The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-05

sore disappointment in store for Mr.. Clifton
when it became known that the ladies, who, it
had been expected, would form a part of the
picturesque outfit, failed to materialize, it
being explained that the chaperon had sud-
denly fallen i'll and that without such an adj
junct it would be impossible for the other
ladies TO go along. Only four gentlemen were
included in the party, they being Harold
Wheeler, the lawyer; William Oothout Jr. of
Santa Barbara, Dan Murphy and a Mr.. Lieb.
The coach is a gorgeously upholstered affair,
and the horses with cropped names and tails
present natty appearance Clifton was on
the box and sedate footman held an elevated
seat in the rear as the outfit pulled out of the
Palace and started on its journey.
april Fools day never comes around" said
ex-senator Tim Mccarthy to select circle of
friends yesterday, after relating how he had
been taken in himself the day before, "but
what think OF old John Moore of Tuolumne,
and his experience on certain. first of April
in either 1864 or 1865. John had been mining
in Tuolumne and Calsyeras counties for years,
and had gathered together quite pile. Itwas
his ambition to return TO his home in Massa-
chusetts with pockets bullying out with wealth,
and show his people what man could do in
California in a few years. He had got together
| about $4,000, and that was considered a
pretty tidy sum in those days.
cat any rate John considered that 1t was
enough to astonish the folks with, and he came
| 10 town with the intention of going home on
| the old mail steamer Uncle Sam. He spent
| little money around town, but he was guard
| ing his capital very closely. He deposited his
stuff in the old Bank of California, then on the
| corner of Washington and Battery streets, and
| got bills of exchange on New York.
| "By the advice OF friend, though, ne in
vested $4,000 in greenbacks, which were then
| selling very low-40 or so cents on the dollar.
| The exchange bills and the greenbacks he
stuffed into large shabby wallet which he
| had carried for years.
at was the LIST of April that he started up
Montgomery street with the intention of going
to the Office of the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany. which was on the corner of Sacramento
and Leidesdorff streets. A. B. Forbes, who now
represents the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance
| Company here, was the agent for the company.
"When John reached the Office he felt for his
wallet to get the money to pay for his ticket,
but 1t was gone. He gasped, turned pale, and
then, TO the establishment of the clerk, dashed
out of the place on the back trail
Cali this time his shabby wallet with for
tune inside was lying on the sidewalk on
Montgomery street. between Clay and Com
mercial, ana was being eyed by score or
more of men who were ranged on the curb and
against the buildings waiting for some sucker
to come along and pick it up in order that
they might yell April fool, April fool at him.
"At that time the day was observed gener-
| ally. Stuffed pocket-books, entieing- looking
bundles, and coins with threads attached to
them were to be seen lying everywhere If q
| sucker was caught and he was anyways known
| the drinks for the crowd were usually on him.
| $50 the throng hung around that precious
! pocket-book when old John Moore came DASH
| ing along. He had no eyes for anything ex-
cept the book and the eager way in which he
| grabbed IL only caused the crowd to add zest to
their cry OF April fool as they crowded around
| him.
"Old John feverishly opened the book saw
that all was right, and then the situation
dawned on him. He exposed the contents of
! the wallet, and then drawled out: Well, I
dunno, boys, whether Pm the fool or not, but
SEEM as how none of you took my money 1
guess I'll treat and he did. John made money
on his greenbacks, and he died in his old home
about ten years ago, but I'll bet that he never
forgot that April Fools day experience.