The San Francisco call., 1897-04-08
Big Feed on the Boulevard,
to Which the Workers
Were Denied.
II Was Spread Out Before Them,
but Under Orders TEey
Refused to Eat.
Many Had Neglected to Bring Lunches
Under Promise of the Barb cue.
Others Shared With These.

There was to have been a great feed for
the workmen on Balboa boulevard yester-
dav at noon, but it was "called off,"
There had been a good deal said about the
barbecue one way or another during the
past few days, and among the men great
expectations had been raised. The effect
upon the committee whose unpleasant
business it is TO secure subscriptions was,
however, quite different They report
that merchants and moneyed men seemed
10 gather the impression that the affair
was a g advertising scheme for Earnes
Doelter, proprie or Of the Trocadero road
house, Dy whom 1t was provided and in
front of whose premises the big roast was
set up. The members OF the committee
found they say, that the picnic air which
the barbecue gave TO the boulevard inter-
prise very materially lowered the temper
ature of public interest in it and the un-
employed.
Accordingly a telephone message was
sent to Doeiter yesterday, but it did not
reach him. He had completed all ar
rangements Tuesday evening. A big
trench was dug near the SIDE OF the road
where II leads off 10 The Irocadero and
the roadhouse, which latter, however, Is
half mile away. Three or four lengths
OF iron rails were thrown across the
trench and on these the quaItered bull
lock was placed and big fire built under
1t. The fire burned all night, being per-
sonally attended by Doelter and his assist
ants. Not until n early noon was the fire
withdrawn Bread and potatoes and
hard lied eggs were provided IN ample
sufficiency. hen came telephone mes
sage TO the office OF SIperintendent Eagan
from mem 5ers of the committee in the
City telling him TO stop the barbecue
that the movement for the relief of the
unemployed must not lend itself TO ad
vertising the Trocadero roadhouse.
The only way TO stop IL was. to sbso-
lutely forb.d any man from partaklng of
the feast upon pain of being discharged
and having his work-ticket taken from
him.
On this rather distressing mission rode
SUPERINTENDENT Eagan all down the line.
At each squad he stopped and explained
the reason-that it threatened to interfere
with the raising OF money to continue the
work. Besides, 1t was explained, the men
at the further end of the line. two miles
away, could hardly get to the least and
back again during the lunch half hour.
This explanation was received In good part
by nearly all, although many, depending
upon the feast, had come unprovlded with
anything 10 eat.
At the western end of the road, where.
the sayory meat rested over the fire, fill
ing the air with its appetizinG aroma, the
order was anything but welcome. How
ever it was generally acoulesced In, de.
spite the fact that two or three oratoEs
were developed who comp! aimed Loudly
against the deprivation. The situation
was made more acute by the presence Of
LefipgwelPs army OF unemployed from
the Howard-street oarracks They had
marched all the way out to the place on
foot, carrying a big banner in their lead
bearing the legend: We are not on ihe
boulevard, but We are going to the boule
vard."
They were stretched along the fence in
the shade for quarter OF mile, the IAN
ner lying at rest against tree, the men
quiet, very weary and patient.
Doelter, after his nights vigil over the
fire and the completion of his arringe
ments, even to providing wagons by
which he offered 10 haul portions ,f the
feast 10 different parts OF the work, was
deeply chagrined at the order stopping it
all. However, he made no protest against
it, but asserted that he had no designs in
the matter except to give the men 4 good
hot dinner. They were hardly of the
class that frequented his place, md he
could not expect TO make profit oft of il.
However, he made the best of the situa-
tion, the word was given, and tie ''un-
employed properly so called, were mar
shaled before he redolent roast and pro-
vided with each ample quota,
At this Juncture the murmurIng among
the workmen on the dump lew feet
away grew louder, and one, seeirg Super
D,
crying: 'lt you fellows are aflaid am
not. l am going to show my iidepend-
ence. L am gong to eat. Eagin, come
and take lunch with me-"
He went straight into the chamed cir
Gle in the center of which stood Doeller,
coat off and sleeves rolled up. hard at
work and in a few minutes returned with
heaped plate into the doiefd circle OF
his fellow-workers TO add to thar tempta-
tion. Only one or two FOLLOWED his ex-
ample, however. the others stbically re-
fusing to fall Those who ate sf the for
hidden bullock were, so unlike Adam.
banished and forbidden the rate privilege
of toll, and went their way in deness
In the fear that there would be gen.
eral revolt against the order Captain Dill
lon, with Sergeant Campbell slId a squad
OF SIX men, arrived at the scene about
noon. There was no trouble, however, and
when the half hour was up al hands took
up their shovels and whee barrows and
went TO worK cheerfully eno1gh. 1t is not
likely that any went entirely without iood
as those who had lunches however scant
shared tn EN- with those VITO had none.
The 200 unemployed, though they re-
turned 10 the charge a.ain and again,
were unable to devour Ill that had been
provided, and a large portion of it was
carted away. As il disappeared the regi-
ment OF The unemployed took up ITS
banner and in a straggihg line began its
long march back to town. The work on
the boulevard is gong forward rapidly
and systematically, bui the funds neces-
sary or keeping it eoing to finish and
providing the HUNDREDS of applicants who
have as yet applied invain for a chance 10
earn a few dollars is rot keeping pace with
the demand. The poor report of the col.
lector for yesterday Eas as follows:
E. -. Heller-.. .............. $50 90
Great American Tea Importing Co... 25 90
c. J. Hendry, Son d Co o................. 10 90
q. NJ. JOsslyn.................... ........... 20 90
A. RonenthaI............ ........... 1000
Scotch Irish Society ........... ......... 100 90
Iotsi " uASe.-..-. @4o,ofO
AS there are about 700 men on the
work it will be seen hat the collections do
not keep pace with the expenditures.
There is great dealof destitution in the