davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call., 1893-08-05

She Was Once Queen of
the Mudhens.
An OId-Time Mining Stock Operator
Goes Where There Are Neither
Bulls Nor Bears.

Mrs. Sophronia Twitchell, who died in
her home in Brooklyn, n. Y, on Wednes-
day, enjoyed considerable notoriety in this
city during the years that stock gambling
was the rage. Pine street and Montgom-
cry street and Pauper alley knew her bet
ter as Mother Swift" She was woman
of massive frame and of decidedly mascu-
line characteristics. She dressed rather
shabby in black. always wore shawl
and was never seen on the street without
black reticule which was generally
bullying with mining stock certificates.
Mother Swift was fully six feet tall and
was always conspicuous figure in any
crowd Of which she became part. Her
prominence AS a mining stock operator
among her sex won for her the exalted
title Of Queen of the Mudhens."
Wherever the curbStOne gamblers
swarmed. whether on the sidewalks or in
doorways. the gaunt figure of Mother Swift
was seen towering above the throne. She
was one of the most active operators
during those exciting days, when stocks
fiuctuated tens of dollars where they onlyl
nov fiuctuate in multiples OF dime. She
was a very clever financicr and in the
nipulation of wildcat mining stocks
could give pointers to the snartest men
on the street. She made her first appear
ance as a stock operator in this city in
1868 and with varying fortunes went
through all the big deals I'D to 1880.
She was president of a wOman's stock
exchange, of which she was the founder,
and which had its headquarters in the
Merchants Exchange building. A big deal
in wildcat mine, known as the Wells
Fargo, and engineered by John w. Pear
| son, knocked all Of the timbers out of the
Woman,'s Exchange. All the women had
| loaded themselves up with this paFtcular
stock, and when the pool COLLAPSED t7e ex-
| change went out of business, Mrs. wit wit
| however, had shorted the stock and filled
in her contracts at big profit.
Once Mrs. Swift achieved more than un-
| usual prominence in the public eve by an
encounter she had on Montgomery street
with Tyler Curtis, a Democr candi-
| date for Mayor, who now resides in San
| Jose. Mrs. Swift claimed that Curtis was
| engaged to one of her daughters, and hav-
ing failed to carry out his contract Olved
to chastise him. This she did by horse
whipping her intended son-in-law.
Her first husband was the proprietor of
Swift's Express, which ran to Petaluma
and other points in Sonoma County. She
In 1880 she returned to the East, where she
married George Ii. Twitchell. Thereafter
she became a familiar Wali-street figure.
She was frequently litigant Her last
big case was a suit for S250.000 for dam
ages for false imprisonment against the
Equitable Life Assurance Society Her
arrest, she claimed, ruined her brokerage
business. Judgment for the company was
taken by default. Mrs. Sophrcnia Twitch-
ell was also a pronounced woman suffrag-
ist. She was 63 years old.
The morning call., 1893-08-05
AN ARTIFICIAL BASIS.
resources.

Mr.. William C. Whitney has submitted
to an interview in the New York World
in which the real cause Of the present in
dustrial depression Is defined. 1t is not
the Sherman act, as many suppose. nor
the contraction of the money basis. as
MANY Others assume, but the tariff. Mr..
Whitney is quite certain that the country''s
prosperity will never be permanently es-
tablished while an annual tax of three or
four hundred millions is levied upon Its
industries.
1t happens. however. that the three or
four hundred millions, which. In Mr.. Whit
ney's belief, are a too severe tax for our
industries to bear. are derived mostly
from foreign Industries. If we take any
branch of manufacturing and look closely
to it we shall fnd that the Governm ent
revenue is taken from foreign goods. The
homemade goods have none but local
taxes to pay. American steel rails are not
taxed. but a tax on foreign steel rails pro-
duces revenue to the extent of importation.
1t is true that the American duties are so
high that but little of the foreign product
is imported. but it is only to statesmen
OF the Whitney way of thinking that a
policy which keeps the industry in the
United States is ruinous TO the country.
There is good deal of wooden cloth
brought into the country and a good deal
made in the country. All that is brought
in contributes to the national revenue,
but not dollar is collected from the home
made article.
If the revenue derived from wooden cloth
amounts to S40,000.000 a year, is it not
clear that the -ntire sum comes from for
eign manufactures Whatever revenue is
derived from tea, coffee, sugar. Quinine
and other drugs, spices and some other
tropical products, is a tax on the people.
But it is the principle Of a protective tariff
policy to admit articles of this nature free.
Duties are placed only on articles which
come in competition with our Industries
In pursuance of this policy. little more
than one-halt of our imports are admitted
free. The three or four hundred millions
Of dollars which Mr.. Whitney considers
the principal cause of the present depres-
sion are the result of duties on foreign
products. The present tariff does not add
appreciably to the cost Of living. Wooden
goods OF an excellent variety have never
been cheaper than they are now. Some
nigh priced varieties are higher, but
Am erican mills are turning out cloth OF a
very fine quality, whether quite up to the
highest foreign standard or not. The
products for the table are mostly made al
home, and if there are duties on them the
market price is fixed by the home supply.
The morning call., 1893-08-05
SUNDAY OPENING AGAIN.

The amount of law which has been in
voked, laid down. and more or less set
aside in connection with the WORLDS Fair
is bewlldering. The fair proceeds, not
outstanding. and appears to be getting
out Of financial distress. 1t was hoped
that tie Sunday question had ceased from
troubling. bat it is ghost not vet exor-
cised by the decision of the man agement
to keep the gates closed. judge Stein
finds that this determination, however
agreeable TO the administration officials and
The army of attendants and workmen, con-
fiictS with his pronouncement that, as
jackson Park is public property and has
been forever dedicated TO public uses, it
cannot be legally closed on Sunday. For
violation of his injun elton to this elfe,t
made AID ordered he fines five directors
$1,000 each and sixth $780, and Director
General Davis is mulcted in $780, To
others the Judge is merciful. How the
The morning call., 1893-08-05

pounds Of bohee for tea-drinkers. This is
a serious cat into the trade of the Orient,
as Mr.. Huntington studies it, and the
Canadian Pacific also cannot view the mat
ter with equanimity. A huge cargo Of tea
which has just been landed In San Fran
cisco is being sent East with all the dis
patch OF passenger express, ana vet the
Giencgle's cargo. whatever IT is tpernaps
1900 tons), discounts overland shipment.
If British steamers can engage in this
trad. for the benefit Of New York why
cannot American ship-oWnerS embark IN II!
The Southern Pacific is profiting By
these hard times in remarkable way.
For some ulira-prudential reason the
banks are timorous about lending money
on wheat unless 1t is warehoused at tide
water. AS the farmers want money, they
are therefore sending an unusual quantity
of their crops to Port Costa and other
warehouses ready for shipment, ana it Is
transported by the Southern Pacific. Fiat
cars are in demand, and it is said the rail-
road hauled 1900 more cars OF wheat last
month than In any previous one. nun
dred cars a. day is good business. IL is
also the green fruit season. and large
shipments are going East. From fifty to
sixty cars are dispatched over the SleTras
daily. each containing twelve tons OF
fruit and six tons Of ice. In the matter OF
freight, therefore, the Southern Pacific is
lucky. and Mr.. Huntington, in addition, is
cutting down expenses boldly.
A German bacteriologist has been ex-
perimenting on the viablity of the cholera
bacillus and finds that there are great diff
ferences in foods and clothes. In water
the bacilli are viable five or six days, milk
three days, on bread day, between slices
of bread moistened eight days, butter
three days, cooked meat moist eight days,
apple and caultiower four days, paper
day and half. on copper and silver coins
dry ten minutes, dry clothing four days
and moist linen twelve days and even
longer. These tests give assurance that a
strict quarantine will prevent invasion,
especially when accompanied with disin-
lection.
The needless junketing camper Is credited
with the fire near Mount Tamalpais which
has swept over several thousand acres OF
timber. This is sad loss TO the lumber
supply, but is also bad Disagreement OF
very picturesque breathing SPOT within
easy hail OF San Francisco and San Rafael.
There were fears. however, of much worse
results, especially to San Rafael il its
water supply had been cut off. The fes-
tive kettle and the campfire are very costly
amusements in the woods.
The steamer which got on the rocks near
POiAt Conception did not break I'D or back
off and go down in deep water with all on
board. She backed off and pro ceeded on
her voyage as buOyantas could be expected
with her false keel rasped off and all her
propeller blades gone but one. This one
kept on the shaft and brought her to San
Francisco. She is the familiar Newsboy,
w Spe
The morning call., 1893-08-05
NEW BOOKS STOLEN.
The Office of the Street Superin-
tendent Looted.

Several weeks ago the uperintendent of
Streets made requisition on Chairman
Hinton of the Printing Committee o1 the
Board of Supervisors for three large Jour-
nails. One Of the books was to record street
materials used. the second sewer material.
while the third was to be used as blotter
journal. The books were duly furnished
and sent to the Office of the Street Super
intendent. There being no safe In the Of
flee the books were placed on the floor in
the private Office of Superintendent Acker-
son. The bookkeeper yesterday concluded
that ii was time to use the journals for the
fiscal year, and when he went TO get them
they were gone. A thorough search was
made in all the rooms of the street depart
ment. but the hooks could not be found.
Some person had man aged 10 steal the
books without being caught. Near the
new books were many more filled with
valuable records of streetwork, which
could not be duplicated if lost, but none
of these were stolen.
The morning call., 1893-08-05
FLUSHING THE SEWERS.
Health Officer Keeney Wants to
Maintain a Low Mortality.

Health Officer Keeney sent commune
cation. of which the following is a copy. to
Superintendent Of Streets Ackerson yes
terday:
". ". Ackerson Esq, Superintendent OF
Streets-DEAR SIR: 1t is highly necessary
that you take immediate steps TO have all fhe
sewers OF the cny thoroughly flushed. We have
had a very low deaIh-rate The past few months,
and with the assistance of your department IN
the prompt flushing and thorough cleaning OF
the sewers. we hope TO have decreased rate
of mortality during the present year. Resp CT
fully JAMES n. KEENEY, Health Officer.
Superintendent AckersOD will reply to-
dav to the Health Officers communication,
and will state that he has already begun
the work of flushing the sewers. Out of
the 100 men allowed him by the Board of
Supervisors, be has set apart twenty men
to do the work of flushing the sewers. The
twenty men are divided into gangs of four
each. and they have been set to work in
various parts of the city. Superintendent
Ackerson stated Yesterday that the men
will be kept at work until all the sewers
are thoroughly flushed.
The morning call., 1893-08-05

The news from Samoa is quite thrilling.
The long pending war between Malietoa,
the King. and Mataafa. the pretender, has
come off, disastrously to the fortunes of
tbs latter. but decisively for the peace Of
the islands hereafter. The King rounded
up his opponents forces very effectively.
and dispersed them with loss of thirty
killed and twenty wounded. Then Ma
taafa. who but for faulty mansuvering
would have been cut off from the living
with all his followers, betook himself to
an island, and had to make up his mind
whether he would surrender to the English
and German men-of-war or be sheled and
eXterminatsd. He obeyed the great pow
ers with humility. and is prisoner. What
to do with him is question. He will
probably be isolated. as if he had small
pox. No American cruiser was available
for the final demonstration, but our Con-
sui WAS active and took part in concert
ing measures. If the Samoans can now be
induced to settle down to the arts Of peace
and attend no more 10 the throb of the
war drum, so much the better for these
children Of the sun and their interoplng
guardians.
Undoubtedly perfection has not been
reached in propellers, and the inventor Of
high scientific and practical attainment
has still wide field for experiment. The
ordinary propeller pulls a vessel forward
TO some extent, and at the stern has water
TO operate in not quite so dense as at the
bow. 1t has been proved that propeller
at the bow yields better work than aft.
but there are obvious difficulties in the
way of adopting that method. How to
obtain improved results in propu lsiOn is a
INN ri
T. Elford of San Francisco has made a
step ahead, he is q benefactor to the
marine engine er and shIp-owner. His In
yention is more in the direction Of novelty
in paddles than in screws. the apparatus
he has devised having paudle-blades laid
aslant the rim of wheel. The blades
cut into the water and push, and it is
asserted that there is no waste of power
by downward pressure, that the force is
expended in thruStiug, and that there is no
lntermixture Of air.
The Navahoe had chance in another
race at Cowes yesterday, but seems not to
have been well handled. 1t was a light
wind part of the time and should have
been in her favor il it be true that she is
handicapped in heavy weather. She is re-
ported as having had good position at
the start. but threw 1t away by bad judg-
ment in lacking. and so was beaten by the
Satanita, Vakyria and Calluna. In Brit
lsh yachting much depends upon knowl-
edge of the weather. 1t is very shifty in
the English Channel.
Surely there is some mistake in giving
60OO tons as the cargo Of the steamer Glen
ogle. which has arrived at New York with
tea from Japan and China. To have 5000
tons of tea on board as the first arrival of
the season would swamp the market badly.
A steamer which could carry that load in
pigiron would be credit to the marine
ideas Of the day, outstripping anything on
the atlantic, but Que that could stow tn at
weight in tea, which is about as bulky as
feathers. is marvel. This, however. is
the purport Of . teIegram-12. 00O. 600
The morning call., 1893-08-05
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
Report of the Work Done During the
Last Year.

Street Superintendent Ackerson will file
his annual report with the Board of Super
visers to-day. The work of preparing the
report was entrusted to Assistant Book
keeper Cardona, and is one of the neatest
and best arranged ever presented to the
Supervisors.
"Of the total amount appropriated for
the use of the Street Department, and
known as the Street Department fund,
which amount was $4,000. the Board Of
Supervisors expended by public contracts
for work performed on the streets In front
OF public property $751; 01 OF, and for other
work 220,2S4 SO; for understanding $72,-
5O3 So WAS paid. for material S51,071 Y was
expe nded. and for other purposes the sum
Of 1856, $50 %, leaving surplus at the end
Of the year of S12.45S D.
There has been constructed during the
year 6b miles of basalt block pavement,
81 miles OF bituminous rock pavement, /
mile of ccbble pavement. and TX miles OF
sewers.
During the year IS 2873-52SO miles of
streets were accepted by the city and
county,"
During the first half of the fiscal year
Superintendent Gilleran expended SISS.-
9S7 so, and during the second half Superin.
tendent Ackerson spent S1SS. 1863 Gu.
The morning call., 1893-08-05

from, and fears that matters are going
from bad to worse. The only remedy that
occurs TO him is to impcach Secretary Car
isle. and even that might not save the
country. The trouble with White is that
ne has lost his money and owes debts
which he cannot pay. What he forgets is
that Others are not in his slough of de-
snond We are going through period
when everything is as it was, except that
confidence is impaired. That it should be
temporarily impaired is not an unmixed
misfortune. In active and enterprlsing
communities, 1t is well that people should
he occasionally thrown back on their own
rasnurcaS
The morning call., 1893-08-05
TIMELY RESCUE.
Two Fishermen Saved by a Late
FerrV.BOat.

Forum atelv fo- two fishermen the ferry
steamer Tamalpas made mid night thea.
ter trip Thursday. About 2:U5 A. NJ
Captain Jorgensen heard a cry of distress
in the darkness. He listened aud the cry
was repeated. Stopping the engines he
OF Louis and George Scofude. brothers. in
the fishing smack Prsa. The smack had
capsized about p. H.. and the men had
dr. ifted through half the night. The boat
was full Of water, and they had lost mast,
sails. nets and one oar.
When rescued the men were we'll nigh
exhausted with cold and exposure. and
their teeth chartered. Many passengers
on the Tanalpais muttered com plants be-
cause the ferry-boat stopped and delayed
their passage home.
The morning call., 1893-08-05
PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT.

Gertrude Petan, Is years old, lives in
South Dakota. where she is known as the
Lady Cowboy" Her father owns 800
head Of cattle, Of which she has entire
charge.
Ex-Premier MERCER of Quebec con-
Times 20 stir up the Canadian Tories by
talking about annexation to the United
States as the manifest destiny of the Do
minion.
Hayden Edwards. the United States
Consult General at Berlin. is said 10 have
fallen heir to an estate valued at several
millions, and is about to marry Gsrman
lady Of title.
Ob]ector Holman and Charles O'Nail. Of
Pennsylvania. are now entering upon their
fifteenth terms in Congress. If they serve
out the present term they will beat the
record for ng-cohtiuued-not consecu-
tive-servlcs in the lower House.
President S. H. H. Clark of the Union
Pacific Railroad, who has been staying In
sake of his health. ia said to he improving
slo WY but surely, and deriving great
benefit from the pure air and absolute rest
of his surroundings.
Psstmas ter. General Bissell is fully as
heavy AS his former law partner. and when
he plants himself in his chair behind his
big desk. bequeathed TO him by John
w NOtHidkeIs Ht 10 dluIOSI dDCHOIeu. Sill
ting there steadily and only half rising to
give his baud to his visitors.
The Archduke Francis Ferdinand d'Este,
who is coming to tha Worlds Fair some
time In August, is not particularly i'm
pOrtant parsonage as royalties go. but he
Is bigger man than the 1nfanta Eulalia.
if the expression may be allowed. He is
heir presuhptiye to the throne of Austria
Hungary.
Although newspaper readers are pretty
familiar with the doings of Mrs. Hetty
Green. the wealthiest woman in America,
little Is printed about her husband. who is
also millionaire several times over. He
is familiar character In Wall street, and
at one time was president Of the Louis
vile and Nashville road.
The morning call., 1893-08-05
Union Pacific worlds Fair Excursion.

Union Pacific Worlds Fair Excursions
The Union Pacific win run Tourist Excursions
from Los Angeles every Monday and Wednesday,
and from San Francisco every Tuesday and Thurs
day to the w orld's Fair at Chicago.
These excursions will be in charge OF competent
managers who will accompany each excursion
through to Chicago, cars running through to Chi
cago without change.
Sleeping-car accommodations from Los Angeles
or San Francisco to Chicago 81 per berth or
double that amount for section. Diagrams are
now ready at the Los Angeles office, 229 South
Spring street, and l Montgomery street, San
francisco. for reservations.
All letters or telegrams for tickets promptly
answered giving full particulars in regard to the
excursions.
Steamship tickets to and from all points In
Europe.
For further information call or write g. f. Herr
agent, 229 South Spring street, Los Angeles or To
D. w. Hitchcock, general agent. l Montgomery
street, San francisco.
The morning call., 1893-08-05
ANOTHER VOICE FROM THE
TOMBS.

S. V. White. the broken broker of New
York who used to spend his life 10 trying
TO corner corn and cordage and all sorts
Of things, has come to grief, as such peo-
pie generally do. He takes a horribly
dark view of things, as perhaps, from his
own standpoint, he may be excused for do
ing. He cansot see where relief 10 coming
The morning call., 1893-08-05
INDIGENTS COrlING.
Revelations Made by the Associated
Charities.

Inc number OF applications for lmmedi-
ate aid continue to increase at the Mayors
office. Secretary Newman is kept pretty
busy attending to cases. most Of which are
referred to the Associated Charities. Ac-
cording to report presented to the Mayor
oy the president Of the Associated Charl-
ties forty families applied for ala during
last week. These cases were all lnvesti,
gated: OF the total number 1t was found
tnat thlrty families were new casssi .ne
members being strangers TO this city. ms
people are making for San francisco:
Some of the people come from the in
terror. where they claim no work Can be
secured. while others hail from other
States. The proposed MidwleVr Fair IS
supposed to be the cause which Is attract
jDg these people to this city.
The morning call., 1893-08-05

drep of one of the three fremen killed re-
Gently in the Page-street fire. Wlndrow
but little estate to leave. However a
number of philanthropisis got together
and started fund for the benefit of the
families of the poor fellows. The fund
reached $4,000. which has been divided
into three portions. one of which Will fall
to the children of Windrow.
The morning call., 1893-08-05

rr VISITORS TO THE WORLDS FAIR will
find THE CALL sale at the newsStands in the fol
lowing hotels: Palmer House. Auditorium Hotel
Briggs House, Clifton House, commercial House,
Gault House Grand Pacific Hotel. Sherman House,
Leland House, Northern Hotel. Richelieu Hotel,
fremont House, Virginia Hotel and Wellington
Hotel.
ton EbSitt and Shoreham Hotels.
The morning call., 1893-08-05
PUBLICATION OFFICE =:

6o5 Montgomery street. near Clay open until II
O'Clock J.. n. BRAN II OFFICES: 40 Market
street near Kearny open until 10 o'clock midnight;
59 Hayes street open until $50 o'clock; COS Larkin
street open until $500 clock; SW corner Sixteenth
and Vi SIS on streets, onen until o'clock; % )
Mission street. oren until o'clock; and ll6 Ninth
street, open until $50 o'clock.
The morning call., 1893-08-05
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:

DAILY CALL dneiuding Sundays, Sc per year by
mail. postpaid is cents per week, or 65 cents per
calendar month. through carriers. DAILY CALL
&c cories three months. Sc %. SUNDAY CALL
81 ro ner year postpaid. SUNDAY CALL aud
WEEKLY CALL. - 30 per wear, postpaid WEEKLY
CALL. 81 per year. postpaid.
THE CALL cannot return rejected manuscripts,
nor will the editor enter into correspondence re-
ENG inar,
The morning call., 1893-08-05
Midwinter Fair Subscriptions.

The committee of the Midwinter Fair has
decided on the plan OF publishing a subscrip-
ton blank In the DAILY napsrs. which may be
flied in by parties wishing 10 subscribe TO The
fund. This blank Will be found IN another col
umn, and all are earnestly requested to assist
in the good work.
The morning call., 1893-08-05

matter is to end the appeal will show; but.
as the resolve is to keep the exhibition
closed on Sundays henceforth, there may
be pretty amount in cumulative fines to
collect should the judgment be sustained.
The morning call., 1893-08-05

Leave San Francisco every Wednesday and Satur.
day via RIO GRANDE AND Rock ISLAM Rvs
Through tourist sleeping cars to Chicago and Ros.
ton. Manager and porter accompany these excnr
sions through to Boston. For tickets sleening.car
accommodations and further information address,
CLINcoN JONES, General Agent Rock Island Ry..
SO Montgomery street. San Francisco
The morning call., 1893-08-05

IF Cal subscribers qrho intend Tearing
the city ariU notify the business office OF
tier change Of address the paper a1iH be
JOr1rarded to them REGULARLY.