davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-24

of Alta California. In Fremont's reports
and those of other army officers and trav-
elers, who had enjoyed his hospitality at
Nipomo, where he resided, frequent men,
ton has been made of Captain Dana. In
Bryant's work he is described as "a native
of Massachusetts and a gentleman whose
unbounded hospitality and iberality were
known throughout California"
That was about the time when the land
of gold was receiving much attention and
pioneers became awakened to its resources.
Much dissatisfaction was expressed with
the existing Government by new residents
and a hope was entertained that there
might be intervention on the part OF the
limited States and the Government take
possession of the country. In 1885 Captain
Dana, having become naturalized citizen
of the Mexican Republic and entitled to
hold land, applied for and obtained
grant of the Nipomo rancho, com prising
81, S87 81 acres. This grant was one of the
earliest on record, and, as he had his
choice in very extended area of country
as lovely as the sun ever shone upon, he
made a selection which exhibited a pro-
found Judgment. This rich tract of land
is now included in the southern part of
San Luis Obispo County, extending from
near the shore of the Pacific to the base of
the Santa Lucia Mountains.
The name is derived from an expression
of the Indians formerly located in that
vicinity, who made use of the word "ne-
po-mah, - which in their cultural language
meant "foot of the hill.'' These Indians
sounded only slightly the first two sylla
bles, and from this the grant was desig-
mated as the Nipomo. In the sum mer of
1889 Captain and Mrs. Dana removed from
Santa Barbara to Nlpomo, and upon his
property the captain erected large adobe
house, which was the abode of his ia mIly
The old CASA de Dana" occupied a con-
spicuous elevation, commanding an ex-
tensive view of large area of the grant,
and it was a monum ent in the history of
the county second only to the old mis-
sions. During the ranchero days, when
the great land-holders were the lords of
the country, the Nipomo rancho was a
charming resort for Americans journey ing
through the country, for there the hospi-
tally was unbounded, and the guests en-
tertained were numerous. Among them
were General John G. Fremont, General
Henry w. Halleck and many other army
officers.
In 1916, when the United States steam
ship Edith went ashore between Point
Arguello and Point Saland, all the officers
and crew were taken by Captain Dana
to his home, where they were kindly cared
for until he could perfect arrangements to
transport them to Monterey, which he
did by providing horses and saddles and
sending men to guide them on their way
and return with the animals. Such was
the hospitality of the early Californian
and travellers were not only gratuitously
entertained, but in some cases, when it
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-24

to the eye have to do with the conforma-
! ton of the animal.
The nostriIs should be large and we'll
opened, prominent and sensitive. 1t used
to be custom in the dark ages, when
cropped" ears and ''docked" tails were
considered to add to equine beauty, to slit
the nostrils of horses, the idea being that
this process improved their wind. We
have outgrown this particular bit of brutal
ignorance, and in time we may learn the
absurdity of the hideous short tail. But a
horse for fast work should have large,
well opened nostrils. Sitting them when
they are too small does no good and rem
ders them hideous, so if the animal does
not meet with this requirement pass him
by. He should have a deep and fairly
broad chest. Breadth is not an essential
thing. If the chest is too broad the horse
will not be speedy, but depth and fullness
are absolutely necessary to good wind.
He should have good girth IN proportion
to his height and weight and be "well
ribbed up" These points may be noted
by glance. but a horse may have these
and yet be defective in wind.
A cough of any kind in horse should
attract immediate attention. 1t may be
accidental, and a mere trife, but it con-
stitutes unsoundness while it lasts. The
cough of broken-winded horse is charac-
teristic. 1t is short and hollow. In
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-24

is positively necessary. There are but few
exceptions to this rule. If circums tances
have prevented you from taking your reg
ular exercise two or three days previous to
the contest and you feel that you must do
something the day before, go out and
make about four "starts," no more, and
run fifty yards two or three times at sim
ply an exercising pace-not a racing pace
OF course you will think this all nonsense
when you have finished and vote the
writer of this fool, You will feel that
you have not taken as much exercise as if
playing croquet. Never mind; do as
have suggested and pay no attention TO
your feelings-they are not only deceptive
but treacherous.
Another important point: 1t will some
times happen that after you have put in
three or four weeks hard training you will
find that you are getting slower instead of
faster for your pains. Now if this occurs
a week before the race there is only one
thing to be done-only one, mind you
Lay off until the race. Violate this rule
at your peril; for it is a precept that is
conscientiously regarded by every great
athlete living.
Your trouble is what is known in the
fraternity as "going stale" 1t means that
you have overturned, you have drawn too
heavily upon the nervous resources-whIch
are everything in short-distance running
and that to recover you must have rest.
Above all things do not worry yourself by
thinking that you will be a failure in the
supreme test of the contest; rely on my
word and experience, you will run faster
than ever; only you must be careful o.
your diet and sleep, or will not vouch for
good performance.
very important matter | wish to i'm
press upon the am bilious sprint runner
never under any circumstances give up
race because a fast man comes up to your
shoulder. There are two reasons for this
caution. 1t is bad habit to "quit." Once
get accustomed to doing it and you will
sometimes stop without the slightest rea.
son-slmplv because you have fallen into
the way OF doing so. Second, the man
Who is running you down may not proye
as strong finisner as yourself, and YOU
may actually outrun him whatever his
reputation may be, and astonish your
friends and yourself.
Permit me to say in conclusion that |
am indebted for many of the thoughts in
this letter to III. l.. Cortis (deceasedl r
P. Prial, Edward p. Baird and others
whose names are unknown TO me- Their
ideas have been occasionally incorporated
with my own, but not in such form as 10
make quotation necessary. | have not
hesitated TO give the readers of The CALL
the benefit of their valued experience, and
take this method of giving credit where
it is due. GEORGE ID. BAIRD
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-24

was thought money was needed, gold was
freely offered
The only places on the road between San
Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara were Nj
pomo, twenty-four miles from San Luis.
thence twenty-one miles to Santa Ynez
Mission, thence to Refugio and thence to
Santa Barbara. These distances were the
regular "iournadas" between the stopping
places named.
The Indians of the Tulare Valley occa.
slonally made raids upon the great stock
ranches OF the coast, and often from "Casa
de Dana" they could be seen gathering
the horses and cattle in the valley or upon
the neighboring hills. Then it was neces-
sary to arm and mount all the men of the
place and speed to the attack of the ma
RAIDERS Some fierce conflicts occurred
and constant vigilance was required to
protect the stock.
In the political controversies of the
country Captain Dana took but little part,
although, as Chief Alcalde, he was in favor
with the party of the south, sup porting
his father-in-law, General GARLIC. for Gov
ernor. when legally appointed by the Pres.
ldent of Mexico, as against the revolution
lists, Alvarado and Castro, of the north.
That he was favorabl to the American
cause is shown by his warm friendship for
General Fremont and many other promi-
nent United States officers.
Captain Dana died at Nipomo February
II, 1858, and mis- remains were inferred in
the cemetery at San Luis Obispo. His
widow died at the same place February II,
1883. Several children of these parents
are still living in the southern part of
California.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-24
Palmer Could Not Remember t.

Oglesby and Senator Palmer are &C.
counted to be the best story tellers of the
old sch DOL OF story tellers in Illinois. On
one occasion when these two popular ia.
vorltes were swapping yarns Oglesby re-
vived an interesting series of "reminiscences
OF some notably hard drinkers.
John, said he, do you remember how
Beyerldge could drink He could drink
and drink, and the more he drank the
winter he got. While you and 1, John, il
we drank a thimbleful our faces would
grow as red as the setting sum-"
YES" said John, "rehectiyelv. at re.
member well. But say, Dick, when did
we ever drink a thimbleful P''-P ittsburg
Dispatch.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-24

was that built the first sea-going vessel in
California" said Colonel A. S. Hubbard,
secretary of the California Historical Soci-
ciety, yesterday. "Well, I'll tell who it
was, or rather who it is claimed, built the
first one. The individual was William G..
Dana of Boston, Mass, who located at
Santa Barbara in 1925, the father of the
late Captain Dana, whose death in the
lower part of the State was noticed at length
in THE CALL few months ago. 1 have
just received from General Charles w.
Darling of Utica, N. Y, a nephew of the
old pioneer, an interesting sketch of the
American who, it is said, launched the
first sea-going vessel ever constructed by a
native of the United States on the Pacific
Coast" The sketch alluded to by the Sec
rotary is as follows:
Captain William G. Dana built and
launched the schooner three years after he
located at Santa Barbara. He married at
Santa Barbara on the 2oth of August, 1923,
Maria Josefa Garlic, the eldest daughter
of Don Carlos Antonio GARLIC, Governor
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-24

after you have had q little practice. A
rest and a run of $50 yards will be next in
order. Start slowly and finish the last
eighty yards at top speed. This, however,
may not agree with some. certainly if not
accustomed to it. There is where the
watchfulness and judgment of the individ
ual must be made useful.
Do not run too many match races in
practice, or many full hundreds" at top
speed. The position of the BODY is also
important. 1t should be very much in
clined forward, and should be so practiced
that you can bend as to almost fall for
ward at the start and maintain a good in
clination to the finish. have seen many
man as he approached the tape throw
back his head and body almost TO brea k
ing.
This impedes the man and he crosses
the finishing line at a much slower pace,
and although he may have been yard in
advance three yards from home he is
beaten in. Keep bent forward until near
the tape and then fairly dive at it.
Another method is the following: Be-
ginning with the shortest race 100 yards
it will be seen that quickness is the OBJ
iect. To attain this it is not desirable to
run any considerable distance every day.
but rather to practice short. sharp bursts
OF from forty to sixty yards at topmost
speed. On alternate evenings the runner
may finish with sprint for the full dis
lance; but if this be done too frequently it
will tend to diminish rather than increase
his speed. To get quickly off the mark
and into full speed at once should be prac
ooI a%A -, x,,A ~
this art is always a difficulty with anna
tours, and the want of it means losing the
race at this short distance.
Never practice alone if possible to get a
companion. Do not stand around after
exercise, especially toward evening, as the
air robs the half-clad body of its strength
and stiffens the muscles and joints. If you
feel kink in a muscle stop and you may
avoid strain.
Concerning the latter point it might be
we'll TO make a few remarks. Let it be
borne in mind that when out of condition
or unaccustomed to violent exercise the
muscles are quite stiff in some cases. and
when an extraordinary strain is imposed
upon them there is likely to be trouble.
Many a high-class sprinter has been lost
by rashly imposing a severe strain on
sinews and muscles that had been unused
to it or lain dormant for a time.
Suppose man can get to the practice
grounds four times a week, he should
spend the first week running slow laps,
raising the knees very high and throwing
the foreleg as far out as possible. When
tired stop and then try again. Stand at
the head of the straight and, starting
ell ir,nr ~
of stride, running the last fifty yards at a
merely strong pace. The object of this
striding is to stretch and strengthen the
muscles on the under side of the thigh,
which are never exerted in ordinary work
In few weeks you can strip, get on your
mark and run 100 yards without the
slightest danger.
1 have alluded to the fact that a man
should take two days rest before race.
Experience has proved that such a course
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-24
GOOD ADVICE TO
THE HORSEPOWER.
Miss Russell Tells How to
Detect the Worthless
Animal.
Don't Rush the Horse That Is
Don't Rush the Horse That Is
Fed on a Hay Diet Elk.
clusively.
Coughs and Colds Due to Bad Stable
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
a Good Remedy.

"Sound in wind and limb" is a guaranty
that horse-dealers rattle off easily enough,
but it is seldom so easy for amateurs to
satisfy themselves of the truth of the
guaranty. To be sure defective wind is
usually more readily detected than are de-
fective limbs, but there are certain signs
that should be familiar to all who have to
do with horses. Those that are apparent
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-24
BUILT THE FIRST
SEA-GO|AG VESSEL,
Captain William G. Dana,
Who Owned the Nj
pomo Ranchero.
Was One of the Original Gran
tees Under the Old Mexican
Government.
He Entertained General John C. Free.
mont in the Salad Days of
Alta California.

al suppose that there are not many peo-
pie in this State to-day who can tell who it
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-24
Humbugs Among Animals.

One who has deeply studied the habits
Of animals has discovered that there are
humbugs among them.
In military stables horses are known
to have pretended to be lame in order TO
avoid going to a military exercise. A
chimpanzee had been fed on cake when
sick; after his recovery he often feigned
coughing in order to procure dainties.
The cuckoo. as is well Known. laws its
in another birds nest, and to make
the deception surer. it takes away one
of the other birds eggs. Animals are
conscious of their deceit, as is shown by
the fact that they try to act secretly
and noiselessly: they show a sense of
guilt II detected; they take precautions
IN advance to avoid discovery; in some
cases they manifest regret and repent
anee. Thus bees which steal hesitate Of
ten before and after Their exploits, as
if they feared punishment.
A naturalist describes how his monkey
committed theft. While he pretended to
sleep, the animal regarded him with hesi-
tation, and stopped every time his master
moved or seemed on the point of awaken-
iDg.-Harper's Round Table.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-24
Bsscoveries in BABYLON.

American discoveries in Babylonia sup
ply the world with history 2,25O years
older than any we nave ever received.
1t has long been believed by archaeol-
ogists that the old mound of Nippur
where American explorations rave been
concentrated, held Ealuable secrets. but
the periis, laardships and expense of the
undertaking have delayed Investigation.
Nlppur was a mighty city, the seat of
learning and culture. long before its SIS
ter city, Babylon, became great and beau
tiful under ACKNOWLEDGMENT, 60i B. c.
The earliest Babylonian kings, of whom
we have not had any account until now.
were Sargon I. and his son, Bur-Sin. 1850
B. G. The American discoveries at Nippur
are eloquent with the works of these
mighty builders.
Beneath the walls which Sargon and
Bur-Sin built and p~avenients which they
laid. American research has revealed the
payennents and walls of a lower city.
The last wall unearthed was seventeen
feet high, forty-five feet broad, and rests
upon another wall of unknown proper
tons.
The latest encyclopedias ISSUED 1885
reads. sBabylonia is one of the first CEN
tres at which men reached a high state
of culture. Whether the beginnings of
his culture antedate that of Egypt it is
This question is decided. Egypt was
young when Babyionia was old and wise.
Illustrated American.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-24
INCREASE OF BRITISH STEEL.
It Is Large and This Year Beats n
Record.

During the last week the British Iron
Trade Association has collected and pub
Eshed the statistics of the production of
steel in the United Kingdom for the first
half Of the present year. The figures
snow an almost unprecedented increase
fact in view of the discussion that has
peen going or for the last year CIR more
as to the alleged superiority OF German
methods and the success of Continental
competition 1t appears that the total
production of steel for the first six months
OF the current year was as much as 1,969,-
80 tons, or at the rate Of ~3,9SS,640 tons a
year, which Is by far the largest output
of steel hitherto arrived at in a single
year by any European country TIL fig
ures have, however. in several years been
States. The largest increase of output
appears to haye taken place in the
open hearth steel industry, which,
a gears gla n and m mu saa,., over ,u fwen5y,liye
mereiai scale twenty years ago, now
yields over 2.100,000 tons of material per
without parallel in the history of any
other branch of British i-ron-naking, and
Is, perhaps unique in the history of Brit
ish industry. The north of England,
where only a few hundred tons Of apeY1.
hearth steel were produced fifteen years
ago, is now producing that material at
the rate of over SD0,0 600 tons a year. Scot
land is not making quite the same amount
of progress, but even there the advance
has been marvellous, seeing that 292, 1872
tons were produced in the first half of
the current year, where only q few thou
a n tons were produced at the only
works of the kind established in Scot
land twenty years ago.
As farsa as the Bessemer steel industry
is concerned, it appears that there has
been an augmentation of 103. SCI tons dur
ing the first half of the current year,
on the output of the corresponding half
of 1895. But the most striking feature
of this branch Of the steel Industry is
that it has fallen behind the -open-hearth
manufacture. instead of having a large
lead as 1t had UP to a few years ago.
Indeed, to go nc further sack thar 1887,
the output of Bessemer steel was then
at least twice as much as the make of
Siemens, or o-pen-hearth steel, whereas it
has now fallen more than 800, coo tons a
year behind it. This fact is not alone due
to a growing preference for open-hearth
steel. It IS also a function of the dimin-
ished demand for steel fer railway pur-
poses, to which Bessemer metal has
hitherto been chiefly applied. and to the
increased demand for steel for shipbuild-
ing and kindred purposes, to which open
hearth steel is more particularly suited.
1t is the great demand for new shipping,
both in Great Britain and in other coun-
tries, that has chiefly stimulated the de-
mand for this latter description, while the
increase in the output of Bessemer metal
is mainly due to the increased require
ments of railway companies at home and
abroad.-London Times.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-24
NorIcn I'D

Sealed proposals VIII be received by the
on Monday, November 90, 1895, at z o'ciock
p. NJ. for the construction Of a l2-ineh viz
SEWER IN BROADWAY,
from Tenneie avenue to and connecting with
the sewer in West Side avenue.
Said sewer to be built conformably
Of 1895. and in accordance with spaeidcatiras
on ais in the Office of the Clerk Of said
Blank forms Of bid and agreement Of sure
ties must be obtained at the Office Of the
Chief Engineer. corner Of Jersey avenue and
ESTIMATE OF oGANTIfIEs.
About l02o hneai feet Of Pinch vitrided
About 100 cubic yards Of rock excavation.
About ) cubic yards of concrete.
About 5000 feet B. NJ. lumber IN sheathing
and bottom.
About 8 receiving basins.
Time allowed for the completion Of the
The making OF the above Improvement and
the award Of contract therefor will be sub
property liable to more than one-haif the
assessment therefor. on the basis Of prelimi-
Proposals must be enclosed in sealed en-
veIopes, endorsed Proposals for the Con-
strqetion Of Sewer IN Broadway
Chairman Of the Committee on STREETS
Clerk Of the Board in open meeting when
called for in the order OF business relating 10
sealed proposals.
No city official will be accepted as surety.
nor will a substitution Of suretles be al
lowed.
The Board may, under the provisions OF the
act above cited, exercise Its right to reject
any or all proposals.
The attention OF bidders Is especially called
TO Section Z. Chapter 1874 of the Laws OF 1891.
under the terms whereof no contract shall 5e
binding upon the city. or become effective or
operative until the bondsren offered by the
contractor have been approved as to sufciency
by this Board. and as to form by the Cor
poratEon Counsel. the President of this Board
having power 10 examine the proposed bonds
men under oath.
BY order Of the Board of Street and Water
GEORGE I. BoUToN.
Clerk
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-24
BOARD OF STREET AMI WATER
COM MISSEoNERS.
[Officiai Proceedings.l
TContinued.l

Resolved, That one special Improvement
certificate for foTty-seven and 46-100 dol
lars be drawn in favor of P. T. Plualsett
for retained percentage for work done
and materials furnished on account Of
contract No. S53 for construction of a L.
inch pipe sewer in Magnolia avenue, from
q point about $50 feet east of Chestnut
avenEe, to connect with sewer in Chestnut
avenue.
Resolved. That one special Improvement
certificate for three hundred and thirty
S9-100 dollars be drawn IN favor Of Ed
ward OsNeill as final for work done and
materials furnished on account of con-
tract No. 291. for construction of a sewer
in n street. from 90 feet west of
Hudson Boulevard to Nelson avenue.
Resolved, Thqt special Improvement GER
tificates for three thousand dollars be
drawn in favor of Henry Byrne for work
done and materials furnished on account
of contract No. 500, for Improvement Of
Harmon street, from Grand street to Gar
field avenue.
Resolved, That special Improvement GER
tideates fort fifteen hundred dollars be
drawn in favor of p. r. Flaherty. Jr., &
nished on account of contract No. 9I1, for
improvement of Central avenue, from
Congress street to Paterson Plank Road.
Resolved, Tha one special Improvement
certificate for three hundred and five and
64-i00 dollars be drawn IN favor of julius
B~reternitz, Jr, as finai for work done and
materials furnished on account Of com
tract No. 9l4 for construction of d 24-inch
brick oval sewer in Myrtle avenue. from a
point 600 feet west Of Ocean avenue to
connect with sewer in Ocean avenue.
Resolved That one special improve
ment certificate for five hundred dollars
be drawn in favor eff r. Il. Plunkett for
work done and materials furnished on
aseount Of contract No. aI6. for construc-
tien Of 4 Finch vitrihed pipe. a 2f-inch
brick, a 15-inch and lS-ineh pipe sewers
in Favonia avenue. from Pennsylvania
Railroad 10 connect with sewer in West
Sid avenue.
Resolved, That special Improvement
certificates FOR eighteen hundred and
thtrty-seven and eS-1N0 dollars be drawn
In favor OF the Barbe1 Asphalt Paving
Company. as final fof} work done and
materials furnished o5f account ef con-
tract No. a22 az i~znpEoxsnasnt "a Clare