The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-01

secure, but E. 3. Cutter showed how
easily the desk could be opened and how
readily the samples for the warfare, in
case OF emergency, could be confiscated
So Bresse drove a nail into the drawer to
hold it in place. which some one else
Immediately removed.
1t was the last day of the year and jiDks
were to take the place of. business OH the
Produce Exchange; besides. it was ar
ranged that the silk hat of President W.
a. Holcomb should be smashed Now, 1t
is not an offense on the part of member
of the Produce Exchange 10 wear a silk
hat, provided be wears it with discre ton,
which merely implies that he may wear
the hat when and where he Will on 364
days of the year. He may wear that hat
with a sack coat and even with negligee
shirt, and keep it safe from harm on any
day except the 31st day of December. 1t
is discretion on the afternoon of the last
day OF the year not to appear with silk
hat on the Pro duce Exchange.
President Holcomb mas worn silk hats
for the past fifteen years-tbat is, when he
is on this side of the bay. Over in Oak
| land, where he makes his home, it is re-
ported that he has been seen with a soft
| bat.
II was even surmised that he might
yesterday bring that Oakland soft hat
| with him. But the Produce Exchange
was not TO be so disappointed. For at the
| morning session the tall silk bat of the
| president was in evidence, and great was
| the preparation for its smashing.
There was crowded session at the
afternoon. Some of the older members
thought they might transact little bust
ness before he fun began, so they
crowded un close to the caller, Moses
Blum. and Lewis McGlauflin and others
| The bell struck the opening hour. Caller
| Bunker began his routine. He had lust
get his voice warmed up to the proper
pitch, and I. Cary Friedlandsr, the secre-
| taTy, after glaDciDg around To see if Presi-
dent Holcomb was in bis line of range, had
| leaned back in his chair in fanced security
when Biff biff! biffl Diff biffi the little
sample bags, filled with flour, with wheat.
with oats, with barley, with beans. with
everything in which the Produce Ex-
| change deals. began TO shower around his
head and that of Caller Bunker.
The front row, which suffered seriously
| FROM the bonn bardment, scattered and
| fed. Friadlander and Bunker made flyipg
! leaps into the crowd and began an iudis-
| criminale b0nibaTdment ON their own &C.
| count. The policeman who had looked in
! to see the fun made hasty retreat as his
blue coat became the target for half
dczen marksmen. and the shower of -four
and cereals followed him we'll into the
| street.
The bombardment had started trife
too early. IL was Jerrv Cove who threw
i the first bag of -four. He stood at a point
| of vantage with his hands full of missiles,
waiting for President Holcomb's tall silk
tile To gisten, shining mark for his skill,
! but Secretary Friedlander's smile of sweet
| security aud the innocent manner in which
Caller FL. G. Bunker, Ignoring all their
pre- paratoDs for assault, went on with his
routine, proved too tempting. so Jerry
Cove took aim and let go, and this he did
/ With much celerily and accuracy. He
scored one on Friedlander's jaw, grazed
| his head with another and struck Bunker
| full on the nose. And this is considered
| good call board record TO score 90 per cent
when the target is an animate one and is
doing its very best at lodging.
Moses Blum got we'll showered with
| -four. so did McGlaufln and everybody
else who staid in the room. A few nearest
the doors escaped unwhtened to the
| streets.
The fun waxed more furious within and
| a great crowd gathersd in front Of the
| Produce Exchange OH California street.
reaching around into Pauper alley After
| all within had taken q shot al Cove aud
made fairly presentable miller of him,
there was diversion 10 California street
! and the crowd outside was we'll bespat-
tered with -four.
| To add to the confusion irecrackers
began to pop in the Produce Exchange
! and lively fusillada mads the telegraph
| girl put her hands to her ears to shut out
the deafenlng sound. She had watched
] the mimic warfare, the battle of the flour
| bags, with much merrimsni, but the fire.
| crackers proved too much for her courage,
| though sheltered by partition from the
| immediat. effect of the noise.
| While frecrackers were popping and
| -four bags we're flying. several wrestling
bouts took place on the floor of the ex-
change. /. Cohen was downed in catch
as-catch-can with E. Sutro Jr.. aud liter