Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-23
ARMED MEN ARE
KEEPING TRUCE
SAN PEDRO SoUATTERS HAVE
FLAGS RAISED
contending Interests Seek Disputed
Territory and Courts Must Adjust
the DlffieuIty-Much Suffer-
ing EntaiIed by Fire

LONG BEACH, Sept 22,-The city
officials have decided to ask the courts
to restrain San Pedro from any inter-
ference with the affairs of Long Beach,
either at Terminal Island or elsewhere.
Monday morning John e. DAILY, city
attorney, will probably act in the case.
This city's rights at West Long
Beach will be enforced by peaceable
measures if possible.
BY extending her boundaries, the
legality of which has been upheld by
the courts Long Beach assumed juris-
diction over the east side of the bay,
and later leased the Salt Lake railroad
the tide lands adjacent for term of
forty-sX years, giving the railroad per-
mission to improve them.
The city officials. of Long Beach say
that their only effort will be to protect
the rights of the city which have been
passed upon by the courts.
American Flags Float
An American flag floated from every
available timber and post in the burned
area at West Long Beach today, the
squatters thus establishing themselves
to withstand the claims Of the Salt
Lake to the same land
The burned area is quite picturesque.
One tent has been erected just south
of the debris left by the fire and sur
rounded by the wire fence. Another
bed was set up under the lea of a big
wagon, drawn UP broadslde to the
breeze.
A few San Pedro deputies, few
squatters and q small number of dogs
were the sole occupants of the island
today.
An enterprising barber, whose place
Ixrf he Apa Cd
again this morning, the Stars and
Stripes draped gracefully over his chair.
Last night, after mass meeting had
been held in San Pedro, about 200 men,
led, 1t is said, by John Wray, marched
down upon Rattlesnake island, tore
down the fence built by the Salt Lake
company and marched into the forbid
den territory.
The twenty special police from Long
Beach are said to have been over
whelmed by the onslaught and retired
from the field.
e. M. Jessuo. a Salt Lake official,
notified Mayor Downs of the raid at 1
o'clock this morning.
Some of the same officers who were
deposed last night left for the island
again this morning, but Marshal Young
remained to attend a conference held in
the city attorneys office.
This conference was attended by r,
E. Wells, general manager of the Salt
Lake; Mr. Halstead, general attorney;
E. NJ. Jessup, master car builder; Mr.
Frazier, superintendent of bridges, and
the city authorities,
Appeal to Court
1t was at this conference that the de-
cision was reached that the courts
should be appealed to that the city's
rights may be protected.
Just before noon the city officials and
the railroad men went to San Pedro
over the Pacific Electric road to look
over the ground.
AT tonight Marshal Young left for
West Long Beach with an additional
force of special policemen. The men
wlu were on duty all day were ordered
to remain at their posts, and the night
men also went on duty shortly after G..
San Pedro officers were on the ground
to attempt to prove that that city has
rights on the premises.
1t has long been a disputed question
as to whether the land was a part of
the railroads. holdings OF, as tide land,
was open to squatters settlement,
The present move on the part of the
Salt Lake is held to be made on the
ground that the only property of the
squatters not open to question was their
houses, and that with these removed
they are left no rights upon the prop
erty.
John Wray, arrested for tearing down
a piece of the railroads fence Thurs
day night failed to appear for trial
today and a bench warrant was issued
for his arrest.