The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25

Foard started the Golden Era as weekly
miscellaneous literary paper. Considering
the topsy-turvey condition of things in
general at that time, it was risky venture
and dire failure was predicted. But the
founders were not to be discouraged. Be-
ing young, ambitious and competent, they
went at it with will. Daggett could turn
off a good deal of newspaper work when the
mood was on him, while Foard put in his
time industriously between the editorial
and composing rooms. Both were expert
printers, and made their skill count.
Within year the Era had pretty solld
bottom to stand upon, and was still gong
ahead. 1t became favorite in the mines,
and was a welcome visitor in almost every
camp in the State. The country edition"
was printed on Thursday, dated the fol-
Iowin Sunday, to be as fresh as possible
to interior readers on its publication day.
Daggett was considerable of rustler then,
though having since been Congressman
and acquired an equatorial rotundlty tnat
precludes active exercise, and besides, ne
don't feel like rustling any more.
Any kind of exertion is distasteful to
him now. Though one of the readIest ana
most pungent writer's or the coast, he DIS
likes the effort. The pen is too heavy Tor
the hand that welded the pick and shovel
or deity shook the rocker. In the early
days OF the Era he used to take to the
mountains to solicit subscriptions. Being
smooth OF speech and very attractive In
conversation. besides being thorough
backw oodsman, he gathered many names
into his list, cash in advance. On one OF
these trips, somewhere in the southern
mines, he ran across number OF Joaquin
Murietta's band of thieves and waylayers,
headed by the notorious ''Three-hngered
Jack" who was Joaquin's lieutenant.
They captured the itlnerant scribe and
tied him up to tree to make sure that he
would not change his locality while they
INDUCED in a bit of a carousal; and they
cinched him to the tree solidly, too, with a
hair rope-a smecate"-so tight, indeed,
that the fakes of the rope compressed his
abdomen most uncomfortablv, the marks
of which may be seen to this day when the
wearer is willing to display them. Fortu-
nately for Daggett the notorious joaquin
was absent from the band, probably on
some expedition Of murder and robbery.
Three fingered Jack" was the most
hideous- looking miscreant that ever went
unhung, but he had pride that could be
tickled. When he questioned Daggett as
to whether he recognized any OF the gang
the latter pointed to Jack as Joaquin.
The villain was SO pleased at being mis-
taken for the bandit chief that he turned
the prisoner loose to continue the pursuit
of subscribers.
Daggett's sketches of mining life and
mountain experiences were the cream OF
sprigitly writing. AS 'Blunderbus" he
alternated between wit, humor. ridlcule
and sarcasm. In bitter vituperation there
was hardly his equal. The miners liked
his Style and swore by the Era. He
could write in the sweetest strain and Eli
you with pleasant sensations or make
YOUR hair stand like the straws in whisk
broom.
The Era gradually collected around it
a following of literary people, amateurs
and PROFESSIONALISM. M. Greeley, Calvin B.
Mcdonald, Dan de guile, Comet Quirls
(KendalD, Lieutenant Derby Uohn Phoe-
nix), Joseph r. Goodman. D. E. McCar-
thy, Elbridge Gerry Page dow Jr.l DR..
Prefontaine, c. B. Howe. the erratic but
talented steamboat runner; Doc Hoyt,
John R. Ridge yellow Bird), A. De-
lano (Old Block, Thomas ]. Foard
(Torpedo), J. E. Lawrence, and others
whose names are difficult to reclaim from
the obscurity of forty years. Later On
came Bret Harte, Prentice Milford, Mark
Twain, and more, who at least picked up
some schooling in the Era office.
Greeley banked on being nephew of
the Only Horace of the great Tribune.
He was most prolific scribe, but his men
tai range was like Spanish cattle ranch.
1t was hard to roundup his ideas so that
one could fully comprehend him at all
times. He believed that there was too
much punctuation; that commas and
periods clogged the sense of an article; so
he would write long paragraphs without
point of any kind. l, aving the reader
gasping for breath at the end. But he was
bright, nevertheless, needing only bal
ance-wheel.
Calvin B. Macdonald ('the Triple
Thunderer'O was also regular on the
Era staff. AT that time he was graceful
paragraphist, condensing a great deal of
meaning into a small space. He would
occasionally soar off into fancy flights of
hyperbole, entrance you with gorgeous
word painting and then drop you with u
bewil6ering thump on the hardest place
he could find; but he could write. Some
of his things will live long time after
Cleveiand's messages are forgotten. He is
still in the land, but must DE getting
along toward the ferry
'Dan de QuiIie' civilian Wright) was
then in his prime. Nearly every week he
contributed column of his quaintness
from his home in the bills, and it was al
ways good reading. Genial old dan"
couldn't be stupid if he tried. With
profitable information and entertaining
persihage he made his column attractive.
He never ruptured himself 10 be humor-
Gus, but the humor was there all the time,
not infrequently peppered with double
edged wit. For about thirty-fve years he
has camped at the foot. of Mount David
son, actively engaged in journalism until
the last ten years, which he has devoted
principally to miscellaneous writing.
When his claim peters the old noun.
tain will don an extra cap of snow, for
there never was but one "Dan de Quille.' u
Joseph T. Goodman and D. E. Mccarthy
took theiG first lessons in journalism in
the Era office. Both of them were bright