The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-23
Arrest of Two Men for Infrac.
tons of the Butcher
Ordinance.
DEALERS AIDING AUTHORITIES
Belief That Horse Meat Is Sold to
the Patrons of Chinese
Retailers.
Are many of the Chinese residents of

Are many of the Chinese residents of
San Francisco being fed on horse meatP
That is a question which some of the
butchers of this town are endeavoring to
determine. They are working in conjunc-
ton with the authorities of the Health De-
partment to this end. 1t is believed that
horse meat is being sold to Chinese re-
tailers in Chinatown and by them to the
consumers. In this way it is declared that
the decrepit old work horses that are
slaughtered IN the neighborhood OF
Butchertown find their way to the local
meat market in homeless form.
The Chinese butchers receive a large
patronage, mostly from their fellow coun-
trvmen. but sometimes from white people.
They make a speciality of cheap, diseased
meats. Therefore they are not considered
above selling horse flesh, which can be
only used in sausages and as steaks, and
which may be bought at low price. The
supposition that they do sell horse meat
NAV not be well founded. Anyway a RAID
on the cheap slaughter-pens just south of
Butchertown by Chief Market Inspector
Ben Davis yesterday revealed startling
condition of things.
The inspector visited the premises of P.
Malarkey and ]. Florentine and discovered
evidence sufficient to warrant him in caus-
ing the arrest of both men for violating
the ordinance respecting the Strengthening
of animals within the corporate limits of
the City.
Florentine is proprietor of the Four-mile
House, which is located on the main high
way Immediately south of Butchertown.
Malarkey lives in a hollow hard by.
Both men are far from being angels,
though their diligence during the long and
silent hours of night would leave another
impression.
Florentine evidently worked quite as
siduously Thursday night, for two freshly
dressed horse carcaSses were found in his
slaughter pen in the rear of his roadhouse
by Inspector Davis yesterday morning.
The meat was badly diseased, as a SUBJ
sequent analysis of samples taken to the
Health Department at the City Hall clearly
showed.
The Strengthening place was strewn with
fragments of horse anatomy. There were
horse joints, horse steaks, horse chops and
horseshoes of all kinds.
The innkeeper admitted having paid
81 so for one of the horses. He did not
consider the price exorbitant. Though the
animal had sprung from aristocratic par
entage it was hardly fit to enter the con-
test for the blue ribbon at the horse show
during the latter days of its life, and
equally unfit for table use in death.
But Mr.. Florentine declared that the
horse meat had not been prepared for the
market He reserved it for his chickens
and dogs. There was meat enough in
sight, however, to feed all the dogs and
chickens in town for month. Florentine
talked excitedly.
81 have done no wrong" he said, "and
don't see why the health Office should
send its inspectors out to my place before
notifying me. If you had sent me notice
that you were coming [ would have had
this place all cleaned up nicely. 1t is not
fair-it is not fair" and Florentine wrung
his hands in despair.
"Are you going to arrest me-" he in
quired, ''for what [ have done2 Well, l
don't care, anyway. Send me to San
Quentin if you like; send me anywhere
out of this place. l don't care what you
do with me. do not sell the horse meat;
feed it to my dogs and chickens. That
is all"
Inspector Davis paid little attention to
the jabbering OF the proprietor of the Four
mile House, who was com pletely bewild-
dered over the sudden visit of the health
officers, in whom was reflected a CORE
spending satisfaction over the find.
Inspector Davis made an almost equally
successful invasion of the Malarkey prem
ises, located short distance from the Flor
entine Hotel. Mr.. Malarkey was not at
home. His wife, who is not burdened with
discretion, said that he had gone to town
with horse hide. She did not say that
he had taken any horse meat with him.
Sections of dead horse were found strewn
about the yard. Hogs had eaten their fill
of the horse meat and wallowed lazily in
the mud while the swine and fowl nibbled
at will at the choicest parts of the carcass.
The slaughtered horse was one of three
which had been purchased at prices rang
ing from 81 so to &c. The two horses re-
manning were on exhibition. 1t was plain
that, while Malarkey was an expert in
horsehesh, he got more bones than horse
for his money. The animals were able to
stand alone, but were noticed to hug the
side of barn somewhat tenderlv. Could
they speak those relics of the once noblest
of animals, crushed to the wall by the
bicycle ana other modern means of tran
sit, would doubtless urge Mr.. Malarkey to
proceed with the execution.
President Hammond of the Butchers
Board of Trade, and others who are in
terested in keeping the local market clear
OF unclean meats, accompanied Inspector
Davis on his expedition yesterday. They
were much pleased with the results. The
butchers declared that by protecting the
market from horse and diseased meats
they would not only be performing their
duty toward the public, but be advancing
their individual business interests as we'll |
Ihere Is belief In some quarters that
the enterprising Celestial butchers would
not hesitate TO introduce mule meat to
the market if they could find purchasers.
DR.. Greedy, the veterinary surgeon, Wis
tied the scene of operations late yesterday
afternoon and made thorough inspection
of both the FIoIentine and Malarkev
premises. On the former he found COW
suffering from consumption, while one of
the dead, but dressed, thoroughbreds, had
suffered from latent CHAMBERS. The cow
was killed.