The San Francisco call. [volume], December 28, 1901, Page 1, Image 1

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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VOLU5E XCI.— XO 28.
TEMPEST IN THE NORTH DESTROYS PROPERTY WORTH ONE MILLION DOLLARS;
CITIES OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SUFFER FROM DISASTROUS WIND AND SAND
RUIN RIDES
WITH STORM
IN THE SOUTH
Great Gale Startles
the Orange Belt
Residents.
Dust Whirls in Gigantic
Pillars and Sweeps
Over Crops.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 2T.— A wind storm
cf unusual force and destructiveness has
raged to-day all over the southern part
of California. The storm is what is lo
cally known as a "Santa Ana" and car
ries with it fine dust from the desert
to the east, that fills the air and obscures
ihe vision at distances more than a few
hundred yards.
Reports from surrounding towns say
much damage was wrought by the wind
to oranges and some damage to small
buildings. Railroad traffic !s delayed and
In some instances entirely obstructed.
The storm Is heaviest in the vicinity of
Santa Ana, Col ton and Pomona, between
v.-hich places three passenger trains on
the main line of the Southern Pacific are
Flailed, owing to sand piling upon the
tracic to the depth of two feet in places
and resisting all efforts to keep the tracks
clear.
Great Damage at Hiverside
- Reports from Riverside, the heart of
the great orange region, sixty miles cast
of Los Angeles, Elate that immense dam
ape has resulted from tee high wind.
rtr«t!?« fe«T-e twr-en Wcm rrrcn the trees
in some cases the trees themselves
going down before the force of the storm.
From all accounts the less to orcharaists
in the Riverside district will be in the
neighborhood of 50C0 boxes.
At Refilands the storm was very severe,
but the damage was not serious. Sand
piled up on the railroad tracks to the
£«?pth of three feet and obstructed all
traffic during the day. No through trains
from Los Anseles have reached Red
lands to-day. Telejn-aph and telephone
wires have suffered to more or less extent
throughout the storm area and communi
cation with many places is difficult to es
tablish. The wind ceased at Redlands
late in the afternoon and a large force
Of men was put to wonc clearing the rail
road tracks in order to release tho de
layed trains.
At Rochester, twenty miles west of
Redlands, the Southern Pacific castbound
train is tied up.
Colton in tlie Center.
Cclton seems to have been the very
center of the disturbance and the wind
has done considerable damage to fruit
and small buildhigs. Sand blocked the
railroads and no trains have moved in
that vicinity since morning. The storm
reached its height at 4 o'clock in the
afternoon and gradually subsided after
that hour.
The Southern Pacific Company has
been the greatest sufferer in the matter
of delayed trains. In many places it has
been impossible to move a wheel. The
Santa Fe Railroad also felt the effects,
but while greatly delayed has managed
to keep its trains moving.
The only Inconvenience suffered In Los
Angeles from the storm, was due to the
fine dust that filled the air and obscured
the vision. Very little wind accompanied
the dust storm here and no damage has
been reported In the immediate vicinity
of this city. To the south of here, how
ever, the storm approached a cyclone in
Its intensity and much damage Is be
lieved to have resulted. Owing to the
lack of facilities for communicating with
many outlying points to-night, the full
extent of the damage will not be learned
until to-morrow.
FRTJIT SCATTERED ALL BOUND.
Ana in the T/hick of the Big
Blast
SANTA AN'A. Dec. 27.— This locality
■was to-day the Bcene of the moet disas
trous wind and sand storm experienced In
thirty years. A high pressure of th© at
mosphere that has been accumulating out
on the great salt desert for the past two
days to-day resulted in a sand storm that
in this vicinity is unprecedented. A high
wind carrying loads of sand pebbles that
has been blowing fairly strong since
Christmas day culminated to-day in a
blinding, cyclonic sand storm,' rushed on
by a wind that at times reached a ve
locity of eighty miles an hour. Much dam
age to property and to crops is reported,
several railroad accidents were narrowiy
averted and the wind still blows with In
termittent severity.
In this city the sand blew in from the
desert in pillars reaching up as high as
thirty feet and completely blinding and
smothering pedestrians and teams on the
For several houfcs traffic was
virtually suspended. Doors and windows
■were tightly closed to keep out the stl-
Continued on Page Two.
The San Francisco Call.
BATTLE IN WHICH HUNDREDS FALL
IS LOST BY COLOMBIAN INSURGENTS
CASTRO STANDS
READY TO FIGHT
GERMAN NATION
Venezuela "Will Resist the
Seizure of One of
Her Ports.
Government Is Encourarged by Vic
tories Over Insurgent Forces
in Several Decisive En
gagements.
CALL BUREAU, 1406 G STREET.
N. W., WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.—
President Castro seems to have
succeeded in defeating the revo-
t lutlonists Jn Venezuela and is
preparing to resist the seizure by
Germany of a Venezuelan port. Offi
cial advices concerning his victo
ries have been received by the
State Department from Minister Bow
en at Caracas. Early last week it
looked as though the revolution would
overthrow Castro's Government, but he
sent troops, which are apparently devoted
to him, to attack the command of Gen
eral Medoza, chief of the rebels, and they
have inflicted defeats in several contacts.
Reports were recently published from
Berlin announcing that before carrying
out her programme Germany would await
the result of the revolution. This was
contrary to the belief of the administra
tion, which expected a demonstration to
occur irrespective of internal conditions
prevailing in the republic. In view of the
-gathering of German warships near Ven
ezuela the authorities say that a move
ment upon one of the ports of that coun
try may be expected at any moment.
General Blockade Not Likely.
The report that a blockade of all ports
will be instituted is considered ridiculous,
because Germany has only four warships
in the Caribbean Sea and the most they
could do would be to occupy and hold one
port. Even this occupation probably
would be difficult
General Castro has made it clear that
he proposes to resist foreign Invasion of
his territory! and as he has an army of
15,000 men he will be able to make it lively
for the Germans.
Another reason why It is not believed
that Germany contemplates the establish
ing of a blockade is that she proposes to
SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY;: DECEMBER 28, 1001.
RETIRED PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA.' THE ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE, THE COMMANDING GENERA WHO
IS DIRECTING THE REVOLUTIONARY CAMPAIGN AND SCENES IN THE, STRUGGLE FOR THE 'OVER
THROW OF THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT. :vr:: :;: 'z'zz't*'-
General Mann's Revolutionary f orei At
tacks Honda
Ends in His Defeat.
BOGOTA, Dec. 27.— The Government
troops have gained an Important
victory at Honda, which is about
fifty-five miles from here, over the
revolutionary forces under General Marin.
The loss of life was- heavy. According to
the latest accounts 400 men were killed.
General Marin attacked the garrison at
Honda at 6 o'clock in the morning and the
fighting lasted until midnight. There were
about BOO men in the garrison and the at
tacking force consisted of 1200 f.Mdiers.
After the battle had continued for two
collect duties upon all . goods imported
into Venezuela and a blockade would have
the : effect of decreasing- importatTons.
Embassador von Hollenberg ,has made it
plain to the Secretary that his Govern
ment will occupy a Venezuelan port only
so long as is absolutely necessary to col
lect the claims due its subjects.
Castro Looks for Sympathy.
There appears to be much reliance on
the part of Venezuela in the sentiment
and sympathy which can be aroused
within the United States when a Euro
pean invader is actually operating on
American soil and Venezuela Issues a
declaration of war. Venezuela,, it Is-un
derstood, relies largely on the fact that
hours reinforcements ! reached the garri
son and the tide of battle, . which had
been slightly favoring the insurgents,'
turned. The rebels were repulsed and
were pursued, about ten miles'. ( '
Continued fighting has taken place dur
ing the last week at Fusagaauga and Cu
macua and many' men were Skilled. The
Government troops were victorious, j
It is believed that these battles will vir
tually end the revolution in the interior
of Colombia. ;
Dr. Marroquln. acting President of Co-
foreign capital' is invested; in. the large
Venezuelan ports and would :be the
heaviest sufferer f rom ' any destruction
wrought by . the? Germans." Money ; from
France, England, Germany and the
United States, has built La Guayra,
Maracaiboand.the^bther large places and
the little .yenezuelah/capijal, ; it is said, is
at stake. ; A' German Jvosion, Venezuelans
declare, will prove quite, as onerous to
American, Brltlshand other foreign ship
ping as it'will be to the internal. interests
of Venezuela, *arid " these shipping -inter
ests are- expected to appeal.. to ' : their /sev
eral governments. There are a few hope
ful signs on both sides that at the: last
moment a clash may be averted.
lombia, .during an interview to-day de
clared that relations -between 'Venezuela
and his Government were very strained.
He added that the Colombian' Government
was maintaining a large army along* the
Venezuelan frontier, in Taehira;and Gua
jlra Peninsula and at Rio Hacha, in order
that Colombia's interests could . be pro
tected against aggressions by President
Castro. ' .*' '. . ' '. ■"■"..■ . " ' • :
Acting President Marroquin intends to
remain in power. General Reyes is- not
coming; to Bogota at present.
The German Minister to Venezuela is
still: at his posti and there. is some hope
that he may still bring about a." settlement.
The outlook .for /a cash settlement, how
ever, Is rather meager, since" Venezuela's
treasury is empty and allof . the.-Venezue
•lan officials are on" half^-pay." 1 ' Another
possible' means of settlement "is through
the diplomatic offices
Venezuelan ' official now on -foreign ser
vice; who has been by cable
to return to;Caracas, probably' for '.the
purpose of going on a special" mission to
Germany. \ .
•; The i presence .of the North "Atlantic
squadron and many other American war
ships in .West Indian waters '. is the
i . ; . „• — . ■ ":..'■■•;■ : ■•
ARGENTINA AND
CHILE SETTLING
THEIR DISPUTE
Alteration of the Protocol
. Causes Only Temporary
Hitch.
Santiago Foreign Office Promptly
Orders a Rectification When Pro
test Is Received From
Buenos Ayres.
BUENOS ATKES, Dec. 27. via Gal
veston.—It is generally admitted
this evening that the difficulties
between Argentina and Chile have
been ended. ' It is true that a word
in-' the protocol was changed before tho
text of the document was made public at
Santiago, but Senor Portela, the Argen
tine Minister, protested against the alter
ation and the Chilean Foreign Minister
promptly ordered rectification to be made.
The Nacion says the Argentine-Chilean
protocol has been definitely approved by
Dr. Alcorta, the Argentine Minister of
Foreign Affairs. It is further asserted
that the incident arising from the chang
ing of a phrase in the protocol by the"
Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs. Senor
Yanez, has not the importance attached
to it by some of the newspapers here. ; ;
Street demonstrations yesterday even
ing, which were promptly suppressed by
the police, gave rise to rumors of a revo
lutionary movement, which had na foun
dation in fact. Certain street3 of Buenos
A yres are occupied to-night by a force of
police, who will prevent further manifes
tations. . ( •.
Dr. Alcorta said this evening that he
believed the difficulties between Argentina
and Chile would be successfully arranged
to-morrow.
source of much speculation in Germany
and Venezuela. The Berlin officials are
assured that the presence , of American
ships has nothing to do with Germany's
plans attains t Venezuela, but at Caracas
the presence of American ships in the
neighborhood is looked upon with satls-
Continued on Page Two.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
SEA WRECKS
HOMES AND
CANNERIES
Howling Gale Lashes
Gulfs Waters
Into Fury.
IV arrow Escapes of Men
and Women From
Terrible Deaths.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
VANCOUVER, B. C, Dec. 27.— Disaster
by flood, the most extensive on the lower
mainland since the Fraser overwashed
its banks in 1804, to-day followed the
storm of "Wednesday night. The. can
neries and buildings and farms at the
mouth of the north arm of the Fraser
River are the greatest sufferers and tho
damage will aggregate nearly $1,000,000. •
High tides and freshets from heavy
rains combined to cause the trouble.
Lullu Island and Sea Island, containing
the town of Steveston and the village of
Kburne, with 20,000 acres of highly culti
vated farms, were buried to-day under
four feet of water. Three canneries were
destroyed, many others damaged and
miles of dykes were swept out.
Out in the muddy waters of the gulf
there are thousands of dollars' worth of
salmon cases floating around, tossed idly
to and fro by the waves that still keep
green the memory of the storm of the
day before. At the north arm of the
Fraser the river all day yesterday and
again this morning was the wildest ever
seen by the oldest residents of that vicin
ity. All along there are piles of wreck
age. ,
Big Canneries Are Lost.
The Alliance cannery, the North Arm
cannery and the Labrador cannery at or
near Terra Nova were wholly destroyed.
The canneries mentioned were wrecked
by being battered with trees and by the
high tide which aided in moving them
from their foundations. Portions of the
salmon pack were still in the buildlng3.
left over from the fish'lng season. Some
of the canned salmon is piled up over in
the fields, where there is from two to
| four leet of water, while many cases
have floated out to sea and are being
washed by the waters of the gulf.
The most exciting scenes occurred In
the demolishing of Japanese boarding 1
houses standing on piling near the can
neries. Many of the Japanese would have
been caught like rats in a trap had they
not been assisted out by the white peo
ple in the neighborhood and by other can
nery employes. One Japanese boarding
house containing nine men floated away
and for some time it was impossible to
reach the occupants, but finally two boat3
were manned by volunteers, who realized
perfectly that they were taking their lives
In their hands in endeavoring to rescue
these fishermen. The latter were taken
off the roof of the floating house and
brought to shore, or rather to the place
where the shore used to be.
Logs Storm Buildings.
The Labrador cannery was the first to
be wrecked. Logs four feet thick which
dashed against the building were also
carried Inside the dyke and leveled the
embankment on the way. Nearly all the
cannery boats were smashed and put out
where dry land will appear when the tide
goes out again.
The Alliance and North Arm canneries
had not a possible chance to survive the
storm and were quickly demolished. At
the Vancouver cannery, near by, ninety
fishing boats, valued at S10O each, were
washed up in a field half a mile away
from the river and practically battered
to pieces. One case or salmon was thrown
twenty feet along a dyke, where the next
wave caught it and flung it fifty feet
higher into a tree^ where it still rests.
At the Richmond cannery the cnglne
house and smaller buildings were
wrecked. Here, as well as in other can
neries, the water came in over the can
r.ery floor and damaged the pack.
The town of Steveston was still under
water to-day. Along the north arm and
around the island to Steveston. a distance
totaling thirty miles, there is not a htin
i dred yards of continuous dyke remain- .
ing. Farmers moved their families Into
the second stories of houses and went to
barns, in boats. Loss to small stock will
be large.
Watchman Bravely Escapes.
On the Steveston side the Cleeve tan
ning Company's fishing station, with
buildings and scows at the sand heads,
were carried away and not a single pile
of . th© wharves is left standing. Soma
of the smaller buildings of the Albion
cannery were also carried away. The
watchman .thought that the entire can
nery was going out and he hoisted slg-
Ttals of distress. These' attracted atten
tion from Steveston and the watchman
was brought off.
The ship Greta was loading talmon
Continued on Page Two.