The morning call., 1893-10-28
\ DEADLY MEAL.
Fishermen Poisoned by
Eating Mussels.
One of the r1en Has Died and 9th
ers Are Very SCHOOL,
teachers Afflicted.

There is suffering of body and anguish
of spirit in the little colony of Italian fish,
ermen that dwells at the foot of Telegraph
Hill. There is crepe on the door Of the
house in which one member of the CON-
munity lived and another member is
groaning his life away at the Receiving
Hospital.
Two parties of fishermen. both victims
of mussel-p poisoning, arrived in this city
from up the coast yesterday. One party
left dead comrade-dead from the same
cause-in their boat at Bodega.
The dead mans name was Frank Vim
cenzo, an Italian fisherman, single, and
aged 81 years. He resided at s Union
street, and was well known in the colony
OF fishermen.
He belonged to party of three attached
to the fishing sma ok Colombo. The other
two mem bers of the little company were
Ponelli Gaetano and Frank Forcada, the
first an Italian and the second a Spaniard
and captain of the boat
The mussels that live on the rocks just
beyond Point Reyes are responsible for
the misery that permeates Little Italy.
Ponelli Gaetano. Frank Vincenzo and
Frank FOrcada went out to Point Rey es
on Thursday morning TO catch fish. After
making a haul they gathered a lot OF
mussels from the rocks and sat down upon
the shore to have feast.
party of ladies. ten or twelve in num-
Der, supposed to be lunketing schoolteacb-
ers, wandered into the camp and were IN
vited to partake of the feast. The invita-
tion was accepted.
The mussels, which were unusually large,
were cooked by POnelli Gaetano and when
all had eaten and were satisfied they be-
came sick. Tie ladies disappeared and
the fisherman hastened to their boat and
sailed back to the wharf
Soon after they were seized with serious
symptoms of sickness for which the usual
rough and ready Dalliatives at hand were
tried. Nausea was succeeded by violent
vomiting and retching and the sufferers
exhibited all the symptoms Of having been
poisoned.
Notwithstanding all their endeavors
VincenZo succumbed to the fatal biyalye
and died yesterday morning at clock. His
comrades ascribe the deleIeri0us effect oc-
casioned by the mussels to their having
lain in the sun for some time before they
were eaten.
Gaetano and Forcada were appalled, by
the death of their companion anG deter
mined to take no more chances in q game
which they knew so little. They there
fore left the dead body OF their friend at
Bodega and hastened by train TO the city,
where they separated.
Captain Frank Forcada went to his
house, 1105 Front street. and after resting
awhile declared himself better. The terri
flying symptoms had almost disappeared
and he was able to seek oblivion In sleep
Ponelli Gaetano was removed to the Re-
ceiving Hospital, where he was carefully
treated by the surgeons. He seemed in a
very weak condition from constant yomit-
ing.
The second contingent of victims to
mussel poisoning arrived about 10 P. NJ in
the boat Pride of the Ocean. There were
five aboard. and the captain, known as
Charlie" seemed quite helpless. All five
declared they had been poisoned by eating
mussels off Point Reyes. Except Charlie,
VINO was assisted to his home, none of the
men seemed seriously affected, and soon
after landing were able to seek their own
quarters uptown.
The mussel is favorite esculent with
epicures, but under certain conditions it
has proved baneful time and again. 1t is
thought by Police Surgeon Berry that the
hurtful qualities are similar to those found
in decaying flesh and cheese.