The San Francisco call. [volume], June 09, 1905, Page 1, Image 1

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

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Continued ' on i Pace ' 2* Colnmn " L
Continued : on . Pajre : 2, ! ' Column 5.
** TACOMAr-June B.— Thomas *Hlnton,
mining ; recorder,, at -;Duncan. reached
Dawson ' t two weeks • ago * with \u25a0": several
Stewart l^ River. 1 miners.- They , brought
the news that the miners along Duncan,
Mayo ; and . othef^ creeks are entirely ,' out
of * food \ supplies.-;,,* What II ttlej fiour ; and
beans : remained ; In t camp ; were , being; ,'di
"vlded* in* small \ lots * by. the miners until
the \u25a0 first- boats I should arrive. \u25a0 , ; , 'v ' ; V- : -'
.'DuringlthVwinter the miners kept in
communicatibn'with. each other's camps
with 1 thelundefstandlnar - ' that '" if < one
community, should^ fair short of supplies
the'"otners 'would t contribute from ; their
Btock. \u25a0 WBBBBPPBBffiHy
1 SAN DIEGO, June B.— The Board of
Supervisors to-day granted R. C^Hub
bard a franchise to construct a power
plant at the entrance to False Bay. The
franchise ;Is for a term of .twenty- five
years and provides thai Hubbard shall
develop at least 250 horsepower by Jan
uary, 190S- It is understood that'the
companies which Engineer . Hubbard
represents will spend in the neighbor
hood of $50,000 in installing a*power
plant. This will be the first' time ! .tha.t
an effort has been made .to harness tide
waters. , and « the experiment .» is being
watcfied with much, interest' by engi
neers and scientists.
Speclil Dispatch' to Tte Call.
Engineer Given Franchise to
/Build Power Plant Near
San Diego.
MINERS IN ALASKA
ARE SHORT OF GRUB
PROPOSES TO HARNESS
TIDES OF FALSE BAY
"Xor%Tay Breaks \u25a0 the * Last - Tie , Uniting:
\u25a0I ' ' Her .With Sweden. ; .
: , CHRISTIANIA-' Norway,". June -: B.— The
Council ;of State, ' following^ the action >f
the Storthing r in- dissolving- the T union*" of
Norway 3 and Sweden,' ~" proclaiming
KLing, Oscar, is : no Jonger King. of .Korway
and ; placing r the J reins ; of government 7ln
the 1 hands of i the Council of State, is ! pro
ceeding "h with" Athe S reorganization *.'of - the
government Iri '• the f manner indicated In
the programme, * which : had -been* more ' or
less' prepared * before; the '. final step was
taken \u25a0byj e whlch 7 yesterday's ; peaceful 'rev
olution-was-accomplished;
-j Department -of J National Defense
has ; issued a decree" to". the army, acquaint
ing it with~ the" resolu tionrbf , the • Storthing
and* the- assumption i of \u25a0:, the, governement
by/, the}' Council Stated and > intimating
that*' the army; must comply with \ the ney.
conditions.*", rendering \u25a0 v all $ ; allegiance *to
those""nbw.( conducting \u25a0 the } government.* ' f
t ~ Minister of, 8 tate 5 Loe viand has been * &p
pbinted. Foreign \ Minister, 6^ and \ the^ Coun-;'
cil *" of '- State "; has /decided Ito .'divorce * the
Foreign"? Office ; from .; the^ DeparttnentsVof
Commerce,** Navigation,"; etc.V> with
heretofore , !t ! ,haatbeen'; amalgamated.^ The
Council :*. also ...resolved to; eliminate
WILL HOIST NEW. FLAG TO-DAY.
you •R-olne . to send x this ' mam to jail f
Are you Rolngr to j shatter .that home,
break . thn old mother's . heart,' wreck
the lives of those : children to further
political endsTT. . . v- -', } . . ..;"-. \u25a0
After M. D. ? Meyer.; had testified as to
Maestretti's . good character in the morn
ing-, *\u25a0 the defendant himself took the
stand. He : seemed rather ; subdued, but
his : appearance -Bhowed \u25a0- no : ; traces." that
would indicate that he. had spent the pre
vious night In the County Jail. „
WRAXGLIXG FREftUEST.
During :< the ; examination wranglings be-,
tween Budd and' District Attorney Bying
ton j were frequent.* . l Several times i Budd
accused the" prosecuting attorney of mis
conduct'and overzealouaness. ' '
-Maestretti, denied i emphatically .the al
legation, in the indictment} that a consul
tation had been held in'Countryman's'of-"
lice during ; the : preliminary investigation
in the Police-Court. ' ,
. "I " asked no" one ito swear . that Wyman
only voted "once," : : he ~ asserted. "I- made
no suggestions and: gave no orders." ' ]
"W r hen_did theV meeting take . placer*
asked Budd. , : .- : ; \ , ; ; ,/^
"The meeting-was .while the . case was
in : this court— three » or., four days before
the -defense) closed— l think."
; "Whoi were present?" V-~
.. "Wyman, r ,.'; Countryman, , Silberstein,
Podd, Foster: and i myself."
"What was! said? there?" .>'..
'A'The different' election^ officers . told _ their
stories. All agreed , that i Wyman - had : not
done ' any ui»ng \u25a0 wrong,' and I believed
them.".} \u25a0(:'-{\u25a0 ±f- ';. = --'r"-'-' ; *'- .••\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0."i.'---;" ; ->- v--' 1 :"
\u25a0 "Was 'there any - meeting s at , Country
man's s office" during the : preliminary ex
amination T' ; : • * ;
?-"tThere-was not.''//. [
'/Did » Podd t ever; tell you that Wyman
voted'tuore^thanfonce?";';.'; \u25a0- :
"He"nevef;did.V /^ ;' , .\u25a0_ \u25a0. , \u25a0.'\u25a0';•
' " Maestretti' retold the .story; that Podd
had: told* him about';- the :' conversation
.with ["(' Detective r Miles "i Bolder. '"-v Bolger
warned : Podd 'that v-"he", would gro" to
'rock'pilelfiheidldinotvtellvthertruth.", .
:,'.. VI UoldiiHlm^to '!; have Jnojfear," i - said
Maesrretti,l"and;to)tellithe truth.fvt:*'-;
r;v In ; regardUo^the^: trip tojl Merrill'*
house the "witness j said," on cross-exami
nation :|','l .would never, have gone there
only. that ,Wymari* asked rae.l- r.waj sure
of .Wyraan'i \u25a0 Innocence : and ; I i knew, that
' "1 call attention to this defendant's loy
alty- as (a factor- in .this. case. '{$ I ; offer -in
evidence the if act that he has lived In this
city for, forty,: years \ and< that j his ; reputa-'
tion . ; for ; truth * and : ; integrity i has ?» never
been questiohedr'f I 'off er. ; Frank 'AT' Maes
tretti " in " evidence 'against this \u25a0 infamous
conapiracy.'V 4 ."/-<C'r^'l-^'T''"."V''-'*' "\u25a0'"\u25a0'\u25a0 \u25a0 '\u25a0•"\u25a0 '- 1 '
} .ifFrank i A.^ Maestretti haa .an • old
.mother at home, two girls and a, boy at
school. They are waiting for you. j Are
Dibble dwelt for. some time on the point
that the consultation. In
office took place while the case was in the
Superior i. Court ; :.;' and . not : in . the * Police
Court, as T charged In ; the . ~ indictment.
After reminding the -Jury- that Maestretti
was entitled to the benefit of any: reason
able doubt, he suddenly dropped that at
titude. .'\u25a0 .; \u25a0 ; i;-;V \u25a0 ./. \u0084:.\u25a0': ,•\u25a0;' :-' '': \u25a0'\u25a0
- "We. have brought this '"man here for
vindication,"^ he i thundered, -."and by.'' the"
eternal ( God." we've \ done It with : the- as-;'
sistanceof •the^prosecution.- ,-. . ? *
"We have ' made 'no ' mistakes; \u25a0 - 'Mis
takes don't: happen '. when two iarb mien
as Governor. Bndd ' and - X are on t a case.*
Attorney Dibble began with - a compli
ment to Ferral on his eloquence.
"No more effective edvocate evar ad
dresed a jury than Judge Ferral," he.be
gan. "I Indorse everything he has said
about keeping the. ballot pure and about
the duty of the Jury.
"But the ballot is not the only one of
our Institutions that needs protection; :lt
is not the only conservator of the liberties
of the people. ; You have been serving
en an institution older than the ballot,
and more necessary for the protection of
the people— the Jury.
;"The Jury i stands between' oppression
and the liberties of the people. Prostitu
tion of the jury system is a greater crime
than the prostitution • of the ballot. > ' ;;.
"You. have -heard' an .appeal to convict
this man on* general principles to further
a conspiracy and to: effect political ends.
They can't get twelve; men to do this.
It is the most infamous trick I have ever
met in all my career as an attorney.' To
further the ends of Fairfax Wheelan and
a* coterie of politicians, yon are asked to
send the defendant to State's prison; You
cannot 'convict this man : to wash the
dirty politics" of a district," ;
ATTORSTEY DIBBLE TALKS.
During the denunciation, Ferral wheeled
about . several times, pointing ; to Maes
tretti. The accused Commissioner flushed
and pretended to be writing.
"In God's name, are we always to.wal
low In the mlrei of rotten, corrupt, pros
tituted i politics, or. shall we ' go upward ,- In
the paths of honest self-groTercment."
of liberty* 'this, man mut be fonnd
entity as charctd In tb*- indict mtnl.
"The work of the prosecution ' has been
hard. We have had '\u25a0 to deal with - a nest
of rotten vipers sitting: as election^offi
cers,, creatures of a boss, gangsters vot
ing as they pleased.
"What do you think of this defend
ant? Wasn't his mind rotten— rotten?
Either Merrill lied or this man is unfit
to hold any office or to enjoy the rights
of an American citizen. Maestretti. In
stead of being In an Important oflce,
ought to be far removed from tnia city
and'eounty in another capacity.
"If the president of the Board of
Public Works be so low and fallen as
to go to Merrill and try to eet him to
perjure his moul, Is he not unfit for' the
office?
"It Is no longer a farce to send cor
rupt election officers to San Quentin.
It is bo longer a farce to punish those
who are Instruments tn sjetting; others
to commit perjury. \u25a0
"Here Is where the sting of the bee
Is, here is the Jigger. Maestretti didn't
know that Merrill had been away from
the booth at the time > Wyman voted
fraudulently. He took it for I granted
that all in. the booth knew. If the de
fendant's mind 'had* not been -In ,- that
maggoty condition he would' not. have
been so ready to :alk 10 Podd end Sil
berstein.
•'In the . name iof humanity,',' In • the
name of pood government, tn the, name
DENOUNCES SIAESTRETTI.
"Never xfiind the Governor," said Ferral
dryly, "he is a human talking machine.
"Silberstein was the sort of man they
wanted for their work," he continued.
"He was the .. kind of man they could
use.
"If the defense In the Wyman case
had witnesses at the preliminary ex
amination, don't you suppose they
would bare pat them onf They In
tended to put on witnesses, but found
Fairfax Wheelan's testimony too strong;
tor *s*y Judaje to whistle down the
wind.
"Gentlemen, the time haa gone by
when Tom, Dick nnd Harry rinsrsters,
gangsters and j bosses can defeat the
ends of Justice.
PORTBLWT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEX IN JUDGE LAW
LDR'B COURT TEETERDAT BY E. A. ROGERS OF THE CALL STAFF, WHILE THE MAN CHARGED WITH SUBORNA
TION OF PERJURY WAS ON THE WITNESS STAND -
"Wouldn't anybody under those circum
stances erect a magnificent statue on the
eltar of "friendship? Friendship may cut
come figure in this case, but self-protec
ticn had much more to do than friendship
in Maestretti* s standing by Wyman.
"Gentlemen of the Jury, a technicality
fcas been advanced by the defense. Pub
lic officer, gentleman, man of influence to
make that fight? "The. thing wasn't done
before the preliminary examination, and
therefore he must be acquitted.' "
"When they made that defense, l caw
that it was a dangerous admission. They
could not etand up and meet the issue
without resorting to technicalities."
At this point Governor Budd jumped up
and interposed a sharp objection. He was
rebuked by the court. *
"First— Maestretti was the master spir
it, the engineer, the boss of that precinct.
"Second— Maestretti In the Wyman case
acted like a guilty man. In trying . to
shield Wyman he was ehieldlng himself.
"Wyman knew when he voted fraudulent
ly that it was done in the interests of
Maestretti. He would have Maestretti in
his power if be should choose to talk.
"We find whom rushing to Wyman's
rescue? This defendant. Himself a sworn
public officer, one Intrusted with large
powers, yet he Is the first to rush to the
rescue of the accused stutter. If one's
friend becomes a malefactor, friendship
ceases. Putting a premium on that crime
— that Is what Maestretti was doing. Wy
rr.an acd Maestretti are like the Siamese
twins: . if you separate them they die.
Perhaps tfceir separation will not be long
"I lay these tdcts down:
"That primary election precinct of the
district in which this defendant was the
bo£s was corrupt to rottenness. It was a
stench to this city and county and to the
people of the entire State.
"Who appointed men like Silberstein
end Podd as officers in an American elec
tion? They could not have been appoint
ed without the influence of tWg defend
ant. Eiiberetein declared openly that he
was appointed through the influence of
Maestretti and Ruef.
••The crime strikes at the foundations
of the Government itself. The man
who attempts to outrage the purity of
the ballot, the man wbo engage* In
what I* known an stuffing/, tries to
prostitute the onilot, Is more dangerous
than any footpad. •
"This crime reaches to courts, Judge*
and juxie*. It paralyzes administra
tions and makes self-covernment a
farce and sometimes a curse.
ISES STRONG LANGUAGE.
*"There has been much outside matter
dragged into this case," began Ferral.
*Sluch levity has bee*n thrown in, all
in an attempt to affect this jury, and
an effort has been made to laugh this
case out of court. But despite all this,
despite my athletic and vociferous
friend, the fact remains that this is one
cf the most important cases that ever
came up In any court.
"I don't mind looking at you. Gov
ernor," replied Ferral, "but I've seen
handsomer men.** ' •
Judgre Lawlor's courtroom was jam
med from the rail to the door when
Axtorney Ferral rose to open the ar
gument for the prosecution. The "lit
tle Judge" began in a quiet, even voice,
pausing to banter with Governor Budd.
tut when he "warmed up," denuncia
tion that stung and smarted poured
frcm fcls iips. Relentlessly he -tore the
character of Maestretti to shreds.
As Ferral stepped inside the rail to
pet near the jury box Budd took his
chair, remarking-. "I want to be where
I can face you. Bob."
Assistant District Attorney Ferral
made tte opening argument for the
prosecution. There was no mincing of
words in his spetch. In a snappy, vi
r;it- :i-ar.ner he denounced Maestretti
and the methods used at the Seventy
r.in*th Precinct during- the primary
election in question. Attorney H. C.
Dibble spoke for the defense. Budd
will address the jury zo-day and Dis
trict Attorney Byington will close for
tee prosecution.
The taking of evidence In the case
of Frank A. Siaestretti, indicted for
subornation of perjury, was concluded
yetterday and \ the arguments began-
Maestrcttl himself was the last witness
called. VVhile he vv&s being cross-ex
amined freque::t tilts ocenrred^between
Governor Budd. attorney for the de
fense.
Budd and Byington
Have Frequent
Skirmishes.
iAn "authority ;" Intimately, connected with
the',' Emperor, confirms a rumor that lhe
abandoned j his trip to Norway at the re
quest of Crown [ Prince .Gustaye. ~ e
L> The *l general * opinion Is . that" the ' Crown
Prince *1b | more ; reconciled to - Norway's
dissolution than was hsl' father, and there
ls;no; doubt ; that- he Induced King Oscar
to veto ttie* consular bill/. V ~ ."'.".., "_
;,* Many ; English * and r American ;- tourists
Who arrived here on thelr ; way to Norway
have * abandoned C the » trip, , owlng^ to the
Crown Prince G us tave hxd a lons In
terview, on the crUis trith Emperor Wil
liam before he left. Berlin, and It Is un
derstood I that the . Emperor Is not .; un-
TrUHnir to Interfere in favor of the
SwedJ.h dynn.ty. . ;, /
Crown Prince Gustave passed through
Copenhagen; to-night on his. journey from
Berlin.? He was received by Crown Prince
Frederick of Denmark and appeared to be
much - concerned over the situation, t The
Crown Princes conversed at length at, the
station S: before" the train left for Stock
holm. .- :\u25a0'.-.". i -.:'7-"-.:- \u25a0"\u25a0 '-'^\u25a0.V 1 ".*- : - .- :\u25a0\u25a0
It is stnted that If Klna; Oscar should
definitely 'refuse the throne' for a mem
ber of 'hli family arrd the Danish royal
family,' should likewise refuse jto place
one of Its Princes | on the throne. .Vor
way will. become a republic. This ts fa
vored by the mass of the population.
The Storthing,: however, 'believes.' that
the offer of the throne to a Prince of the
house of -.' Bernadbtte would facilitate
future * negotiations with ' Sweden over - the
common interests of. both countries. | It is
understood that v the negotiations will bo
begun as soon ias .possible after .special
envoys have -.been sent to the -powers,
requesting the recognition iof the inde
pendence of Norway. Dr. Hagerup,-for
mer \u25a0 Premier and now , Minister at Stock
holm; . Sigurd Isben and Fridjof Nansen.
the' Arctic explorer/ are now mentioned as
envoys. to th£ powers. j
\ Air those in 1 the civil service of Norway
have " announced : . their- adhesion Vto the
newi Government and all 'the generals
have taken the oath of allegiance.
\No . excitement /Is reported \u25a0in either
Norway or \ Sweden. : Ovations -In honor
of * King \u25a0 Oscar " continue at Stockholm,
where there Is a firm determination not t.-»
recognize the action of the Storthing as
definitely' achieving the dissolution of the
union. '..';-.. '\u25a0\u25a0: ;\u25a0'.'\u25a0\u25a0• -'-"'- •
: Leading,. Swedish 'pqllUclans are,'inucb
divided *over thel.question.^'whlchlf It* is
understood ..will, not*- be definitely decided
prior to the extraordinary session of the
Riksdag. : ; \u0084 " -? •: * ;" ;
•Authoritative information received from
Norwcglah circles represents the Majority
of- Norwegians \u25a0as opposed to . giving the
throne to, a Prince of the house: of- Ber ;
nadotte. * •;\u25a0'.- - V I ;
According;, to /reports " ; f rom 7Stockholm,'
Kli^s.O»«urjimayxbe!.iniluced . to reverse
hls^dpcision*ahd . to" favorably regard tbe
offer ; 6f>the- throne t for a member. of his
house. :< v :c^Jit;«'i':'i'.^r:>-s*-^.>;;- ; ...;.. ,' \u25a0
COPENHAGEN, June S.— lt is reported
that the Norwegian Government, in view
of ! King Oscar's apparently definite re
fusal to consider the offer of the Storth
ing /to.' place 'a Prince of the house of
Bernadotta on the- throne, has privately
approached the Danish royal family, to
ascertain if an offer- of the throne would
be received by a member of it, preferably
Prince \u25a0 Charles,;' son of , Crown ;. Prince
Frederick; g The general 'opinion" expressed
here is that guch an' offer" would .b« -re- 1
fused:f'f2--^i'?'t-; \u25a0"'/";.-''\u25a0\u25a0'* 'j^<i'--*?~ -'\u25a0
TALK IS TORRID
Kaiser Seems : Disposed to In
terfere in Behalf of De-;
•- posed '-Monarch.'
Will Be Given to the
Jury Some Time
To-Day.
-No reason can- be, assigned "for the of
flcer*s;wlshing to desert. ',. He appeared in
the 'best "-spirits .and ' spoke : 'of - obtaining
leave", to} see; his ;wife and* little v glrL His
wife ' is on • her. way here from New Or
leans. \u25a0 • - -
•; In vain the beats patrolled and finally
at 4 o'clock were ordered .In. During the.,
morning ; the : men - were ; set . to : work r* ar-'
ranging a large troll with hooks and line
to drag, 'for the-bbdy^oi :; the "lieutenant.
Blasdel's; brother officers, who were
awaiting * him below, remarked his ab
sence.' 7A? hasty • search was made, ; his
name was called: frequently t and then all
hands were piped on deck and the . boats
lowered.' ' Two j_ powerful searchlights on
the 'Rush: were; operated.-^ WiUle . oCcen
and men' in; the boats patrolled : the water
about the chip. 'The white Cashes of the
lights', and the cries of the men in the
boats calling the missing officer's name in
ttie<' hope '.that '.they, might guide .him* to
the boats/ aroused many dwellers in' Sau
salito. \ The searchlights f swept \u25a0 the bay
and the streets ; and residences of ; ;; the
town. -is . - . . -. :-.:'.\u25a0 : •
WIFE OX WAY HERE.
The first the watch aware of any
thing *- wrong •. was ;when. other .'• officers
called Lieutenant , BlasdeL. They would
have* heard and "noticed any splash caused
by /a [ falling body.v The" lieutenant might
have lowered himself into- the bay. This
he could "not have done unnoticed by the
watch, except, from the ; stern, abaft, the
wardroom.' . Lieutenant ' Blasdel was an
excellent swimmer and with the aid of a
belt could have reached the land.
Blasdel, with a brother officer." sat up
into the early hours of Tuesday, morning,
preparing certain ship's reports. The ne
cessities of" the" work precluded the pos
sibility < of- the" officers being Intoxicated.
In fact his shipmates say that he was but
a moderate . drinker. 'At the conclusion
of the work be said that he was going on
deck before. turning In. The time was 1
o'clock in the. morning.
The. night" was clear. and the surface of
Sausalito Bay lay like oIL On the hur
ricane deck over. the engine-room two sea
men were on watch and in the quiet of
the gentle night the lapping of the waves
at -the prow was the only sound heard.
The watch So deck saw Lieutenant Bias
del. In his shirtsleeves, pass from a com
partment on the starboard side aft. to the
alter- port gangway. As tne man on the
port side made the turn he caught a last
glimpse of the officer. .
Lieutenant Blasdel -ad little . to do with
the ship's money and no financial short
ape can account for the disappearance.
One thing, however, - that causes sus
picion is the fact that the lieutenant com
pleted the record of the "log" up to the
time of his ' disappearance. - This work be
usually did "every "Saturday night, writ
ing up the log for the week. Contrary to
his usual custom,* he; completed It just
before ho disappeared. .
WAS EXCELLENT SWIMMER.
necessary to hold a second sitting on a
case of presumable afccidental death is one
of the peculiar circumstances. ' *: ;..X: K '-
While Blasdel's brother officers of the
nardroum nrc nuanlmous In the opinion
that the: lieutenant" came to his death
accidentally, there are many'tn the ere**
who, while reticent, (stoutly maintain
that the circumstance* surrounding the
officer's death arc mystifying. Whether
Blaadrl hnd been struck an the head by
an enemy- and lowered .overboard, or
whether' he 'decided to leave 'the service
nod swam ashore, •» ? whether .. he ' fell
overboard, ' In qn try ' must » determine.
\u25a0/According 'to the statements iof some
Blasdei;, while popular' among I his f eUow
ofiTcersr.was unpopular, with the m«n.:"H«
bad 'the reputation of 'being a stern dis
ciplinarian -and l aiV'such' incurred-the ill
wlllVof of > the crew.-'-. v ., • '
-'-' While' not willing to say that Lieu
tenant Blaadel was knocked overboard,
the other officer* cannot account for. the
fact .that hl» ; pin nee from " the ' • hip's
side should be unnoticed by the men on
watch. • \u25a0 ' ; . . " ,
A series of peculiar, circumstances at
tend the supposed drowning of Lieuten
ant William. G." Blasdel, navigating officer
of the United States revenue \u25a0 cutter
Rush. Almost immediately upon receipt
of news of the occurrence the Navy De
partment directed an inquiry and a. board
was appointed,- which^hetn a preliminary
examination yesterday.- This morning at
9 o'clock the board will again convene
on the Rush and the fact that It finds it
-Are That Republic >
Will Be Formed.
Indications, However,
CASE NEARS END
Completes the Ship's
Record Before
Departure.
Prince Cnarles of
Denmark' May
Be Chosen.
Says Commissioner's
Mind Must Have
Been Rotten.
MAKES EARLY
\u25a0ENTR7 IN LOG
The Macstrctti case will go to the jury to-day. AH the testimony is in and the closing arguments have
begun. Assistant District Attorney Ferral yesterday denounced Maestretti in strong terms. : Attorney
Dibble spoke for the defendant Budd will speak to-day and District Attorney Byington will close lor the
prosecution. Macstrctti was on the stand all morning and part of the afternoon.
No Splash Is Heard
by Watch During
Quiet Night.
Department to Make
Rigid Inquiry
Into Case.
The fact that some- of the relatives of
the deceased were notified of the acci
dent twenty-four hours ahead of the
Treasury Department was explained as
follows: %
"The officers of the service. In the event
of an accident or death, out of sympathy,
for the family first send notice to th»
wife, mother or other relative of the de
ceased, and later report to the depart
ment, i Wo received a report on the morn-
Ing of the 7th, though it was really filed^
on j the evening of the 6th. If there are
any suspicious circumstances attending
this accident, of which we have been ad
vised and are unwilling to believe In the
absence of information. th« board which
wu , designated to-day will Inquire- fully
Into them." «
Mrs. 'Louisa Blasdal and her son win
remain in Washington until a report has
been received by the Treasury Depart
ment, unless they should receive word in.
the meantime that the body has been re
covered.
"Lieutenant Blasdel certainly had no
enemies aboard the Rush." said another
official, "and his duties must have been
very., pleasant, for only recently a deaira
was expressed that he should continue on
that vessel instead of being given an
other assignment."
Officials of the revenue cutter service
are convinced that the drowning of Lieu
tenant Blasdel was purely accidental, and
they scout the Idea that the officer had a
single enemy aboard the vessel. Not
long since a sailor fell overboard near
the same spot In daylight and was
drowned -In the swift undertow before
help could be rendered. There is, much
doubt that Lieutenant Blasdel's body caa
be recovered.
FULL INQUIRY PRO3IISED.
When Mrs. Blasdel. the mother of de
ceased, accompanied by a younger son,
visited the Treasury Department to-day
Assistant Secretary Keep showed her the
following report from Captain Tuttle of
the Rush, which was received yesterday:
"SAUSALITO. CaL. June 7. 1305.—Sec
retary of the Treasury. "Washington, I>.
C: At 1:30 a. ra. June 6 Blasdel said to
Rldgely, the first lieutenant. 'I am going
on deck for a moment and shall then
turn in.' After some minutes, as he did
not return. Ridgely went up to see where
he was. He was not found. Inquiry from
the quartermaster on watch showed that
Blasdel had not been seen on deck. The
only theory we have is that he went to
the port gangway and on the slippery
brass lining lost his foothold and on fall
ing struck his head, making him uncon
seioes and unable to call for help. When
missed every effort for several hours was
made to find If be was floating In the
harbor. The search was unsuccessful
Report has been mailed to department.
"TUTTLE. Captain."
CALL, BUREAU. POST BUIIiDINa
WASHINGTON^ June B.— Acting Secre
tary of the Treasury Keep after a confer
ence with Captain Rosa, la charge of the
revenue cutter service, to-day ordered &
rigid investigation of the facts pertain
ing to the mysterious death of Lieutenant
Blasdel of New Orleans at Sausallto
early on the morning of June 8. The rev
enue cutter Rush had returned from
Seattle only the day previous and was
lying In Richardsons Cove, when at 1:33
o'clock In the morning Lieutenant Bias
del was reported missing. It was sup
posed that he fell from, the port gangway
of the vessel and was drowned, his body
being carried away In the swift current.
t Because no one saw the oi3cer leave the
deck and because Intimations that he
may have had an enemy on the vessel,
as well as to soothe an anxious mother
and brother, who are in Washington to
learn the particulars of the tragedy and
who ' Suspect foul play. Secretary Keep
decided to anpoint a board of officers not
on duty .on the Rush to ascertain the
facts.- The board consists of Captain F.
M. Hunger of the nfe-saving station.
Captain H. B. Rogers -and Surgeon Cum
mlags .of the marina "hospital service.^:!*
Captain Manger Is .not In San Francisco
Lieutenant Carmine will act In his placa.
These ' officers have been (Instructed '\u25a0 to
make a thorough Investigation and wire
a summary, and later send a full report
by mail.
REPORT FROM CAFTAIA'.
INVESTIGA TION
UNDER WAY
Board Is to Resume
; Hearing at Sausa
lito To-Day. \
NORSEMEN
IN SEARCH
OF A KING
MAESTRETTI BITTERLY DENOUNCED
BY ATTORNEY ROBERT FERRAL.
Inquiry into the disappearance of lieutenant William G. Blase* el of the
revenue cutter Rush began yesterday. Officers beEeve the accidental
death theory, but enlisted men are skeptical. The night on which the*
lieutenant disappeared was quiet and the watch heard no sound of a
splash. \u25a0 Lieutenant Blasdel. after completing the ship's log, could have
slipped over heir side and swum ashore.
MYSTERY IN DISAPPEARANCE OF NAVAL OFFICER
LIEUTENANT WILLIAM G. BLASDEL OF REVENUE CUTTER RUSH MAY HAVE REACHED SHORE ALIVE
THE THEATERS.
AT/ZA 7 AJV-"Jg&ih."
CALXFORNIA— "IUrt* o* th« Low.
lands."
COLXTiIBIX — # "Tt« Dak» o£ KII1!
crmB«."
CENTRAL— "T»j« Eevesth How."
CHUTES— Vaefisrille. Uttlzea.
GRAND— "TIs« STsaMJsr."
MAJESTIC— "L«aa Klesciia*.-
ORPHEUM— V«.B4rrtU«. .
TTVOLI — Coxsia Os«rm.
TJ^E (gfllj^ Pfrl)^^
11 \u25a0 '
Fbrvcast Tr«a> « S&s Francisco tor
thirty hours «s&in«- mitaitfit. Jons •:
Sta Tnstcltoo *=3 vicisltr— donay."
craetUed weather mfiar; froeh south
west wiad.
A. O. KcADXSX
Dlr.riet Foree*st*r.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
VOLUME XCVIII— NO. 9.
SAN FRANCISCO, -FRIDAY; JJUNE 9, 1905;
The San Francisco Call.