The morning call., 1894-02-04
HERE AND THERE.

earthquakes play queer pranks sometimes
and few on record are queerer than an incident
oil The iemblor OF 1868. The story Is told by
Colenei George W. q annls, who vouches for
Its authenticity as he witnessed the extraordin-
ary incident with his own eyes and knows there
was no deception. Colonel GraGnis was agen
OF the M Montgomery block at that time-an envl-
able position IN more ways than one because
the building was the legal and business center
OF San Francisco. Here are the veteran
colonePs own words:
81 was in my Office" said he, when the first
shock came in the evening. That was the
earthquake of 1868, the only tough shakeup
we ever had in California. Well. l could hear
the shouts OF DeopeIout side and the noise OF
falling signs and chmneys, but knowing that
General Halleck had constructed the
building as he would fortress
according TO his ideas of civil engine ering,
did not feel the least uneasy. The moment the
shock had subsided l ran toward The back OF
The building 10 see hat the walls were all right
was on the second floor, ana do you krow the
back wall had sprung out and leaned over
could see the sky bet en- the wall and floors
This was fearful state Of affairs, so l went tC
engineers and architects. They said it was I'M
possible 10 pry that thick wall back into place
Ihere was no purchase TO get move on IT,
Well, just began that evening TO make al.
rangements 10 have the wall orn down at con.
siderable expense. That night anothrr shock
came from east 10 west. and what do you think
sir? Honest, so help me, that wall was pu,
back into its place, with the jOists fitting per-
fecty in the holes. There was nothing but q
crack left in the plaster"
just after the overland train pulled on to
the Oakland mole a few mornings ago one of
the conductors could have been seen holding a
six-year-old German boy by the hand and loo .
ing axiously around. The passengers had
nearly all entered the ferry-house when a
woman rushed up and selling the boy began to
kiss and hug him franically. at the same time
murmuring something in German about s'my
child" relieved look passed over the con-
ductor'S face as lie let go the boys hand and
disappeared. The woman and the boy went
aboard the boat. where the youngster was
loaded down with candy and cakes, which
seemed TO give him more pleasure than the
affectona:e attention that was bestowed on
him every few moments.
"Ies, he's my boy" said the woman, with a
strong German accent, as soon as she found a
confdaDt, "and l am very happy to-day. have
not seen him for three years and he just came
all The way from Germany by himself" In a
few moments the pair were the center of an ad-
mring crowd and the woman told then that
the boys father had died in Germany nearly
four years ago, leaving her unprovided for.
There was nothing else to do. so she came to
America TO earn her own living, leaving the
child, then little more than baby, in charge of
her sister. She got work here. but it took her
three years 10 save up enough money 10 send
for the boy. Since doing so she has been nearly
crazy with expectation, knowing the boy was
unprotected, except for the kindness of railroad
conductors. "But he got here all right, and |
am very happy to-day" she said rapturously,
covering the boys face with kisses. The young
ster responded by taking another bite of candy.
There was little sentiment about this child,
although his big wandering eyes beed the
young tyraDt's character. he was plain
very plain ordinary youngster beneath the sur
face. His mother carried him into streetcar
and sat him down upon a seat, whereupon he
shook his head petulantly to turn the long curIs
back from his face where the wind had blown
them. The lady must have been his mother.
She wore the deepest Widows weeds and a
lonesome expression which told her story
81 don't want TO stay in here; want to ride
outside. Take me out of here at once" de-.
manded the child.
''Now, be good boy and you'll get something
nce," the mother replied IN solicitous tones
"Oh. don't want nothing nice at all. Take
me outside now. Papa used 10 ride outside !:
he took me ou side"
"Husb, DEAR" said the mother
mo hush at all.' tne boy OF years screeched.
al want to see papa. Where are you going ?'
"Hush say. You cannot see papa" A tear
might be noticed in the womans eye-the sug.
gestion OF a tear.
"But l must see papa. He is downtown
where we're going.'
The car rumbled along until a store was
passed on Market street. store with "A new
name painted on its sign. The child saw II and
again demanded 10 be taken OUT, but the woman
only wiped away the tear and took him in her
arms
A confidence operator played a very smart
and amusing game the other day upon guest
in one OF the hotels. The guest was reading
the printed notice issued by the Chief of Police
warning strangers to he careful of bunko-
steerers and confidence men and explaining
their methods. he was joined by well.
dressed young man who after carefully read
ing the notice In an audible voice. ed /:
II tell you what IL Is, sir, one can't be too care.
ful OF these bunko men. When was here last
october was swinded out of $50 in the SIM
plest possible way" and he went on to relate