The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-13
BAKERS BEACH MYSTERY
The Finding of Articles That
Were Buried in the
Long Ago.
A BADGE THIRTY YEARS OLD.
It Was Given by the CALIFORNIAN
Club--Its Owner Is
Unknown.

Bakers Beach has developed another
mystery, as appears from story told a
few days since by young man named
John Burke to D. r. Mcneil, chief of the
Caledonian Club. According to this yonng
man, who says 1421 Taylor street is his res
idence. some children called his attention
to discovery they had made while play
ing on the sand, and this led to the finding
of several articles that evidently had been
buried in the beach for many years.
On Sunday, the 9th inst. several chill
dren were on the beach when one of the
number proposed that they dig tunnel.
The others agreed, and providing them
selves with scoops, they commenced to dig
with that ardor that characterizes the en-
ergy of youth, but which as rule is not
productive of any practical results. They
dug and dug in the wet sand until they
had made hole about four feet long, when
suddenly the foremost cried out, "See
what have found, and held up a rusty
pistol.
Further work in the hole was stopped.
when the finder suggested that the wea pom
might have been used by some one who
had taken his life and then the youngsters
went off in search OF some adult to whom
JD6V COulQ Tell Ol tlCiI ulSCOVcTV. 1uGY
met Burke and told him that they were
afraid to dig further lest they might come
across the remains of man. He exam
ined the weapon and saw that it was self
cocker, not one of recent make, but one of
either French or English manufacture that
was in use more than third of century
ago. It was so rusted that neither the
makers name nor the number could be
distinguished.
Burke announced determination to go
to the place and make further search, but
the Youngsters held back as If in fear that
the ghost of some one covered by the sand
near where they found the frearm would
rise and strike terror into them. They
pointed to the place whence they
came and told Burke to go to the hole. He
moved In that direction, and the young
sters growing holder, followed at dis
lance, and finally took up position where
walton. The young man worked for some
time and as q result of his labor obtained a
silver badge of the CALIFORNIAN Club. a
bride, two old-fashioned spring back clasp
knives and two leaden bullets. The knives,
like the revolver, were very rusty and the
bride showed the effects of having been
long time in moist sand. The badge,
which is the size of standard dollar, was
black and so encrusted with sand that it
was not until it had been secured that its
identity could be established. The follow
ing is the inscription on the badge:
Memo me Impune Lagessit.
1886
CALIFORNIAN Club, s. f.
In the center is figure of lion ramp
ant and at the bottom representation of q
Scotch thistle. There is no inscription on
the back that gives clew to its once
owner.
Mr.. McNeill, who has possession of the
relic from the ocean beach. said: 81 do
not know of any way to trace the owner
ship of this badge OF the society, as there
are no marks on it other than those you
see, placed there by order of the society
nearly thirty years ago. All that can say
about it is that it was one of a numbe OF
prizes distributed to winners in the game
at the picnic in 1866. What do think Of
the find? Well, I hardly know what to
think. 1t may be that a burglary was
committed long ago and that the articles