The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10

them and my voice was dying away and every
body seemed spellbound full-grown donkey
stuck his head in the door and brayed. 'Ye-
haw-w-wl yehaw-w-wv seemingly in answer to
my words.
''The audience went into commissions, and
the applause l anticipated was turned into
howlS of mirth. We had to stop right there
and conclude the programme, The violfnist
was all broken up over the incident, and walk
ing up to me with his bow in his hand said :
Say, Halle, if you expect to make success of
this South African tour you have got to keep
your relatives away from the front door,
"On another occasion l sang for the King of
Swaziland old Umbandine, and had for an
audience his 600 wives. Young Shepstone, son
of the famous Theopholis Shepstone, the man
who plunged England into the Zulu war, was
with me, and our orchestra consisted of two
banjos. We sang light music, and in conclud-
ing gave them the trill. The old King jumped
down from his throne, rushed up to me and
wanted TO examine my throat. 1 did it for him
several times, and he finally concluded that he
could do it himself. The result was sound
that reminded one of broken snare drum
being played by small boy. He tackled it for
two or three days, and gave itup on the ground
that his throat wasn't built right. He tried to
teach it to several of his family, but without
success. 1t was about the only thing did that
seemed to please him, and from that time on
until l left l INDUCED in nothing but songs.
that had trill In them. He always made
close examination after each piece, and finally
stated that there was something the matter
with me-"
AT remember very well the day the news was
received of Californla's admission to the
Union,' said George X. Fitch, the veteran
newspaper editor. yesterday. al was in Sacra-
ITO tbo balp Mi RI cd fbe Tr
script. 1t was ten minutes to two o'clock in
the morning when young fellow rushed into
the office and shouted that California had been
admitted to the Union, and, almost as quickly,
he rushed out again, slamming the door after
him, and leaving us in state of excitement.
"That was the first time that ] ever saw Mar
Gus D. Boruck and that action was character
is tic of the man. OF course the announcement
that California had been admitted aid not
exactly come as a surprise, though we were all
overjoyed when the actual fact was made
known.
"Boruck came up on the steamer with the
rest of the folks from San Francisco, but man.
aged to Jump off at the wharf ahead of all the
rest of the crowd, and rushed through the
streets announcing the important news, every
where at the same time, apparently, and he
played the role of a harpinger of joyful tidings
to perfection.
Everything had been prepared for a celebra-
ton. A platform had been built for the speak
ers, the ordinance against firing off guns in
the public streets had been repealed by the
City Council, and the whole community was
set on a hair-trigger ready to start the ball
going at a moments notice.
"Boruck got an linking of the programme
and rushed to the platform that had been
erected on the street. In moment he had
1000 men in front of him, and he an absolute
stranger, actually took possession of the meet
ing and carried on the proceedings as If he
had been the original founder of the city.
He moved that Thomas J. Henley be
elected president, and as that was according to
the cut and dried programme of course it
went through Then he nominated the other
officers, apparently of his own volition, but
really carrying out the plan that had been
agreed upon.
sit was marvellous piece of work and
nobody but Marcus d. Boruck could have
carried it through. Nobody went to bed that
night and the city of Sacramento was given
over to jubilation. All over the State the
same spirit of rejoicing was manifested.
We had hoped for statehood so long
that when the realization came our rejoicing
knew no bounds. At the head and front of it
all, SO far as Sacramento was concerned, Mar
Gus D. Boruck stood. He was the bearer OF the
joyful tidings, and as such was the acknowl-
edged leader for the occasion"