davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08

sits under the arc lights of the White
House. Here he remains with a bent
head, and twisting about q concertina
which makes doleful, wheeling sounds
that are interrupted every few seconds by
a loud squeak, which he draws from the
tortured instrument by the exercise of a
little extra vigor. Heidesburg's appear
ance is that of bundle of rags, with an
upturned hat placed in front of it on the
sidewalk. At times he goes to the west
side of Grant avenue, south of the corner
of Geary street, and again he can be seen
at some dark spot on Montgomery street.
Heidesburg is neither blind, crippled nor
i'll, though he pretends to have all those
complaints. He is a somewhat stoutly
built Frenchman, go years of age, who was
brought to this country about three years
ago by an uncle who lives at Redwood
City. He entered upon the life of beg
gar, which he had followed professionally
in Paris, though pretending to be a
butcher.
Heidesburg occupies small room at the
Hotel des Alpes, 621 Pacific street. He
has no friends or relatives in this city, and
leads miserable existence. He cooks his
own meals in his room, seldom leaves it in
the daytime and at night prowls along
Kearny street to his chosen post. He is
poverty stricken and leads an uneventful
life
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08

least two men, and it is probable that a
whole family receives the major part of his
gatherings. Deboas is the aged Belgian
who sits in front of the City of Paris and
grinds 1.-TWO Little Girls in Blue" out of an
organ all day long. About P. NJ. slouchy
Frenchman comes for the old blind man.
They go to Dick Won der Mahden's grocery
at the corner of Mission and Fourth streets,
leave the organ, drink beer for an hour or
so and then take the Castro-street cars so
as to get as near as possible to the home of
Peter Vale, a pretended musician, who,
with wife and four children, lives on
Ocean road, opposite Alvarado street, on
the eastern slope of Twin Peaks. Vale
owns the property, and claims to have an
income from some source in Chicago. The
whole party came from Chicago Just before
the Midwinter Fair opened, and the only
visible source of income has been the old
organ-grinder. Seven years ago Fernand
was the support of three professional beg
gars in Kansas City, Mo. When Fernand
did well the man and woman with him
would go on spree, leaving the third one,
a crippled girl, to Starye.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
FRANK PHELPS WRECKED LIFE.
a Disgusting Spectacle to Be Seen on Res
taurant Steps,
money.

a Disgusting Spectacle to Be Seen on Res
taurant Steps.
A disgusting, sickening sight is presented
by Frank Phelps, man of % whose Attic
tons are the result of his dissipation and
missp ent early life He generally reclines
on the steps near the entrances to the res
taurants of the-Genter Market at the corner
of Grant avenue and Suffer streets. Here
he lies writing in assumed agony, expos
ing the stump of an arm and uttering
groans, which if ever genuine are from his
desire to get whisky or morphine as he is a
"hypo" fiend by reputation. He begs in
piteous tones for passers-by to purchase
slowly picks himself up and walks rapidly
and firmly to neighboring saloon. When
he returns to his place on the steps he
whines out tale of paralyzed legs to all
whom he may attract. This constitutes his
work of the day. At night he takes
up stand in front of some
restaurant, and with twisted limbs and
distorted face begs for a dime with which
to get something to eat. After the restau-
rant closes he becomes a striker on the
street, and later goes to one of the numer-
Gus beer saloons near the old City Hall,
where he meets congenial spirits. There
the proceeds of the day are spent in ''filling
up on steam beer, until the money being
gone he goes to sleep in a chair or walks
down to the City Prison and begs fer
nights lodging. Occasionally he saves
enough out of the beer money to pay for a
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08

Third avenue, near California street. This
is mortgaged to the City Building and
Loan Society, but Zazzi is paying up the
installments rapidly. lie also has lot
on California street, near Maple, in his
wife's name. There is a small mortgage
on this. He is supposed to have many
more interests. Zazzi has given his atten-
ton to grinding the organ along streets in
the Western Addition. When he goes out
he always wears cap upon which is the
word Prophet" But Zazzi does not go
out great deal now. He is 80 years of
age and is able to rest
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08

many dimes. Ten years ago Morris, whose
home is in Chico, was drunken brakeman
about Sacramento, according to his own
story, and it took all his money to keen
him in liquor. One day he tried to jump
on train and fell under it and had
both legs cut off; For the past ten
years he has knocked about the United
States, begging in all the principal cities.
He made more by begging than by brak.
ing. He Travelled much and spent all of
his surplus money for whisky. He claims to
have quit drinking to excess over two years
ago, just before he went to the Worlds
Fair at Chicago. Morris, when spoken to,
hands the questioner a neatly written card
which has upon it his name and his ad-
dress, which shows he lives at the Bonanza
clearinghouse on Market street. opposite
the Baldwin Hotel. He eats in the Palace
Restaurant, underneath his lodging-hous
Morris is very independent fellow. He
laughs at being placed in home or the
Almshouse and travels wherever his incli-
nations direct him.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08

whether they be intirm, blind, crippled or
unsightly, is very plain. The law was
made for the purpose of keeping beggars
and fakirs off the street, and the Aims
house was created for the purpose of Civ
ing the unfortunates home. This home
is supposed to be conducted in better
way than any of the places where the
beggars exist. The people are taxed for
the support of the poor, and there is no
reason why such sights as are to be seen
about the streets daily should be inflicted
upon the community. The mendicants
should not be sent to jail or the
Almshouse for a few days or weeks
and then be allowed to return to the
street corners again Section 80 of the
general orders of the Board of Supervisors,
entitled "To prohibit street-begging and
to restrain certain persons from appearing
in streets and public Places" reads as
follows
No person shall, either directly or indirectly,
whether by look, word, sign or deed, practice
begging or mendicancy in or on any of the
streets, highways or thoroughfares of the city
and county of San Francisco, nor in any public
place
On the conviction OF any person for practic-
ing mendicancy or begging, if it shall appear
that such person is without means of support
and intirm and physically unable to earn a
support and livelihood, or is, for any cause, a
proper person to be maintained at the Aims
house, such person may be committed to- the
Almshouse.
Any person who is diseased, manned mutt
lated or in any way deformed, so as to be an
unsightly or disgusting object, or an improper
person to be allowed in on the streets, high
ways, thoroughfares or public places in this city
and county, shall not therein or thereon ex-
pose himself or herself to public view.
On the conviction of any person for viola
ton of any of the provisions of the next pre-
ceding clause of this section, if it shall seem
proper and just, the fine and imprisonment
provided for may be omitted and such person
sent to the Almshouse.
1t is hereby made the duty of the police Off
GERS to arrest any person who shall violate any
of the provisions OF this section.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
TWO DESTITUTE OLD BBLeIANs,
Johanna de spiegeleere Begs forHer Sick
Hn

Johanna de spiegeleere Begs forHer Sick
Husband.
Johanna de Spiegeleere, a withered old
Belgian woman, sits all day long in front
of the Pacific Postal Telegraph Company's
Office on Market street, and with the little
money she gets she keeps herself and her
sick husband from starvation. Peter de
Spiegeleere came to this country over
twenty years ago with few hundred dol
lars. For several years he sold lead pen
ellis, making precarious living. He was
taken sick several weeks ago and his wife
now goes out in his place. The two live
in two rickety rooms in the rear of AZ Jes-
sic street. The wife is 80 years old and the
husband is three months younger. They are
almost destitute, but the old man cries if
the Almshouse is mentioned to him. He
had $50 in the Peoples Home Savings
Bank. He has withdrawn and received in
dividends total of $l4
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
LIFE OF A BLIND sCoTCHMAN.
Con McGregor Finds Pleasure Among Disso-
lrfa fam

Con McGregor Finds Pleasure Among Disso-
lutte Companions.
Con McGregor is Scotchman who is not
satisfied with the dollar or two he makes
selling papers at the entrance to the ferry
in the morning, but he also sells pencils
and begs occasionally. McGregor is GER
tainly blind in one eye and claims to be
blind in both, though the left eye appears
perfect. McGregor lived for long time
with a depraved woman in st. Charles
place, and the two became noted for their
drunken orgies.
McGregor now lives on Natoma street and
the little blonde woman who is with him
makes the neighborhood lively when she
starts on one of her sprees. McGregor has
the reputation of being a man of irritable
temperament and is generally disliked
among his acquaintance.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
THE CASE OF JOHN SCOTT.
Though Blind, He Walks the Streets /

Though Blind, he Walks the Streets in
Safety.
John Scott, alias "John Adam, the
Scotchman," is one of the few blind men
with an uneventful life For the last few
years he has stood at the corner of Post
street and Grant avenue. Scott claims
that in 1880 his eyesight was destroyed and
his right arm blown off by blast in a coal
mine in New Mexico. For seven years he
could see a little. Then his eyes gave out.
Scott has a room at the Pacific lodging
house, on Leidesdorff street, and eats at
the What Cheer House. Though totally
blind, Scott finds his way from his lodg-
ings to his stand. He never meets with
any accidents except falling into base
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08

lead him back and forward, comes for him
and takes him to a howell in ST. Charles
place, off Kearny street. near Broadway,
where the lowest class of women and the
most criminal men abound. Amann,
though totally blind, cooks his supper on
a coal-oil stove. He has a few friends to
meet him occasionally in the evening to
talk to him. Some of these friends are in
trusted with Amann's savings. Amann
Is an Alsatian. so wears of age.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08

about $4,000, in bank in this city. Neither
Powell nor his "banker." Charles S. Fech-
helmer OF the Plaza stores, 7O6 Kearny
street, will tell Just what Powell has, but
state that it is about that sum. Mr.. Fech-
heimer has taken care of the old man S
money for ten years and is now trying to
make arrangements to get him from his
miserable surroundings to place of quiet
and comfort: Some people incline to the
neilef that Powell ownes a considerable
interest in Fechheimer's store.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
Hassell, crippled and beggar, manages

Hassell, crippled and beggar, manages to
provide for himself and a woman known as
Nellie Mullins. They live in room in the
notorious Jessie-street lodging house. They
are nearly always drunk, continually fight
any other kind of house than that in
which they now live. 1t is one in which
the vilest of all classes consort, negroes and
whites together. Hassell is debased
wretch, upon whom charity is badly mis-
Snpnt
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08

as she can distinguish objects dimly
Whitehouse cooks, makes beds, ETC., but
he is too lazy to carry out the organ with
which his wife used to attract attention.
He also states it is too much bother for
him to purchase pencils or trinkets for his
wife to sell. Mrs. Whitehouse, attired in
shaker bonnet plaid apron and plain dress,
generally sits on camp stool on Post
street near Kearny or on Kearny, near
Market. She complains of her treatment
by her husband and says he scolds her
dreadfully if she does not bring home much
money
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
ANNIE BARRY's WRETCHED LIFE.
Woman Who Claims to Be Nearly a Gen.
tanarian.

q Woman WHO UIalms TO Be Nearly Uen-
tenarian.
Annie Barry is one of the female wrecks
that float about the city begging for aims.
She is little Irish woman with yellowish
white hair and claims to be 50 years of age.
Notwithstanding this she is drunkard
known as the Jessie-street lodging-house
Annie Barry hobbies along painfully and
with an agonized and drawn face extends
her palm for aid. She was a housekeeper
for prominent families some years ago, but
recently she has spent her time mostly be-
tween the jail and the almshouse, the lat
ter place being one which she declares has
been badly conducted during the past
three years.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
DEoRGPIT MRS. JANE SHAY.
A Old Woman Who Needs Constant Care and
Attention.

Mrs. Jane Shay, who claims to be 80
years of age, and looks it, sells matches
every day in front of the Academy of
Sciences. She lives at 255 Minna street
with Mrs Mary Moore, a widow of 65 who
is said to have some kind of an income
Mrs. Shay was a workingwoman, but now
she is unable to even help herself about.
For the last five years she has sold matches.
She has three granddaughter in this city,
but they are unable or unwilling to help
her. Mrs. Moore cooks the old woman's
meals for her. Mrs. Shay was at the Aims
house once, but complains of the treat
ment there.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
KEPT BY A BLIND WIFE.
A. j. Whitehouse Loafs While His Better
Half Bags

a. u WnltenOuSe LOa1S Wn1le his beJt6r
Half Begs.
Perhaps the most shameful case of street
mendicancy is that of Mrs. M. L.. White.
house. 1t is not shameful on her part, but
on that of her husband, who lives upon the
earnings of his blind wife. Mrs. White
house is 30 years of age and has been
blind since childhood. She married her
present husband, A. J. Whitehouse eight
years ago in Kansas City, Mo-. where she
has relatives 1t is probable Whitehouse,
who is younger than his wife, married the
blind woman so as to live upon her beg
ging. He lies around their two little rooms
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08

bed in 15-cent lodging. Phelps claims
that he was a newsboy in the East. While
In Salina, Kans., seven years ago he at
tempted to jump on a train on which he
was news agent. He fell under it and had
his left hand cut off. His home, he claims,
is in Bellev1lle Ill.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
A PIONEER OF BEGGARs.
Henry ]. Powell's Misery After Amassing
Considerable Wealth.

Considerable Wealth.
The most painful object on the streets is
the most prominent one. Henry ]. Powell
better known as the 'paralyzed old xylo-
phone player" whose stand has been for
years at the corner of Suffer and Kearny
streets, is good example of what contin-
uous professional begging makes of an I'M
fortunate. For many years the white
haired man has been seen daily by thou
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08

street. A badge announcing that he has
four motherless children to support is upon
his breast. Zen lost his sight about two
years ago. He has no motherless children
or any relatives at all. He lives at the San
Gottardo Hotel, 511 Broadway, opposite
the County Jail. a hired guide takes Zen
about town. Zen leads quiet, uneventful
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
THE HAPPIBsT BEaeAR IN TOWN,
Robert N. Morris More Satisfied Lerless
Than When Whole,

IHaH Wien Whole,
The happiest beggar on the street is
Robert N. Morris, legless pencil-seller,
who is to be seen daily in front OF the
store OF o'Connor, Moffatt & Co., or that
OF D. Samuels, on Post street, between
Grant avenue and Kearny. Morris can
didly admits having made quite a sum ont
OF the sympathies of the women who trade
on Post street, and declares he does not
need much assistance. He presents a
shocking sight, as both his legs are entirely
on and he stands on two short stumps. His
head and body are those of a finely built
man OF mlddie-age, and as he presents a
neat appearance many persons think he is
man who once occupied high place in
society. The result is that he gathers in
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
QUIET PERPETRAToR OF FRAUD.

Joseph Zen Does Not Possess Four Motherless
Children,
One of the many ,impositions on the
public without much of history is Joseph
Zen, Swiss. He generally stands silently
in front of Sherman & Clay's, on Kearny
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
DECEASED WRECK OF 4 MAN,

Andrew Hassell a Frozen Norwegian, a
Chronic Drunkard.
Andrew Hassell, Norwegian, is an ugly
looking beggar, whose feet were frozen off
in Alaska. He now walks around on his
knees, carrying number of trinkets in a
basket. His appearance is against him, his
bloated face showing constant dissipation.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
BLIND FOR TWENTY YEARS.

Frank Amann Lives in a Howell Almost
Neglected.
Frank Amann has been twenty years
beggar on the streets of San Francisco, and
is supposed to have considerable money
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08

the plaza opposite the old City Hall all day
and at night he goes to the Osborn House,
a resort for low characters, which adioins
the Bella Union on Kearny street. Harry
eats at the international Hotel. He earns
fair living, has little money and only
horse and wagon could get nm to the
Almshouse. He has been blind for four
teen years.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
PROPHET" AND HIS PROPERTY.

an ItaIlan Urgan-Grinder Of the WeII-Known
Old Style.
Pietro Zazzi is beggar of the old style.
he Is genuine Italian organ-grinder, and
has Piled that vocation for twenty years.
He has travelled all over the coast and has
made large amount of money. He now
lives at 525 Greenwich street, near Stock
ton. He owns the place, but it is mort
gagged. He also owns house and lot on
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08

in the third story of rocker in the rear
of 344 Third street while his wife
is out at work. He pretends to be i'll. He
often allows his vie to come ONE alone,
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
Cnnd ADVERTISING.

SELLING PURE WHITE DINNER PLATES
AT FIVE CENTS EACH.
GREAT AMERICAN IMP. TEA CO.'S STORES
Other lines of Crockery equally cheap.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
AN IMPORTED PROFESSIONAL.
Joseph HeidJsburg Changed His Grounds
From Paris Recently.

TON Farls h6O6nLIy'
A good sample of the imported mendi-
cant is Joseph Heidesburg, an aged French
man. Old Heidesburg plies his vocation
at night principally, when he has nearly a
clear field to himself, though he is often to
be seen out on Saturday and Sunday after
moons. His favorite haunt is on the north
side of Post street, near Kearny, where he
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
HARRY THE HAOKMAN's CASE.

He Has Passed an Uneventful Life for Four.
teen Years.
Another blind man with an uneventful
life is Harry Mclaughlin, the -hackman.
He grinds a broken-down organ in front of
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-01-03
a Piano at a Nominal Price.

Chicago's largest music house, Lyon &
building. They have number of slightly
used and secondhand pianos returned from
Worlds Fair renting, etc, ETC., which they
have determined to sacrifice rather than to
try to make room for. These instruments
comprise square pianos at $40. $65, $50, 500
and 1925 Upright pianos at 1925, $14O, $3.50,
s165. 800, 5000, 1925, S24O and upwards.
Grand pianos at $780, $3.50, $500 and up
ward. Nearly all originally sold for from two
to four times their present price. Almost all
prominent makes lin squares and uprights)
are represented including among numerous
others Chickering, Knabe, Steinway. Weber,
Decker. Steck, Fisher. etc. This is an oppor-
tunity that will not occur again, as Lyon &
Healy have not moved for twenty years. I'm
mediate attention is therefore necessary. A
good plan would be to order piano, leaving
the selection to Lyon & Healy. However,
they will send list and full particulars up
on application Any piano not proving sat
isfaCtOry may be returned at their expense.
Address at their new salesroOms. corner
Wabash Avenue and Adams street, Chicago.
Distance is no obstacle in taking advantage
of this remarkable chance to obtain piano
for in proportion to the saving to be made
the freight charges are insignificant. II you
do not already know them by reputation any
banker will assure you of Lyon & Healy's en-
tire responsibility and record of over third
of century for honorable dealing. Write
to-day as to avoid disappointment.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-01-03
GRANITE ROCK.

B. Fixsen has purchased fine
horse.
A Hills and G. Case went to Sleepy
Eye for few days.
lobe Wilcox and Albert and Edwin
johnson went to Franklin to spend
Christmas.
There was a dance at A.W. Wilcox
place Monday evening. A good time
is reported.
There was a Christmas dance at
James Callery's, and the usual good
time is reported.
George Anderson and Lyman Lar,
son, of Evan, were visiting friends in
this vicinity the last week.
We may with pleasing thoughts
ask some person of mineral influence
to come and investigate the late gold
mine found on the Ne]s Comstocl
place.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-01-03
GALES.

Schools are closed for the holiday
recess.
Christmas dinners were numerous
in town.
John Croft aad Robert johnson
have gone to Hamline.
Mrs. Clara Kettlewell is home for
the holidays.
Thomas and Mary Jones and Name
johnson ARE visiting friends in this
vicinity.
S.. S. Gale received telegram con-
tanning the sad news of the death of a
brother in Boston, December Goth.
The Nettiewyynnt home, one of the
most luxurious on the prairie, was
again lent to the public on Christmas
evening and over two hundred people
young and old enjoyed the Christmas
entertainment by the Misses Taylor,
Norton and pupils, closing with re-
marks from Rev. Croft, when Santa
Claus made his appearance. The
handsome Christmas tree was elegant
ly trimmed and loaded with orna-
mental and useful presents. ''The
poor and motherless were especially
remembered" A bag of candy and
ball popcorn for each pupil and child
end a bushel of apples we're passed
It was merry party and many were
the kind wishes left for the excellent
host and hostess as they took thei1
departure.