The morning call., 1892-12-25
A PIONEER REPAST.
Christmas Dinner Eaten at Suffer-
Fort i'm ISzs.

Fort in IS45.
One OF the most interesting recolleetions
OF my life was a Christmas dinner which
was eaten at Suffers Fort in 1915. On the
occasion referred TO there were present
besides myself Captain Suffer, John Bid
well. Z. b. Reading. s. J. Hensley and two
or three others who l do not now recall. |
was then acting as assistant clerk at the
fort and had determined to assay a Christ
mas dinner.
The cook was an English Cockney, but a
good fellow withal, who, when approached
upon the subject, declared that he could
get up menu that would rival Dalmonico's
best efforts, il would only leave the whole
matter in his hands. | agreed TO his
terms, but did not quite see how
ne could do IT. as our commissnriat
consisted wholly of beef. frijoles Drown
beans). unbolted flour, Mexican panoche
sugar. about the color OF natural beeswax
and OF about the same consistency, with an
abundance OF chile colorado (red Deppers)
plenty OF salt and black pepper, with coffee
and lea. There were no vegetables. butter
or milk, but he was so confident / let him
have his own way.
He also promised to top off the whole
with dessert consisting of real John Bull
plum pudding. | again became a little in
credulous, far the only ingredients at hand
necessary TO construct that delectable
panoche sugar; no spices, butter, milk,
eggs or raisins. To be sure the river was
lined with profusion of a small. black,
wild grape. little more sour than concen.
trated vinegar. He went TO work. but kept
his doings so secret that we were utterly
conleetuTeiess as TO what might be the re-
suit OF his ultpary Vaccinations.
Wen, to ebbreyiate, the day and hour at
last arrived and we were ushered into the
dining-room in the building only the runs
M
and which the Native Sous OF the Golden
West have SO ereditably undertaken 10 re-
store to semblanee of the original condi-
ton.
We took our seats at the table with ex-
pectancy and no little curiosity. The first
course was beef SOUP, garnished with
fri1oies. chile colorado and garlic; the sec
ond course was roast beef: the third course
was baked beef pie; the fourth course was
stewed beef, and the fifth course was fried
beef accompanied with black, unbolted flour
bread. All these dishes were garnished
with the same condiments as the first but
the chile colorado dominated over all the
others, and our bodies were agiow with
heat, ana our stomachs were like boiling
cauldron We were all very anxious
for the plum pudding Ito counteract
the artificial heat, created by the red pepper
he soon brought IL in with an air Of great
self-gratula:ion. and such puddingl 1t Is
doubtful IL another, to compare with IL.
has ever been or ever will be con-
eocted. In its construction the cook had
used common beef tallow liberally
and filled it with the aforesaid sour
grapes, and seasoned it unsparingly
with chile colorado, black pepper,
salt and garlic. He also made a sort Of sauce
with the panoche sugar and tallow. and
had also dosed that literally with chile and
black peppers. He said he had been in the
country some time, and had learned the
Mexican way of cooking, which he pro-
nounced the most healthy and delicious In
the world. and that having no spices he
used the same condiments in all his dishes.
Captain Suffer was singular man about
his food. He would partake of anything
set before him without remark, but this
dish bothered him. He ate it, however
without saying word, although his
manner betrayed some curiosity as to
its composition. AS he would gulp it
down he would look around at us,
with sort Of dazed and helpless look. evil
IDENTIFY TO see II we were really eating it,
and how the thing was affecting us. But
he was too we'll bred and dignified in his
manners 10 say a word. We had all been
helped plentifuly to the dish, but after
taking mouthful or two we were as per-
picked as the captain. and gszsd at each
other and at the dish In silent astonish-
ment. until Reading broke the silence by
asking:
Cook. what Is ftp"
why. sir. replied the cook, cit Is a reg
ular Christmas plum pudding, Mexican
STYLE"
We soon concluded 1t was little too rich
Tor our American palates, and as we moved
back from the table Captain Suffer looked
up with sigh of relief. From politeness
lie had continued trying to eat of this won-
derful production so long as he thought we
were doing so. And thus ended our Christ.
mas dinner at Suffers Fort in 1916. S