The morning call., 1893-04-20
NED DRUM DYING.
The First Man to Drive a
StreetCar.
The Passing Away of a WeII-Known
Democratic Warhorse-Old
Times Recalled.

Ex-State Senator Edward F. Drum Is
lying critically ill at his residence, 1875 Ivy
avenue, near Van Ness. His ailment is
BrighPs disease of the kidneys. He is one
Of the best known men in town, aud the
news of his condition will be heard with
regret by thousands of his friends and
acquaintances.
Mr.. Drum drove the first streetcar in San
Francisco. For more than thirteen years
he served faithfully as assistant superin-
tendent of the Omnibus Railroad Company
About fifteen years ago he became prom
iuent in local Democratic politics, running
twice on the ticket for Superintendent Of
Streets, meeting with defeat each time, and
once being elected to represent the old
Eleventh Senatorial District in the Legs-
lature.
Notwithstanding the certainty faces him
that his days are numbered, Mr.. Drum
preserves his od-time cheerful spirits. To
II CALL reporter VINO visited his bedside
yesterday he extended his hand in the most
cordial manner, smiling as he said: TT is
only question now of very short time
l have no hopes that | shall ever get out
again. | have Brights disease, and that,
you know, means only one thing | have
had good health all my life. Now Pm all
going to pieces like an old, worn out
machine"
Mr.. Drum is undoubtedly a very sick
man. The disease which preys OH his kid
neys has an ally in the dropsy. and the
havoc wrought by both is RAPIDLY destroy
ing his once vigorous frame. BE has been
confined to his bed for several months
His sole visitors are his brethren of the
Masonic, WOrkmen and Legion of Honor
orders who are members of the sick visiting
committees of the lodges to which he
belongs, and who drop in from time 10 time
IN eff a word of fratPrual cplaaa tn batr
stricken brother
Mr. Drums mental faculties have not
been dimmed by his long and painful sick
ness. He cOnversed quite freely yesterday
about the old times when in the last days Of
1862 he drove the first streetcar down
Washington street from Stockton to San
some.
The first trip. he said. was made at mid
| night and witnessed By a large number OF
| persons, many of whom shook their heads
and said the heavy vehicle could not be
operated on so steep a grade. The thing
was done, however, aud with such succe S
! that from that time forward the streetcar
| system of San Francisco steadily expanded
In climbing the hills five horses had to pull
car, three OF them being driven as a
| tandem.
Mr. Drum said that the first streetcars
used In San Francisco were built by the late
| Henry Casebolt. They were long and low
| and looked like cana-boats on wheels more
N
| that it became necessary to soon replace
them with cars of more modern design. AT
that time the late William Sharon was
treasurer OF the Omnibus Railroad Company.
The route of the first streetcar line was
| from South Park, near Third street. down
Howard to Second, niOng Second and across
Market street 10 Sansome, along Sansome
to jackson, up Jackson to Stockton, along
Stockton to Union thence up TO Powell, the
terminus, which was then wilderness of
sandhills. A branch line ran along Stockton
TO Washington. and down the latter street
TO its intersection with SRnsome street,
where the Appraisers building now stands.
lie fare was S5 cents. nr three tickets for
quarter OF dollar. The timetable of the
company used to hang In the Auction Lunch
a saloon then kept by Flood & O'Brien. on
washington, near SanS0me, and which is
still standing.
Mrs. Drum, who is tenderly nursing her
husband, remarked that her uncle, S. p.
Bowman, who came to California in 1913.
was one OF the original proprietors of the
old line OF Omnibuses which preceded the
stTeetcars as public conVeyances, Her
father, j. X. Bowman, subsequently held
large interest in the company that operated
the Omnbuses.
Mr.. Drum served also as Deputy Superip
tendent of Streets during the aGministra-
tons OF Superintendents Hagan and Ash
worth When Kalloch was elected Mayor
he ran for the office of Superintendent of
Streets on the Democratic ticket which was
swamped in that election. He was also de-
feated when running for the same office in
1880. owing to factionaI fight which ragged
that year in the local Democratic camp.