The record-union., 1891-06-20
HOFFMAN'S TRAVELS.
How His Stockton Friends Escorted
Him to the Depot,
Affecting Scenes and Thrilling Music
The Place Where Terry FelI-For-
ests OF the Mojave Desert.

My departure from Stockton was a
notable event in the history of that thriv-
ing city, and will long be remembered as
one of the notorious incidents of an
otherwise unimportant season, etc.
When l had fully decided to leave
Stockton, and shake the San Joaquin
County soil from the tail of my garment
forever, or at least for the summer, 1 en-
deavored to keep the fact from the public
at large as much as possible, and by pay
ing regular advertising rates for untitled
space kept the papers from making any
mention of my contemplated exodus, but
it leaked out, as such things will, and my
numerous friends and acquaintance de-
termined to give me send-off on short
notice.
It happened that just at the time when
! meant to leave, my friends, who had de-
cided that procession, headed by brass
band, was the least they could do for me,
found that the regular Sixth Regiment
Band had gone to furnish animated sound
for a Dutch picnic, and there was no
other band available, except the Chinese
TerpSichOrean Orchestral Union, under
the management OF Professor Wun Lung,
which had been in a state of violent
eruption for two days in anticipation Of
the regular annual Chinese day of prayer
and absolutiOn. This band numbered six
Chinese tiddlerS, a fifer, and a man who
hammers on a piece of bOiler-iron which
Is suspended from his finger by string.
When 1t Is necessary to enlarge the band
more men with pieces of boiler-iron are
added, giving to the organization an al
most limitless scope of power. l may add
that in cases where the profits of the cir
10
boiler-iron is sent to produce the neces-
sary rythm and harmony.
Finding that no other band could be
obtained, my friends endeavored to de-
lay my departure by making me miss
the train. They set the town clock back
an hour, and the ruse would have been
successful but for one thing. My 81
watch, which had not been doing any
thing for month, suddenly returned to a
sense of duty, and l, knowing 1t would
not deceive me after so long rest, con-
suited it instead of the town clock, and
started for the depot, ignoring and pity
ing the people who We're being fooled out
OF their dinners for an hour, and who in
sisted that the town clock was right and
my watch, fresh and strong after its long
rest, wrong.
My movements, however, had been
watched, and when il was seen that
would not miss the train, Wun Lung and
his tiddlers were hurriedly engaged, and
when l stepped forth from my lodgings,
after an affecting farewell scene with my
Iaudlady, 1t was only TO be confronted by
the long procession which had formed to
escort me TO the depot. In a few we'll
chosen words Mayor Clark, who acted as
master of ceremonies, informed me of the
purpose of the assemblage, and, having
thanked him, fell into place with tears
In my eyes and the march began. The
following was the order Of procession:
Chinese Terpsichorean Orchestral Union.
Myself
Small Boy With Baggage
Board OF Public Works.
Health Officer
City Council.
Police and Fire Commissioners
Boy With Flag.
Society for the Suppression of Vice.
Sunday-School Chlldren With Flowers.
Stockton Agent for the Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty 10 Children.
Members of the Press
Coroner and Volunteer Jury,
The Public at Large.
That part of the procession represent
ing the public at large was, I think, the
most striking feature of all, inasmuch as
1t showed that the public at large in
Stockton was remarkable for its youth
and bare legs; also, the torn condition, or
high rents" of its garments.
The scene at the depot was very touch
ing indeed. A tinge of sadness mingled
with the aroma of ear grease and the ex-
pectOrations of the engines permeated
the atmosphere to i considerable extent,
and many shed tears. When ! arose in q
graceful way and made a few rambling
and almost incoherent, sobbing remarks,
the agony was intense. Every body wept
profusely. 1t was a very sad spectacle,
and l shall not forget it if | live to be
1000 years old-otherwise l may.
Just before the train started, and before
the handshaking had fairly begun dog
fight occurred and everybody left me for
Ii few moments alone. / signaled to the
engineer and the train pulled out. 1t
was not proper to leave my friends so
unceremoniously, but l wished TO spare
them further agony and / went.
l have not heard which dog was
whipped.
At 1athrop changed cars. Of course I
went into the eating-room to see where
Terry was killed. Everybody does it.
and the habit has taken root TO such an
extent that many people who live at
Lathrop go up to the depot every day TO
look at the spot where the killing oc-
CURED and point out the bullet-holes. I
do not know how many shots Maggie
fired, but over fifty bullet-holes We're
pointed ont to me in less than a minute.
Candidly, / think local pride has made
bullet-holeS Of great many little spots
on the walls. For instance, / saw fly
make speck on the wall near the cell
ing, and a few seconds later the speck
was pointed out TO preacher as full
grown bullet-hole made by Naeg1e's
cannon.
1.-TWO gentlemen who had Just arrived
from the land of hard cider were dis
cussing the Terry affair.
I've heerd." said one, that Maggie
comes here purpose to shoot folks"
LES see," said the other, Maggie
shot Terry, didn't he?'
'Yas; Naegle slaughtered i'm"