davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
HOODOO PURSUES
BEAR FLAG DRAMA
Big Electric Sign at American
Theater Falls, Barely Miss
ing Manager Daley
Theatrical Man, Who Has Sec
ond Escape in Week, Lays
Blame to Unlncky Play

The unhappy fortunes which have
attended DIR. c. w. Bachman's Califor-
MIA melodrama, Under the Bear Flag,
pursued the play until the bitter end,
for after the final performance Satur-
day night, just as the last patron had
left the theater, the huge electric sign
hanging pendant above the entrance to
the American theater, ripped from its
fastenings, so feet above the sidewalk.
and fell with crash to the pavement.
barely missing Manager w. r. Daley
as it fell.
Daley attributes his escape to the
same stroke of providence which saved
him last Tuesday from death. under the
wheels of Market street car. He was
on that occasion carried bleeding to
the hospital and had only left his
bed Saturday morning.
1T is the first time in the history Of
electric sign work." said Manager Cohn
of the theater last night, that such an
accident has been recorded. The frame
was anchored firmly to the building
and had been but recently inspected as
to its security. Had the sign fallen
three minutes sooner a score of per-
sons would surely have been killed or
frightfully injured.
The sign is a ton of wreckage, but
1 do not mind that. am glad that
no one was hurt"
But Manager Daley of. the company
which presented the Bachman drama
says: Its sign of the hoodoo on
the play. Even the sign refused to
work. If you know anybody who wants
to buy some scenery let me know.
that play is a Jonah, sure"
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
MANSON PREPARES FOR
TRIP TO HETCH HETCHY
City Engineer and Supervisors
Will Leave for Proposed
Catchment Basin Today

City Engineer Marsden Manson was
ousy yesterday arranging final details
Tor the journey of the supervisors to
the Hetch Hetchy valley and to Lake
Eleanor. the catchment basins for San
Franeisco's proposed Sierra water sup
ply. The IA members of the board and
The other city officials whom Manson
viii guide into the granite fastness of
the range viii begin their trip to-
morrow morning at 500 o'clock from
the ferry. The party viii be gone
10 days.
Manson hopes that the city may save
q large sum of money in the matter
Of rights Of way, etc, by the construc-
tion of about 40 miles of pipe line from
the Sierra foothills TO Altamont in a
due east and west line II miles south
Of the Mount Diablo base line and
along a main county highway This
being state property. the city engineer
stated yesterday, it was his opinion
the city might put the ground to this
public use so long as the pipe, being
buried, did not obstruct traffic.
The city authorities propose to ask
the people TO authorize a bond issue
Of probably sS500.000 in November for
the purposes OF securing rights of
way where needed, sites for the power
stations whose energy will be devel-
Oped from the water in transit and
reservoir sites.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
OCEAN VIEW VOTERS
FAVOR ANNEXATION
Election Will Be Held Tomorrow
to Decide Boundary of
Berkeley
Residents of West Berkeley
Appear Only Opponents to
the Movement

BERKELEY, Aug 16.-An election
for the annexation to Berkeley Of a
strip of ESQ acres at the eastern end of
the Ocean View tract, north of here,
between the county and town lines. will
be held Tuesday. A majority of the Al
voters In the Ocean View district are
In favor of the annexation, as are also
most of the residents of this city, and
the annexation of Ocean View is con-
ceded unless there is heavy vote in
West Berkeley which section is op-
posed to the project.
The petition calling for the election
Tuesday is the third that has been pre-
sented to the town board. The first
was pigeonholed without action, while
faults were discovered in the boundary
description of the second, necessitating
the present call
The district to be annexed includes
that portion of the Ocean View tract
east of the Peralta school to the Crag-
mont realty section, and from the north
town line to the north county line.
By the residents of the Ocean View
district annexation to Berkeley is con-
sidered imperative, as there is a scheme
on foot for the formation of a separate
township in western Ocean View, in
the vicinity of the county line. Since
that township petition was filed with
the board of supervisors, however, John
Gill, the we'll known nurseryman, has
withdrawn his name, representing 800
acres and valuable taxable property,
from the petition. The Ocean View
people will now try to form town to
include eastern Ocean View, which is
hostile to the annexation movement.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
MARIN SENDS DELEGATES
Three Hundred Residents of the
County Leave for Sacramento

SAN RAFAEL. Aug. 16.-Three hum
dred persons. members of the Young
Mems Institute, the Young women's In
stitute, Knights of Columbus and vari-
Gus other Catholic organizations, left
morning trains. They will attend the
convention of the Young Mems Insti-
tute that is now in session at the cap
ital city.
1t is estimated that fully 1000 per-
sons from other parts of Marin county
have left for Sacramento within the
last few days Many of the young peo-
fael and will attend the convention to-
gether.
Several humorous incidents happened
because of the drowsy condition of sew
eral of the representatives who were
unaccustomed to early hours. Chief
among them was the case of Arthur
Young, a young man who had risen
hastily, hurrying to make the train.
The train was at the station when he
came running wildly down the plat
form, a necktie in one hand and a suit
case in the other. But there was time
to spare. Several of his acquaintances
were standing on the platform, when,
out of breath, he rushed up to them.
''Close call-but I'm here" he painted,
triumphant.
Yes. but where are your shoes?" In
terposed one of the young fellows.
Blank amazement was pictured on
Young's face while he stared at his feet
that were yet encased in a pair of de-
lapidated carpet slippers.
When the train pulled out he was
seen shuffiing up Fourth street, the
picture of despair. And he was saying
things, too, despite that he Is an earnest
church worker
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
NAMES CONVENTION DATES
Alameda Republican Committee
Names Seven Delegates

OAKLAND, Aug. 1.-THE republican
county central committee has fixed
Saturday, August %, as the day upon
which the county convention will meet.
1t has appointed seven delegates from
portions of three assembly districts
where the primary election law was not
in effect.
Carey, ]. c. lCoburn, Fred Farr, e. Stan
ley. forty ninth district; Z. M. Hansen,
fftieth district; N. L. Nelson, ]. A.
c. Macdonald, fifty second district. ),
The convention. will meet in a hall
yet to be selected at 10 o'clock in the
morning. Chairman George w. Reed
appointed Joseph B. Lanktree, c. A.
Gale and w. P. Woolsey as committee
to TS arrange for the county convention. -
presidential electors will be held in this
city on Thursday, August 81. n. 8.
Anderson, w. e. Griffith and w. e.
Knowles were appointed to arrange
for the state convention.
An invitation was extended by the
county central committee to the Cali
fornia league of republican clubs to
From Martinez comes word that the
superior Judgeship fight in the repub-
lican ranks has been settled in favor
Martinez, who appeared to have the
inside track, has been beaten, as the
Lincoln Roosevelt republican league
sentiment in Contra Costa county was
too strong to be overcome.
Wood had publicly announced that
he was in full accord with the princi-
pies of the league. Timing is a. repre-
sentative of the Coleman mckenzie
Calkins syndicate crowd at the county
seat. Despite the fact that he held q
plurality of delegates over Judge Wells
and Wood, he has been unable to make
enough gains to win the judgeshiI
nomination.. Woods nomination al
Tuesdays convention is settled.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
PROHIBITION LEADERS GATHER

CHICAGO, Aug. 16.-ProhibitiOn lead
ers from all parts of the country began
to arrive in Chicago today to be pres
ent at the notification ceremonies to-
morrow, when Eugene W. Chain will
be officially informed of his nomination
by the prohibition convention for the
presidency. The address of notification
will be made by Professor Charles
Scanlon of Pittsburg. and after the can
didate has delivered his speech of ac-
ceptance Daniel r. Sheen, prohibition
candidate for governor of Illinois, will
make the keynote address of the cam
paign in this state. The exercises will
take place at o'clock tomorrow and
they will be preceded by a public re-
ception, TO be held at the Auditorium
during the afternoon.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
PASTOR OPPOSES RACES
BY AUTOS ON SUNDAYS
Rev. William Martin of Santa
Rosa Seeks to Stop Pro-
posed Contest
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

SANTA ROSA, Aug. 16.-Rev. Will
liam Martin. pastor of the fashionable
First Presbyterian church of this city.
set in motion a warm trend OF argu-
ment at his.morning service today when
he took occasion to condemn in strong
terms the practice of holding automo-
bile races on Sunday. Many of the
members of the church own automo-
biles and have taken decided interest
in different speed contests.
Next Saturday and Sunday the Sonoma
county automobile association is plan
ming TO hold a series Of races in this
city. 1t was originals intended that
they should take place on Friday and
Saturday, Sunday being made one of
the days at the express request of the
city dealers, who believed larger
crowds would attend in such a case.
Rev. Mr.. Martin referred to this as
being clear desecration of the Sab
bath. He read extracts of resolutions
adopted at the general assembly of the
Presbyterians showing the position of
the denomination in regard to Sunday
observance.
In concluding DR.. Martin said he was
sure the national automobile associa-
tion would not sanction Sunday races
and he appealed to his congregation to
arouse public sentiment against them.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
REV. JOHN B. TABB, POET,
BECOMES TOTALLY BLIND
Priest and Gifted Lyricist
Loses Eyesight After Suffer-
ing Incurable Trouble

Word has been received by the Sui
pician fathers in charge OF st. Patrick's
seminary, Menlo Park. that Rev. John
B. Tabb, the poet priest, whom Am
brose Bierce styled one of the most
gifted lyricists living, recently became
totally blind. Father Tabb has for
years occupied the chair of poetry in
ST. Charles college. Ellicott City, Nd
Among those who received their edu-
cation under his guidance was George
Sterling, the California poet, the author
of the Testimony Of the Suns" and
"A Wine Of Wizardry"
OF late years Father Tabb has suf-
fered much from an incurable eye
trouble. In spite Of his affiiction he
has continued from time to time to
give TO the world exquisite bits of lyric
verse His poems were collected some
years ago. They contain some of the
loftiest and purest specimen Of the
lyric art in American literature.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
WILL BUY SUPPLIES
IF TAFT is ELECTED
Philippine Merchant Declares
He Will Place Big Order if
Republicans Win

Bringing an order for machinery that
will run into thousands of dollars. J.
Gibson, one Of the largest furniture
dealers in Manila, arrived last night on
the Pacific Mail steamship Manchuria.
Gibson, like many other of the big mer-
chants in Manila. is a strong Taft sup
porter He has an order for goods that
will make the hearts Of many mer-
chants glad. but this large order is to
be given only on one condition-that
William H. Taft be elected president
next November
Gibson will spend several months in
touring the United States. He will re-
main In the States until after the cleo
tiOn- Should Taft be elected on the
same steamship on which Gibson re-
turns to Manila will be his machinery
and various other merchandise
A great vote for Taft in the Philip
pines was predicted by the passeng gers.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
QUEEN LEONA TO BE
CROWNED AT CARNIVAL
Mayor Mott to Deliver Corona
tion Address and Abdicate i'm
Favor of Fair Ruler

OAKLAND, Aug 16.-Elaborate cere-
monials will attend the coronation of
Queen Elect Leona at the Idora park
carnival tomorrow night. Mayor Frank
K. Mott of Oakland will deliver the cor
onation address, abdicating his position
as chief executive in favor of the fair
sovereign and turning over TO her the
key to the carnival grounds. Flower
girls will strew the royal path from
the theater to the throne with roses
and ladies of honor, knights and SOL
diers will attend the queen and do her
bidding throughout the evening and for
the rest of the week. Each night dur
ing the remainder of the carnival the
queen and her retinue will hold court
in the great exposition hall, where all
the carnival visitors will do homage to
the ruler.
Twenty thousand visitors thronged
Idora park on Saturday evening and
another big crowd was present today
The childrens carnival on Saturday
afternoon attracted thousands of boys
and girls to the park. The little ones
had such g. good time that the directors
of the exposition have decided TO repeat
the school carnival during the present
week
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
WEEKS WHALE CATCH
MAKES WORLD RECORD
Vancouver Island Station Se-
cures 20 Big Mammals in
Seven DayS

VICTORIA, B. c., Aug. 1.-THE
worlds record for weeks catch by
any coast whaling station was broken
last week by the Kyuquot station. to
which 26 whales were taken by the
steam whaler ST. Lawrence. The
best catch known heretofore was %,
a record also made by the St. Law
renee. The KyuquOt station has
taken 234 whales since the season
began.
The records of whaling stations on
the west coast of Vancouver is far
in excess of catches of stations on
the eastern coast, according TO adj
vices received by the coast whalers
from the east.
The total catch of three Newfound-
land stations at ST. Lawrence. B4lOn
and Dublin cove, is only a little more
than one-third of the catch alone of
the KyuquOt station
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
CHARGED WITH THEFT

Samuel Gerst, bar tender, and Peter
Fransen, a machinist, were arrested
yesterday afternoon. charged with at
tempting to steal a pocketbook con-
tanning money and checks to the value
of more than 1920 from G. G. Sweeney.
Sweeney, who is a plumber and lives at
652 Church street, was riding on a Fill
more street car when he felt a hand
in his pocket. Turning quickly, he says
he saw Gerst hand his pocketbook to
Fransen. Sweeney grabbed Gerst and
another passenger on the car held
Fransen until the arrival of Detectives
Gaughran and Lord. Both men were
taken to the central station and booked
on charges of grand larceny. When
searched by the police Gerst was found
to have about $3.50 in money on his
person
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
RUSH CONSTRUCTION OF
NEW HONOLULU FORTS
Pearl Harbor ndsDiamond Head
Defenses to Make Island
Gibraltar of Pacific

Construction work on the fortiffca-
tions that are to make Honolulu a
Gibraltar of the Pacific is being rushed
by the United States government.
Every additional man who can be OBJ
tanned is being put to work both at
Diamond head and Pearl harbor. C. ].
Cooper of Honolulu, who arrived yes
terday on the United States transport
Buford and who is stopping at the
Stewart, thinks that when the govern
ments plans are completed the island
will be impregnable.
Cooper says that contrary to COM
mon belief the Japanese on the island
are not generally armed.
Just before the Buford left the
island bids for the construction of
duplicate barracks at Fort Shafter
were opened and San Francisco firm
was found to be the lowest bidder
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
"HAS TEMPER OF DEVIL"
Lawyer Who Defended Thorn
ton Hains Tells of Character
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

WASHINGTON. Aug. 16.-Andrew A.
Lipscomb, who led the prosecution of
Thornton Hains when he was tried for
the murder of Ned" Hannigan, said to-
night he vividly remembers Hams and
the celebrated case in which he figured.
Lipscomb is a celebrated criminal law
yer. He said
I'm my opinion this Hams is one of
the most dangerous men / have ever
known. He has the spirit and the tenn
per of a devil. His idea Of his duty
toward his fellowmen appears to be
that he was created to rule DO as
say or I'll kill you appeared to be
his rule, not only with his friends and
acquaintance, but even with mem
bers of his own family. 1t was not un-
common for the young man to threaten
to kill his father.
I'm addressing the jury at his trial
I explained the killing on the theory
of Hams violent, dictatorial temper,
and what 1 have read of his literary
work since that time leads me TO a
stronger conviction than ever that
was right"
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
URGE EAST OAKLAND
HARBOR IMPROVEMENT
Clubs Petition City Council to
Aid Section East of
FaiIon Street

OAKLAND, Aug. 16.-Resolutions
have been adopted by the Improvement
clubs Of East Oakland, representatives
Of which met at the residence of Cap
tain Charles P. Welch. S61 East Six
teenth street, urging the city council
to consider the harbor needs east of
Fallon street in any action that might
be taken in the matter of harbor i'm
provement bonds
The petition. covering the meeting s
action, for presentation to the council
Hunt, H d. Rowe, John E. Sanford,
John Mole, T.. NJ. Gardiner, T. B.
Holmes. Ed S. Reed. F. M. Davidson
and many others.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF
NATION TO HEAR HENEY
Prosecutor Will Speak of de-
ficiencies of Law in the
Graft Cases"

DENVER, Aug. 16.-At least 25
states will be represented at the sec
ond annual convention OF the national
association of attorneys general which
Thursday and Friday next, August 20
and 21
Francis J. Ieney of San Francisco
Will speak to the convention on I'm
adequacies or deficiencies of criminal
statutes in the prosecution of munich
pal grafters." Included in the program
also will be a paper on THE -Four
teenth Amendment" by r. V Fletcher
attorney general of Mississippi. which
will be discussed by Attorney General
u. s Webb of California
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
captain OF COEPENICK"
SET FREE BY KAISER
CobbIer Who Impersonated an
Army Officer and Arrested
Mayor Gains Liberty

BERLIN. Aug. 16.-William Voigt,
notorious as ''the captain of Coepenick, :"
has been liberated from prison by order
of the emperor. Voigt. on December i,
1905. was sentenced to serve four years
in prison.
sonated a captain of the grenadfers.
produced a forged order authorizing
him to take command of a detachment
Of u men whom he met on the streets
a small town near here, where he ar
rested the burgomaster and the treas
urer of the town and took possession
OF the cash, amounting to about $1,000.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
UNCONSCIOUS MAN DIES
ON WAY TO HOSPITAL
Picked Up on Street InsensibIe
and Police Are Investigating
Circumstances of Case

Michael Sweeney. 1z7 Oak street was
found unconscious in Bush street near
Cough yesterday afternoon and died
less than two hours later Sweeney
was. discovered by a policeman and
.aken TO the Bush street station.
The police believed the man to be in
toxicated, there was a strong odor
OF alcohol about his person After
working over him for some time Lieu
tenant Wright ordered his removal to
the central emergency hospital, but he
died en- route to that institution.
The contents Of the mans stomach
were pumped out and We're turned over
30 the morgue officials. The police are
Investigating the case.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
MERITS OF CASE
TO DECIDE APPEAL
Such Is Recommendation Made
by the American Bar
Association
Ask That Civil and Criminal
Litigation Be Not Determined
on TechnicaIities

NEW YORK, Aug. 16.-COurts Of ap-
peal will no longer decide civil or Grim
inal HtigatiOns brought before them on
purely technical points. but will base
their rulings on the merits of the case.
if the recommendations OF the special
committee of the American bar assOcia-
tion shall become law
The committee was appointed by the
association at the last annual meeting
TO draft proposed laws to prevent delay
and unnecessary cost in litigation. It's
report will be presented at the next an
nual meeting to be held In Seattle from
August 25 to 2S.
1t opens with statement that the
existing evil which seems most serious
to the committee is the disposition in
many jurisdictions to dispose Of appeals
or writs of error, both in civil and
criminal cases, upon technical grounds
and not to decide them upon the merits
In the judgment of the committee the
rule for deciding appeals and writs OF
error should not be based on reversible
errors committed in the court below,
but upon the merits as the case appears
upon the records.
TRIAL OF CASE A GAME
Continuing the report calls attention
to the fact that the tendency of the
courts in common law cases is to con-
strue adherence to strict legal rules
as the right Of each party and TO re-
verse If there has been any infraction
of these rules.
This makes the trial of a case a
game" declared the committee sin
which the one wins who plays the most
skillfully. the merits OF the controversy
having no part"
The unrestricted right to a writ oR
error in criminal cases is characterized
by the committee as a fragrant abuse in
judicial procedure.
The committee declares that the re-
forms in civil procedure which it rec
ommends are not theoretical. but have
been tried and adopted in England 70
the satisfaction Of the bar and the
benefit OF Htigants.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
REDUCES RATES ron SHINGLES

SEATTLE, Aug. 16.-Freight rates on
shingles. shipped from Pacific coast
points 10 the territory east OF Buff
falo. n. Y. that is served by the big
trunk lines will be reduced and the
new tariffs will become effective on
August 28. A f. Specht. secretary of
the lumbermen's rate committee, today
received telegram from General
Freight Agent Baird of the Northern
transcontinental freight bureau had
decided to put into effect a rate of S5.
cents per hundred on shingles from the
Pacific coast 70 what Is known as trunk
line territory.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
BEATEN BY THUGS

William Leahy of 1878 Sixteenth
street. superintendent of the Folsom
iron works, was held UP. badly beaten
and robbed of SIT early this morning
by two men at Eighteenth and Dolores
streets: He is not expected to live.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
FLEET HEADED ron SYDNEY

AUCKLAND. n. T., Aug 1.-THE
American battleship fleet which started
for sydney on Saturday morning
passed Cape Maria Van Dieman, the
northwest extremity Of the island. at
$:z5 this morning. Light winds pre-
6ne.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
PLAN NEW PARLoR

BERKELEY, Aug. 16.--A movement
is on foot for the establishment of a
South Berkeley parlor of the Native
Daughters, A petition has been circu-
lated and already number of signers
have been secured. Lincoln hall prob
ably will be the meeting place of the
new organization If Installed.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
ALLEGED SLAYER ARREsTED

PORTLAND. Ore, Aug. 16.-Walter
Johnson was arrested tonight by Sher-
iff Hancock of Washington county on
charge of having killed Elmer Per-
due in the mountains back OF Hillsboro
Ore. Johnson will be taken to Hills
boro tomorrow.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-17
Telegraph Brevities

NEW CHANNEL oPEEED-sault Ste Marie.
Mich, Aug. 16.--The new West Nebish channel
which cost s4,00o.o00 was opened to traffic this
morning.
ESPERAETos MEET-Dresden. Aug. ia
evening at which Professor Schmidt Of Berlin
lectured.
DIPLOMAT TRANsFERRED-Tondon Aug.
16-Fairfax L. Cartwright, the minister at Afu-
nich, has been appointed ambassador at Vienna.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1908-10-29
Oldest Congressman.

Congressman N. d. Sperry, of
Connecticut, is running for re-
election when well along in his
eighty-second year. He will be
full eighty-two years old next
June, and nearly eighty-four at
the end of his new congressional
term, for his election is conceded
by all. Indeed, they say down
in the Second Connecticut dis
trict that his initials stand for
Never Defeated" as we'll as
Nehemiah Day. He is the oldest
of those who now sit in the low
er branch of congress. Spring
field Republican.