The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-02
OUT OF THE RAIN.
Three Hundred Men Sleep
in the BijOu's Gallery.
EVERY NOOK HAD ITS MAN.
An Unusual Spectacle at the Christian
Union Mission-Fiow 1t Appeared
Under a BulIseye Lantern.

Three hundred men slept together last
night They removed their shoes and used
them as pillows. They took off their coats
and converted them into coverlids. They
had benches and a solid floor for bed, but
they slept as soundly and snOred as loudly
as any other 800 men in San Francisco for
all that.
II was at the Christian Union Mission, on
Market street. that these homeless, roofesS
fellows found shelter from the rain and cold
of the streets. 1t IS just possible that some
of these men had been elected without cere-
mony from those very quarters year or
two since. when the union mission was as
vet unthought If and the old Blj0u Theater
was a blaze OF light and gorgeous with post
ers and handbills
These men who spent last night at the
mission came from every quarter OF the
earth. No national u, excepting Chlnese,
went begging for q representation. On the
contrary. almost every nationality came
begging with its representation. They were
come from the muddy. stormy city into
haven Of refuge, and no matter how late
The hour or how wretched the man, he was
usheTed into the crowded gallery and given
Hobson'S choice. There was always room
for one more.
Earlier in the evening it is a memorable
sight to watch these uutcasts as they edge
toward the door and wait for the closing
words OF the leader Of the pTayeT-meeung.
They always pack the gallery at these night
services, for that gives them an opporiu-
nifty 70 be first on the grounds, and ensures
them a choice o. sleeping locations.
When the leader IS spoken the last word
of dismissal each man bolts wildly for the
door and up the stairs Into the top gallery,
where he drops uuon bench or a choice
place on the floor, and deheS any later
conner 10 take d from him.
Once having secured his position the occu-
pant takes off his shoes. AID with commend
able f0rethought places them beyond the
reach f his To0mmates under his head.
This may appear 10 lie q superduous ex-
hibUIOu OF caution, but previous expert
enc-s even under the benign influences IF
the mission home furnished them with
abundant proof Of the uureiability of their
associates and taught them 10 look care
fully TO II that nothing Of value be exposed
10 the kIept0naulacS ABOUT them. Hats
and shoes and sometimes coats have disap-
peared completely while the careless own
cts SlumbeTei ana slept.
The more fortunate and more industrious
fellows. who came earlier IN the day and
earned q bed, were sleeping Snugly IN the
C0um0di0US bedroom next to them. One
hundred men were lhere when a CALL re-
porter went the rounds " To Mr.. Holc0m be
last night. No cleaner beds could be de-
sired nUT warmer blankets nor better ven
t,auaa. But in the crowded gallery a diff
ferent picture was presented.
On pews and benches and in the aisles
and even or the steps and out in the halls
lay a Heavily breathing. ragged, dirty
throng. There seemed to be no available
spot in all tie space about him where the
reporter could look and not find a man hud-
died asleep Bundles of rags that stood
for sleepers we're lined along the walls OF
stretched out on the hard seats. Each man
had gathered his coat c.OSelV about and Law
silently morose CT sleeping. The watch
mans bul's-eYe lantern llt I'D a strange
and motley spectacle as it flashed suddenly
over the crowd.
The air ia the uDper part # the room can
only be imagined. Three hundred filthy
fellows were breathing minimum supply
10 a very small space.
Let's get 0uT," was the reporters first
remark. This IS a wonderfully good work
but I'll leave you 10 carry II on"