davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-24
UNDERWRITERS VISIT
CITY IN PRIVATE CAR
Delegates to National Conven-
tion Will Be Entertained
by Local Members

The delegates returning from the
convention Of the National Life I'm
derwriters' association recently held in
Chicago arrived in San Francisco last
night in private car, and today win
be the guests of the local members of
the association. OF the party, nine
went to the st. Francis hotel, but the
remainder spent the night in their pri
yate car.
'rhe entire party will meet at the st.
Francis hotel at $50 o'clock this morn
ing, where 80 automobiles will be
awaiting Ii. The visitors will then be
driven around the city. being shown
the downtown and business districts
and tfen taken to the Presidio Th,
trip VIII conclude at the ferry depot.
The delegates will leave for the nortnZ
west tonight. The arrangements for
their entertainment here have beer,
made by President Gregory and a com
mittee headed by Charles D. Holman.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-24
CUSTOMS OFFICIALS
WITHHOLD CHANGES
Records in Chadbourne and
Gardner Cases Not Filed
for Prosecution
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

CHICAGO, Aug. 23-An indication
ing. immediate prosecution against
either Mrs. Chadbourne or Mrs. Gard
ner is found in the fact that all of the
official records of the case are still in
the hands of Chicago customs house
officials.
1t had been stated with general
credence that the consular invoice and
certificate and the affidavit in which
Mrs. Chadbourne reported that $4,000
worth of Mrs. Gardner's antiques were
her own property and worth about
$4,000 had been forwarded to Washing
ton and from there would be sent to
District Attorney Sims for his con-
sideration. AS a matter of fact the
papers never have left the federal
building and have not, as is usual in
such cases, been sent to the Office OF
the district attorney.
The only communication passing be-
tween the customs officials and the dis
trict attorneys Office has been a brief
announcements of the detention of the
goods.
That is the present status of the six
cases of tapestries and other art OBJ
jects. They are detained and have not
been formally seized by the govern
ment. The Seizure" is completed when
the customs records are changed to
show that act, and so far no such
change has been made In connection
with these boxes.
They have Isot been. and unless civil
suit is started, cannot be forfeited or
confiscated by the government.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-24
IRATE RESIDENTS TEAR
DOWN BIG LAUNDRY SIGN
Huge Board Disappears During
Night and is Found in
Cemetery Creek

OAKLAND,NsAng pa huge sign
board at the corner of Montell street
and Piedmont avenue. advertising a
Japanese laundry. was torn down by
irate citizens last night and thrown
into Cemetery creek
The sign was raised at the northeast
corner of Montell street and Piedmont
avenue on property owned by T. j.
Keller. known locally as 'the mayor of
Piedmont" Keller owns sthe building
in Montell street which is occupied by
the laundry and is said to lave per-
mitted the sign to be erected to direct
persons from Piedmont avenue to the
washhouse.
Directly back of the sign lives Harry
Spencer, who circulated a protest be-
cause he said people mistook his dwell
ing-for the laundry. He presented the
protest to the board of public works
yesterday, and this morning Police
man Gunter was detailed to remove the
sign. On reaching the place he found
only the remains. the boards having
been cast into the creek in the dark
ness
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-24
POPULAR GIRL TO
WE'D IN OCTOBER
Marriage of Miss Julia Phillips
and DIR. Clarence Page to
Be Social Event
Well Known Young People to
Be Married in First Pres
byterian Church

BERKELEY, Aug. 2S.-Miss Julia
Phillips. whose engagement to Dr.
Clarence Page of this city was recently
announced, has set October as the
date of her wedding. which will be one
Of the social events of the local smart
set. The marriage will be celebrated
in the First Presbyterian church, Rev.
Lapsley A. MacAfee officiating.
Miss Mary Page, a sister of the
groom elect, will be the maid of honor
and eight friends of the bride to be
will be the bridesmaids They are
Miss Nina Schuman. Miss Lena Schu-
man. Miss Leona Morris, Miss En- Lou
Frisbie, Miss Edith Bates. Miss Sally
Kerr, Miss Agnes Benedict and Miss
Lucy Robinson. Rodney Phillips, broth
er of the bride elect, will be the
groomsman
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-24
WILL FIGHT FOR
WESTERN NEEDS
Trans-Mississippi Congress to
Favor Coast Defense and
Harbor improvements

With the arrival of Colonel Arthur
Francis of Colorado last evening prep
arations began for the coming session
of the Trans Mississippi commercial
congress in this city. 1t will hold it's
sessions from October to 10 inclusive.
Colonel Francis is secretary of the or
ganization, which has labored for
western legislation during the last 90
years, and has, together with the irri-
cation congress and the mining con-
gress. become a power in securing from
Washingtouf appropriations for the
country west of the Rocky mountains.
Arthur w. Briggs, president of the
state board of trade, is vice chairman
of the congress this year and H. d.
Loveland of San Francisco is treasurer.
Topics of peculiar Importance to
California and of general Importance to
the entire west will come up for dis
cussion this year said Colonel Francis.
THE subjects include coast defenses.
establishment of a bureau of mines
and mining, building of jetties, In the
Column bia river, making a roadstead at
Galveston and preservation of national
forests. Oregon will send a large dele
cation and the city of Galveston will
send another. All the legislation which
has accomplished so much for the har-
Dor at the last named port has come
congress and its work.
The national irrigation congress,
which meets at Albuquerque, N. NJ,
will send delegation to this con-
gress and the American mining con-
gress, which meets in Cleveland, will
send another. These will bring for in
dorsement the resolutions of their
bodies.
Among the important features for
discussion will be the Wood bill, in
troduced by Congressman Wood of
southern California. providing for a
bureau of mines at Washington. Presi-
dent Roosevelt favors such an institu-
ton, though he does not favor de-
partment of mines as yet At this
session bills will be prepared for the
admission of New Mexico and Arizona
'The river and harbor improvements
which include the Galveston and CO.
lumbia river projects, viii be doomed
by Texas and Oregon people. Califor-
MIA may rest assured that it is going
to be rightly treated
Colonel Francis will open headquar-
ters for the congress at once in the of
fees Of the state board OF trade in the
ferry building. He will remain in San
Francisco preparing for the session. ,
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-24
WIN CONSENT OF
OBDURATE PARENT
Father of Groom Nearly Wrecks
Wedding Plans, but
Later ReIents
Frank MaSOw and Miss Hannah
Swanson Are Married
Despite Objections

BERKELEY. Aug 23-Dan Cupid s
plans. discovered at the eleventh hour
5y the parents of the groom, nearly
brought an end to the romance of
Frank Masow. a well known Berkeley
boy. and Miss Hannah Swanson, an
East Oakland girl. The little god tri-
umphed in the face of parental objec-
tion, however. and back Of the an
nouncement OF the marriage Of the
young couple last night, at the home
Of the groom's parents in College ave-
uue, lies the romance of a marriag
planned to be held during the absence
Of the groom's father, discovered by
him on the eve Of his departure, but
carried 70 a successful termination by
the young couple with Masow senior
asserting.
The FIRST storm which rufled the
waters Of the enga cement Of the young
Berkeleyan and his 6ancee came a
month ago when with marriage license
IN hand he announced TO his mother
that he was 70 be married to Miss
Swanson that evening. Parental OBJ
lection scored a point and Masow and
his bride elect agreed to postpone their
nuptial day until they Were older"
Loves fires still burned hercely in
the breasts of young Masow and Miss
Swanson and they planned TO be mar
ried next Wednesday. two days after
the departure Of Masow. senior. for
Paris 70 bring back 10 this city his
blind daughter Helen, the well known
singer
Discovery at the eleventh hour. how
ever. increased the resolution of the
young couple and parental objection
capitulated. Rev. R. Kelsey performed
the ceremony. Frank II. Masow and
Herman Bierwirth. were the groOms
men. while Mrs. J. Rollin Fitch at
tended the bride.
The elder Masow viii leave for Paris
tomorrow night and accompanying him
viii be his son George, whose marriage
10 Miss Lillian SchOene, about three
months ago. was greeted by the
groom's parents with a storm of objec-
ton. Mrs. George Masow viii not ac-
COMPANY her husband.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-24
.F|REPROOF SIGNAL
STATION PLANNED
New Steel and Concrete Struc-
ture Will House Police and
Fire Telegraph
City Electrician Approves SpeCi-
f1catiOns and Council Will App
prOpriate Funds

OAKLAND Aug. 23.-A new fire.
police and fire alarm telegraph signal
apparatus is to be built soon in ac-
cordance with plans approved by City
Electrician Babcock. The structure viii
cost approximately $4,000. Funds for
moving the system from its present
quarters are provided in the budget,
which has already been considered by
the city council. and Will be adopted
tomorrow evening
Babeock asked for the structure in
his estimates of expenses submitted
to Auditor Gross and appeared before
the council when it met as a budget
committee to ask that the Improvement
be allowed in the finances of this year.
The system, which consists of deli
cately adjusted mechanism, is now in
the third story of the flrehouse in
Fifteenth street near the city hall.
We are facing constant danger"
said Babcock, not only for the ex-
pensive apparatus. but for the entire
city in the present location The fire
alarm system. situated as it is, in the
third story of building not absolutely
fireproof, Is in constant menace from
fire, which would cripple the city for
weeks or months
I desire to have built a low fire.
proof building. Then in case of fire
the operator could remain at his post,
and If the whole city were burning
could transmit alarm signals TO the
frehouses.
1t is planned to make this new build
f, ing the center. for the police and fire
alarm telegraph service. All wires
would be underground, protected in
stone eonduits. 1t is of utmost i'm
portance that the fullest protection be
given to these systems. My plans pro-
/ vide for structure strongly rein
| forced by steel and concrete"
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-24
THREE THOUSAND ENJOY
ODD FELLOWS PICNIC
Franco-American Lodge Pro,
vides for Entertainment
at Fairfax Park

Fairfax park. in Marin county. was
the scene of much animation yester-
day, when 1000 persons invaded its
wooded precincts to enjoy themselves
at the annual picnic given by the mem
bers OF the Franco American lodge of
Odd Fellows.
The grounds were gayly decorated
with French and American flags and
the committee had provided everything
necessary for the enjoyment of those
present
The fun did not officially begin until
2.30, when the merry makers formed
for the grand march. Practically every
person on the grounds Joined in the
line, which extended for nearly a quar-
ter of mile. Laughing and waving
small French and American flags and
handkerchiefs, the long line swept
about while the band played q lively
march. Then the marchers disbanded,
some to take part in games. while
others left on explorations bent
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-24
HAS ALLEGED WIFE AND
COMPANION ARRESTED
Woman Denies Complaining
Witness Is Husband and Says
She Has Grown Children

OAKLAND. Aug. 23.-Mrs. Mary Bal
lard of San Francisco and her compan-
ion, Harry Reeves. We're arrested late
last night and lodged in the city jail
on suspicion of a felony. James Bal
lard, who declared he was the woman s
husband, secured the arrest of the
couple.
Ballard led Detective Green to lila
Tenth street and turned over the counle
To the policeman. He says, he will
make formal complaint against the
woman and Reeves.
Mrs. Ballard told the police this
morning that Ballard was not her hus-
band and has no reason for causing
her arrest She says she first met him
nearly 80 years ago and asserts that
she has grown children who will care
for her
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-24
VISITOR ADMITS He
REPRESENTS GREECE
Mystery Surrounds Guest at St.
Francis, Who Denies He
Gave Correct Address
Stranger Says That Maybe lie
Is Doing Something for
Claudianes

Distinguished in bearing and of ex-
|ceediRgly aristoeratic appearance, tall,
soldierly man of swarthy complexion,
whose Identity is clothed In mystery is
stopping at the ST. Francis.
The mysterious individual declares
that he is the minister pIenipotentiary
of the kingdom of Greece to the United
States, but another theory current
around the hotel is that he is one of the
high mobiles of the court of King George
or perhaps member of the royal fam
ily.
Whatever or whoever he is, he re-
fuses to say anything about himself or
why he is in San Francisco. All Of yes
terday< his suite, one of the finest in
the hotel, was filled with prominent
Greeks, who came and went in a very
mysterious way. refusing TO tell a
thing about the man on whom they had
been calling.
FALSE ADDRESS WRITTEN
On the register of the St. Francis
hotel, under the date of August 1s, the
first name written is:
M. Cormilus, Salt Lake City"
The penmanship is nervous and
scraggly and the name and address are
confessedly false. as the gentleman
himself admitted in expressing his sur
prise that his identity, or rather, sus
picion of his identity, had been learned
by The Call.
How did you know I was here?' he
said. Il did not put the right way on
tho book. have nothing to say. You
must say nothing. l say it. There are
some very intelligent Greeks in your
city; see them / must not be in the
papers. i will say nothing. Perhaps
if you see me before go away. the last
day, l shall say some things to you"
You are the minister of Greece, are
you not2" he was asked
yes. but you must say nothing
Everybody would be after me-"
when do you go away?"
In few days perhaps two or
three.
ON A HOLIDAY, HE SAYS
Are you doing anything in the
Ciaudianes boys case?'
Maybe. You see me in a few days.
shall say nothing"
why did you not register correctly
when you came ?"
Because / was on a little holiday
and did not want people to know. They
would all come after me-
The mysterious Greek wears a goatee
and bushy mustache which. like his
hair. are iron gray. His clothes are
of the latest and most stylish cut and
he carries light cane. He would be
singled out of a crowd as a man Of
high station.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-24
BOARD LAUDS WORK
ON PANAMA CANAL
Special Commission Reports to
President on Conditions
Found Along Isthmus

OYSTER BAY. Aug. 23.-President
Roosevelt today made public a report
submitted TO him on August by a
special commission consisting of James
Bronson Reynolds. Samuel B. Donnelly
and Henry Beach Needham regarding
conditions in Panama.
That the president is pleased with the
report is shown in a letter which he
sent to each member Of the commission
on Friday He expresses particular
pleasure over the fact that the commits
sion uphoIds the administration of Col
onel George E. Goethals, chairman -
the Isthmian canal commission, and
the president has had a copy mailed TO
Colonel GoethaIs requesting that recon-
mendations made by the commission be
put into effect Immediately, so far as
possible
The commission reported that it lin
spected the entire line of the canal ex-
cavation from La Boca, the southern or
Pacific terminus. to Cristobal, the
northern or Caribbean terminus, and
travelled through the excavation sew
erai times. interviewing the men at
work"
President Roosevelts letter to the
investigators says:
I doubt If there is any piece of work
undertaken on behalf OF the American
people in recent years in which the
american people nave more reason 10
be proud than the work on the Panama
canal"
or the progress of the work the re-
port Of the commission says:
This year over two and a third
million cubic yards We're excavated in
each of the winter months-the dry
season In Panama million yards be-
ing approximately equal to a square
mile one foot deep. To prepare this
immense mass for removal 405 tons Of
dynamite were used per month. and
10 make the dirt fly to this extent 80
95 ton steam shovels. 81 20 ton, 10 As
ton and p Others We're in constant use.
A total OF 4,l41 cars and 32I locomo-
tives moved this mass to the dumps.
A feet Of is barges, Is dredges and 81
other vessels We're at work in the
dredging service.
After giving description of the meth
Cd OF work on the canal and the amount
of machinery and labor involved, the
report continues:
After giving a detailed description Of
the method OF work on the canal and
the amount Of machinery and labor in
volved. the report continues:
When we recall that this enormous
plant is operated at a distance of 1875
miles from its main base of supplies
New York. we can estimate with more
justice and accuracy the magnitude and
complications Of the undertaking. On
April 30 last 26.11s men were actually
al work for the Isthmian canal COM
mission and 1867 at work for the Pan
ANA railroad, a total of 33193"
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-24
AVERY IS VICTIM
OF A HOODOO JOB
Captain Says All His Trouble
Is Due to SIipshod
Methods
Like His Predecessors, He Tam
giles Accounts of Preside
Officers Club

MWtrouble is due simply to the slip
shod methods with which, / regret to
say, l kept the books of the Preside
officers club, said Captain Solomon
Avery Jr., district ordnance officer,
coast artillery. last evening in discuss
Ing for the first time the charges
brought against him in connection with
the discharge of hts duties and stew
ardship as secretary and treasurer of
the officers social organization. Cap
tain Avery will face q court martial
Wednesday under the accusation of
misappropriatfng funds belonging to
the club. He is now under arrest at
his quarters.
He protests his innocence. Instead
of my having misappropriated funds be-
longing to the club" Captain Avery
continued, Il really think that the club
owes me money. There was no safe in
the clubhouse and to safeguard the
funds / would take them to my quar-
ters and keep them with my personal
accounts. That slipshod way of doing
business caused serious tangle, which,
however, I hope to clear up satisfac-
torily to myself and the members of
the club
AFFAIRS COMPLICATED
Major John w Ruckman. coast artiI-
lery, who with Captain j. w. Abbott,
also of the coast artillery, will defend
Avery before the court martial, would
talk but guardedly of the case. Cap
tain Avery's affairs are in a very COM
plicated condition. he said, 'and 1t will
be some time before we shall be able
to open up the defense. The trouble
seems to be due to lack of manage
ment."
Captain Avery's plight is another In
stance of the Nemesis that lies in walt
for army officers placed in positions
of financial responsibility at the Pre-
sidio. Before the Avery scandal
Lieutenant V. Courtney Lewis, popu-
lar officer who had charge of the post
exchange, disappeared in a sensational
manner, leaving his money affairs In a
disgraeefuI muddle and his domestic
affairs In worse shape. Lewis disap-
peared after depositing his Jacket and
cap on the shore near Fort Point and
leaving a note saying that he had
committed suicide. It developed later
that the note was a grewsone blind,
as the lieutenant had eloped to Mexico
with dashing nurse from downtown
hospital, leaving an invalid wife at the
home of her father, Colonel Thomas
H. Nandbury. Later the nurse de-
serted her lover, and now the loyal
wife has forgiven her husband and
joined him in his exile in Mexico.
Another army scandal was the dis
appearance of Captain Jack Neal,
Lewis successor at the post exchange,
who also left his books in an unsolv-
able condition.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-24
REDHOT BALL PLAYING
Call and Chronicle Men Roll Up
Plenty of Tallies

1t required the services of a husky
corporal or the guard, whose verbal
squad of armed infantry, to get The
Call and Chronicle ball players to-
gether yesterday morning Once to-
gether on the Fort Mason baseball
field the two teams remained there for
fully three hours. During that time
the Chronicle players ran up II runs,
while the Call tossers got away with
16 runs and during the tenth inning 1t
was momentarily expected that the
score would remain tied A sturdy
Chronicle batsman hammered the ball
for two bases, and it was all over
For sensational playing the news
paper men had Danny Longs Seals
beaten a mile. Underhanded throws.
slides and specimens OF "One-a-cat in
ner" ball gave spice to the demonstra-
tfOn and kept the roOterS In good spfF-
it's. But the corporal of the guard was
men journeyed to the Presfdio baseball
grounds, there TO try conclusions. The
diamond in Uncle Sans field was oc-
cupied and the players decided upon
ately these grounds were in use. but
the business Office experts enlisted the
squad of infantry he cleared the field
The merry burlesque started The
summary:
Hits-can 10 Chronicle IS. Errors-can Z,
Williams Two base hits-stang. Libbey. Len.
hart First base ON called balls-On GeneIly ,.
On Shelor =. on Young T. Struck out-By Gene
Is l. by Shelor 3. By Young >. Hit BY pitched
ball-Libbey. Passed balis-walsh 4 Wild
pitches-SheIor 2. Young s. Time OF game
hours and 20 minutes Umpre-COffn.
The players: Chronicle-Petersen sb.. Oh :.
l. T.: H. Libbey. 1b. ~ R0chfort. T. T.; D.
Shelor teaptainl. 2b- p; j. Joost. l. f.; R.
Geneley. D.. r. f.; G. Fisher. 2. Blote. G. e.:
W. Walsh. c.; J. McGrury, S.; A. Crespi. 2b.;
u caiMM. Williams. 2b.: D. Lees. ID; H.
Groom. S. r. Lenhart (captainl. 3D. A. Owen.
G r e. " Bailey. r T. H. Shaddock l. r. G.
Gosling. C. f.; A. Young. p; Boyd. C.. Allen,
c I.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-24
PALo ALro cHARrER ELECTION

PALO ALTO. Aug. 23.-An election
win be held here on Monday for the
selection of Is freeholders who will
frame a charter for the city Only 10
candidates have been placed in nomina-
tion thus far, but some new names are
expected on the ticket tomorrow. Those
nominated are: Marshall Black, S w.
Charles. J. T. C0ulthard. George J.
Carey Claude S Downing. Stanley
Forbes. c. r. Jordan. Z. p Oakford. c.
B. Stinson. II. " Simkins. Fernando
Sanford. f. c. Thoits. A. NJ Umphreys.
W y Vail and c. 3. Wing.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-24
WORK ON RAWHIDE ROAD
is RUSHED BY 300 MEN
Ore Production Breaking All
Records Brings Money for
Construction of Line
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL


RENO, New, Aug. 23.-Three hundred
Greeks We're hired Saturday to COM
plete the Schurz- -Rawhide railroad, and
the force will be increased as fast as
material can be procured to finish the
line. The grading for the road has
been completed and rails laid for sew
eral miles. The officials of the line say
they Will have trains running by Octo-
Der /. The reason for employing
Greeks is because the white men pre-
fer to work in the mines.
Ore production that has broken all
records coming from dozen or more
leases in the camp have brought the
money with which the road will be
built. The promoters of the line have
delayed until now because they lacked
funds. Mills for crushing and reducing
Rawhide ores and probably smelters
will be erected at Schurz on Walker
lake. Machinery for two mills has
been deposited on the shore of the
lake. When the railroad is completed
the Ravrhide ores will be reduced al
Schurz instead of being sent to Selby
and to Salt Lake.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-24
THE FIRE RECORD

An alarm OF fire rung in from box
5S1 shortly after ! o'clock YESTERDAY
afternoon called the department to 10
Byington avenue to extinguish q blaze
in the building owned and occupied
by George Rapp The blaze was nut
OFT without much trouble on the part
Of the department. Sparks from the
chimney were the cause. No damage
was Sustained.
a fire caused by sparks from a CHM
ney in the dwelling of Mrs M Tross
438 Fell street, shortly after o'clock
yesterday afternoon did slight damage
TO the roof of the house.