Richland beacon., 1888-02-18
LEFT HIS GAS BURNING.
The Friends Of the Pacific Coast Man
Make IL Pleasant for Him.

A number of friends of Henry Butler
have been enjoying a great deal OF fun
Mt the old centleman's expense OF late.
II seems that Mr.. Butler left his room |
Mt five o'clock i'll the morning, II lew
weeks since, to catch the up-sound
steamer for Portland and III his haste
forgot to turn off his gas, which was
burning brightly. Some OF his friends
saw the light in his room the next even-
ing. and, thinking burglars might he 60
ing through Mr.. Buffers drawers, went
ND only to find the room locked and
boted, Just as it had been left. Inc
fact that he had forgotten to turn OH the
GAS. i'm his haste to catch the steamboat,
dawned upon them all at once, and they
deter ined to let it burn until he came
back, oven if he remained away for two
months. About the time he got ready
TO sail from Portland to San Francisco,
Mr.. McDougald telesraphed him: "Aour
gas is still burning" :,
"Why the devil don't You turn u
out 2" was the reply received from Mr..
Butler.
When the news flashed over the wires
that tbe Portland steamship had reached
| San Francisco Fred Allen sent his absent
friend the following message: dear
Butler-l our gas is still burning, Just
as Won left it. Penficld says he charges
double rates when consumers keep their
lights burning night and day.
This message WAS marked ''collcct,
and the messenger who handed IT to VI.
Butlcr remarked: dollar and quar-
ter. please"
Mr.. Butler paid the bill and then
opcned the message only to ind that
those horrid friends of his in Seattle
were carrying out that practical joke.
In his despair he rushed to the tele-
graph Office and sent the following mes
sage: "Ed. l.. Terry-Turn out my
gas. ;,
The next day he received from his
friend Terry the following message:
"Have lost my pass key and can't get IT..
The gas is still burning
This was too much for the old gentle
man, and his first idea WAS to come homo
Mt once and turn it of himself, but just
rs he was getting ready to leave MIR.
Ycsler reached the city. When the two
met Mr.. Yesler said: "Why, hello
Butler, what are you packed for = I'm
going home to turn off my gas, said
Mr.. Butler ''At the rate it's burning
the gas company will own half my prop
erty if stay much longer.
Mr.. Yesler persuaded him that gas
was very cheap in Seattle and the more
n customer consumes the cheaper the
rate is in proportion, and that II he
should consume loo, 900 feet during the
month he was absent the rate when he
got home would be S225 per thousand,
instead of 80 per thousand. the rate
;. charged small consumers. This ar
!, rangement, while it was consoling to
! certain extent, did not dissuade Mr.
!; Butler from his desire to get home.
. "Let her burn" said Mr.. Yesler, ''ant
D 60 to Southern California with Mad
y docks and myself. and when we &c
u home I'll get Pentield to cut the bill
!! down as much as possible and I'll stan,
: cne-half the expense.
Mr.. Butler considered this a generou
- Cffer, and as he was very anxious to vlsi
- Los Angeles and other booming town
|. south of San Francisco, concluded t
:, ''let her burn
! Messrs. Butler and Yesler arrives
i home last night. The gas was still burn
:, ing when Mr.. Butler reached his room
~ He turned it ont, and drawing q candl
y from his pocket lighted it and exclaln
ed: "Revenge is sweet. If Penfiel
G. takes advantage of my absence to get
re lien on my property, now, hencefort
y and forever, will eschew gas and iil
!, ,aiaata my premises instead with tallo'
u dips !" -,
Il After Mr.. Butler had retired for Il;
of night, and was dreaming of California,
s. quartet of his musical friends tenderc
r. him delightful serenade, the princip'
NJ song rendered being that which con
III mences, "Let your lower lights be burr
y ing" They were followed down stall
u by bootjack and an old shoe after I'll
~ first verse had been sung.
II Mr.. Butler swears vengeance on thO'
as practical jokers, and VOWS he will g
az even if it takes all winter.