The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-16
LUMBER MILL FIRED
BY INC[NDIAR|ES
Place Internal Machine Under
meath Pacific Coast Factory
at Berkeley

OAKLAND. Aug. ia daring at
tempt TO set FIRE to the plant of the Pa
cific Coast lumber and mill company,
one Of the largest open shop factories
in Alameda county, located in the block
bounded by First and Second, Grove
and Castro streets. with an internal
machine was made shortly before Z
O'Clock this morning. The plot was
frustrated by the noise of the explosion,
which attracted the attention of
watchman c. T. Hynes and two en-
pIoyes Of the Pioneer mill, neighbor-
ing plant. The three men FASTENED to
the scene and succeeded in putting out
the Ere which had gained instant head
way.
This is the second attempt made to
fire the plant within six weeks, and the
president OF the company is Alpheus
OF union labor on the Pacific coast.
There is no question in my mind
that unionmen started the fires said
Kendall this afternoon. i have had a
seven months fight with the unions
leader. who made the boast that 1
should not put stick of mill work
into san Francisco. However, ] have
successfully carried out a number of
contracts in San Francisco and have
beaten the unions on every job" Ken
DALI has offered q reward of $1,000 for
the capture of the alleged incendiaries.
The internal machine used this morn
ing consisted Of a wicker basket, be-
lieved to have been an ordinary work
mans lunch basket, containing a bottle
of sulphurus. a very explosive COM
pound. which viii start combustion if
brought into contact with any inf1am-
Tnsble substance in the open air; an
other bottle OF kerosene, mixed with
some other liquid. and some other eX-
plosive, presumably a torpedo or pow
der cap. The basket was thrust into
wooden drain leading under the mill
from the side fronting on the railroad
tracks on First street. Both bottles
are now in the possession of the police.
The factory and its contents are valued
al $3.50 900.
With the reopening of the mill the
management posted signs announcing
that the business would be run on an
open shop basis. and that no business
agent or walking delegate Of any labor
union would be recognized.
Despite his frankly avowed opposi-
ton TO the unions. Kendall says that
his relations with the labor organiza-
tions Of Alameda county have been pa
ciic Of late. and that he is convinced
that no union men from this side of the
bay are connected with the attempts
10 burn his plant.
7 have the reputation Of paying bet
ter than union wages in my MILL" said
Kendall there are at present several
union men working for me- 1 have
been doing a big business in San Fran
cisco for some time part. despite Nc
Csrthy's opposition. although 1 have TO
import contractors from other cities
in order to carry on my work there. In
several instances 1 have taken non
union crews over from Oakland to COM
Dlete my contracts there. About
year ago I became involved in dis
puUe with the plumbers union of San
Francisco and beat them out but I
have learned that they raised an as
sessment Of $4,000 TO carry on a fight
against me-
Captain Of Detectives Petersen is in
Vestigating the attempts to fire the
mill and he VIII make every attempt
10 discover the perpetrators of the out
rage The bomb was fired just as the
night Waterman was going off duty,
and the day watehman was coming on,
which has given rise 10 the theory
that the incendiary was familiar with
the customs of the place and had
timed his attempt with the idea of find
ING the plant unguarded.
Fire Threatens Store
BERKELEY, Aug. l5.-As a result Of
spontaneous combustion in a quantity
Of oil and paint stored in the back
room, fire broke out this morning in
the furniture store operated by Conrad
Cast in West Berkeley Fire companies
No. ! and responded to the alarm
turned in and the blaze was ex
rnguished after about $3.50 dam
age had been done