The morning call., 1893-05-08
DOWN IN THE DIVES IN AN ARMY BONNET.

Army through the worst dives and deus OF
San Francisco in search of an erring young
girl. whose sister [ had known slightly
year ago in the East.
"We ask your help" they wrote, "be-
| cause the resemblance between the two
j sisters is so startling that you would surely
recognize her, however much she has
fallen and changed" The letter. which
was from a mutual friend, went on: 'The
| girls family are still trying to reclaim
her. They hear she has drifted to San
Francisco under changed name. AS yoI
know, the army is always willing to under
take rescue work. and your help would
make identification much more easy"
To such an appeal there could be but
one answer. Before another TWEEN iy four
hours / had received instructions from
Ca tain McFee and two of the lady
captains.
~ You must dress up tough, very tough"
said one of the latter. "Be here about
o'clock tomorrow evening"
Are you going, too?"
"Yes; but disguised, of course They
would throw us out if we wore the bonnet"
The next evening l dressed loudly and
tawdrily enough to be insulted at every
Slcp anu put III dDcb Ut tll6 lJlIt-
boat station on Sacramento street. Captain
McFee, disguised in dark clothes, was
waiting
The girls will be ready directly" he
stated. meaning the two lady captains who
were to accompany US. Then walking to
the door he called Tom" and tall, anky
man. whose shabby clothes were too
small for him, and who had tough" writ
ten on every line of his face and every
movement of his figure, huIked into the
room and looked around with an engaging
smile.
Tom is a walking guide to the dives"
said Captain McFee; "he was pilcherout
before the army got hold of him."
"a what?"
"a bouncer." replied the gentlemen in
, question, in hoarse evoice. breaking
abruptly into the conversation; when the
fellers got drunk and the girls wanted 20
pick their pockets, If those fellers made
any Kind of fight. got after 'em."
But how?"
"Oh, took 'em into a box and punched
their heads to jelly if they was any ways
troublesome" he replied, careIessly.
"Bnt were you not arrested for rob-
bery?"
The bouneer gave loud laugh. as II that
joke were the richest lie had ever heard.
MY but you're 8 tenderfoot." he cried,
when he recovered his powers Of speech.
They don't call it robbery down there; it
is part of their trade"
Even Captain McFee smiled at the idea
of robbery" in dive.
Al this moment q messenger came to say
that the girls were ready. and we walked
across to the house where they had been
dressing
'Yes. you'll do" said the bouncer,
when the young ladies made their appear
ance in Haunting array. mo one will
know yer"
Il guess not," replied one of the girls
quietly, and the other added patheticaly,
you have no idea how lost feel without
the bonnet"
Nov, Tom. we place ourselves in your
hands. Take US where You think we are
most likely to get track of her,"
IAN right" replied the bouncer, head
ing the procession down Kearny street.
Il am just wondering whether we had
better lock in at the Bella Union. No!
guess we'll take that later" and he
walked along toward Montgomery avenue.
AT the door of Koenig's Garden he
stopped and whispered hoarsely. "We'll
lIg tllS anyway. NOW, ElrIS, DruGe up ana
J don't give yourselves away"
Tom did OF mean to be familiar, but he
was as ignorant Of modesty and conyen-
tionality as an elephant is of fancy work,
and his remarks were often startling.
The hall we entered was large and
packed with smoking, drinking humanity,
principally men. Walking about among
these men, caressing them and inducing
I Iapn In drink n bar af fan
tically dressed girls belonging to the place.
At one end OF .he building stood a shabby,
dirty stage, whore a stout middle-aged
woman was shouting popular dItty.
which was drowned in the clamor of talk
| ing swearing and the Gathering of glasses.
| The end of the hall facing the stage was
| occupied by a large bar. which seemed to
be doing ''rattlng" business.
The bouncer tipped his nat little more
over one eye and with swagger only to
/ be acquired by long years of experience as
tough led the way toward the front of
the house, whispering TO me: Keep your
! eyes OPEN"
But those girls are so painted and dyed,
! thought bopelessly, their own mothers
would n ct recognize them.
| What will you order?" asked dark
| eyed nymph. laying her hand Familiarity
| on the bOuneer's shoulder.
when we want drinks we'll tell you,"
he retorted. throwing himself back into
! seat and putting his feet on a bench with
! elegant ease. "Give US a programme"
The girl obeyed with the servile smile
| of a slave and then stood waiting for his
| further commands. ogling him sweetly,
while another girl forced Captain McFee
into conversation.
'We can't see nothing here" cried the
| bouncer, suddenly standing up and gazing
round the house. 81 guess Wen go into a
box. Come on"
lie led the way up dirty fight OF wooden
stairs into one of row of partitioned dens.
shielded from the audience by curtains
that could be drawn or not at pleasure.
A young woman in bali dress OF orange
silk, whose face was literally beSmeared
with paint, rose at our entrance, exelam-
ing in friendly tones to our guide, "Why,
us you
Its me. all right" replied Tom alriIy.
$50 you are in this show?'
81 90 on next. You'd better order your
drinks quick" she replied in business
like manner.
None of us had any intention of drink
| ing in such vile atmosphere, but for
| Iorm sake we SAID, Lem onade," as we
| pulled our chairs forward, and pushing tho
curtain to one side. looked down at the
house. Beer for me-" cried the yellow
silk girl, handing check to the waiter,
| which Tom afterward explained was
| punched for the amount Of every drink she
sold. as her commission was 20 per cent
When the tray of refreshments came she
quaffed her beer down at one draught and
ran off by back passage on to the stage,
where she was greeted with applause.
She'll get what they call a hencore,"
explained the bouncer. LOOK at that, will
yer"
The sight 10 which he drew our atten-
tion was certainly startling. A respectfully
dressed young man, very, very drunk,
was feebly resisting the efforts Of young
girl. seated upon his knee, to rifle his
| pockets. To all his resistance she only
| rasponded hv norase md tho DoOr Ft.o