The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-07
TINES CHANGES.
How an Old Pioneer Sees Them
in City Improvements.
David Andrus Returns After an Absence Of
Thirty-seven Ysars-Reminiscsncs
of Early Days.

"Thirty-seven years is long stretch In a
mans lifetime, and one realizes it all the
more when he returns to place which he
has not seen in that time and notes the
changes which have been made" said David
Andrus, one of the early pioneers of this
State. to CALL reporter yesterday.
In speaking in this philosophical strain
Mr.. Andrus was referring to his own expe-
rience. He came to this city several days
ago, after an absence extending over the
time mentioned.
Mr.. Andrus is well-preserved man in
the sixties, and has that entertaining con-
versational style possessed by many men of
culture who have travelled a great deal and
taken careful observations of all that is to be
seen.
Although he has been away thirty-seven
years his recolections Of the city as it was
in pioneer days, and Of incidents which oc-
cured during his sojourn here, are as clear
and distinct as if they had been his expert
ence of few weeks ago.
YES" went on Mr.. Andrus, glanciug
out the window of his quarters in the Grand
Hotel at the long stretch of Market street
out toward the Mission hills, sit has been
more than an ordinary surprise TO me. Al
though had heard of the marvellous growth
OF San Francisco, had no idea that it was
what it is.
HE CAME ON THE OREGON.
- came here in the latter part of Au-
gust in 1919 in the ship Oregon. 1t was her
second trip, | believe, and | landed from a
small boat about in the center of MOntgOm-
cry street. The town then was but small
collection of tents and rude wooden shan
ties. OF course, like every one else. L had
the gold fever agd went at once to the
mines, although probably | would have
done better by remaining in the city.
located on the upper bar of the North
Fork of the American River. 1t was just
above Placerville. 1t was not very profit
able venture, as l lost about S1100 in the
tunneling scheme at Horseshoe Bar. The
idea was to drain the bed of the river,
where it was expected there was fabulous
amount of gold-the accumulation of years,
even centuries.
well, l fell sick at the mines and had to
leave. SO | tried my hand at teaming for a
couple OF months in the early part of 1850
L drove from Sacramento to Placerville and
did quite well for the time, but 1T was a
hard winter. 1t was in that year that the
Sacramento River overlooked
THE FLOOD OF 1S49
In fact all of Sacramento was under water
then except where the State buildings are
located now. 1t cost S25 to go from here
10 Sacramento then, and meals were 81
apiece.
81 next came back to the city and
for awhile was associated in the gen.
eral merchandise business with man
named Mr., Huntington. who died only
few weeks ago. 1t was while thus
engaged that L saw a chance to
make money in supplying the market here
with hogs. Fresh pork was in great de-
a few porkers which the Spaniards
drove in from the interior. There
was large consignment OF hogs came up
from the Sandwich Islands L secured
them at fair price, and opened the first
'piggery,' as it was then called, in Happy
Valley. 1t was on Mission street. between
what would now be Third and Fourth.
The only way to reach the place was along
Kearny street, which ran down TO Mission.
which was then the only road leading out
of the city. Where those cable-cars are
now going out Market street were sand
dunes covered with chapparel.
'For my part secured on an average so
cents a pound at wholesale, and never less
than 30 cents. | supplied the Suffer mar
ket and the big market down by Long
Wharf, which was run by one Steinberger
at that time Sam Brannan lived on the cor
ner of Mission and Kearny streets, OF,
rather, what is now Third street.
SPORTS AT THE MISSION.
mission street was the liveliest thorough
fare in the town. On Sundays then every
one went out to the bull and bear fights and
the horse-races at old Mission Dolores.
saw several of these fights where the Span
iards would have bear aud bull chained
together. In one the bear got away with
the bull, and in another the bull laid
out the bear. 1t was brutal sport, but
was highly enjoyed by the spectators. To-
day | rode through the well-laid-out streets
of the Mission and | could not even locate
the old sporting ground. Yes, the changes
hnr ind 1Orc and
drews passed his hands over his face as if
he was not yet thoroughly satisfied that all
he had seen since his return was not an
optical Illusion which might be dispelled in
a moment.
Another part of the city which have
been visiting is the Western Addition, the
park and the Cliff House. 1t is like a
newly discovered country. l used to ride
over the rolling hills on horseback. In nv
time here the general impression was that
North Beach was the coming part of the
city.
PROPERTY FOR A MERE SONG.
"Why, over in this direction where this
hotel is property could be bought for a
mere song. l see now where by investing
$500 or $500 in property around my place
then L could now realize hundreds of thous-
ands of dollars.
81 have since l got here wandered over
Mob Hill and admired the handsome resi-
dences there, and wherever l have gone l
have felt like stranger in a strange land.
"Another source of surprise pto me has
been the growth of Oakland All that
remember of the place was one Slaughter
house, kept by Spaniard from whom [
once bought a number of hogs. All around
was wild country and no sign of another
house.
Il went back East in the fall of 1858, and
although have often meditated n trip out
here it was not until this year that l sue
ceeded in getting away. | came by the
northern route aud was much taken up with
the country around Tacoma. l think from
its position that Tacoma has as bright a
future ahead of it as San Francisco. | will
remain here several days yet with my wife,
and visit every point of interest and then
go back East"