honored guests. an odd craving. bulls bears. …

HONORED GUESTS.

Fuller, Alger and SawyerWelcomed.

UNION LEAGUE RECEPTION._Governor Markham Could Not

Be Present.

VERMONT PRAISES CALIFORNIA. |

A Witty Speech by General AlgerBrings Forth a Funny Story

From Vermont's Governor.

A reception was given by the UnionLeague Club at their rooms in me PalaceHotel last night to Governor Lev! K.Fuller ol Vermont, General ltussell A.Alger of Michigan, ex-Senator PhiletusSawyer of Wisconsin and Governor Mark-ham. The Governor of California, how-ever, failed to appear, and his telegram ofregret was read by Judge Carpenter, whointroduced the several distinguished visi-tors to the club and welcomed them to itshospitalities. The affair was purely in-formal, and owing to the short notice notas many were there as migbt have been.

About it o'clock Judge Carpenter calledfor order. He said he had been delegatedby Governor Markham to convey to theclub his regrets for his unavoidable ab-sence. He read a lengthy dispatch fromthe Governor, in the course of which theexecutive said he wished to especiallymention his old and esteemed friend.Philetus Sawyer, whom he considered oneof tbe most remarkable men in the Re-

publican party. During his term of office jhe had had 20C0 bills before the House.twelve only not being passed, and thosebecause they were too late to be reached ,on the calendar. Concluding the dispatch IJut.ge O.rpenter added on his own be- jban: "Jt is to be recretted that the Gov-,erq'-r is not here, as he is an influential jmember of the club and one who as Gov-ernor has been honest, prudent, conseiva-tive and effective throughout his adminis- !

tration. The three cuests of the evening;show the saying that republics are un- !grateful is not always so. These men

have enjoyed the public confidence in ama.ked decree. Senator Sawyer shouldbe especially dear tn Western people, as hehas always labnrpd in our behalf."

k Judge Carpenter referred eulogistical!}'tn Governor Fuller, whom he introduced.The Governor responded in an eloquentand patriotic speech. He referred intouching terms to the good old State ofVermont, s»id he was delighted to rubshoulders with the great men of the West,and dwelt on the marvelous growth of thefair, which was advertising the State alliover the world. He said the people wereto be coagratulated. Referring to thegrowth of the State, Governor Fuller saidthere wa*but one life between him and

'

the man who Lr.st found gold. When he ;

came over the plain a quarter of a century ]ago he iret people who told him how a

'

quarter of a century before they had seena man riding toward tiie East with theaews that gold had been found."Ident feel jealous." said the Governor, |

"that Tiy own old State does not square in ;acreage with your?, but it is God's country

after all." He concluded his eloquentspeech with the remark that the day wasnot firdistant when English would be thegeneral tongue of the earth and Americans i

k the dmiinant race.Ex-Senator .Sawyer declined to speak, \u25a0

but through Judge Carpenter assured theclob ihat he considered the membersBtricily init. General Alcer lollowed in a ;

yerywiity speech in which he represented

bimsa f as a California!! and i.-.vited Gov- jernof Fuller to give up his Vermont home iand 'ome to California. In such an event,

Gemral Alger saul, he would be willincto sill him all the limber land he neededand take his note payable at any time.Hesaid that at the fair Governoi Pullerline" tried to make the Verrronters home-

'

sic*, but that now he seemed as if he ;

would half like to remain here.

Governor Fuller responded to General jAVer's witty remarks by a funny story, \wiich elicited roars of laughter.

John M.Francis, proprietor of the Troy iTimes, was called upon and made a few jr»niark?, saying he was proud of NewTork and that ibe State elections proved

'Jew I'ork'a e'.aim to be an empire State,rod testified to the integrity of her convic-tions. He said there was evident tendency :

I ;.ll over tiie land toward the uprising of jour industjies. This concluded the pro-!ceedmgs of the evening, aud for an houror more the members chatted in littlegroups about the rooms. Music enlivenedthe evening during the intervals betweentbe speeches. General Alger leaves for!Los ADgeles this morning and GovernorFuller will leave shortly for Portland, jAmong those present were:

Colonel William Macdonakl, Major D. iE. Miles,Joser.ii S. .Spear Jr., J. B. Han-ford. A. !'\u25a0 Williams, Tire* L.Ford, A.G. Booth, MajorGeorjje 11. Pippy, GeneralJohn F. Sheehan, W. E. Jlnle, Genera!Kobert A. Friedricb. A. W. Spear, L.G.F. Atkins, F. A. Vail, C. M. Jenniue?, A.11. Vail. Colonel S. D. Laidlaw, M. R.Higgins, Dr. William M. Lawior, J. J.Evans. Judg« M. Coonev, Samuel llaslett, jDan T. Cole, Dr. O. F. Westpbai. C. A.Fuller, Jesse 13. Fuller, Monroe Green-wood. General William U. Pratt, EdwardT. Donnelly. Dniry Melone, Frank LCoombs. General W. H. Brown, Josepn ;

LI..Tharp, Juige J. C. B. Heubard, W. G. |Taffinder, Wilham lrelau Jr., JtK. Masten, Dr. Nat T. Coulson, SamuelJ. llendy, Judge Edward W. Belcher,

Judee T. B. McFarland, W. E. Brooks, A.C. Hamilton, Captain J. C. Currier, JohnJ. Wirtner. L. H. Clemen'. John T.-Sulli-van, M. M.Estee, F. P. Hooper, MadisonBibcock, \\. D. Ilolcom. John C. Kirk-patrlck, W. T. Y. Schenck, Colonel UsedJones, Colonel J. M. Lilchh'eld. Dr. C. G.Kenyon. A. Y. Trask. J. E. Barry, E. S.Flury, Colonel C. S. Forbes, R. D. Silver,N. \V. Fisk, Captain EL A. Morse, 1). P.Durst. Alexandei Gordon, Thomas Mor-ton, Clarence G. Stone, H. C. A. Gibb?,W. A. Tolehard, John H. Heeler. John If.Francis (proprietor Troy Times), A. L.Cnetiain. Judge H. C. Dibble, General W.11. L. Barnes, Colonel .T. F. Burgin, Dr.H. K. Brown, W. B. Hamilton, W. 11.Pond, Senator Philetus Sawyer, ColonelDillingham, Colonel Jefferson E. Doo-iittle, W. S. Duval and John H. Durst.

"GOVERNORS FULLER AND ALGER AT THE UNION LEAGUE.

JAMES' NEW ORDER.A Compromise Between the Denman

and Kogers Measures.In response to the 1000 invitations issued

by the Board of Supervisors to the citizensof San Francisco to give reasons why thewater rates should be reduced, and to at-

tend a meeting of the Water Committeeof the board which willbe held this morn-ing, a number of letters were received by

!Clerk Russell yesterday. Some of the!writers, and they are in the majority, state

that they believe that water rates are ex-'oibitant and should be reduced- Others

j say they have no complaint to make|against the water company, holding that!present rates are satisfactory.

The meeting of the Water Committee to-

day promises to be an interesting one. asa large number of citizens are expected tobe present in response to the invitationsissued.

Supervisor James has compiled a cora-l>roiuisp water order which he willintro-duce. The order of the Supervisor from

i the Eleventh Ward appropriates part of:both the Denmau and Kogers orders, al-

ready explained.

The Denman house rates are adopted,iwith tli"change that instead of a half thei Spring Valley Water Company be allowed!to charge three-quarters the rates on sec-jond floors that is charged on trouud floors,

the rates being particularly applicable toflats.

The Rogers meter rates are incorporatedin the order, bu: the charge for meterrates is reduced from 30 cents tn '_*) centsper 100 cubic feet. There are a few oiherminor changes in the order.

Supervisor James calcinates that thisorder willreduce the revenue of the com-pany about 57.J.000.

NO MORE CANVAS.

Steam Power Wanted forWhalers.

Steam Fleet Getting Ready for De-parture—Wind-Jammers Will

Soon Pass to History.

The sound of the hammer and crunchingof the saw have for five weeks past en-livened the neighborhood of Howard-streetwharf and filled the air with the hum ofnautical industry.

Beside tbe wharf is tied the old whalingbark William BejritN, which is being con-verted from a lubberly sailing craft into atrim spick and span looking steam whaler.

Inthe blow of tbe hammer old salts re-quire no very extensive flightof imagina-

tion to convince them that they hear thedeath-knell of tiie sailing vessel as a whale-cbaser; in fact, the metamorphosis of theBaylies marks the first 6tep toward tberelegation of ttie "wind-jimmer."

One by nne the old-time whaling barkshave yielded ud their ghosts of canvas tvthe death thrust made at them by modernship-pronelliug inventions.

The time lor the departure of the steamwhalers has arrived, the Meet of this yearbeing augmented by tbe addition of tbeconverted sealer Alexander and the wind-jammer Baylie?, while the canvas-spread-ers have "gone up Salt Creek" (lome, per-haps for good), practically as well astheoretically.

Last year only ninety vessels all toldconstituted the whaling fleet of our coun-try. Of this number about thirty-two ares learners. Ten years ago the steamerscould be counted upon the fingers of one'shands.

At New Bedford and San Francisco oil-buntera are rapidly becoming convincedot the necessity of doing away with the.•ailing fleet altogether, and it is not at allunlikely that w'tlnn the next five yearsli.o-e of the whaling barks aud ships thathave not become too ancient to jus'ilytheir being converted will be transformedinto steamers.

The meant whaler could best be handledand fitted out from San Francisco. Thisfact has by degrees dawned upon tbeowners of "blubber-hunters."

It was sixty years ago that the firstwhaler vislied this coast. At that time,owing to Hie absence of transportationfacilities. New Bedford owner* consid-ered ithighly impracticable to fit vesselsout from this city. In fact the scheme wasnot even dreamt of. Twenty years laterlhe«e same New Bedforders commenced tobecome interested in San Francesco'sadvantages as a harbor and supply sta-tion.

To this city is due the honor or sendingout one of the firststeam whalers. Itwasthe liiwhead.

With feverish interest the whalers andshlD-owners watched for the return of thesteamer. Sho got back to port in 18x2,Jo;:dnd to the water-line with bone and ml,and immediateiv lite first latal blow at theantiquated whaling bark was registered.

Tl;e news of the success of the bowheadwas flashed across ttie continent. NewBedford shio builders and owners com-menced to do a little thinking. Theyanally conceived, built and launched theBelvidere. which in 188.3 started out fromthe Atlantic side in quest of whale oil.

The Baylies willgo < n the drydock in afew dnys to have her machinery put in.

The whaling steamers Tiiresher andJessie 11. Freeman willship crews to-day.

—_ » «. «.Morton's Midwinter Fair Express.,,

I'ackaKAi, baggage, Ietc., called for and de-livered r to the exposition grounds at low ratesOfflces— l7 Geary street, 408 Taylor street andOakland ferry depot. I^*ll

AN ODD CRAVING.

Women Who Eat RawCornstarch.

CANNOT DO WITHOUT IT.

But It Is Slowly UnderminingTheir Health.

A YOUNG LADY WASTING AWAY.

The Habit Grows Before the VictimKnows It and Cannot Be

Shaken Off.

"Give me a paekace of cornstarch,Dlease," said a lady inan uptown grocery-store a few days ago, "and never mindwrapping itup."

The clerk did as requested and the ladyat once tare off a corner of the box andpoured out a quantity of the white powderinto her gloved hand.

A youoK girl who accompanied hericoked surprised at the performance, butwas almost dumfouuded when the ladytransferred the chalk-like substance toher mouth and swallowed it ravenously."Itried hard not to do that, dear," the

lady said to the elrl as they were leavingthe stote. "but Icouldn'c help it. Youknow Ieat cornstarch all the time, andhave got to have a box or so ol iteveryday. Ihaven't had any since last night,and Iwas so hungry for itthat Inearlydied."

"But don't you think it a bad habit thatis likely to be injurious?" asked tbe girl,witha curious expression as she looked ather companion.

"Yes, sometimes Ido think it a badhabit, but Idon't see how it can be injuri-ous, because itis nothing but a pure nour-ishing food, and yet Ioften thiuk itmustbe hurtful, because 1have such a cravingfor it, and when Ihave eaten a lot1getso awfully sleepy."

Tbe lady and her companion went upthe street, but a Call reporter, who hadoverheard tbe conversation, stopped toquestion the grocer in regard to what heknew about people eating raw cornstarch.He didn't know much, never having eatenany himself, be said, bat he know severalwomen who consumed large quantities ofthe stuff. "Itdoesn't hurt them, though."he said.

After finding one constant eater the ad-dresses of a dozen more were obtained, allresiding within a few blocks of Sutler andPolk streets. All the women were willingto talk, and what they said is sufficient towarrant the statement that the habit ofeating cornstarch is an evil in the land.

All the women who acknowledged hav-ing the habit were in the upper classes otsociety, and two of them are acknowledgedleaders. Some of them made an effort tocontrol the haDit, and nothing could betold from their appearance that they werenot in the best health, but others ate allthey could get and very little of anything

else. Give them cornstarch and theywere happy, but they had the appearanceof opium-eaters.

The worst cs>se foand by tbe reporterwas thnt of a lady of. perhaps, ;>O years ofage. She acknowledged that she was aslave to cornstarch, and, if she did nothave it, suffered the tortures of a whiskydrunkard deprived of liquor.

In appearance this lady was like acorpse. Her skin was as white as wax,and her eyes were sunk deep in her headand had heavy black rings around them.She had no more flpsh on her bones than aconsumptive in the last stages.

"Ob, it tastes so good," she said, takinga spoonful of ccrnstarcb from a box, "andmakes me feel so warm. Besides that, Ican sleep so well after eating it. Itis apositive fact that after eating a box ofcornstarcb Ican sleep fourteen hourswithout waking."

"Don't you think it hurti you?" askedthe reporter.

"No." answered the lady, taking anotherspoonful. "It is harmless stuff and verynourishing. 1have a littlestomach troublethat the doctor is treating me for,but hedoesn't seem to do me much good."

"Have you told him you eat such quan-tities oi cornstarch'. 1

"asked the reporter.

"Why. no," answered the laily in sur-prise. "What difference can that make?Cornstarcb is nice, and Iam auro itcan dome no barm."

Anynumber of women who are victimsof the cornstarch habit were to be found,but none of them conld see how the stuffceuld hurt them in any way. Most ofthorn were in a perfect state of health ap-parently, and the symptoms of the use ofcornstarch seemed |to be about thesame to each of them. All acknowledgedthat the craving was uncontrollable attimes, and that a spoonful of starch wouldbe preferable to a dish of ordinary foodprepared by the best cook In the world.

The first feeling that starch was wantedwas a sense of coldness all over the bodyand a ravenous hunger. Ifthe feelin? wasgratified a gentle warmth was soon ap-parent, and ifa larger quantity of starchwas eaten the hands and feet became hotand a languor took possession of thesenses. Sometimes the hands and feetswell, and the desire for starch continuesuntil sleep comes.

Most of the victims had no desire forany other food as long as they could getstarch."Ididn't like enrnstarch at first," said

a young lady of 18, now a confirmed eater,"buta friend wbo used to eat itgay* mea little every day until at last Iboughtsome fnr myself. NowImust have it, andmamma does not care. She says shewould rather have me eat that thancandy."

Each victim had a different story to tellof tbe way the habit took held of therr",but all acknowledged fhat the effect wasvery great. "Any way it is harmless stuffand can't possibly hurt me" was tiie wayall of them consoled themselves for givingway to their peculiar taste.

The effect on some of them did not up-hold their statement that it was harmless,»o a visit was made to Dr. Jerome A.Anderson and his opinion asked on thesubject

"Well, that's tbe worst 1 ever heard,"said the doctor, when the cases were ex-plained to him. "Butwomen do acquirethe queerest habits. Ihave had patientswho had a constant desire for charcoal,paper, slate pencils, etc. But this gtarchhabit is something new, and now that ithas come to me it may be the explanationof several peculiar cases of siarcb dyspep-sia that Ihave treated."

"Do you think that eating itin largequantities would produc; bad results?"asked tbe reDorter.

"Most decidedly," replied the doctor,"and the action of starch is exactly as yousay Ithas nllected these ladies. But itwillvery likelygo farther with most of them."

At this point the doctor took dcwo a

a large book on physiology and turned to achapter devoted to starch.

"You see," he said, "starch is a hydro-carbon— ihut is. a heat-producer— and con-taining no nitrogen too much of it willburn out the system. Not an ounce of fatwillever be produced from starch and aperson eatinc itwill simuly waste away.Tne Indy you speak of as being so whiteand wasted is really dying."

Here the doctor turned to several pagesdevoted to the result of certain experi-

ments on starch as a sole food.Dogs and pigs fed on an exclusive starch

diet died in a few days. Several physicians

who tried iton themselves could keep itup a very short while when their healthcommenced to break down."Ican easily understand." said tbs doc-

tor, "how such a beat-producer as starchcould create a craving, but it will surelybreak down the health of all who indulgeit. Those who have an unnatural cravingfor cornstarch had better get over it orthey willsoon be where they won't want itor anything else. Too much of any onefood is sure to produce one thing, and tbatis death.

RATES ARE QUIET.

All Eyes Turned Towardthe Santa Fe.

The Withdrawal of That Road FromBoth the Western and Local

Passenger Associations.

The decision of Chairman Caldwell ofthe Western Passenger Association ad-verse to the demands of the S&uta Fe willbe followed, as announced by telegraph,by the withdrawal of the company fromthe association. In this cityitwill havethe further effect of causing the same

company to sever all connection with theLocal Passenger Association, and it isunderstood that this action is to take effecton the l.'.tb inst.

"The position of the Santa Fe now,"re-marked a prominent railroadman yester-day, "is such that itmust either right orcompletely back down from the positionit has assumed. There is no middle courseopen. All ixternal appearances wouldseem to indicate that there will be a con-tinuation of the war, but the meeting ofPresident Reinhaidt with the other offi-cials of the Santa Fe which is about to beheld may result in a backdown."

So many inquiries are made as to theoriginal cause of the trouble between theSouthern Pacific and the Santa Fe that astatement of the former company's side ofthe case is herewith given, accompaniedby a diagram which will be foun<t usefulin civmg tiie reader an insight into themerits of the contest.

"1-irst-class passengers holding singletrip or round trip tickets, either via Port-land or Ogden. have for years been giventhe opportunity of route from San Fran-cisco or Stockton, en route to Los Angeles,with full knowledge of all connections,without any protest or objection fromthem.

"While it has not been the practice togive passengers starting from Los Angelesto the East, via Portland or Ouden. theopportunity of going through San Fran-cisco, this right has never been by agree-ment waived, and it is claimed is an inher-ent une and was never questioned untilSeptember last, and then by the Atcbiion,Topeka and Santa Fe Company, whosimply demanded that assurances shouldhe given that the right would not beexercised, otherwise tr<ey would cut triernie, yet during all this time passengershave been ticketed from San Franciscothrough Lns Angeles to the East via theAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fs Com-pany's lines.

"The accompanying sketch will graphi-cally display the contention and plainlyillustrate to the public that the SouthernPacific properly contends that both sidetrips must be discontinued or both conceded

and this contention contains everythingwinch the Santa Fe people attempt to jus-tify their reduction in passenger raien; forevery other question of division of rates,etc., raised by the Santa Fe is capable oleasy solution, and ifnot agreed to by jointconference the Southern Pacific Companyhave expressed willingness to submit toarbitration."

Inquiry as to the status of the tkht stillcontinues brisk at all the offices, but thereare probably some rampant estimates ofsales of tickets emanating from a few ofthe representatives in this city. P. \V.Hitchcock, general agent of tbe UnionPacific, said yesterday that his office hadjust sold t*vo tickets since the war was dp-clared last Friday, and as the Union Paci-fic is one of the most direct routes to theEast from this city and some of tbe otherroads are making claim to sales of hun-dreds, there is a manifest difference in thebusiness, as claimed, which persons notfamiliar with tbe "peculiar proclivities"of some of the railroad representativeswill find itdifficult to understand.

The Southern Pacific display for theMidwinter Fair arrived yesterday and whsimmediately taken out to the grounds. Itconsists of an oldtime engine, passenger-car and boxcar and the latest improvedproducts in the three departments of traf-fic accessories.

The National Association of .TicketAgents willhold Itsannual meeting inLosAngeles in April, and arrangements arenow being perfected for the transportationof the members. .. E. J.lWaugh, traveling passenger agentof the Rock Island, with headquarters inPortland, is In the city.

S. W. Eckles. assistant general freightagent of the Union Pacific at Salt Lake,arrived in the city yesterday. .

M. C. Kimberley, general superintend-ent or. the Northern Pacific, went to Mon-terey yesterday.

II."B. Ledvard, vice-president and generalmanager of the Michigan Central, has goneto Monterey.

The Destitute Unemployed.Captain McFee of the Salvation Army,

who has taken charge of the care of desti-tute unemployed at the old Hall ofRec-

ords, under a resolution of the Board ofS npervisors, made his first weekly reportyesterday. Accordine to his statementtbe total cost of caring for the homelesswas as follows: 2412 beds at 21/, rents,

g(JO .50; 4'M'A meals at 5 cents, $248 20;total, $;M)8 50. This makes an average co«tto the city of 844 a day. Under the oldsystem of providing for the destitute atthe City Prisons tbe cost to the city wasL75 a day.

Against the Supervisors.John Ij.Mevers, who sued the Mayor

and members of the last Board of Super-visors for damages on account of tb« es-tablishment of a certain grade on Polkstreet, near the bay, lost bis suit in thecourt, » ut was nwardea costs, amountingto S<>:' ••o, and yesterday an execution forthis sum was issued against the twelvemembers of the last Board nf Supervisorsand tbe estate of the late Mayor bander-son. The amount to be paid by each is »trifle orer $4.

COMIC-OPERA NIGHT.The Vienna Prater Was the •\u2666Mecca"

of the Musical.There was scarcely applauding room in

Franz Joseph Hall yesterday evening, sogreat was the crowd that had flocked tohear the "comic-opera night" of theVienna Prater orchestra.

Excellently as the lightand pretty musicwas, however, performed itdid not arousethe same amount of enthusiasm that themore serious Wagner programme elicitedlast week. Indeed, it was evident that,much as the audiences who attend tbeprater concerts enjoy light music, theirwarmest admiration is reserved for greaterworks,Ltezft Second Hungarian Rhapsody,

w.iich was played as an encore to "TheBeautiful Blue Danube." created the fu-ror of the evening. Every who one hasbeard the Vienna band play this brilliantwork was evidently delighted to bear itacaiu, for the opening bars were greetedwith a burst of delighted applause.

As usual Franz Hell all but made hisnueeelhorn speak In the songs he played.

The audience wanted "Si vous|n'avezrien a me dire." and they encored tillthey got ft. Itis repeating what has beensaid before to remark that the orchestraexcels inoperatic music. Anoverturo byYon Suppp and a fantasia upon Offen-bach's works were performed with par-ticular brilliancy.

The second part of the programme wasa military concert, in which various oper-atic selections and a march by JohaonStrauss aroused great applause.

FUEL EXHAUSTED.The New City Hall Liable to Be

Turned Into an Ice Chest.Many of the heads of departments at the

City Hall yesterday complained of theshivers. Inmost ot the offices it was verycold, for the reason there was no coal tobuild fires with on account of the standtaken by Contractor Eobetts to furnish nomore coal until be is guaranteed paymentof his bills. There is no coal at all onband in the basement of the hall, and to-day the elevators will be stopped unlessfuel can be supplied.

The heater 3 algo will fail to give outtheir usual amount of caloric for tbesame reason. Until tb« Supervisors findsome way of adding to the fuel fund,clerks and deputies willhave to stand tbecold.

Mayor Ellert yesterday took the bull bythe horns and ordered a ton of coal, forwhich he will pay out of his contingentfund. The heads of other departmentswhose private offices have been kept atthe temi erature of summer days, will becompelled to pay for coal out ot their ownpockets, or wait until the Ftnauce Com-mittee of the board can find money to paythe coal contractor. The City and CountyAttorney is now considering the legalityof transferring the $2000 collected fromspecial irivlleges to the credit of the fuelfund for public buildings.

Paulsell Held to Answer.W. E. I'auisell, alias J. KlNewrose, was yes-

terday held to answer before the SuperiorCourt by Jud«e Joachimsen in $5000 bands onthe cliai i-e of robbery. Paulsel! and a con-reoerate held up nve men inCarroll &Webbei'sfaio-iooms, 620 Matxet stiei-t, In the emlyinoimug of February It*,and took nearly $5000out of the safe. Faulsel! w;is chased nnd cap-luiect, but hts companion escaped. About $500ot the stolen money, which was scattered onthe street, was recovered.

Important. Salvation Oil, tbe greatest cure ouearth tor pain, isonly -sc.

BULLS ANDBEARS.

May Wheat Takes aSharp Decline.

CONSIDERED A BIG TRAP.

The Bears View the FallSuspiciously.

DEALS ARE MADE CAREFULLY.

Partridge Suspected of Being at theBack of McGlauflin & Co in

the Attempt to Corner.

Another day of unrest has passed in theSan Francisco Call Board Exchange.

Bulls and bears in the pit are no longerbrothers.

Fraternal ralations for the first timesince the bigDresbacb aeal have been ab-solutely laid upon the shelf, and in theirstead suspicious glances, business looksand a general fear of one another prevail;;.

May wheat, as told exclusively iv yes-terday's CALL, is the cause of all the ex-citement. The bulls, composed of thefirm of L. W. McGlauflin & Co. and adozen or more brokers in their employ,are in command, and although called bythe "long" firm only a deal they practi-cally at the close of yesterday afternoon'ssession were in control of the situationand the owners of a corner on wheat.

The balance of the members of theboard form the bears, aud with very fewexceptions are short ou May wheat, whichfor seven months past they have been sell-ing to tne bull firm without realizing untiltoo late that their "spot" lor deliverywould not cover their deals by about 80,000

tons. Now, within two months of

delivery, May wheat lias gone up in manyinstances 10 and 12 cpnts higher than whensold and the "shorts" must be delivered orsettlements of contracts made by May 2.

To buy wheat to fill the "shorts" is outor the question. Not by this is it to beunderstood that there is a scarcity ofwheat in the State, for on the contrarythere is an abundance. The predicamentin which the bears find themselves is thata greater portion of the contracts on Maydelivery that are now held by McGlauflinwere .«old when May wheat was at a muchlower figure on the board than it is liableto go again. Most of then contracts werebought at $1 01 to 81 05, and ifthe Maydelivery falls between now and May 2 be-low a much higher hguie than these pur-chase prices it willbe a big surprise to thebulling firm and a considerable number ofthe bears.

The sessions yesterday might well becalled anxious one*. The amount of tradewp.s not voluminous, being for the entirethree sessions only 0100 tons. Of thisamount there is no way of telling howmuch was purchased by McGlauflin &Co.,as the principal amount of their tradingduring tbe day was done through brokers.The deals of the principal bull himselfand his partner, Kticene A. Bresse, gaveno idea of their operatlona. One minutethey were selling the other buying in aneffort to get tbe "shorts" worked up to abidding or selling heat.

Atthe close of Monday afternoon's ses-sion May wheat was Si13%, havingbeenpushed up by the bull syndicate duringthe session to SI ir,!<4. At tho informalsession at 10 o'clock yesterday May wheatopened at Si11%, went to SI13 and closedat SI 12*4. pbr cental. At tbe regular ses-sion, 11:15 a. Kh opening price 8112%,closing $111%. At the 2 p. m. session,opening Sill's, highest Sill's, closingSI lls/4.

December. 11:15 A. m.. opened Si 11%.highest Si 11 r;.dosed $111*4. At2p. m.,opened SI 11!4 highest SI 11%. closeSi llVi.allper cental.

Tbe Chicago market opened in Maywheat 51% cents per bushel, closed tin',.New York, opened U% cents per bushel,closed 64. London, quoted 25s 6d perquarter.

The situation at the present time is com-plicated. As yet the flurry is only local,but with a hanging on for a few days atyesterday's prices or a move ud ttie pricesin other markets willbe affected. Besidesthis itwill tend to tighten the supply onhand in the country by giving an incen-tive to the farmers to hold on.

As to who are the "shorts" much specu-lation Is indulged in. George W. McXearmost positively denies that, to any consid-erable amount, he is behind. While hehas sold a largo number of tons of May toMcGlauflin &Co., which apparently makeshim short, he says that he haa on handalmost, ifnot enough, "spot" to make hiscontracts good. Each operator on theboard has the same story to tell, but thereis an air of uneasiness over all.

Who is behind tbe big bulline firm? is aquestion that is being asked inlittle groupsthat huddle together on the floor aud dis-cuss the matter between the sessions. ItIs certain that some hidden hand is di-recting the manipulations and furnishingthe capital for the squeeze by the firm.They themselves may have an interest inthe deal, but not an exclusive one, itis be-lieved. Several names ere sunken of inthis connection, among which is that ofChicago* Board of Trade King Part-rftlge, who for several weeks has been avisitor on tbe coast.

To all appearances this would be errone-ous, for seldom, if ever, is the shrewdoperator's face seen upon the floor. Yetnotwithstanding this there are those whoclaim to have a knowledge of conferencesbetween Mr. Pardridge and the head ofthe bulling firm.

At yesterday's session the most com-posed figure present was L. W. McGlauf-lio. Never once during the brief momenta

of their duration did he open or close adeal. With a paper in his hand, leaningagainst the wall, he satisfied himself withtaking notes and occasionally indulging ina subdued whisper with his partner.Eugene A. Bresse. Itwas quite apparentthat ttie intention of the firm was to let themarket decline, thus giving a great incen-tive to the "shorts" to wake up aud get totrading.

McGlauflin will tiy to hold tbe fort andkeep the price where it is or higher untiltime for a settlement of his coutracts.

When asked yesterday afternoon howlone he was booked for a bull he replied:

"Just until itis time for a settlement oftbe contracts we hold."

"Is ityour intention to bull the marketuntil time for delivery?"

"Yes, sir, it is. We are in a positionwhere we can do it, and we have not goneInto this deal without knowing where westood. We have plenty of money to payfor every contract we buy on the spot Ingold coin, and will do it if the timeshould come when it was demanded."

"Are you in this deal on your own. ac-count or as a broker?"

"1 have never claimed that our housewas a brokerage one exclusively. If Iseeanything good lam going to take hold ofit, aud Isaw something good in this dealwe are now engaged in."

"Well, are you in it all foi yourself orare you brokering in part forsome oneelse?"

"Well, 1don't mind telling you thatthere are others in tbe deal withus andthat together we have an abundance ofcapital."

"Who is in the deal with you?""That is a leading question and Imust

refuse to answer.""To what price do you expect to see

May wheat go before you settle your con-tracts?"

"That is a very hard question t* answer,but Ifirmlybelieve that it will be overto-day's prices orIwould not be buying."

"What is your foundation for the beliefthat you have a sure thing on this deal?"

"Because 1 believe in May wheat andnot In freight rates, as was tbe case in theDresbach deal."

"What is your belief of the amount|youhold short?"

"That is hard to tell, but Ishould say80,000 tonß."

"Have you a corner on the May sup-ply?""Idon't call it a corner. No. Icall ita

deal. What it willdevelop into later onIdon't know. Of course I.believe we arepractically in control of the May wheatmarket, and before we are through willmake it warm for some who when selling'sbori' to us thought they were gettingthe long end. We knew all along whatwe were doing, and the last two* days isbut the beginning of an end that is tocome."

SCENE IN THE PRODUCE EXCHANGE.

DOG AND COWARD

Pet Phrases Banded TwixtTwo Fencers.

ANSOT INSULTS NAVARRO.

The Italian Threatens to SendHis Seconds.

BUT INSTEAD WRITES A NOTE.

He Challenges Ansot to Fight, but theLatter Says the Custom Is

Obsolete Here.

A blood red spot is visible over tbehorizon of the fencing world.

Professor P. Navarro has threatened tofructify some green sward with the hotblood of Professor Tronchet, renowned asa fencer from Padua to Pasadena. Notsatisfied, however, with slaking histblist for blood by letting that of Tronchet,he is now after the gore of Professor

Henri Ansot of the California Fencers'Club. The tension is something terrible,and unless the gentlemen meet soon theirnervous system can never hold out. Thetrouble between Navarro and Tronchetoccurred at a fencing bout in the OlympicClub, of which Ansot was a spectator.Ansot criticized the Italian freely

—so

much so that Navarro nuickly challengedhim to a bout with the foil?. The two metat 1318 Van Ness avenue

—the California

Fencers' Club— on Monday night. Thesame thing happened as hi the Tronchetcase ;Navarro refused to keep the distanceof his thirty-six luches of steel, with theresult that Ansot got mad and hustled bisadversary from the club. As be waltzedunwillingly into the cold night air Pro-fessor Navarro hissed :"Iwillsend my seconds to you, sir!""We are in America now," responded

the other cheerfully, "where duels are Dotallowed."

Yesterday afternoon Ansot received thefollowingcartel by the prosaic and plebeian

method of special delivery :Sir \u25a0. As you clearly refused my challenge,

saying that we are ivAmerica. 1willtell youthai, between a French leucing-master whoforgot himself, Infillinga guest, and a gentle-iii v wbo ts refused tlie only reparation duoHim, there is ouiyoue thing left to do, aud thatis to devote to you in tbis letter the name ofcoward. I*.Navarbo.

The receipt of the missive caused all thehot Gallic blood of Ansot to boil. Quicklybe seized his pen and indited the followinganswer:

Sir :You promised to send your seconds to-day, and as 1have seen uobody yet my auswei13 tliat you are a dog and a cur. H. Ansot.

"What Navarro willdo now itis hard tosay," Ansot said to a reporter yesterday.

"Navarro said be would send hia seconds.He shows bis ignorance of tbe polite artof dueling by communicating with me.Tbe oniy proper way to duel is to leave allthe business to the seconds. My principalsecond is tbe ("unite Moreau de Bauviere,and he knows it. That letter is a directbreach of etiquette. Ifhe wants to tightin Mexico Iwillacccmodate him. Ican-not afford to go to France, and if we fighthere we willbe arrested."

"Well, if Professor Navarro sends hisseconds in the regular way what willbethe result?"

"Oh, tnen we'll arbitrate.""Butsupposing Professor Navarro won't

arbitrate, what then?"'•AH. then we will fight." said Professor

Ansot, and a determined look stoJe overhis face. As to Navarro he says bothTronchot and Ansot are eaipet knights.He has no use for all their fancy thrustand parry business. He says be wantsblood for the insult offered hiw, and thatgive him a fair field and no favors hewould dye every blade of grass witbin anell of the fight a deep crimson with theircraven gore.

Louis L. Tronchet.

Henry Ansot.

SHE MUST GIVE UP.A Sister Who Is Not Satisfied With

Her Legacy.John J. Murphy, special administrator of t.*e

estate of John Murphy, deceased, tiled apetition In tne Piobate Court yesterday, askingthat Mrs. Honora McConnick, sister of the deceased, be compelled to turnover some $4000,alleged to belong to the estate.Itlappears that John Murphy died at St.

Mary's Hospital ou February 4 last. He leftan estate of the value of $25,000. The story Nthat three d:iys before Murphy died his sister,Mrs. McCormick. arrived here from Auburn.I'iacer County, to muse him. Insome vvav sheprocured from him bank-books and otherpapers, estimated at the value or $4000.

The administrator claims that Aiuruhy couldnot have intended to make bin sister a presentof this mouey. asm his will he distributed tbewhole of his property, including that supposedto be tnlV!r<i. McCoimick's possession, to variousrelatives. Mrs. McConnick Is a legatee uudertne willto the tune of $7000, but It is claimedthat she desires to keepJhe f4000 as well.Juiige Colley has iAed an order to showcause whyMrs. McCormick should not be com-pelled to account for this money so obtainedfrom her brother.

Weak Lungs are cruelly racked, aud tbegeneral strength gradually wasted bya persis-tent, deer-seated cough, which Dr.D.Jayne'sExpectorant may be relied on to cure. Youwillderive certain benefit from it also IItrou-bled with euliei astlinia or bronchitis.

THE MORNING CALL, SAN FRANCISCO, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1594. 3