The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-26
MEMORIES OF Tie "CLIFF.'

MEMORIES OF Tie "CLIFF."
A Veterans RecoIlections of the
WorId-Famous Resort.
With the destruction of this famous
place of resort one of the old land
marks on the peninsula of San Francisco
has ceased TO be. Wherever California
and the many attractions OF its metropolis
were spoken of on the habltabIe globe the
Cliff House, standing perched on the
brink of the rocky shore at the south
side of the entrance of the Golden Gate,
was always sure to be mentioned with its
chief attraction in the natural way, the
group of islets about half a mile to the
westward inhabited by hundreds of sea-
lions basking in the sunshine when the
weather is clear, or when it is foul roaring
in concert with the angry waves that
spend their force on the stretch of sandy
beach lying souihwardlv or throw their
spray even into the piazza of the house it,
self.
Built In the early sixties. it was for many
years the only recreation point the inhabi-
tants or our then sparsely settled city
had when they wished to take the fresh
air. Previous TO the building of this
place ride to the Mission was the only
luxury OF the kind INDUCED in aud this
was performed on horseback over the
sandhills. Then came the toll-road on
Mission street with its toll-gate running
by tie Jeems Pipes of Pipesville man.
sion; but soon all these excursions fell
into disuse in the face Of the superior at
fractions of the new seaside resort. "a
ride to the Cliff was the fashionable fad
of the early San Franciscans.
The first tenants were a couple of
Frenchmen, whose names and memories
are lost in obscurity. Then came Capt Eos
ter, who had made many voyages on the
steamships of the Pacific Mail line. firing
of the sea, but not wishing to leave it en-
tirely, he leased the Cliff House, and a
short time after his tenancy his house of
call became famous. He made money
like breaking sticks" as he used to say.
The Pacific Mail owned San Francisco
In those years; had almost as tight grip
on Its commercial interests and the people
as the Southern Pacific holds today. Fos-
ter's connection with the line and his &C.
quaintance with all its pursers was the
cause in degree of The great
profits he made during the early
years of his landlord business. The
pursers talked up the Cliff House and Capt.
Foster on all the ships, and the result
was that as soon as the passengers got
themselves on their land legs and the
wrinkles out of their coats they had to
take ride TO the Cliff House to see the
purser host and his brown sea-liOns, as
well as 10 imbibe the choice champagne
his cellar afforded. with white and green
seals. These we're the red-letter days of
early san Francisco, when money was as
free as the broad ocean the Cliff House
looked ont upon. Mine host Foster knew
how to charge, and his bills were never
disputed SO long as his clients lad plenty
OF money in their pockets, but when the
times frightened and money grew scarce
there were murmurs, and this class OF GUS
tom fell of.
But he had the politicians and lobbyists
of the time as second string to his bow.
The Cliff House was crowded with them,
and poker and the popping of corks were
the business of the hour. Truthful Clark
son led the political patrons of the place,
and it was never without batch of free
and easy city officials. who made ducks
and d-akes of the municipalities money,
and accounting was not very accurate.
The old Cliff House was also a favorite
resort of the hetaire of San Francisco.
The piaZzas used to be thronged with these
gaily dressed nymphs, the rooms re-
sounded with their carousals, and Cap
tain Foster looked happy and winked the
other eye when he directed the attention
of a surprised visitor TO the beauty of the
ocean view and the unwiedy gambols of
his phocean pets on the islands beyond.
AS the city of San Francisco gained
other outlets for pleasure-seekers, the GUS
tom Of the Cliff House gradually OWN
died. Carriage parties with plenty of
money TO spend grew scarce, and there
were but few saddle-horses in the sheds
outside 1t was amusing to see Foster.
on days when customers were more than
usually scarce. gazing up the road for the
merry-makers that seldom came. Sud-
denly the sound of wheels was heard.
''Ahal here they come" he would exclafm,
rubbing his hands; but his spirits fell
when the vehicles came in sight around
the turn. "Confound it; only funeral
after ALL" he would grumble as he retired
from view. 1t had got to be custom for
the followers of a funeral at tue then Lone
Mountain Cemetery TO drive on to the
Cliff House after the interment was over
for beers and sandwiches.
This state of things sent the once fortu-
nate Foster out of the Cliff House to the
Homestead and the raceirack on the Point
Lobos road. From there he went as
landlord to Ell Paraiso Springs, near Sole
dad, and few years ago laid down the
burden of life altogether; but he was
never tired OF talking of the goo old times
he enjoyed at the house that has Just gone
up in smoke.
The firm of Moss & Sheldon we're
his successors at the "Ciff" when it
passed into the ownership of hAdolph
Sutro. with adjoining property, but with
Captain Fosters occupancy of the old
"Clift" ceased also its reputation as a
popular resort.