The San Francisco call., 1895-05-20

very taciturn, and when he did talk freely
it was never about himself. 1t was noted
that he used better language than most OF
the other men on the docks, and though he
lived in the midst of squalor and filth his
own habits were those of personal clean
illness not at all in keeping with his sur
roundings. AT first folks marveled some
what at this strange man of the dumps.
Then the boys dubbed him King of the
Dumps and addressed him as Rube- Then
they forgot about him, and he led his own
quiet lifein his own modest way.
But the other day the schooner Emma
brought down load of vegetables from
the Sacramento River and landed with it
at the city wharf that is overlooked from
Rube's cabin. Now it is part of Rube's
self-imposed duty to guard the city wharf
from intruders. He sauntered down the
pier to see the new arrival and was the
first person the mate of the schooner saw
when he leaped ashore. AT once the mate
recognized Rube and greeted him heartily
with: "Hello, Charley Batesp'
Rube never intimated that he had heard
the mate, and tried TO pass on. But the
mate insisted upon being recognized. He
walked after Rube. Finally Rube turned
and said:
''You don't know me. I'm not Charley
Bates. You're mistaken"
"Oh, no; I'm not" said the mate. "You
are Charley Bates, and I'll stake my life
on it. You ought to be ashamed of your
self for denying it. Your father has been
searching all over for you and is fearfully
worried. He thinks some harm has come
to you"
But Rube persisted that the mate was
mistaken. His name was not Bates, he
said, and he had no father. Mayor Davie
chanced to overhear the latter part of the
conversation between Rube and the mate,
AND when the mate had gone uptown he
| took Rube aside and asked him if the
mates story was true.
From Rube's manner judged that he
was shamming to the mate" says Mayor
Davie, land sure enough, RuDe con-
fessed to me that his name was Charley
Bates and his father the well-known
owner of Bates Landing on the Sacra-
mento River. He is one Of the richest men
in the valley and the most religious man |
know of in these parts. Why, they tell
me that he will uot permit vessel to land
at his wharf on Sunday if he knows it, and
| under no circumstances would he permit
| any one to do stroke of work on his prop
erty on Sunday.
"Yes, it's queer story about his son
Charley, or Rube, as he is known down
here. For nearly three years he has been
living down here on the dumps, and has
earned from one to three dollars a week
Just before Rube came to the dumps he
parted from his father in something of a
turn home for three years. Charley is one
of several brothers, to all of whom the old
gentleman gave valuable tracts of planted
orchard land along the Sacramento River.
One winter the levee on Charley's ranch
broke and the high water inundated his
orchard. The trees were about four years
old and just beginning to yield good
crop. The high water continued for sew
eral weeks, the water became heated from
the fierce sun and the trees were killed.
This broke Charley all up and he grew
despyndent. His father tried to cheer him
up and chided him for being discouraged
so easily. Then Charley became angry
and went away, vOwing not to return again
for three years.
wv ell, the three years is nearly up now,
| Charley confded to me, and then he will
| be going back to his father and we will
| have to find somebody else to level off the
debris as it is dumped from the CARTS
| 1t was big relief to Mr.. Bates, the elder,
| to find out what had become OF Charley,
and since then he has communicated with
one OF the officials of the Southern Pacific
| Railroad, who is stationed at Oakland, re-
| garding his recreant and peculiar son.
Mr.. Bates is the owner of Sherman Island
in the Sacramento River, and one of the
+, best known men in the valley. His son,
| Charley, inherits all the paternal religious
scruples, as has been noticed time and
again by those on the water front. Part of
his meager income is derived from doing
odd chores in the neighborhood, but no
| price could ever induce him to perform
| any kind of work on Sunday. When this
came to be generally known on the water
| front he was often offered exorbitant
| prices to perform some menial task on
Sunday. Once the saloon keeper on Web
ster street. near the bridge, offered Charley
81 if he would sweep the pavement in front
OF the saloon one Sunday morning for the
edification of crowd of hangers-on, who
doubted Charley's staying qualities if the
inducement were sufficient. The King of
the Dumps Indignantly declined the lob
| and gave it out very emphatically that
there was not enough money in the world
to tempt him to break the Sabbath day by
| working. Indeed, Charley Bates contempt
for worldly wealth even on week days is
something quite remarkable in its way.
He might be living in fine house and en-
Toying himself in civilized way. He
| travelling in Europe or where he would.
He might be making thousands year or
i H. IL