The morning call., 1892-04-04
RELIGIOUS RIVALS.
A Contest for the Right TO a
Street Corner.
How the Salvation Army Was Prevented From
Invading the Gospel Missions
Territory.

The corner of Stevenson and Third streets
was the scene OF most amusing incident
yesterday morning.
For many Sundays past the Salvation
Army has been in the habit of dispatchlng
one of its uuth-of-Market detachGents to
that corner punctually at II A. NJ
They used TO come along with flying
colors, brass bands and red uniforms, and
it was considered by them quite The proper
thing to harangue the many sinners of the
Twenty ninth Assembly District who
would not go To church.
Stevenson street is favorie thorough
fare for religious enthusiasts, street faklrs
and medical quacks to hold nightly meet
ingS In, because It.ls one OF the few public
streets which is not owned by some railroad
company by virtue of castirOn franchise,
and II Is quite safe for any one who desires
to do so to block all travel without fear of
being interfered with by the passing OF
stTeetcars.
THE GOSPEL MISSIONS TERRITORY.
On the northeast corner of Stevenson and
Third streets stands a new brick building,
the basement Of which is occupied by the
Central Gospel Mission as headquarters;
where, as has been stated, the red-and- blue
uniformed Salvationsts camped every Sun
day for weeks in front of the Mission.
They provoked much i'll feeling there, for
the latter do considerable in the exh0rta-
ton line themselves, and considered an in
yaSiOn on their territory an insult.
The Band of Holiness also had an eye on
that corner, for 1t is located just opposite
the headquarters of well-known political
bosses, and Is considered an especially fine
location for the purpose OF redeemius lest
souls.
10 make matters mora aggravating, DR..
O'Donnell announced last week that he had
selected Third and Stevenson streets for a
site on which 70 erect a roStrum, whence he
will III flowrry 0ratory try 10 convince his
many friends in that part OF the city that
he Is the only many ut to be Governor OF
Californian that they can cOnscien,iously
vote only for him at the next election.
THE LAST STRAW.
DR.. 0'DOnneips threat was all that was
needed 20 exhaust the patience of the long
suffering Gospel Mission people and they re-
solved To make one grand effort in order TO
have it understood that they alone had the
right and privileges to occupy that particular
corner for meeting purposes.
The result of many deliberations became
manifest yesterday morning about 1890
o'clock when six solemn looking indivi-
duals emerged from the basement occupied
by the Gospel MissiOnists.
Each of these carried huge brass trumpet
In his hand as they silently ranged them
selves in line so as to bar Stevenson street
completely.
AT command given by the leader the six
trumpets were lifted 10 tue mouths of the
six men and there began a musical exeeu-
tion, such as never had been attempted be-
| fore. The good citizens living in that
locality hope that it will never be repeated.
For about an hour six burly, strong
Iunged men tortured the ears of every one
| within hearing by footing the trump is in
| the loudest notes possible, utterly regard
| less of the rules OF harmony or unison.
Hundreds of people stopped TO ascertain
| what il all was about, but few could afford
| to remain long-that horrible noise was too
! much for them.
THE ARMY RETREATS.
When the agony was nearly over, the eX-
! planaton OF the whole proceeding came.
| A detachment Of the Salvation Army ap-
| preached from Third street, singing. shout
| ing and playing hymns.
Unconscious of prior occupation. they
| were Just about to turn into Stevenson
street, as usual, when they found the six
| trumptsrS holding the fort.
| For moment 1t looked like war, but the
| Salvatonist leader was equal to the situa-
| tion, and turning right about, he directed
| his forces by cOuntermarch down Third
| street. and kept them marching until they
| reached their headquarters on Howard
street.
| Speculation Is now rife among the residents
| in the neighborhood of the locality men,
| toned "a to whether yesterday episode will
| relieve them for the future from the tortures
| the religious warriors have. for some time,
| inflicted upon them. or whether they will
continue to have their peace distur bed every
night as well as every Sunday.