
orable, and If its advance is stopped in
one place it will force It's way in an
other
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
Treatment Of HabituaI CrimIna,s.

The test OF the habitual criminal is
the lack OF response to reformative in
fluences- The beginner in crime, what
ever his temperament or his apparent
hardness of heart, is entitled to at least
one opportunity to show whether he is
thus amenable to reformatory inf1u-
ences or not. If not and ne persists in
criminal action, the interest of society
would seem to demand the indetermi-
nate sentence and he must be made to
understand that, having forfeited his
chance to shape his own career, he be-
longs to the State, and that whether
his Imprisonment lasts for shorter or
longer period depends upon himself
New York Times.
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
ADVERTISEMENTS.
The hair OF
your head

The hair of the head is
far more sensitive to
climatic changes than is
usually supposed, and this
fact is peculiarly apparent
in California.
When the hair becomes
dry, brittle and falls out
and dandruff forms upon
the scalp it is an absolutely
certain indication of
diseased conditions, which,
unless promptly treated.
will result in badness.
Coke Dandruff Cure is
the only remedy thus far
discovered which will not
only remove dandruff, but
will positively grow
new hair.
That it will do so has
been proved by thousands.
1t is perfectly pure
liquid, free from even
trace of sediment. sulphur
or any injurious ingredients
whatsoever.
1t is delightfully."- refresh
ing, and under its benign
influence the hair quickly
regains the softness and
gloss of youth, and a new,
vigorous growth takes the
place Of that which has been
lost.
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15

the rooms, light, water and fuel will
be provided without cost to the club
members.
An interesting programme was ar
ranged for the opening tonight, when
the quarters were turned over to the
men by General Manager w. r. Kel-
ly. Addresses were also made by AS
sistant General Manager J. Q. Brown,
superintendent J. p. Potter and G. E.
Parsons, president of the Oakland
Traction Club.
The officers and directors of the
new organization are: President, c.
E. Parsons; vice president, j. N.
Thompson; secretary. d. H. Rand;
treasurer, George Williams; directors
NJ. A. Silva, L. F. Laytham. G.. w.
Graves. Edward Summers, Otto Muir
doch, w. E. Whitaker, l.. @. Carney,
N. T. McNally and Fred Stiles.
The entrance fee of the new club
is 81, and the dues are so cents a
month.
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
Ratine Parties by Ceases

Representative Hay of Virginia no
longer speaks of the Democratic dele
cation as the minority" He doesn't
like the word, and, being of an in
ventive turn of mind. he has coined
a better term. A fellow member from
the Republican side happened to
meet him in one of the lobbies recent
ly. .Well,'' said the Republican,
'.how are you members of the minor
dty coming along?'' "Oh, we don't call
it the minority any more said Mr..
Hay. 1--WE say we're in the 'vocative
case now" Yes, and you Republi-
cans are in the nominative case,
chimed in Representative Maynard.
.sWe'll admit tthat'-Exchange
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
Major j. r. Pico Very Ill.

= ALAMEDA, Jan. 14.-Major Jose
Ramon Pico, the last of the histori-
cal Californian family of that name.
who has been lying seriously Ill at his
home on Broadway and Clement ave.
nue., is reported by his wife to be i'm
proving somewhat, but his condition
is still precarious. Major Pico is suf-
fering from inflammatory rheumatism
He is nearly 80 years Of age and his
physician asserts that his advanced
years lessen his chances of recovery.
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
swedish-Americans Elect onicers.

American Republican Club of Ala
media County elected officers last night
at meeting held in Becker's Hall.
At the close of the meeting BAN
.1et was held. Those chosen to di-
rect the affairs of the club during the
coming year are: G. T. Peterson.
president; Gus Lundin, first vice pres
ident; c. G. Larson, second vice pres
ident; K. E. Hanson, corresponding
secretary; Andrew Anderson, finan-
cial secretary; w. Gustafson, treasur-
er: Alfred Olsen, sergeant; N. G. Lind
gren, M. Freeman, Albin johnson and
G. Fohlin, members of the executive
f.nnn niftee
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
Relay swimming Contest.

race from Calais to Dover has been
promoted by the Belgian Swimming
Federation for a challenge cup. The
competition Is open to the world for
teams of five amateur swimmers. The
first swimmer of each team would
swim as far as possible across the
channel. The second man would then
take UP the task and would be fol-
lowed by the others in turn. The team
whose man first reaches shore would
win the cup. The race is to take place
In July or MISUNDERSTANDING.
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
New Floor Allowance.

Experiments which have been car
ried out on the weight of crowds go
to show that the loading. of SO pounds
to 102 pounds per square foot. usually
assumed in Germany in floor design
and prescribed by the Ministry of Pub
lie Works for this purpose. is far too
low to allow for conditions that may
frequently occur. 1t is urged that this
figure should be raised to at least 123
pounds to 133 pounds square foot,
otherwise the assumed factor OF safety
may be encroached on materially
London Engineer.
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
CONSUL SENDS
WORD over SEA
Representative of Belgium
Takes an Interest in Case
of His Young Countryman
Oakland Office, San Francisco Call,
1016 Proo dwoy Ton IA

1016 Broadway, Jan. IA.
Rather than face an investigation by
the police that might reveal his iden-
tity, Eugene Legros, the young Bel
gian arrested for thefts of bric-a-brac
from Brigadier General Oscar r. Long,
pleaded guilty to-day in the Police
Court. But the move may not help
Legros, for Rene Halewyck, Consul for
Belgium at San Francisco has taken
up the case and has written to Brus-
sells that Legros shall have such judic-
ial treatment as developments may de-
mand.
The young man, it is said, is the
son of a member of prominent ship
ping and marine firm of Brussels. It
is thought he left home because of
youthful escapades among the gay set
in the Belgian capital. The young man
persistently declines to disclose his real
name or anything that might uncover
his true self to the police.
Police Judge Smith to-day continued
the passing of sentence until Febru-
ary 5, at request of the Belgian Consul
in order to give that official an oppor-
tunity to hear from his home corre-
spondents.
The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
Sale of Fisheries is Postponed.

BELLINGHAM, Wash, Jan. IA
The sale of the Pacific Packing &
Navigation Company's properties, to
have taken place to-day, was ordered
postponed by Judge Eben Smith,
Master in Chancery, until January 25
at / o'clock. The reason given for the
postponement was that few bidders
could go tosJuneau at this time.