The San Francisco call. [volume], July 24, 1902, Image 1

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

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PKICE FIVE CENTS.
SAN FRANCISCO, THTJKSDAY, JULY 24, 1902.
Elaborate Preparations Are Made Both at the Church Where the
Ceremony Will Take Place and at the Home of the Bride's
Father^Rehearsal Held Under Direction of Rev. Father Deady
NEWPORT'S SOCIAL COLONY
WILL TO=DAY WITNESS THE
OELRICHS=MARTIN WEDDING
Olson testified at the Inquest that on
Sunday night Nargon told him that he
was afraid of Eva Bedford, and feared
On the evening of Sunday, July 6, Nar
gon was visited by his chum, Olaf Olson,
who remained with him until 2:30 p. m.
on the following day.
He Is known to have spent money with
a free hand, and though he partook of
considerable liquor his friends say that
he did not drink more than he ordinarily
Imbibed.
the logging camp and went to Point
Arena. He cashed a check for $55 and
¦went to tho house- kept by Eva Bedford
in a lonely gulch on the outskirts of tho
town.
Victor Nargon Is Found Shot Through the Head in Home of Eva
Bedford and Coroner's Jury Returns Verdict of Suicide^Two
Women Are Arrested for Murder but Are Quickly Released
MYSTERIOUS DEATH CAUSES
GREAT EXCITEMENT AMONG
CITIZENS OF POINT ARENA
COUPLE WHOSE 'MARRIAGE AT
NEWPORT TO-DAY WILL BE SO
CIAL EVENT OF THE SEASON.
SOME OF THE PERSONS WHO
FIGURED IN POINT ARENA
TRAGEDY.
Slack says that he was warranted in
arresting the women on account of tho
On these varied assertions, denied later
on, however, by the parties to whom they
were attributed. Constable Slack procured
warrants for the arrest of Eva Bedford
r.nd May O'Connor, charging them with
the murder of Nargon.
Lille Blake ran to the Chinaman's store
and told him to go for a doctor. It was
stated in Point Arena after the shooting
of Nargon that the message given to tho
Chinese by Lille Blake was, "Go for a
doctor, Eva has shot Vic." The claim
was made that the Chinese 'passed this
news to some men who saw him run
ring up the street and who asked him
what was the trouble.
ASSERTIONS AHE DENTED.
LJlie Blake declared that nothing of the,
kind was said, and Charley Dok. a Chi
nese who keeps a small store near Eva
Bedford's house, figures at this point in
connection with what was said by ona
woman to another.
It is claimed by many people in Point
Arena that May O'Connor cried out to
Lllie Blake, "Eva has shot Vic, go for a
doctor."
After the shot was fired that ended
Nargon's life. May O'Connor ran out of
the house and on the road met a woman
named' LJlie Blake, who formerly owned
the resort kept by Eva Bedford.
Eva Bedford further testified that Nar r
gon had threatened to kill her if ahe left
Point Arena and left him behind, though,
she- subsequently admitted that she had
arranged to go to San Francisco and that
Nargon was to be in her company.
Eva Bedford admitted that the 38-call
ber revolver subsequently found near Nar
gon's body belonged to her and that sho
Blways kept it under her pillow. Nar
gon's friends say that he never carried
a revolver and that he was never heard
.to threaten self-destruction.
The women, further testified that they
ran into the. bedroom and there found
Nargon lying face downward on the floor
with a bullet wound in his skull.
Eva Bedford claimed at the Investiga
tion that she was in the barroom when
"she heard the shot fired in her bedroom.
May O'Connor claimed that she was in the
kitchen when the shot was fired and ran
to the door and met Eva Bedford com
ing from behind the bar.
PISTOL BELONGED TO WOMAN.
Fifteen minutes after Nargon bid Olson
good day and arranged to meet him nt
work in the morning, a shot rang through
the house where Nargon, Eva Bedford
and May O'Connor were.
The evidence of Olson was that when
he left Nargon on Monday afternoon,
July 7, about 2:30 o'clock, Nargon was In
a jolly frame of mind and was singing
and dancing.
she would kill him. John Brenback, an
other friend of the dead man. corrobo
rated 'this testimony.
Mrs. Hermann Oelrichs, beautiful and
happy as the youngest girl there, was the
good angel of the scene. She has devoted
herself with energy to forwarding the
happiness of her niece. It is she who pro
vides the priceless Venetian point lace the
bride will wear and it is her carriage that
The rehearsal of the ceremony took
place at 5 o'clock this afternoon, under
the direction of Rev. Father Deady. and
occupied about half an hour. Meanwhile
the florists were busy with roses and lil
lies and greens, transforming the church.
Among others coming this evening were
Bradish Johnson, who is stopping with
Alfred G. Vanderbilt, at Pinard Cottages,
and MJss Kathleen Neilson, who is with
her mother, Mrs. Frederick Neilson, at
the Margaret.
AT THE EEHEAESAL.
Martin of San Francisco.
The most elaborate preparations have
been made both at St. Joseph's Church,
where the ceremony will take place, and
at the home of the bride's father, Charles
M. Oelrichs. .
Arrivals to-day were viry much increas
ed in number by the coming of those In
terested In the wedding. Colonel and Mrs.
William Jay, uncle and aunt of Miss Oel
richs. arrived this evening and are guests
of Mr. and Mrs. Pembroke Jones. Miss
Jay arrived earlier in the day, her pres
ence having been necessary for the re
hearsal of the ceremony at the church,
as she will be one of the bridesmaids.
1« y EWPORT.. R. L, July 23.—
/wk / Newport's entire summer
/ / colony will be present to
/ i&^ morrow at the marriage of
-A. * Miss Lily Oelrichs to Peter
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Continued on Page Two.
. Hundreds of men in Mendocino County
are willing to stake all their possessions
that Nargon did not die by his own hand.
They believe that he wag the victim of
an assassin. Who the assassin. Is can
only be conjectured.
For the past three years^ Nargon
worked steadily at the lumber camp of
the L. E. White Lumber Company, a few
miles, out from Point Arena. He was m
receipt of good pay, and wherever there
was any fun Nargon was the life of the
gathering.
On the evening of July 3 Nargon left
The facts .surrounding Nargon'a death
show that he had lit-ed in Mendocino
County for more than ten years. He
was a Swede by birth, and was known
far and wide as a jovial, whole-souled
"fellow, never given to moody thoughts
or despondency.
The facts connected' with the dea^h of
\ictor Nargon are not likely to be for
gotten In Mendocino County for a long
time to come, and feeling runs high In
the logging camps, where, Nargon'a
friends toil from sunrise to sunset.
News travels slowly from. Point Arena
to the busy cities of the State. Thieft
sn'all steamers- leave Point Arena for
San Francisco weekly, while every day
but Sunday a lumbering stage starts out
and conveys passengers over hill anddale
through dense forests to Cazadero. where
railroad connection is had with thlsclty.
Eva Bedford and May O'Connor lost
no time in leaving Point Arena for the
outer .world. Nargon's body was buried
iii a grave in the little cemetery of
Point Arena overlooking the sea, and his
friends and companions how take sides
as to the manner of his demise.
BURIED IN LONELY GRAVE.
A Coroner's jflry investigated the case,
and after a long session returned a ver
dict ¦ of suicide. Constable Fred Slack
afterward arrested Eva Bedford and her
companion. May O'Connor, who were
with Nargon at the time of his death.
The women were charged with murder
and given a preliminary examination by
Justice, of the Peace Frank Ainslie.and
District Attorney W. G. Poage of Uklah.
Three witnesses were' called at the Inves
tigation, and after they were examined
the charge of murder against the women
was dismissed.
The citizens of Point Arena and the
entire county of Mendocino are divided
in • opinion as to whether Nargon com
mitted suicide or met death at the hands
of another. Along the wave-swept coast
of the county and In the remote logging
camps the death of Nargon has been dis
cuss.ed from early morn till late at night.
July 7 of Victor Nargon, a
popular young lumberman, who was
found shot through the head in a small
house in Point Arena kept by a woman
of the red light district named Eva Bed
ford.
uy OR the past two weeks Ncon-
Ej siderable excitement hns
B Y reigned throughout Mendo-
S cino County over the tragic
•"¦• death on the afternoon of
Little Miss Blanche Oelrichs, just as she
had come from the tennis court, looked
as pretty as she will to-morrow. Miss
Oelrichs ranged the bridesmaids on her
left and on her right the matrons of
honor, Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer and Mrs.
Cameron McR. Winslow, her cousins.
"I am more nervous than anybody ever
was," said Miss Oelrichs, but it was evi
dent she knew perfectly well how she
wished the rehearsal conducted. A second
and third time the procession moved down
the aisle, some one having- been found
meanwhile who could play the organ after
a fashion.
Mrs. Oelrichs was In a long black gown
of the style she affects, and that made her
look like a Rossetti model. Mr. Martin,
in striped flannels and canvas .shoes^wait
cd In the chancel. There being no music,
Philip Lydig and Livingston Beekman
started to sing the Lohengrin march and
the other men joined in,' The effect was
not bad. Charles Oelrichs and Frank
Carolan, who led the ushers, started down
the aisle, laughing, and took their places.
Miss Oelrichs took a lively part In the
jollity. Presently she requested Father
Deady to have the candelabra on the altar
moved, as golden candlesticks had been
provided. Then she surveyed the prio
dleus, and "with her own hands 'moved
them six or eight feet further into the
chancel. By and by Count Guardibassi,
the friend of the family who is to sing at
the wedding, arrived and wanted to use
the time before the rehearsal in practic
ing, but there was no one to play for. him.
It was nearly 6 o'clock when Mrs. Charles
M. Oelrichs arrived. The young folks,
meanwhile, had formed a procession at
the door.
will carry Miss Oelrichs to the church.
Appointed Domestic Prelate.
ROME; July 23.— Rev. Thomas A.-Flynn.
Vicar. General, of Diocese of Sioux Falls',
S. D., has been appointed a domestic pre
late to the Pope. . *
Some of.the many wedding presents that
have been arriving for some days are
almost priceless. .Mr. Martin's gift to the
bride is a diamond tiara'which cost $50,000.
MAGNIFICENT PRESENTS.
Florists were engaged all night at the
church, as the decoration there is to be
very elaborate, in order to relieve the in
terior of the edifice of its barrenness.
Much green will be used, and many white
roses and lilies and numerous palms and
other foliage plants will be arranged at
the Oelrichs residence in Kay street, as
well as at the church.
This evening Mrs. Hermann Oelricli3
gave a dinner at Rosecliff for the bridal
party, at which Francesca Maria Guarda
bassi sang. Among the guests at Mrs.
Oelrichs' were Mr. and Mrs. Pembroke
Jones, Henry F. Eldridge, Mrs. Eleanor
Martin, Henry Martin, Captain and Mrs.
Philip M. Lydig, R. Livlngstan Beekman,
Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish, Mr. and Mr3. Hen
ry Lehr, Lawrence McCreery, Mr. and
Mrs. Frank Carolan, Mr. and Mrs. Elisha
Dyer Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Theodore A.
Havemeyer Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Henry O.
Havemeyer Jr. and Lieutenant Com
mander and Mrs. Cameron McR. Winslow.
Gateaux Assortls. Bonbons. Cafe noir.
Jambon de VirKinle. Slade Victoria. .
Moet and Chandon brut imperial.
Apolllnaris, Mouse aux Beches.
Marrons -Glaces. Brandied cherries.
'j. Oeufs a la relnc.
fliis de veau bussy.
Petits pols a la francaise. Poulets de grain.
Consomme Prold Bellevue.
The music at the church will be by the
Casino orchestra. One hundred and forty
guests are expected at the wedding break
fast Forty-four will sit at the bridal
table. Besides this there will be. twelve
tables seating eight each. The menu
will be:
Cantaloupe candlenne frappee.
The wedding ceremony will be begun at
12:30. The Rev. L. J. Deady, rector of
St. Joseph's, will officiate, assisted by the
Rev. W. A. Doran and P. F. McCabe. By
special dispensation there will be no nup
tial mass.
THE WEDDING CEREMONY.
Then she took a look at the grouping anr
altered It a little. She directed her fathe
how to manage her train, which hi
learned after blushing. She tried ar
usher on this and finally assigned thi
duty to Miss Jay, her cousin and maid o
honor.
The bridesmaids, Miss Eleanor Jay,
daughter of Colonel Jay and cousin of
Miss Oelrichs, and Miss ..' Isabel May,
daughter of Henry May of Washington,
will be dressed In white moussellne do
Foie trimmed in white lace, will wear
large white hats, white plumes, and carry
bouquets of orchids.
Miss Blanche' Oelrichs, the sister of the
bride, who will be the maid of honor, will
be gowned in white mulle ornamented
with dainty Valenciennes lace. Her pic
ture hat will be of white and she will
carry a basket of jessamine.
The bride wil wear no jewels nor orna
ments. She will carry a large bouquet
cf orchids and orange blossoms. The wed
ding gown, one of the handsomest ever
seen in this country, Is of white satin
under filmy silk chiffon. The waist is
finished with pearl trimming, and , the
train, which is five yards in length. Is
trimmed with point lace flounces and
orance blossoms.. . . .
Mrs. Eleanor Martin, mother of the pros
pective grdom, sent a magnificent dia
mond collar.
Mr. Jacks says that some of the leaders
and instigators of the uprising were
among those- shot at Torreon, and he be
lieves that this was the reason why the
Mexican authorities ordered their execu
tion instead of deporting them.
While returning from the mining prop
erty on the Yukon River Mr. Jacks came
upon a band of Yaquis who were on the
warpath. His guide explained to the
leader of the band that Mr. Jack was an
American and had no hostile feeling
toward the Indians, but, on the contrary,
was in sympathy with them. After being
detained a short time in the Indian camp
Mr. Jacks was released and allowed to go
on his way.
When the deadly work was completed
they were burled in a common grave,
which had been prepared for them. The
Mexican officers and men inarched back
to town, and that night the event was
celebrated with feasting and carousing.
FRIENDLY TOWARD AMERICANS
The Yaquis were shqt down one at a
time by five picked sharpshooters froni
the rurales. As one- by one the warriors
were killed those who remained waited
bravely for their turn and bared their
breasts to receive the bullets from the
Mausers In the hands of their execu
tioners.
Jacks, who was an eye-witness of the
execution, says he hopes that he will
never again see such a spectacle. The
warriors met their bravely and
without flinching. Not until the march
to the outskirts d:d they -realize that they
were to be shot The word was then
whispered quietly among them, but every
mar. held up his head and took his place
In. the line of those '^ were to be sac
rificed. -" ; ; . . ¦*-<¦- M>-. . ,v :.s.-~...-
¦WARRIORS SHOW NO FEAR.
The thirty prisoners were taken on Sat
urday to a point just outside of the town
of Torreon, where they were lined up
and shot. Many of the Mexican ranch
proprietors and American mining opera
tors In that vicinity revolted at the whole
sale execution, .and did all in their power
to postpone It pending an appeal to Gen
eral Torres, but these efforts were of do
avail.
TUCSON, 'Ariz., July 23.— S. N. Jacks,
a prominent merchant • of Forth Worth,
who has mining interests on the Yaqul
River, arrived in Tucson to-day, bringing
details of the execution of thirty Yaquis
at Torreon^ .Sonora, on Saturday. They
were members of a, band of Yaquis that
had refused to accept the amnesty grant
ed by General Torres and had fled to the
mountains and remained there In hiding
until surprised and captured by a de
tachment of rurales and regulars from
the- army of General Torres. All were
male warriors and among the most war
like of the tribe, and for this reason the
authorities decided to execute them in
stead of deporting them, as has been
done in most cases since the amnesty or
der was Issued. The prisoners were
guarded by such a" small force that the
Mexican officers feared a rising among
them and an attack from the outside.
Special Dispatch to The Call,
American Witness
Describes Whole"
sale Slaughter.
Become Targets for a
Squad of Mexican
Riflemen.
Thirty Yaqui Braves
Are Executed in
Sonora.
CAPTIVE
WARRIORS
ARE SHOT
VOLUME XCn-NO. 54.
The San Francisco Call.
TWO HUNDRED
CHINESEDIE
IN DISASTER
jLj0NGK0NG,July23.
'" —A native steam-
er has capsized in the
West River and two
hundred persons have
been drowned.