The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-12
Mr.. KLlNKNsR OF KLrNKNeeVltLe.
The Death of an Irrspressible and Unique
Resident of the Pacific Coast.


San Francisco Examiner
Charles A. kllnkner. the man of red
rubber stamps and blue donkeys, died ct
his home at Golden Gate this afternoon.
and the most unique advertiser on the
coast has passed away. Klinkner was one
OF the shrewdess men on the coast, and
one OF the most persistent and original adj
vertisers that ever did business in San
Francisco. His red rubber stamps" had
become household word. though why
red rubber should have been any better
than blue rubber or green rubber Alr.
Klinkner never explained.
But " hen Mr.. kiinkner turned his ad-
vertisirg fancies loose he STOPPED ut MOTH
ing. lie was known 10 every ped strlan
in San Francisco and Oakland by the lit
tie red cart in which he rode drawn by Il
patient donkey that was dyed sometimes
blue. sometimes green. and again polka
dotted in all colors OF the rainbow.
When the prismatic donkey began TO
lose it, attractiyeness Mr. klinkney added
q second, and dyed them different cO.oTs.
Then ne gave sach donkey a rider and
chained a small relocated monkey to the
back of each The little red cart which
hlnkner never hesitated 10 drive him
self, became n veritable menagorie, and
was fiji Ell with an assortment of animals
of 81 kinds, so that whenever It came to
s.andstill there was always crowd Of
small boys around il.
One OF Mr.. klinkner's advertising
schemes cost the nickel in-the-slOt MA.
chimes any quantity OF monev and got the
originator into serious trouble. About the
time that these machines were first intro
duced on this coast-when candy, choco-
late and chewing gum wore sold in this
way, and when you could getyour weight,
height. aud everything but your photo
graph from one of them-MT. Khnkner
began the manufacture OF lot of small
lead aud aluminun advertising coins. 1t
was soon found that these coins, whether
by accident or design, would work one of
the ke.-in-the-slot machines as well as
the coin of the realm. 80 hlinkner's adj
refreshments were Ia great demand. and
the owners OF these machines soon found
to their cost, that there was such man
as khnkner.
One day when n candy machine was
opened 10 WAS found that out OF 81
worth OF candy sold there was s.. 80 worth
of klinknors Advertisements. Other ma
chimes were found in like condition. and
the L. : authorities interiered, and the
coming ceased.
kinkner made grea. deal of money
Many years ago he purchased the land
where tho little town now stands. He
Dough. The land when it could be had for
q mere song, end then began to put il on
the market. But there WIS little demand
for lots 'out IN the country" in those days.
and Kliakncr had very poor success. Then
he built little house and tried to Sc i
that, but that also failed. At last no hit
upon q scheme and he applied the rattle
plan 10 his house. He sold tickets for a
dollar each, and realized more than If he
had sold the house outright. The winner
was only too glad 10 reside in house that
cost him SO little. and after klinkner had
sold several houses IN that manner he had
quite a little settlement, and that he called
klinknervile.
The settlement grew. but as il pros
psred there came some citizens who did
not fancy the name klinknerylle. twas
not poetic enough, and so the town was
divided against itself When a pOstoilice
was established tho fight waxed warm,
but Klinkner carried the day, and il wos
named klinknerville.
Bnt here tho red rubber stamp man
made q mistake. He issued az adverlis.
ing card that dealt with the personal up
peaTance of Grover Cleveland and his
family affairs. This was seized with avid
ity By those who wanted the name
changed. Copies of the card were sent to
the president, and almost before the post
office had been established the name was
changed to Golden Gate.
Then klinker put M sign on every lot
he owned. This 10 Klinkneryille" lie
strung immense eigns across the main
streets and placarded Oakland and the
surrounding country with little signs tell
ing the distance 20 "Klinknerville." The
fight ended when the Southern Pacific
company changed the name Of their sta
ton 10 Golden Gate, and this broke
klinkner's heart But there are still
many who know it only as Klinknsryille.
Klinkner was a familiar figure on the
boats. and he carried for samples badges
reading, "Pouudmastsr of hlinknerville'
and "Chief of Police OF Klnknerville.
for he was mayor. city council, and the
cook. the crew, and the captain bold oil
the little settlement.