The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-08
Some of the Principal Characters and Their Simple Utensils IN
the California-Strect Canvorous Colony.

veloped the advanced taste for dog fricas-
see or puppy stew.
Hugo Wittkowski is tall, spare man,
whose residence will not be found in
any City directory. Yet for something
like two years and perhaps more, he has
resided within 200 feet of the corner of
Kearny and California streets, the en-
trance being on the north side of Cali
fornla. Just west of Kearny street, on
California, are several old-fashioped
wooden bu ild1ngs, which are occupied by
various lines of business. Back of these
are other small and diapidated structures
and back of these is large open space of
ground, which is hemmed in on all sides
by buildings.
One of these buildings in the rear is
occupied by Hugo Wittkowski, rent free.
Others of the structures in the back are
also reported to contain free tenants. In
truth, here is sort of gypsy paradise for
the tenants cook in the open air and use
their houses only for sleeping rooms. In
the large area before mentioned, stakes
are driven and these uphold pots and
Kettles over gypsy campfire. Every
night the neighbors see the fire lign.ed.
From the kettles proceed the fumes of
something stewing. On the ground are
two or three, or perhaps more. men, who
are waiting for their supper to be done.
They are smoking pipes and seem con-
tented, having solved the problem of
living at cost of almost nothing. None
of these is Wittkowski. He has his own
cooking outfit.
Around his fire some of his friends
gather occasionally, for he frequently &C
commodities three or four other persons
in the shack which he calls home. He
also cooks in gypsy fashion, and some
times he cooks dog. At various times the
other persons who frequent the locality
have seen dead dogs about Once Witt
kowski was seen to emerge from his shack
with bloody Ratchet, ana the neigh bors
afterward saw the plump body of dead
dog prepared for cooking.
How long this might have gone on is
uncertain. Bat Wittkowskl provoke
others by coming around at late hour
and disturbing their rest. He claims 10
have been soldier and to have taken part
in many battles. A piece has been sliced
off one of mis- ears and he has stab wounds
and cuts enough on his person to suggest
personal participation in various encoun-
tiers.
Sunday Wittkowski was preparing to
cook small, nondescript dog when Officer
McCurrie of tho Society .or the Proven
ton of Cruelty to animals received infor-
nation which sent him to Wittkowski's
shack. There he found the carcass of
dog that had been skinned. Some one
had found the body of the dog in pot
ready for cooking and had cut off one OF
the hind legs to take to the California
street Police Station.
Officer McCurrie had quite an animated
conversation on the subject of the defunct
dog with Wittkowski. The substance of
Wittkowski's averments was that he had
killed the dog, but he denied that his pur-
pose was to eat it. On the contrary, he
protested to be engaged in preparing th g
carcass for friend living at North Beach,
John Merk, according to Wittkowski.
Stewed dog is, SO Wittkowski claims to
have found out, good for consumption.
Officer McCurrie looked all around the
place, and made many inquiries of Witt
kowski and of others. Wittkowski said
that he had killed the dog by hitting il on
tho head with piece of gaspipe and then
cutting it's throat. There was nothing
that could justify McCurrie in arresting
Wittkowski for cruelty, for there was no
evidence on that point. A neighboring
bartender said that Wittkowski had
record as large eater. Recently he &C
complished the feat of eating three dozen
eggs at one time, according to the vera
cious bartender, and followed this with a
gallon of beer.
Altogether Wittkowski, with his one
eye, his prodigious appetite, his numer-
Gus scars and his penchant for doghesh,
had made quite sensation.
Last night the campfire iD the vacant
lot burned, and three men gathered about
1t while their supper stewed in a pot
They are not dog-eaters, and they
shrugged their shoulders in silence when
the subject of a dog diet was mentioned
None OF them would speak OF Wittkowski, |