The San Francisco call., 1910-01-13
mo MANS LAND" IS
Scene OF BATTLE
Ark DweIIers' Forces Led by
Woman Against Invading
Construction Grew
Feminine General Shoots at
Police, but Is Quickly
Captured

ALAMEDA, Jan. 12-Another bat
tie between the so called squatters on
the strip OF ground fronting on san
Leandro bay. at the east end, which
has become known as NO Mans
Land" and the allied forces of the
police and the Southern Pacific com
pany was fought this morning The
settlers were led by Mrs May Cox,
an ark dweller. who was proudly
referred 10 by her ark dwelling
neighbors as the Joan of Arc of No
Mans Land"
Armed with a double barrel shot
gun, the martial heroine OF the ark
dwellers stood on the deck of her
houseboat and de1ed the attacking
forces. headed by Chief of Police John
Conrad. The enemy approached and
prepared 10 tear down the fence that
had been built by the so called squat
ters on tide land lots claimed by them
and over which the Southern Pacific
claims a right of way for a loop con-
nection for its electric traction sys-
TEN now being constructed.
SHOOTS At BESIEGERS
When the allied attacking forces
failed 10 halt at the command Of the
Joan OF Arc OF No Mans Land" she
leveled her gun and threatened to fire.
Pressing forward with their revolvers
in sight and in open order the attack
ing army dared the woman to shoot.
she accepted their dare and banged
away the pellets whizzing uncomfort-
ably close TO the heads Of several Of the
enemy and striking the residence OF
j. D. Kearney. The beseigers then
rushed Mrs. Cox, and before she could
gain shoot the lighting heroine was
surrounded and placed under arrest.
After being disarmed Mrs Cox pugna-
ciOusly battled with her captors and
ii required much putting and tugging
on the part Of two husky policemen TO
take the Joan Of Arc TO the city prison.
There she was charged with the minor
offense Of discharging a frearm within
the city limits. and upon promising
faithfully not TO again take part in
the ark dwellers' war Mrs. Cox was
released upon her own recognizance.
NOMAN'S CAPTURE ENDS WAR
With the capture Of the woman gen
eral Of the sqUatters' army Chief OF
Police Conrad and his allied forces ex-
perienced but little additional difficulty
in anording protection TO the grading
crew of the Hutchinson company. which
IS building the loop line roadbed for
the Southern Pacific company. The
grading crew. which contained many
Greeks. was in mortal terror of the
Joan Of Arc Of NO Mans land" and
when she fred the first and last shot
in todsEs engagement the laborers
scattered in all directions, deserting
their teams. plows and scrapers and
seeking safety behind buildings and in
the tall tules- Considerable persuasion
was put forth before the laborers could
be induced TO continue the work of
tearing down the fences on the lands
claimed by the ark dwellers and the
marking OF with plows of the right
Of way claimed by the Southern Pa
cifc
The lots on which fences were pulled
down are claimed by Mrs. Mary Cox,
John Pearson. Joseph Palmer, c s.
Garfield, Olaf Peterson and Mrs. Louisa
Sanstein.
The decision TO afford the Southern
Pacific protection in laying its track
across the disputed tide land was ar
rived al last night at a conference held
by the city attorney. the chief Of police
and a representative of the Southern
Pacific. The city attorney held that the
deed exhibited by the railroad from
Mrs. Hattie Kearney purporting TO con-
vey 10 the corporation right of way
over the strip was evidence that the
company had a right 10 20 ahead with
the work of laying it's tracks.