The morning call., 1893-02-22
on the small boy. aided by some larger boys.

on tile small boy. aided by some larger boys.
cut the wires through, so cow there is
nothing but ones own viii to prevent any
one from jumping or milling OFF.
The inhabitant of an Eastern city, where
they have automatic guards at railroad
crossings and patent gates al the ferry
wharves, would grow dizzy at the bare con-
temptation Of this awful precpice left I'M
fenced and unguarded entirely.
Awful is not too extravaganza an ad-
iective to use in this connection. for there
is not more dangerous spot in any civilized
city.
Children run and play and jump right out
to the very brink OF the chasm. and should
one lose its balance through dizziness or
too severe push from playmate there is
not even a weed to catch hold Of TO prevent
It's being dashed down to the sharp stones
below.
For over a month, now, the hill inhabi-
tants declare there has been not the slight
est obstarle in the way Of ones falling over
that bluff.
AtnIght the dangeris multiplied as greatly
as such an awful danger can be. The only
reason in all the world why half dozen
people do not meet frigntful fate there
every night Is because not half dozen
people are astlr there at night.
The place is deserted at night. except by
the few people who dwell very near there,
and they know the danger too well to 20
within fifty feet Of the brink after dark
Should q stranger clfmD the Delk0IS OF
Telegraph Hill at night to get bird s-eYe
view of San Francisco under the gaslight,"
1t would be- nothing short OF a miracle that
could possibly save him from tumbiDg off
into the other world.
At Montgomery street Green street is about
SO ieet high. Fifty feet east of this there is
sudden grade to the height of not less than
400 feet, and this height is no sooner at
tanned than the brink Of the bluff Is reached.
This peak of Telegraph Hill was once the
rendezvous OF a gang OF hoOdlums. They
used 10 gather there and throw shag eggs
from the Farallones down Into the street
below.
Once they split a mans skull open with
one of these eggs. Then the police raided
them, but before the officers could begin to
reach the brew of the hill the ho0dlums
were safe in hiding.
There is another tradition among the hill
jewellers that the young fellow who threw
that egg afterward fell OF the bluff while
intoxicated.
This is poetlcal justice, perhaps, but just
the same it would be better 20 let great
many of these scamps escape retribution
than maintain dangerous spot like this,
where innocent men and women have been
killed and doubtless more will be killed.
A CALL reporter who visited the spot
Yesterday found a score or more of small
children romping around over the hard
ground OF this dangerous peak. They ran
within a foot almost OF the very verge of
the bluff, seemingly unconscious of their
awful danger.
Two little girls. not more than 6 years old.
were stretched out on the ground side by
side two feet from the brink.
They were talking quietly and looking
out over the bay. A grand maine view
lay before them. Without turning their
faces they looked off into the foothills and
mountains of Alameda and Contra Costa
counties with their varied shades OF green
and brown and the cities In miniature on
the plains beneath.
Immediately at the feet of the wee maid
ems were the wharves aud docks and the
myriad Of muleta-rigged fshernen's boats
about their L-shaped dock, Still In the
foreground were sehooners and tugs and
ferry-boats aad river-boats and scows and
deep-Sea boats OF many kinds, some lying
full canvas and some with sails furled.
more picturesque view one must travel
many miles to see. And the children
seemed to be drinking all the beauty Of
the scene. though perhaps unconsclously.
The city beneath them was invisible and
lay covered with pail of heavy smoke and
dust. 1t was thick and hazy in the city;
on the hilltop the air was pure and elear--a
healthfHi atmosphere for such youthful
lungs. A painter would have found a study
here, and the poet might have sung OF these
TWO pure young souls lifted so high above
the dirt and dust and wickedness of the
great city.
Hygienically and morally the girls were
safe here If anywhere, yet playful push
from one of their rompng comrades would
be enough to dash either or both of them
over that awful bluff.
Something ought to be done there TO pre-
vent such an accident, and it ought to be
done at once.
The hill in habitants say that Gray Bros,
who are the lessees Of that peak and the land
below ii, think they have done their whole
duty in the matter by putting up that
barbed- wire fence with the wires so far
apart that any child could crawl through
safely.
If the bad boys choose 10 cut the wire,
Gray Bros. say-well. they have done their
| duty. at all events. and their responsibility
is ended.
Somebody ought to be responsible for that
fearful place and somebody ought 80 be held
to strict accountability for every accident
that happens there.
And somebody ought to be made to in
close the brink of the bluff, even at the risk
OF shutting of the grand marine view.
And this ought TO be done Immediately.
Insurance Men at Table.