The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-08

| the city. The bay may truly be the theme
of lofty panegyric, but the streets and
alleys of the town are as repulslve as those
OF Constantinople. California bound pas
sengers, half famished, made an onslaught
on the restaurant of the Hotel Pharoux.
| Every luxury and delicacy on the menu
were called for-and so was the bill. To
the utter amazement of the party, the
| pretty demoiselle who sat at the re-
! ceipt of customs handed over the counter
! wilderness OF figures, which being
! counted up amounted to some thousand
mile de reys. Aghast did the dining
arsonauts stare at the monstrous extor-
! ton. but to their inexpressible relief the
! fair Interpreter gave them 10 understand
! that each figure represented only the frac-
tional Part of a cipher. 1t is needless to
say that the very moderate bill was set
tied without growing.
| Enchanting are the botanical gardens
at Botofogo, one of the loveliest localities
of either hemisphere. Every variety Of
! tree shrub and flower is to be found in
these gorgeous gardens. On one of our
jaunts Dom Pedro was met mounted on
stalwart sorrel steed, and who with his
suite was bound to the celebration in the
city OF the birthday anniversary of his
wife. the accomplished sister of the King
of Naples.
JOLLY PIONEERS ON A SEA STEAMER.
claimed Purser McIlvaine as he book ed
the stranded stranger for trip from Rio
to Yerba Buena. His steamer, the Pana-
ma, entered the harbor while the Colon
was still undergoing repairs. He hap
pened to be an old Knickerbocker friend
and swore by the great horned spoon that
this stranded wayfarer should get aboard
his craft. Did / Jump at the chance
Well, did ever too:hless spinster of go
accept a proposal from handsome man
of 30! Before the Panama weighed anchor
| found myself snugly ensconced in a
nice stateroom, with Porter (afterward
admiral) for a captain, and Hall McAllis-
ter, Sam Ward, king of the lobby, Lieuten-
ant George Derby alias John Phoenix, and
other argonauts whose names have time
and again appeared in print as fellow pas
sengers.
1t may be remarked, en- PEASANT, that
just prior to leaving port, and on the even
ing of March 4, 1849, the loyal sons of our
native land celebrated the Inauguration of
President Taylor by sumptuous banquet
at the same old Hotel Pharoux.
From the dilapidated Colon to the COM
modious Panama was a transition from
purgatory to paradise. The companion
ship of congenial spirits, toothsome viands
anu the exhilarating anticipation OF speed.
lily reaching the golden goal made the trip
from Rio to Patagonia an ocean picnic.
Oh the calm Pacific, the MINDLESS Pacific,
the waveless Pacific! So l had read in
childhood days, but fondest hopes were
ruthlessly dispelled when the Panama 8
prov first plunged into the Western ocean
off Cape Pillar. The wind blew fearfully
.andward. The night was as dark as
Erebus. For hours the stanch ship made
no Roadway, and the lee shore not dozen
miles away. A mountain wave all the way
from Australia struck the craft like a
thunderbolt. She quivered like an aspen.
The walking beam stood on the center. It
had to be pried over by muscle. 1t was q
critical moment, but the crisis in an instant
thereafter was passed. The gallant steamer
weathered the cape and was safe.
The tedium of an ocean voyage was en-
livened by the Immaculate "Squibob,"
whether on deck or in cabin. He issued
the initial and final number OF the Pacific
Pioneer and pasted it on the mainmast of
the vessel. The frontispiece represented q
rear view of huge digger, and beneath
was the explanatory note. "Tie latter end
of profane swearer.'
At the Star Hotel in Valparaiso the
waiter set before him plate OF cold bis
cult. Reckoning to the steward he
shouted, II say! Weren't these biscuits
made out of Chile f1our!'
Down in the doldrums, when ennui and
universal lassitude and listlessness pre-
vailed, Lieutenant Derby proved to be the
Phoenix to revive their dropping spirits
and infuse new life into their lethargic
veins.
So one lovely moonlight evening he con-
cocted unique entertainment. He piped
all cabin passengers to quarters on the
after deck. A curtain was stretched amid