The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-29
OLD-TIMERS ON SPOOKS.
Pioneers Agitated Over the Hotel
Spirits.
Some Wko Believe in the Supernatursl-Ed
Palmer Illustrates His Position
With a Story

The recent mysterious manifestations at
the Commercial Hotel as published in The
CALL have cecasioued much discus
sion; various reasons have been an
nounced to account for the peculiar phe-
nomena. A few are inclined to ridcule the
idea of the supernatural, while others are of
the opinion that agencies beyond the mooted
have taken hand in the pranks that have
been going on. Whatever may have been
the cause the fact remains that no one has
been able to offer clear explanation, and
those who insist upon maintaining the
materialistic theory are knocked ont by the
facts.
ED PALMER EXPLAINS.
That eminent materialist. Edward Palmer,
who gained his encyclopaedia knowledge of
anti-occult from Dan O'ConEell, was in
clined when seen yesterday to make light of
tho spook theory. but acknowledged that ne
could assign no material cause for the
strange occurrences.
81 am a materialist. SIR" he said, tapping
bis manly breast until il gave out sound
ike Salvation Army drum, 'but | will
confess that some things are hard To ac-
count for. L remember that q friend of
mine, a few years ago, was constructing a
railroad In the East, and had In his employ
as foreman q Scotchman named Donald.
Ny friend was called away on business.
leaving Donald in charge. Three days later
he was walking along the railroad
track, and in crossing high bridge met
Donald. He addressed him, and the fore
man disappeared over the side of the bridge
as II be had fallen. That nigh. he received
telegram informing him that at the hour
be had fancied be had met Donald, the
latter had fallen from the top OF a new
bridge and had been killed. You may give
the explanation, for l cannot"
QUOTED DE YOUNG.
w. ii: Y. Crowse, who abandoned his
he left the stock market some years
ago, said: II have given the matter
great deal of thought, but l must confess
that | am up stump. While l do not be-
lieve in physIc phenomena / will admit that
the case IS mysterious. Spirits as a rule or
those with whom / have associated most
closely in days gone by avoid cuspidores
and cling rather to what Mike de Young
would call other articles of yirtu."
Colonel William Doolan,, whose warlike
qualities once made him Public Admins
traitor, assumed 4 Deligerent attitude when
approached, and made a motion as If to
draw weapon.
Just let such a spirit disturb me-" said
the fiery colonel, land l would riddle him
with bullets. would make a corpse of him
at once and bis troubles" and the colonel
glared ferceiy as If eager for a gun fight.
BIBLICAL AUTHORITY.
Il should say that human hands had done
the work, unused George E. Barnes, as be
glanced fondly at the photograph of Nine.
ibanL Il am materiaist, and in MY
BELIEF cling TO the biblical Injunction which
says. The spirit hath not flesh nor blood
Hands without flesh and blood could not
remove hooks nor handle cuSpidores. aud
for that reason the supernatural Is out Of
the question"
Edward Campbell. who edited newspa-
peT IN this city when the marine reporter
made his headquarters on Montgomery
street. and who is supposed TO know all
sorts Of spirits, was inclined to regard the
matter seriously.
Why, when Joe Mcdonald died and left
a typewriter will it was changed, you will
remember, by a former clerk who after
ward became insane. Il Is fact that a
female relative OF McDonald's in the East
saw the man changing the will and AFTER
ward identified the clerk in the asylum as
the man she had seen. IL that doesn't prove
tnat the supernatural exists / am mistaken
awkward MeGOwan, whose chief occupa-
ton is to denounce the old Vigilance Com
mittee, shook his head solemnly and refused
10 EXPRESS positive opinion.
When you have seen as much of the
world as l have" ne sighed. you win be
prepared TO believe anything and be slow
to give an opinion Senator Tim Mccarthy
taught me that trick and have never for
gotten 1t. | will see Tim tomorrow, and
II he says spirits are at work I'll stay with
him. Tins dandy on spirits"