The San Francisco call., 1897-09-21
He Held a Pleasant Conversa-
tion While Relieving
His Victims.
VERY SERIOUS CASE OF HANDS UP.
Promised to Return at Some Future
Time and Stand Up -
Crowd Again.

Hold up your hands and line up
there"
This was the introduction OF one of the
most daring robberies that has been
committed in this city for many months.
The place was the saloon of William
Hack on the corner of Chenery and Dia-
mond streets and the time was ju-t 7:l5
O. clock on Sunday evening. The speaker
was a tall well-formed man apparently,
from his build, not over 80 or 80 years of
age. Over his face he wore large white
handkerchief for a mask and in bis ex-
tended hand he held vicious and express
slve looking pocket revolver, which ap-
peared like Calling gun to the four per-
sons at whom it was pointed and to whom
the command was addressed.
Hack and three of his friends-Lewis
Ferrere, Steve Bassett and George Des-
meyer-had been playing cards and at the
time of the entrance of the robber (for
such be proved 10 be) were standing near
the end of the bar counter. For moment
the men were inclined to believe that IL
was a practical joke being played by
some foolish friend, but they were quickly
undeceived, for the robber repeated tn e
command and threatened to blow tn q
heads off the entire crowd if his order
was not needed.
That settled the matter and the four
lined up like company OF soldiers and
obediently poked their hands as far to-
ward the ceiling as they could. Back up
into that corner" was the next order
They did so. With the easy grace of one
familiar with such situations the robber
passed around behind the bar and began
to pull at the drawer of the money till, but
the thing did not work. Turning 10 the
owner of the place he told Mr.. Hack to
open the till and dump the money out on
the counter. Hack hesitated for mo-
ment, but only for moment, for the cold
glittering barrel of the revolver sent a
Klondike chill down his spinal column,
and he moved quickly, to keep his blood
in circulation, as he expressed 1t after the
seance with the robber was over. The
monev, about $50. was poured out on the
counter and Hack was ordered to take his
place in the line again. He did so, his
hands elevated.
Now you fellers turn out your pock-
ets" was the next command of the man
with the mask and the revolver.
whats the use2" asked one of the
more courageous. I'VE have nothing"
And then he added in The way of sickly
Joke: How can we turn out our pockets
with our hands up over our heads2" The
man of the mask evidently had an idea
San Francisco and San Mateo electric
street railroad, in which he was right, and
that they had the proceeds of their last
payday in their pockets, and in this he
was mistaken. One by one he made the
men step forward and with one hand
elevated turn their pockets inside out with
the other. Steve Bassett essayed TO ad-
vance for the robber to search him, but he
ordered him TO keep his distance or be
! perforated with bullets. HACKS friends
had only few small pieces of money, and
the robber turned his attention TO the
money that Hack had put out on the
counter.
This is the way the money goes" he
remarked as he scooped the shining silver
into his pockets
"You seem to be onto your business, +"
remarked Bassett, as the coins disap-
peared.
''You bet. l am '49er in this line. l
am regularly in the business, and why
should not l be up-to-date?" 2" was the re.
ply, and the man began to slowly back to
ihe door. Good night, I'll see you later
on" was his parting as the two swinging
doors closed after him.
A moment later The men looked out of
the east window and saw the fellow who
had taken their coin crossing the gulch
under the bridge Of the electrician line