The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-02
SOME SEA WAITS.
Peculiar Lives of the
Beach-Combers.
OCEAN SHORE MYSTERIES.
Men Who Depend on the Generosity
of the Waves for a Fat
Living.

The ocean beach. from the Cliff House
down as far as Point Pedro, is the haunt Of
many curious persons
Scattered along this stretch of sand and
cliffs are the homes of the beach-combers. a
peculiar set of men who, as a rule, would
not barter the romance of their lotus-life
existence for a ducal palace on Mob Hill.
Nothing comes amiss to the beach-comber.
He is outside Of civilization. although in the
very midst of it. He ia, indeed. a waif and
stray, not only on the ocean of life, but on
the broad Pacific, and he is certainly not
above picking up those chance crumbs of
the world around him which may be washed
within the circle Of his operations.
The most curious of the beach-combers
within the stretch of coast named is Berlin
Hans. He is a mystery as deep as the hid
den pirates gold.
For four years he has lived in little hut
built up on the side of the cliff near Mussel
Rock. At high tide the water thunders al
most at the door of the rude little home, and
his place can only be reached at low tide
The hut is built IN niche in the cliff, and
the stiff clay of the bank forms two sides
ana the floor of the structure. The rest is
built of pieces of driftwoOd. carpet and can
vas arranged to prevent the rain coming in.
Berlin Hans is a mystery. He is a Ger
man, and couple OF years ago told Captain
Smith of the park lie saving crew that he
came from Berlin. Beyond that every
thing Is dark. He avoids meeting any one
and positively refuses to enter INTO any con-
yersatiOu. For the four years that he has
lived on the beach Captain Smith is the
only person he has spoken to and that for
not more than half dozen words.
The mystery's life is a simple one. At
low tide he walks q mile or two along the
beach hunting for the favOrS Of Neptune.
| Wounded birds, stranded FISH and vegeta-
bles thrown overheard from passing vessels
are alike gathered and laid away in his
| larder. When these become scarce muSsels
collected around the rocks become his only
fare. At high tide he retires to his hut and
takes life easy until the water receGes, then
! makes his tour of the beach again.
When he first made his appearance on the
beach he was well dressed and clean
shaver, but lie al once neglected his per-
sonal appearance. AS he now appears, a
four years growth of hair aud whtskers are
tangled about his neck and shoulders,
| Taltered coarse clothing hangs on mis-
gaunt frame and his feet are incased in
mismated shoes that the waves were kind
enough to present TO him.
In spite OF his coarse and lonely life and
the ragged raiment the Man of Mystery re-
talns an air of refinement. Who he is and
what he is, perhaps, will never be known
until he chooses TO tell, but the general
impression of those who know OF the man
Is that he has seen better times; that some
| unfortunate circumstance has driven him
away from his friends, and that lie has
chosen tie shores Of the Pacific TO bury him
from the world.
Dutch johnny" is another curious indi-
vidual. He first took up a mining claim
along the beach about seven years ago and
for while washed the sand for the precious
metal. but found it did not pay very well.
BeachcombiDg gave him better and au
easier life and for years he has been de-
pending on the generosity OF the waves for
living. He was in his little hut yesterday
when a CALL reporter visited him. The
beach-comber was at his dinner. When he
got through he produced a cigar stub from
a crack in the wall, where it had been dry
! ing, and after rubbing it fine between his
| palms inserted 1t in short, black clay pipe.
! with an outdoors OdOr, and occupied HIM
self with the task of setting fire to It. The
! process was long one and he tonk his time
before making any remarks. The beach
comber was little man, loose in physique.
broad and black bearded, ami his face was
about the color Of a gun stock.
He said he had plenty to eat, and the best
at that He produced a cal bagehead which
he said he had picked up that morning. and
with few sea perch that he had caught he
! did not intend to fast for the next two or
| three days.
He had been a sailor for upward of thirty
| years, but now he had no work to do and he
| lived better than he did on board shin, and
more than all he WAS his own captain. If
he wanted anything he could not get on the
beach he would wash little sand for gold, and
in few days would get enough To purchase
it. Il have nothing to worry me-" lie said,
and l would not change my life for that of
the President"
a Swede named Peterson lives in cave
pretty well out toward the end of Point
| Pedro. He occupies the upper half of the
cave aud the waves during stormy weather
take possession of The lower half. a stout
floor of heavy planks supported in project.
ing rocks makes the dividing line. Inside
this curious house everything is arranged
| for comfort. 1t is parlitoned off into two
rooms. and patches of carpet adorD the
floors. He was also a sailor, but prefers the
easy lonely life OF the beach comber to any
ole