The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-07

There was an aspect of sadness about the
event. Men stood among the crowd whose
memories turn ed time lar backward in its
fight. For them the sale was ike the
breaking up of some old ship that had car
Tied them safely from some faraway shore
The most precious associations were
wrapped UP in this place. Tie rafting
How much am / offered? What-dO-l-
hear?-NeYer-w as-such-a-sacTifce - Going
gning-g oing-thirteen dollars and a. half
and-a-half-half. half - last-chance one
two fourteen dollars thank you, sir
observation-disclosures - say
ffteen-do l hear fifteen n-tour-
teen"-fell on the ears OF these men like
the rattle OF clay dropped on the coffin of
some loved one. These men linked the old
gardens with their boyish days. and the
sweet faces of mothers and fathers long
since dead beamed again in the mlSts which
filed their eyes. II was very human
feeling. The past associations of the place
Rll related to times long since vanished, but
connected with days when the illusions of
life were kindled in boyish hearts.
Little wonder was il then to find Wendell
Easton's voice husky when he began speak
ing about the terms Of sale, and incidentally
of how WoOdward's Gardens came TO be
the first pleasure resort of the San Fran
cisco OF other days, and how dearly IL had
tSIned itself about he hearts Of the people.
lie told the people how Mr.. Woodward IN
following his patriotic instincts during the
great war threw open his private grounds
to the Sanitary Commission for fete given
10 raise money to succor the nations
wounded soldiers.
He then described the rapid growth OF the
city since those days, Increasing realty
values so enormously as to render 1t I'M
profitable TO maintain so large an area
of ground in the heart of the residence sec
tiOn for recreation purposes. Golden Gate
Park, he reminded them, had long since
met the full need of the city's growing pop
ulatlon for outdoor amusement He also
referred to the Interesting fact that when
Wondward's Gardens were first laid cut lots
on Mission street were sold at less than
$50 front foot, and on Valerca street less
than $50 a front foot, while to-day the
same lots on Mission street were worth $500
and on Valencia street $500 front foot.
George c. LudingtoD, the veteran
suctioneer in the service Of Easton, Ed
ridge & Co., was next introduced and be-
gan his onslaught on the aggregation Of
curios, stuffed reptiles, animals and birds.
The most conspicuous figure among the
crowd of bidders was Adolph Sutro. be
had made private offer for the whole col
lection which was declined. Mr.. SutrO
wore his white SLOUGH hat aud oVercoat. In
one hand he thumbed catalogue upon
which he had previously iotted down the
limit of his bid on every LOT. In the other
hand lie held pencil. The peSple did not
notice until some time after the sale had
proceeded that he was the successful bid
der for nearly everything offered. After
called the buyer Diamond s." This was
the term Mr.. SutTo desired to be designated
by at the sale.
Another PECULIARLY was that Mr.. Sutro
only once opened his mouth when bidding.
He used his pencil for tongue 1t was
noticed that every time he held his pencil
perpendicularly against the tip of his nose
the Ructioneer accepted IL as bid and this
act was repeated whenever Mr.. Sutro
raised one.
All the contents OF museum were bought
by the owner of SutrO Heights in this
manner.
The only formidable rival to Mr.. Sutro
Ia The bidding was J. w. Jones of Salt
Lake. c. A. Hooper, the lumber merchant
Of this city. bought n few curios. The bulk
Of the stuffed reptiles, birds and animals
were. however, bought by Mr.. SntrO. Here
and there an agent for some Eastern COL
Iecior, dealer in curiOs or taxidermist Sc
cured prize. Asa Fiske bought a few
curins.
DR.. Hardness, president of the Academy
OF Sciences, was present, but he was not
recognized as among he bidders.
Professor NOlte of the Golden Gate Park
museum bought few odds and ends in
ornithology.
The jawbones Of the mammoth whale
which SO long were displayed over the
entrance to the first museum building on