Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 75

NEWS FEATURES PAGE SCOUTS SCHOOLS TEEIIS I TI I A AUNT ELSIE PAGES LETTERS TO THE FORUM EATU'RES ikuihi Hiiii Dam ttitf I N- VOL CLXII NO. 87 OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1955 George Law, but Mr. Law sold his stock in her and so the company changed her -name to the Central America. I don't Hke changing the name of a ship, but I thinjc this is all right, replied the husband. 'Why, of course it is! Tell me about some of the people the bride continued.

"Well, we have many old friends with us Brown, Judge Munson, Dr. Obed Harvey, Mr. Payne, and Sammy Shreve who is going to New York to be married, you know. Oh, well, the captain tells me it's a rich cargo 700 passengers and two million dollars The morning of the eighth found us (at Havana) watching many coming and going. And so, for the third time on our wedding journey we sailed away and all seemed fair and joyous, and none knew that 'neath the gaily painted deck the wood had lost its sturdy strength; its oaken sides were too frail to stand the buffeting of angry waves and that on the prow sat all unseen the veiled figure of the great Unknown.

epublicIns were jubilant the past week over the results of the special election in the Fourth As sembly District, comprising Butte, Yuba and Sutter Counties, and hoped to repeat the performance in three Other legislative 'ejections yet to come this year. Seeking the seat vacated by the death of Don Oroville Republican, were Arthur W. Coats, Democrat, well-known attorney and former member of the Assembly, and Harold T. Sedgwick, Qroville business and civic leader and a Republican. Registration in all three counties runs heavily in favor of the Democrats and Coats, as a former representative! of the district, was originally considered to have the inside track.

In fact, some Democrats in these parts, the Knave is told, rated Coats as an absolute "shoo-in." In an effort to clinch the victory, "high brass" of the AFL moved in and, in their own words', Staged an all-out drive in behalf of the Democratic contender. The AFL sponsored television shows in his behalf and its Labor League for Political Education announced that it was giving all possible financial and organization assistance to the campaign. jTwo AFL council" secretaries directed trie labor vote drive. The California Federation of Labor even assigned one of its yice presidents as a campaign coordinator. And Sedgwick romped home a winner.

GrOP chieftains believe the victory augurs Well for them in the November 8 Senatorial District contest and in Assembly and Senate special elections on December 6. -I Hurricane California An unprecedented number of hurricanes blasting away at our Atlantic Coast reminds that this month js the 98th anniversary of what Historian John Walton CaUghey sets down as "California's crowning disaster," a catastrophe that Californians as a claimed the -lives of 419 result of nothing less than a hurricane. Yet that big wind of 1857 came nowhere near California. Instead, it cen-tered its fury bn the so-called palatial steamer Central America which was making its way from Aspinwall to New York City with. 491 pajsengers and a crew of 101.

Practically all the passengers picked up at Aspinwall were from the steamer Sonora that had sailed out of San Francisco on Aug. 20. The buffeted Central America sank on Sept. 12 off tpe coast of Florida, several hundred miles south of Cape Hatteras. Only 173 were saved, inostly women and children, accordingjj to the San Francisco newspaper Alta California Issued on Oct.

23, 1857, the day news of the catastrophe reached San Francisco: via the steamer Panama just in from Panama.I.t is interesting to note that this was 41 days after the sea tragedy. The newspaper told the sad news between turned column black borders rules that made for bold, which usually accompany such news of national tragedy as the death of our Nation's President. The story of the disaster took up seven columns on the Alta's front page and included the Central Amer ica's complete passenger list, a list of the rescued and a aist of those who lost their lives or were still missing. In the same issue the editor- note "In relation to the effect of the terrible catastrophe upon immigration to California we shall have more to say hereafter." i 'Our Wedding Jburney Because historians have written. so little regarding this major sea tragedy it was gratifying to find the voluminous account in the Alta Calif drnia so carefully preserved in the archives of Bancroft Library in i Berkeley! It vas Harold C.

Holmes who brought the story, to our attention when he handed us a tiny 38-page book entitled "The Story of Our Wedding Journey," privately printed in Sanj Francisco. This is the story of Ansel Ives Easton and his brjde, Adeline Mills Easton, married in San Francisco on Aug. 20, 1857, by the Rev. S. H.

Willey at the Howard, Street Congregational Church. Immediately 4ter wedding ceremony they hurried to board the steamer Sonora and sailed out the Golden Gate bound for Panama with plans to take the Central America out Of Aspinwall for New York. We will try to tell their story in even briefer form than they record events. "The voyage to the isthmus was one long delight, with smooth waters, sunny skies, and a joyous, congenial eorajpany. The trip overland to Aspinwall wai uneventful and all too short, and many plans were made for passing the days from Aspinwall to New York.

And all went merry af a marriage bell," they relate. 'What were you and Captain Herndon talking Ansel, when he said he didn't believe in bad the bride asked her husbanrd: as they sailed from Aspinwall aboard thej Central America. 'About this ship having her name changed! It was the then produced the telephone books which I delivered all. over Oakland with the aid of a horse and buggy. Next were the residences of Henry Mall, wholesale hardware salesman; the A.

Leiter family, cousins of the E. of 36th and West; Edward Dixon, the Shasta Water man; Richard Pon-sonby Moore Gardiner, painter and decorator and father of Richard, appraiser for the Wells Fargo Bank; Horton Allen, assistant superintendent of the Pullman Company; Joseph Wheatley, Albert Hansen and Tom Perry. Perry worked in the Yerba Buena Ave. shops of the traction company. Next were the homes of Harry R.

Hunter, a railroad man; Edward Kelley, blacksmith of Third and Webster Streets; Hardy Hutchinson, of the Hutchinson Construction firm; Herbert Silverthorn, carpenter for J. H. Simpson. In 1905 Silverthorn accompanied Captain Brigman to Buckley Valley in Canada where he took up land. His daughter still lives at Silverthorn, B.C.

Last on this side of the street were the homes of Mrs. Edith Libby, M. W. Alexander and Claire Mathews. End of the Trail "Taking the south side of Brockhurst Norman continues, "we first come to the home of Patrick Harrigan, whose son, Edward, was an inspector of carriers for The Tribune.

Next came the home of Miss Emily Jones; then Edward Bothwell, who in those days assisted his brother as a driver for Batchelder's Grocery, but later worked in the Post Office and still later as an officer for the Central Bank. He is now retired. Adjoining was the home of Lin Hunt, of Hunt, Hatch Company, commission merchants. On down the street lived Ralph Ford, W. Rath, the Donovan family, Mrs.

Thomas Clear, Herbert Kinney, and then J. H. Simpson, the man who built most of the houses on Brockhurst St. The Bert H. I Belden cottage was last.

As the years went by I also carried three other newspapers besides The Tribune. These newspaper routes took me over all the area from 22nd to 36th Streets and from Broadway to what we then called the Street Station of the. Southern Pacific. This would be better identified today as the foot of 34th St. I wish I could remember everyone, but there's no doubt I've forgotten many.

Fact is, I've already had some complaints. Mrs. Harold Wachs, now of Paramount Road, in those days lived on 31st near Telegraph. I remember the day of the earthquake April 18, 1906 when she called me in to see her beautiful cut glass all smashed on the floor. Another reminder of my forgetfulness came from Mrs.

George Meredith of Arbor Drive, Piedmont. I missed her uncle, Mr. Swain, who lived on 32nd near Telegraph. Arthur Slaght, present building manager at The Tribune, reminds me that he was the young man who brought the papers out to the carriers along Grove St. on the street car in those bygone days.

After hearing all this I met Jimmie Dahl, the very boy who carried papers' alongside me long ago. He is still associated with The Tribune, a small matter of 36 years. But we newsboys are used to complaints. I can still hear Andy Dalziel yelling from his old home at 33rd and Grove. He didn't get his ening paper and by golly he's lived in Oakland since 1865.

Besides, he's been a subscriber to The Tribune since the newspaper was first published. I won't miss him again." We Little Regret' When California was celebrating its Centennial a few years ago the Edmonton (Canada) Journal dug back into the December 1848 files of the London Times for its salute to our Golden State. Said the Times in 1848: 4 "The finding of gold in California was described in a (recent) leading article as the last nine days wonder the more remarkable because of its inaccessibility. It is 'the far west' of the whole world, for after that begins the east again. Though now included within the territory of the United States, it cannot be reached from New York within less than six months by Cape Horn, or three months by Chagres and Panama and about the same time overland by Santa Fe.

In that remote corner the banished genie reappears. If he seems to promise a greater abundance, or. a more constant supply than in times past, ne yet preserves nis dignity by interposing, twenty thousand miles of ocean be- tween himself and civilized man. The den fleece of Colchis and the golden1 apples of the AJtlantic Eden were not more remote or more carefully guarded. The enterprise promises to absorb a vast amount of industry and wealth.

Whether we look to the prospects of the new colony assembled in California, or the spirit diffused over the whole Union, we see little to regret that the region is not ours." THE KNAVE curred Sept. 16, 1857, four days after the Central America sinking, but the news reached California from Utah much earlier. Among the more than 400 who lost their lives in the shipwreck were many men who had already made a name for themselves in California. The Mr. Brown whom the Eas-tons considered such a great friend was undoubtedly.

R. T. Brown, whom the Alta California listed as "a pioneer merchant of Sacramento." Most prominent among the lost was James E. Birch, identified by the newspaper as the "late, president of the California Stage Company, contractor for the Overland Mail between Texas and San Diego. Also lost were Marcellus Farmer, 35, who was associate editor of the San Francisco Chronicle when the paper started, and who later engaged in manufacturing; Rufus A.

Lockwood, 50, attorney and legal adviser to Col. John C. Fremont, a former resident of Lafayette, William McNeill, 33, partner of the firm of DeLong, McNeill Company of San Francisco; C. S. Shreve, jeweler, contemplating marriage on his arrival home; S.

F. Parke, formerly of the firm of Nichols, Parke Company in San Francisco; Frederick S. Hawley, 35, of the mercantile firm of Hawley Company, who came to. California from Connecticut in 1849; George W. Ridgeway, formerly of the firm of Spatz Newhouse, returning to Philadelphia to marry.

"Such an appalling affliction was never before in the history of our Nation visited upon the people of a single state," commented the Alta California editor. Man With a Memory Those of us who have observed Oakland's tremendous growth can hardly conceive the yesteryears when our town's city limits were in the vicinity of 36th but so they were a few years before Albert E. Norman started delivering newspapers to the homes of that area. His recollections of the families who greeted him as he made the rounds of his old Tribune route come to a close with this week's report, so we'll 30m him now on the north side of 31st St. as he hurried east from West to Grove Streets.

"Along this side of the street," Norman recalls, "we had the homes of James Ellis, William Irving, Miss Portia Pine and Albert E. Hall. Hall was of the Hall Furnace Co. and before living here he resided on the south line of 33rd St. near Telegraph Ave.

The next two homes were those of C. Kurtz and the Quad-ros family, both good-sized households. Then came W. J. Kittoo, whose son, Edward, was a great swimmer of that day, followed by the abode of Thomas Kerin, electrician for the Oakland Traction Company, and that of Andrew MacFarland, salesman for the Realty Syndicate.

Next was the home of Mrs. Sarah McPhail. It was her son, Arthur, who inspired me to think of this tale. Living in the same building was Harry Miller. I can see him now on his high bicycle heading for the Post Office to make his mail deliveries.

The homes of Fred Whiting and Miss Bodine finished this side of the street, but on the corner of Grove and 31st stood the Oakland College of Physicians and Surgeons, now the Allen Building. Miss Bodine lived on the south side of 31st before moving her residence to the north sWe, but as we continue on down the south side we pass the homes of Hugh Loomis, L. C. Dowton, Charles King, and Andrew Anderson, whose son, Bert, now secretary of the Oakland Scottish Rite, was just a small boy like I was The J. Loughrey home was next, an Oakland pioneer who now resides on Seventh Ave.

Also on the south side lived Joseph Dannhauser, S. Arena and Herman Schoenf elder. On the corner of 31st and West was the home of George Ebey, manager of the old Orpheum Theater when it was on 12th and later the Fulton Theater, which stood on Franklin St. just opposite the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company Building. Brockhurst St.

"Because Brockhurst St. was my home for 20 years I have left that until last, so here we go. Starting at Grove St. was the corner home Of William Cogan, later occupied by John Calou, founder of the Oakland Laundry. Walking on the north side of Brockhurst we start with the home of P.

Halsey, superintendent of the Alaska Packers, then the Yule home which William C. Hamilton, father of Lloyd Hamilton of movie fame, purchased a few days after the 1906 earthquake. Next comes M. Steinberg, the shoe man on Washington whose two sons are in the same business today in San Francisco; then Frank Zan, who operated the Southwestern Broom Company in the old Courthouse building at the corner of East 14th St. and 20th followed by the home of Robert P.

Grubb of the San Francisco Saddlery, and that of Frank Worral, who tain hailed us and promised every help. Ansel hurried to the trunk taking out a coat, into the pockets of which he put $900. and some valuable papers and rolled it into a bundle. He and Mr. Brown helped me to the deck just as the second boatload was completed.

'Only one more the captain said. 'We had five but two were dashed 1 4o pieces as they were being manned, so we have but With my husband's kiss upon my lips and breathing a prayer for his safety, I found myself swinging from the deck and I was dropped into the bottom of the boat. (Captain Burt) welcomed us with cheering words, though he afterwards told me he-feared we'd left one sinking ship for another. The brig was so badly-crippled that Captain Burt had to i make a long circuit to get back towards the steamer. We watched her lights flashing.

Suddenly a rocket shot out obliquely, the lights disappeared beneath the waves, and all the world grew dark for me. Six days of suspense and suffering passed when one morning we found ourselves in sight of Cape Henry lighthouse. Joyful news came aboard as we entered the bay. Forty-nine had that morning arrived in Norfolk from the wrecked vessel, but (we) didn't know, a name. In a little while the steamer Empire City came in sight.

She stopped, a small boat was lowered and Captain McGowan came aboard. His first inquiry was, 'Where is Mrs. and added, 'Tell her her husband is awaiting her in I scarcely knew what I did for a few moments. 'Tell me what happened to him that dreadful I asked. Captain McGowan then began his story.

'He was standing on the wheelhouse with. the captain" and several others when his friend Brown came up and gave him a life preserver and a coat. Mr. Easton put on the life preserver and threw the coat about his shoulders, buttoning it about the neck. The captain turned to Mr.

Easton and said, "Give me your cigar, Easton, for this last rocket," and as he was handing it to him the ship gave a great plunge and in a moment Mr. Easton felt a man's arms about his neck and in the terrible suction made by the sinking ship he was drandown-withrbewildering rapidity.truggfing to free himself from the death grip he thought to unbutton the coat. It slipped from his shoulders in the hands of the first mate. At the instant he shot upward and found himself among hundreds of humans, each struggling for life. Out of the Water "'A large plank which had been the front of a berth floated by and this he grasped.

On this, he floated for eight hours. At first he could see the lights of a ship in the distance. He thinks he was delirious. He did not see the ship Ellen, which rescued him, until she was very close. He was per-fectly composed, took the rope thrown him, ascended, put on dry clothing and went to work assisting in caring for those who were saved and calling out the names of every one he knew, hoping to get a response from the water.

Mr. Easton felt most keenly Mr. Brown's loss and begged the captain to stay until they found him. Finally, after some hours and no more persons being found, Captain Johnson of the Ellen said, "I think these are all." Mr. Easton said, "Captain, tack just once more and then if we can't find him we can go on." This the captain did and for some time Mr.

Easton stood at the rail shouting "Brown, Brown." In the distance a small dark object was seen and as it came nearer they saw it was a hatchway with two men on it Mr. Brown and a Mr. Bement Captain McGowan offered to take as many on to New York as cared to go in the Empire City and about 60 went with him. The chief engineer of the Central America was the only officer on the Marine who had deserted the ship, and in all the dreadful days every one had felt that his negligence in allowing the engines to die down had caused our great disaster. On his attempting to enter the boat to be taken to the Empire City, Captain McGowan stopped him.

'Not on my steamer. You can't come We reached quarantine just after dark, and taking a small boat were rowed seven miles to the city. (landed away from the usual wharf, down near a lumber yard, and the forlorn little procession walked up to the hotel. Of our meeting a few hours later I cannot speak. Great joy is too deep for words." Appalling Affliction News of the appalling loss of life by Californians in the Central America disaster came right behind the bewildering news of the Mountain Meadows massacre of 120 California-bound emigrants over in Utah.

True, the Mountain Meadow attack on the emigrants by Indians and white men oc Bail the Ship "Captain Herndon had arranged to have us at his table and, as he was a most delightful man, we enjoyed it very much. It seemed as if we could not get away from the thought of ill luck, for at dinner that first evening the conversation turned to the subject of shipwrecks, and how well I remember Captain Herndon's face as he, in speaking of some vessel lately wrecked of which the captain had been saved, said 'Well, I'll never survive my ship. If she goes down I go under her keel. But let us talk of something more and the captain told us some interesting and delightful experiences he i had in his remarkable Amazon expedition. Thursday there came up a severe gale, I which increased in violence, producing a heavy head sea.

Many anxious questions were asked the captain, but he was cheerful and encouraging. All Thursday night the I storm raged, and Friday was no calmer. About noon Friday the vessel suddenly careened to one side. The captain's voice added a thrill of horrow as he said. 'All' men prepare for bailing the ship.

The en-i gines have stopped, but we hope to reduce the water and start them again. She's a sturdy vessel and if we can keep up steam we shall weather the galeTJiejcngines" stopped? What does that mean, 'It means, I fear, that the engineer has not done his said my husband. Our friend Mr, Brown went with him and soon I watched them working so hard to bail water from the cabin floor. All the World Kin "Not far from me sat a young Mr. Jone? with his.

head in his hands. He came oypr to me as he saw Mr. Easton and Mr. Brown starting to work. 'Hrre, Mrs.

Easton, is my watch. Will you take care of it for me while I go and He was" a handsome young fellow. Some had said he was a large landed proprietor of Kentucky and some that he was the cleverest gambler in San Francisco; but One touch of shipwreck makes the whole world kin, and in the days to come his kind heart and skillful fingers made life a little more bearable to some pretty wretched mortals. The wind still blowing a tremendous gale, the captain gave orders to cut away, the foremast. As it crashed and was swept away it seemed as if hope went with it; but joy came again as we heard that the water being lowered, the engines were starting again.

But, alas, only a few revolutions and the engines stopped As the night grew darker rockets of distress were set off. We are I said as we watched the lamps with great interest to see them hang gradually level. I tried jto cheer those nearjme with that thought, little knowing that as the ship became waterlogged she would right herself before sinking. Nothing had been cooked on the steamer all day and with the strenuous work and nor food man after man became exhausted. About 11 o'clock I thought fof the hampers in our stateroom, and with great difficulty reached the room and brought out boxes of biscuits and wine.

As I passed among the men they eagerly took the Crackers and wine. All night at intervals I went the rounds until everything we had was used. How little our friends who brought us these things dreamed the use that would be made of them; Never was daylight more gratefully welcomed than on Saturday morning. About 2 o'clock; in the afternoon a cry was heard, 'A sail! A In a few moments a vessel was seen bearing down upon us and we hailed her with cheers. For the first time since the storm began the people lost control Strong men wept, women laughed and cried.

The Brig Marine "She, was the brig Marine, herself; disabled and short of provisions. Her cap P)-l-t II I.