The Irish standard., 1892-12-31

elected to parliament from Catholic dis,
tricts and mayors are elected every other
year in Catholic cities. D. P. 81.
A SCRAMBLE FOR soDs OF TURF.
James Phelan, the San Francisco Million
aire, Imports Turf, Shamrocks and
Poteen Whisky.
81 say, mister, will you let an old man
have that in his hands for a mlnute?"
The request was made at Beale street
wharf, San Francisco, by an old Irish
man of a man who held in his hand q
piece of turf (peat\ cut from one OF the
boys in ireland.
The piece of turf was part of twelve
crates that had been shipped from Bel
fast to Liverpool, and thence to San
Francisco on the British ship Raven
court
The man at once passed the piece OF
earth to the old man. He took it rever-
emily in his hands, raised it to his lips
and, kissing it, murmured, "God bless
ou!d Ireland Turning to q friend he
remarked: ut is 40 years since I left
the dear old spot, and have not seen
piece of turf since. What glorious fire
it used to make, and how we youngsters
did enjoy an hour or two before the fire.
place of an evening 3" The cd fellow
kissed the piece Of earth again and then
wandered toward the Ravenscourt to
sec if he could pick up piece for him
self.
AS soon as the ship reached the dock
the news spread like wild fire and the
wharf was soon crowded with 'longshore-
men from all the adjoining do:ks.
When the second crate was landed on
the wharf the excitement became intense.
One Irishrnan, more venturesome than
the rest, got close to crate, and while
Delivery Clerk Malone's back was turned,
seized sod of brick and ran for his life.
The crowd let him through, and, closing
up, prevented pursuit. The man got
away and there was not a soul among the
800 or 400 on the wharf but envied him
his luck.
In the handling on the ship many Of
the sods were broken and small pieces
fell on the wharf. These were eagerly
seized by those nearest the ship. Small.
bits were retailed by hoodlums, who Sc
cured most of the droppings, at from q
quarter up, and as much as SIS was Of
fered and refused for whole sod. One
waterfront rounder set up the drinks
for crowd of about 80 on the strength
of piece OF the 'ould sod" about the
size of his fist, which he presented to q.
saloon keeper named Sullivan.
As the crates were removed from the
hold of the ship the crowd became more
and more impatient, and at last the po-
lice had to be summoned in order to
keep them from making sway with the.
whole shipment One crate burst and.
Capt. Mclean and Delivery Clerk Ma
lone had to resort to clubs to keep the
eager throng back. Rain blows as they
would, however, they could not prevent
the loss of from Is to 20 sods,
The one subject Of inquiry along the
front this morning was as to why the
turf had been brought to San Francisco.
One theory was that the peat was to be
used in the whisky distillery now being
operated at Ssusalito. The Irish whisky
turned out is said to be very good but
lacks the peaty favor. This theory was
destroyed by the captain of the ship, who
asserted that the earth was for promi-
nent1nan in San Francisco.
Then it was said that speculator,
knowing the intense love of an Iriahman
for the ''home of his heart, had imported
the earth, feeling sure that he could
make largely by working upon the feel
ings Of the Colt. Lastly, it was said,
that 1t was to be used az an experiment
in fertilizing. ~
All these theories were incorrect. The
peat was imported by James Phelan, the
millionaire. Although it is now nearly
66 years since he LETT his native country
his love for Ireland he's never failed.
His I'D birthday will come early next
month, and the peat that came over in
the Ravenscourt will play 90 important
part in the celebration. With the peat
came two large cases of shamrocks, q
.cask Of the finest old poteen and cou-
pie Of skineta an Of which Will be used
in the celebration. There will Be gene
raj rejoicing in the household on Yalsn-
5cia street but M. Phelan viii entertain
some Of his old time friends Il real old
Irish styie, and ina room specially Pre-.
pared for the occasion