Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-03-30
IN DARKNESS.
Kamblings by Night i'm the lin.
lighted Streets Of u City.

lighted Streets of u City.
SAN Francisco, March &c, 1883.
Not a light could 1 see, not the faintest jot,
Az through the streets Of the city 1 hurried.
A policeman discharged his farewell shot,
As Ger crossing aud sidewalk / scurried.
Short and sweet were the prayers 1 said,
And l whistled the whistle of the brave;
1 tremblingly gazed ahead in the gloom
Great Scott! 1t yawned like q grave.
The above bears a close resemblance to 4
noble old poem, but it gives a faint idea OF
the appearance Of our streets at night
time. We are then in total darkness, and
remain so until His Majesty the Day God
greets us again. In plain English, our
public lights have been extinguished, and
simply because the gas fund is exhausted.
What a pity that our ex-oficials, having
provided so well for everybody and every
thing else, did not leave enough for illu-
minating purposes. 1t is safe to say that
were Diogenes and his lantern existing to-
day they would not be at loss for occupa-
ton.
For o long time the city and the San
Francisco Gaslight Company have been at
loggerheads, the Gas Company disputing
its tax bills and delaying payment thereof,
and the city pursuing a like course as to
its gas bills. The war was hot, and after
innumerable suits and counter suits
"climaxed" a short time since by decisive
action being taken, by the Gas Company,
of course. 1t summarily and completely
stopped the public supply OF gas. The
immediate reason Of this proceeding is,
the Gas Company seeing no prospect for
| the payment of bills to be contracted by
the city, demanded a guarantee. The
| city fathers refused the guarantee, and
the company refused more gas. So here
we are with not a single public light. A
boastful Briton once claimed that the sun
never sets on the English possessions.
These Britishers always we're lucky, ex-
cept with the Irish. Oh. would we were
as favored, we could snap our fingers at
lying meters, and street lamps would
cease to be d necessity!
Seriously speaking, this is moro than a
question Of light and darkness. 1t is q
matter involving the safety of life and
property. There is no need of recounting
the various mishaps attendant on the con
dition of darkened streets. Suffice it to
say that several deaths have been attributed
directly to it, and that burglaries and rob-
berries have been unusually bold and fire.
quent. One case of which 1 heard, but
which was not reported, il quite anus
ing ~ A young man was about leaving
his house for that mysterious realm"
down town, when his sister cautioned him
to leave his watch, etc., at home, at the
same time telling him of how a gentleman
friend of hers had been stripped of his
valuables. He ridiculed the idea, and
would not profit by his sisters advice.
Thereupon he took his departure. After
breasting the darkness for e couple of
blocks he reconsidered the matter, and
thought that after all his sister may have
been right. He so resolved. Acting upon
resolution, he faced about and started for
the paternal mansion. He had taken no
more Than a dozen steps on the back track,
when horror Of horrors his ears were
saluted by the regulation Glands up" In
vulgar parlance, he was ''stood up" and
there was no alternative. but for him to
'deliver." He did so. That young man
has now great respect for his sister. Score
one for discretion as against valor, and
tho common sense of woman against the
bravado Of man.
How long we are to remain thus is I'M
certain. The trouble may or may not be
speedily adjusted. 1t would be quickly
settled if something would occur touching
tho safety and comfort Of some Of the Gas
OOiupohl . oiliSCAss vi lLsuuiSS, 4 Sohio
official of the corporation would be effect
lively tackled by some business-like high
wayman it would bring him to a realizing
sense of the situation. And let it be done
under the friendly shade and shelter of
one of his own gas lamps. 1t would SAVIOR
of s'pootic justice" 1 humbly offer the
above as a suggestion to some ''street OPP
orator." The globes have been removed
from all the posts and the pipes capped.
The posts thus stripped look positively
hideous, and with the street guides thereon
pointing in opposite directions, wildly re-
call the old-fashioned cross beam g~allows.
(Ah! More food for thought in the direc-
ton of ''poetic justice.") But the trouble
has not been without its benefits. 1t has
developed a latent wit. Several i'm
promptu lights in the shape Of Transparent
cies have been rugged up. At the south
west corner of Bush and Kearny streets is
one lighted by a candle and bearing the
inscription, 1.-THE light Of other days.
Presented to the Board Of Supervisors
by y" On Pine, above Kearny, is
another. This one is "Presented to the
citizens of San Francisco by the new Gas
| Company" and so on, and 30 on. YANK.