Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-08-04
OMELETS.
A Leaf from Note Book of a Forty Miner
A Duel Between Blue -Blooded Cooks
stopped by Jack Hays.

"Yes," said Captain s., the we'll
known but somewhat crotchety pio
neer, to party of "laters," gathered
in the lounging room of one of our
fashionable hotels, "Tve seen queer
things since 1 came to California in
the old ship Patterson" 2S0 days
from Boston, 40. I've seen life in
every phase. gone up and come down,
made friends and lost them, struck
high and hit low, and still lived along
while better men were planted 1
was one of the first settlers in Happy
Valley, pitching my tent alongside a
red blanket concern, tenanted by Bill
Sharon, Rod Gibbons, and some of
the Lamott boys. Ike. Bluxome, the
fearless and able Secretary "33" of
the Vigilance Committee of '56,
camped near 10y and was then drum
ming up recruits to put down the
Hounds"
FIRST HOTEL SOUTH OF MARKET STREET.
He did it in good style, as you will
find by consulting the ANNALS of San
Francisco although they are little
off in some things. For instance,
they don't credit me with work of
considerable magnitude in those days
starting the first hotel south of
Market street. 1t was burned soon
after the explosion of the Sycamore
but L put up another and it stands
to-day-the "Isthmus House" on First
street, one of the best-preserved
landmarks in the city. The old house
looks almost the same to day as it
did when Stewards Tor Stephenson's)
body laid on it's bar-room counter
three hours after his strangling on
the derrick on Market street wharf.
Ike was buried from the House, for
he was one of my boarders, and
though bad man l couldn't refuse
him final layout, redwood coffin,
an express wagon and a resting place
under the oaks of Yerba Buena.
THE ASHES OF HONORABLE MEN.
BY the way, what an outrage it was
to remove that cemetery! 1t con
tanned the ashes of men whom the
people should justly have held in
honor. Bad fellows also laid there,
but even they were associated with
the history of the city. The cemetery
should have been inclosed and pre-
served as n spot hallowed by histori-
cal associations. The removal of its
dead was an act of vandalism which
calls for eternal obloquy on the heads
of the perpetrators.
THE IsTHMUs HOUSE.
But I'm flying the track. When /
ran the Isthmus House l made a
speciality of omelets, / knew nothing
suited better men who had been
accustomed to rough it. Eggs plain
are very we'll, but for dish that
strikes right at a mans stomach
there is nothing like an omelet. 1t
must be good, however; "stale fruit"
won't do. / knew that, and gave
nothing but first class article. 1t
cost money, though. Fresh eggs were
three dollars dozen, and hard to
get that Still, there was a big
margin of profit. Each omelet
brought five dollars; sometimes,
when eggs were scarce, rising as high
as six and eight dollars. There are
men, you know, who are bound to
have luxuries, cost what they will.
A LITTLE FRENcHMAN.
I had a Frenchman as cook, who
considered himself as without an
equal in this branch of cookery. We
called him "Frenchy," because no
one took the trouble to ask his name.
He was a little sallow-fa chap,
wore a paper cap and sang the
'Marsaillaise" so frantically, that
some people swore he was crazy.
But he was a good cook. His ONE
let's ran up the name Of the house,
and made money hand over fist. l
have sold as high as sixty omelets
day, at an average profit of $3, price
not bad for one article of provender.
A GERMAN BARON.
But success breeds envy. The
"California Hotel" on Dupont street,
had German Baron as chief cook,
who also proposed to register number
one as an omelet constructor. His
employer set him up as the champion
omelet- maker of the Golden State.
l couldn't stand this; claimed the title
for my cook, and offered to bet 1000
that "Frenchy" could beat the Baron
all hollow and have vacuum to
spare. Moreno. who ran the hotel,
accepted the challenge; the money
was put up, and arrangements made
for the match. 1t took place in big
tent pitched for the occasion, on an
open space now covered by the Hiber-
MIA Bank. 1t called out all the cpl
cures in the city, and was al event in
every particular Three noted gas
tronomists were appointed judges
one being Cavalier, afterward bank
er, and who at later period was shot
at by a crazy man. went to France
and died.
APPEARANCE OF THE COOKS.
Both cooks appearedin white suits,
the Baron wearing Prussian flag as
apron; the Frenchman French one.
I made him also wear the American
colors as sash round his waist, and a
Bear flag across his shoulders. l
meant him to typify this country, and
he did it; for he rode over all oppo-
sition. Well, to chip off; his omelets
,,o,.o s;,nplv maunificent The iudQes