The San Francisco call., 1896-06-05
A MEMORY UAEXCtLLED,
Charles Delr of This City Takes
the Premium for Reten.
tiveneSs.
Can Name in a Flash the Numbe of
the Fire and Police Box of
Any Street.

Charles Dorr a bartender in Colonel
Coakley's resort, out on Geary street, has
one of the most remarkable memories
that has ever been mentioned in print.
He has at his tongues end the exact loca-
ton of any fire, police patrol, or telephone
box in the City of San Francisco. In other
words, the fire-alarm card or the telephone
book is useless when be is within con-
sulting distance. He has been in this
country but short time, too, and has
cleaned this remarkable information by
simply glancing, as it were, at the written
schedules.
Tell him upon what street you live, and
between what intersecting streets, and he
will inform you with incredible swiftness
the nearest fire-box you should seek in
case of fire, or the nearest police patrol
box that would be used in case of trouble.
In fact, his knowledge of this City in the
matter of streets and numbers is absolute
in precisenesS and mprehensiveness.
A party OF gentlemen recently made g
wager of $40 that he could be caught in
tue fire alarm and police patrol system of
boxes extant in the City. He was put to
the most trying test and came out vicso-
rious. The men who put up money on
him, it is needless to say, were not the
losers. The questions asked him were: "If
| live on Brouerick street, between Sutter
and Bush, which is the nearest fire alarm
and the nearest police patrol box?'' or,
IN ear what street is box so and so?" In q
flash the correct mum bers would be given.
Mr.. Dorr can also give the telephone
number of any engine-house in the City
and can tell you at a moments notice
what number to use to call up any fire
chief or marshal.
l..
memory is illustrated in any field. Give
him the number OF any streetcar in the
City and he will tell you the street it runs
on. Give him street and he will tell you
the numbers of all the cars that run on
that particular street. Ask him where a
certain house numbered so and so on any
street is and he will say, 'It is between
such and such Streets
He can tell the nearest telephone num-
Der and any house number IN the City.
He will tell you correctly the present
| number OF the badge of any police man on
the force, giving you that officers name
Write row of twenty or more figures
He simply runs his eye across it. Ask
him week or month later and he will
tell you the number you wrote without an
error.
His knowledge of the English language
is meager, but singularly, he can spell
any name which he cannot even bro.
nounce. In short whatever ne sees OF
reads or hears he never forgets, but can
tell it as he heard it any time after.
He multiplies, adds, substracts and di
vides with wonderful quickness Ask him
to multiply six figures by six figures anc
he gives you the result before you have
calculated the first figure.
Should policeman tell him what beat
| he traverses, Mr.. Dorr will inform him
| what fire and patrol boxes are on his beat
| and exactly where they are located; and
the police patrol box system is compli-
| Gated, there being numbers repeated over
and over again.
In his voyage here from Australia Mr..
Dorr astonished the captain of his vessel
by his wonderful, rapid and correct read
ing OF signals given by passing ships. He
will tell you the street above and below
| any street in the city, but to enumerate all
that his remarkable gift is capable oil
would HI! pages. He has acquired this
accurate knowledge, too, in the most de-
suitory sort of way - between mixed
drinks, as it were.