The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-14
RAILROAD MEN TRIUMPHANT.
Mr.. Smith Defies Them to Break
Up His Pavement.
CLAD ONLY IN HIS NIGHT ROBE.
The Men Gradually Dig Around Him
Till He Is Forced to Retire
Discounted.

A scene was enacted on the northwest
corner of Sixteenth and Guerrero streets
about o'clock yesterday morning which
could be better be illustrated in sketch
than by words.
For some days past employees OF the
Southern Pacific Company have been
erecting electric poles along Sixteenth
street, and everything went along
smoothly till they reached the corner
mentioned The foreman suspected
trouble and asked Captain Short for two
or three extra policemen to guard against
a breach of the peace.
1t was about o'clock when the gang ap-
peared at the corner with their picks,
mallets and crowbars. The property on
the corner is owned by Attorney Smith.
and there is concrete pavement which
has only recently been laid down
around the front of his property. Mr..
Smith lives on the corner building above
the grocery.
The men had chalked out space about
four feet square on the pavement o dig a
hole for the pole and were just COM
mencing to break up the pavement when
Attorney Smith, dressed only in his night
robe and armed with a stout stick. ran out
of his house and took up position on the
mapped-oat space.
II dare you," he said, "to break up this
pavement. 1t belongs to me, aud was paid
for by my money, and no one has right
TO destroy it"
AS the cold night wind whistIed round
his bare legs the workmen paid no heed to
his remonstrances, but commenced to use
their crowbars. MIR. Smith showed out
bare foot as lie saw descending croWbar,
but the laborer was wary enough not 10
strike the foot. and by a sharp twist of his
wrist managed to eyade manning the en-
ragged attorney.
While this was going on Mrs. Smith
opened the window of her bedroom and
blew loudly on a police whistle.
What is il, madam? ?" politely asked an
officer.
81 want you," said the lady, "to arrest
those men for destroying our property.
Why don't YOU strike them with your
stick?" she shouted to her husband.
Il am only here" said the officer, ''to
mitted. and cannot therefore arrest the
men as l do not know that they are break
ing the law"
NO" retorted Mrs. Smith. "but they
are breaking I'D our property. You, hire
ling police, you obey the hireling railroad
people, but you refuse to protect the
property of honest citizens"
"You had better go back 10 bed,
madam" said the officer politely, "as
you can do no good interfering with these
men,"
How dare you tell me what should
do retnrted the lady, and the officer
subsidized.
Meantime Mr.. Smith was keeping the
Iaborers on the rack with his naked feet.
but he would not nudge an inch. Finally
the space on which he stood grew mar
rover, till he lost his balance and slid
into the hole. Immediately several crow
bars were dug into the thin space OF con-
crete and the hole was complete.
Discounted but not beaten, Mr.. Smith
rushed upstairs into his house and in
few minutes appeared with his boots and
trousers on and carrying mattress over
his shoulders. He was determined 10 make
MS bed on top of the by hole, with the
inconstant moon and stars for covering.
But he was thwarted in his design.
As sooD as the men saw him coming
they joined hands and formed a circle
round the hole. Mr.. Smith evidently knew
enough of law not to use violence in sepa-
rating the men, and after standing with
the mattress for a few minutes he went
back to the house, declaring that he
would have justice done him in the courts
for the breaking up Of his pavement.
As soon as he departed the pole was
quickly placed in position. and now stands
in its naked ugllness as an eyesore TO the
attorney and his wife,