davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26

But at the pier my luck left me. Th
gatekeeper had heard the story before. AS
for sneaking on board of the boat, could
find no way. 1t looked easy enough until
1 tried it. Then l found every possible
passageway barred.
While moving about frantically, in the
hope Of finding a chance to get aboard
heard the blast of the whistle Then the
wheels began 10 revolve, ana my last hope
was gone.
What could l do? 1 must leave here
at any rate. The center of town seemed
more like home. So back 1 walked, tired,
hungry and cold, over the long, seemingly
endless track to Seventh and Broad way
Then began painful walking the streets.
Up and down, across and back again,
being looked at curiously by the police,
spent the hours of the night. Would
morning never come?
1t was still dark, but, in some mysteri-
Gus way, 1 seemed 10 feel light coming
about me. 1 would go to tn e water 'front.'
Although what made me do so I cannot
tell. But 1 walked along the damp
wharves and seemed to suddenly ieel
better.
Suddenly some one said in half italian,
where you going?" "San Francisco"
came the answer, followed by a long ex-
planation as to the where's and whvfores
of the trip Then out of the shadow of a
schooner glIded a rowboat with one man
in it.
Take me with you to San Francisco?"
1 asked.
"How much you pay?"
Then 1 explained my position to the
boatman, and, strange to say, ne was an
attentive listener.
"Can you row2' he asked.
Certainly.
''AlI right. ii you help, you como
along"
Needless to say 1 jumped into the boat
in short order and took off my coat pre-
paratory to going TO work.
Better eat and drink first" the boat
man said; you look weak"
And L did eat and drink, and just as the
gray dawn was appearing we took our
oars and pulled out of Oakland Creek
How glad 1 was to see the city fading
behind US and hoped that 1 would never
see it again.
Blu! | earned my passage. A slight
breeze sprang up shortly after we started,
and the surface OF the bay became cBoppy.
With our best efforts it took US an hour
and half to cross the bay. But 1 worked
willingly and reached home safely A
days rest made me myself again, blr any
person who is ever caught in Oakland
without means to get back mas my sincere
sympathy, and can have my money if he
meets me where l can give 1t to him.
ARTHUR LINDSEY.
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26
The Major S Story.

We started out in the early morning
from the hotel, the Major carrying pair
OF field glasses, light overcoat, an um-
brella and book describing the glories of
California. 1 contenIed myself with car
rying a small hamper. and more than
once found myself wondering how my
companion dared attempt the trip.
"Pooh-pooh!" he said, in answer to
one of my questions concerning his abil-
ity to get through the performance credit
ably. "Pooh-pooh, sir! [ have scaled the
Himalayas and the Mountains of the
Moon. L ascended Porocataretl ana
have crossed the Sahara on foot Why,
sir; could run up little hill like Tamal-
pals blindfold and net even pause to wipe
my, forehead ~
We said no more on the subject and
finally reached Larkspur, where we began
to make the ascent.
At the station the Thermometer regis
tered 70 degrees. but by the time we had
finished the first quarter of the ascent it
seemed about thousand.
Presently we arrived at a point about
half way up the mountain and the Major
suddenly came to a halt. He again
waved his arms about ana then sat down.
at is too great for Speech" he said,
mopping his brow.
The incline2" l ventured.
mo, sIh> the scenery he thundeEed
with punctuating puffs between each
word. "a little walk like this occasion
ally is what man needs to keep him
healthy. sir. | came of race of walkers.
The Blazems, sir, had tramped from Eng
T. a
tween the two places. Fork over some
grub. 1t is O'Clock"
Yes, sir" resumed the Mai jor; "this is
easy walking to what [ have done in my
day. The hardest climb 1 ever had was
on one of those Swiss glaciers | was
alone, for | always prefer to travel with
out guides. AS far as the eye could see
there extended mighty bed of ice, as fiat
as a mirror and without single object on
it to relieve the monotony. After walk
ing for three hours it dawned over me
that was making absolutely no progress.
though at first l was at loss to under
stand the reason.
Happening, however, 10 stand still for
one moment | found chat the lacer was
slowly slipping from beneath my feet,
and that, although [ had heen going
through the motions OF walking. in reality
l had made no progress whatever.
therefore commenced walking in
direction at right angle 10 the one had
been taking, and after short while sue
ceeded in getting. not on terra Erma. but
on glacier firma again. Bnt that was the
ughest walk ever had .
The Major had no sooner finished his,
story than he gently dropped off to sleep
apparently with clear conscience.
II. VS..
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26
ARE JUDGES IN DANGER OF THE VENGEANCE OF CONVCTS7

motion. Judge Murphy fell forward on
the table.
Now" said the District Attorney, ait
this way. The man may threaten, and he
almost always protests his innocence and
VOWS vengeance at the time and di-
rectly after he is convicted and sentenced.
But few years in San Quentin or Folsom
taxes it out of them. They DON reason
they are only brutes; but when the tenn
per leaves them the instinct of self-preser-
vation takes its place and they blindly
understand that they will get the worst
of the deal. They don't stop hating us
they hate the whole world, but the law
has found them out once and they are
afraid of it again.
Warden Aull of Folsom has had enough
experience to feel the same way about his
unwilling guests. They come to the
prison." he said, "full of the idea that
they will not yield to authority. The
'ba-ad' man in stripes soon loses his nerve.
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26

been sent to San Quentin for forty-hve
years. My" exclaimed the Judge, lean
ing ba IN his chair and shaking his gray
head at the memory OF it, ''but didn't L
tremble when that razor began to slide
over my face, and how L did talk to that
fellow just as though he'd been my brother
ooh, you can laugh" be said. but it
wasn't a pit funny then, and that wasn't
the worst of it. l went to Folsom later,
and either had to confess myself coward
or be shaved again, and if l didn't get
into the clutches of a fellow had sent up
for fifty years. ] talked for life then. for
] thought that it was a fatality; and the
Judge opened the drawer and took out
letter. This is the sequel. This is letter
from the Folsom barber. But | swear"
he said, after a short pause, 'that rl
never be shaved in prison again-never
L" He stopped and looked at me-
Now, then, you'll not say that, will you :?
OF course you won't"
"Of course not" replied. Amy more
experiences or threatsP'
He glanced carelessIy at the we'll bound
volumes that filled the shelves from floor
10 ceiling around three walls of the room.
Many OF them were records of the trial
proceedings of those whom the law had
held to answer. To my right five volumes
bound in black leather stared the knowl-
edge to my face that they were the rec
ords of the trial of the people against
Theodore Durrant.
The Judge followed the direction of my
glance.
II received dozens of threatening letters
during the trial of that case-dozens every
day. Some were anonymous and some
were not. Some of them l turned over 10
Chief Lees, but nothing ever came of them.
You see, these people don't threaten very
often if they intend doing anything be-
cause that puts you on your guard and
they could be easily punished. Besides it
would only make matters worse for them
to commit another crime. Death is not
courted bv the average criminal about
here. In London it is different. They
have what they call the silent system.
No prisoner is allowed to speak word or
to turn his head or look at any one. Once
in three months they may receive letter
or visit from near relative. That drives
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26

courts if they get one term of year or
two they are sure 10 come up again for
another sent tence. Why. some prisoners
here have been in San Quentin eight or
ten times. Some of them woufd rather be
in than out, for hey have food and cloth
ing and some few luxuries over there, and
the way OF the transgressor is hard when
he is once found out, but in London tuey
never go back again"
District Attorney Barnes laughed good
naturediy over the prospect of any carry
ing out of threats.
They are always threatening" he
laughed, "but it don't amount to any
thing. One attempt was made on my life
L was prosecuting man named Madison
for assault to murder-he mad split open
the head of MS wife and child with an ak,
but both recovered. 1t was going against
him pretty hard and he was sitting opp0-
site me with his counsel at q long table
Suddenly he pulled something from the
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26

Are Judges and prosecuting officers in
California in danger from revenCeful con-
victs or ex-convicts who have been sent,
through their agency, to dungeons2 In
Georgia, on Septemb ber II, an ex-convict
shot and killed a good citizen who. as
prosecuting officer, had sent him to Jail.
As the iron doors closed behind him he
vowed vengeance. Immediately on his
release he sought out his prosecutor and
snot him through the heart.
There are. undoubtedly, enough persons
st San Quentin and at Folsom pacing their
cells by day and crouching in them by
night. hearing the tales of crimes and the
thoughts OF criminals, hating the world
that has banished them and will never
take them back, with self-respect gone and
onlv the brute nature left, to deprive US of
all Of our Judges and most OF the attor-
news. if they were free and so inclined.
Judge Murphy, W no tried Durrant, had
in his private otfice plenty of sunshine
and the Judge himself looked satisfied in
The light of it and told me that he was not
afraid and never thought of danger at all.
t.There are so many of them" P" he said,
when | looked surprised. 81 haven't time
10 think bout them all. Why, there are
hundreds and hundreds.
"And you are not afraid"
mo. no." he said. with the falling
infection which implies a slight doubt.
WHAT'S the use in being afraid2 l
haven't had many experiences. I remem-
Der one when 1 was District Attorney. |
had been prosecuting a man rather Bit
terlv and had been threatened several
times, but paid no attention. One after
noon I took my books under my arm and
started to leave the courtroom. and as
neared the door fellow sprang from the
crowd and struck at me with knife. l
threw up the books and saved my face,
but it grazed my hand slightly. The
Sheriff took care of him and l went on
"But I'm not so brave" admitted the
Judge presently. "You have probably
heard of the time I went to San Quentin
and hadn't had time o get shaved before
hand and went into the prison barber
shop, sat down in the chair and, happen
ing 10 glance at he barber, recognized
negro whom L had prosecuted for cutting
the tn roat Of a white woman and he had
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26

belt OF his trousers and started for me, but
1 was on the other side of the table, and
before he had gotten very far the Sheriff
took care of hm-and after that he was
guarded by bufly policeman. l had the
weapon here for a long time. 1t was a
long pair of shears, with the handles bound
together tightly with balerope and the
points sharpened down as finely as possi-
bic. 1t wasn't the pleasantest thing in the
world TO c0ntem plate.
THAT was my only experience. al
though 1 am threatened nearly every day.
Judge Murphy was shot. Did he tell you
OF it?
THAT was a great OCCASION" laughed
the District Attorney, who certainly is
not growing prematurely old with fear for
his, life-nor prematurely gray, for that
matter. Yes" he said, "the Judge was
pro ecuting some fellow, and policeman
by he name of Morony shot him in the
back of the neck just as be arose TO make
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26

We're you ever friendlsss and alone in
Oakland, without cen; in your pockets,
and hled with desire 10 reach San Fran
cisco, your home and your family?
Perhaps you think this would be an
easy matter. But 1 can say you think so
because you know nothing about it.
was alone and trjendless in Oakland
few days ago, and before I eventually got
back TO San Francisco suffered all the
hardships and indignities of poverty. 1
vas 1nsuted like a beggar, and had my
penn1less condition been known to the
police would most certainly have been
) arrested for vagrancy.
Of course it was all the result of an un-
fortunate accident and the people of the
Athens of the Pacific to whom l applied
for the loan of 10 cents are not to blame
for refusing me- 'Tis one of the un-
written laws OF the worshipers of gold that
a man who possesses not the yellow metal
has no right to live. He even has no
right to address the elect who have
plenty. I found this out during my pre-
dicament n Oakland. and had 1 known it
sooner 1 would not have been humiliated.
But 1 suppose that similar quest for 10
cents IN any other city in the country
would have resulted in similar end.
AS l said, it was all an accident. l am
an absolute stranger in Oakland and sim
ply went over there to have a look at the
place. As / walked about the clean, we'll
kept streets and saw the orderly people
was favorably impressed and thought
should like to make my home there. But
l have changed my mind about this.
Ny walk about Oakland was really en-
joyable. but when I went to buy ticket
to San Francisco imagine my consterna-
ton to find that 1 had lost nv purse. Oh,
well, thought at first, must have some
change In my pockets. But not a cent
could 1 find. l never wear jewelry, and
my watch was being repaired, so 1 had
nothing on which l could get loan from
a broker. l was absolutely penniiess. 1t
was the first time in all my life and the
feeling was peculiar one.
Then 1 went TO a tobacco-store ard
looked at myself in the mirror I GER
tainly looked respectable. My clothes
were nearly new and my linen spotless
Ny shoes were still glossy from the last
shine. Altogether I felt that l could ad-
dress a business man so that he would
, have confidence in me and lend me 10
cents until the next day. But how sadly
mistaken I was and how large a dime
looked to me as the hours went by.
1t was about O'Clock in the afternoon
when l discovered my loss but it was after
6 before 1 mustered up courage enough to
ask for loan.
Going into store I asked for the pro-
prietor. That gentleman soon appeared,
smiling affabIy, and my hopes went up
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26

Handing him my card Iexplained matters
to him in a business-like way.
Instantly his face changed and he
handed back my card.
81 have heard that story before" he
said, as he started back to his desk.
"But 1 will return the money to you to-
morrow" l venturel.
ION. get ouI, you good dfor-nothing
scampi haven't time to talk 10 you"
Naturally 1 went. then visited num-
Der of other stores, but all with the same
result Not man could l find willing to
lend me the small sum OF 10 cents. These
men each gave the impression that there
" as only 10 cents in all the world and that
he had that 10 cents.
Up and down the streets l wandered
ast becoming hungry and sired. until
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26

While in this agitated frame of mind
ragged man, who had been standing near.
came up and said: please, sir, can you
let me have 10 cents to get across to the
city? | have friends over there.
Pow L sympathized with the poor
wretch, and how glad I would have been
to have given him little money if l had
had it. But l hadn't, and told him so. In
fact, l told him all my troubles; but l
know from he way he turned and left me
that he didn't believe me.
Then the thought struck me that
might manage in some way to get aboard
the ierry-boat if / could only get to the
pier. Waiting until the train was ju,t
ready to pull out from Seventh and Broad
way L made run and jumped aboard as
the guard was ready to close the gate.
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26

II have not the handling of any funds,
but possibly tomorrow 1 can do some
thing"
left the house in disgust.
During the next two hours 1 tried to get
trusted for 25 cent telegram. The ope-
rator shook his head. 1t was not custom
arg to trust people without references.
Then l tried the te!e phone, but with the
same result.
As the hour for the departure of the
last train dew near my anxiety gave place
to fear. Where would l spend the night?
Where get food? What would l do to-
morrow and what would my family think
of nv absence? [ Their began to hope
they would worry and send out search
party. But in the meantime what would
| do?
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26

had tried to get the loan of 10 cents from
at least twenty-five business men. Not
one seemed the least inclined to comply
with my request
Some treated me indifferentiy, while
others were insulting.
"You think you're pretty slick, don't
your" said man to whom 1 had handed
my card and made the same request that
[ had of others.
"Why slick ?' asked.
"Why. to be coming such dead cold
game as that on me. Any body can see
you are only a beat.
1 made no attempt to argue the point,
but left at once.
l then tried one or TWO institutions, but
with no success. Leave your name" a
young man said in one place, land we will
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26

look into your case tomorrow.
OF course | compiled with this practical
proposition. man in my fix would
know it was just exactly what he wanted.
AT about 10 o'clock, when all the stores
were closed, [ called on the clergyman of
a wealthy congregation. Ny card was
taken to him and he came to see me, his
face beaming with apparent goodness.
But my request caused q, change to come
over him. His face became overcast and
thoughtful.
This is very irregular. These cases
have to go through a certain routine. The
com mittee-"
"But," Interrupted, 40 cents is all l
want. Just enough to get to my home in
San Francisco. 1 will return it to-mor-
row."
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26
TT5TEyfEIE PROFESS ~ q x
1<:a2NG] NOT TO BE AFRAID,
BUT REALIZE THAT THERE Is
A DREAD POSSIBILITY.

men mad in a short while. Here | have
sentenced many man twice and some
times more, and from the lower criminal
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26

AT first vowing vengeance, MS nerve 500
deserts him and, he longs only for lib.
erty." JEAN MORRIS.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1897-02-04
Resolutions of Respcct.


From Leesburg Lodge, No. 81, 1. o. O.
F.
WHEREAs-It has pleased Almighty
God, in his infinite wisdom, to rek1oye
from our midst our beloved brother.
Whitefeld w. Hoffman, therefore be it
ReSolUed. That in the death of our
Brother we have lost a good and Jealous
member, and while we bow in submis-
sion to the will of our Heavenly Father,
IN the loss we have sustained, it behooves
us as Brothers to so live that we NAV be
ready to meet our departed Brother in.
the order above, where death does not
come.
Besolued. That while we deeply mourn
his loss we unite in extending to the
loved ones left behind, our heartfelt
sympathy, knowing that upon them falls
the heavier burden.
ReSot0ed, That we especially extend to
his sorrowing family our lasting sympa-
thy and friendship, reminding them that
tits only Gods will that is done, and to
Him they must look for strength to bear
their great affiiction.
ReSoloed, That our charter be draped
for period of ninety days, and that these
resolutions be published in the DAILY
PIONEER and the Star of the Cape, also a
copy be sent to the family of our de-
ceased brother.
BENZ. f. MCKEAG,
john S. LONG,
GEO. w. HARRIS,
Committee.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1897-02-04
A Plea for Needy Children.


During the month of December ''The
received twelve little homeless ones and
placed in separate homes eleven The
large amount of work this involved pre-
vented the Superintendents from visiting
all the subscribers to collect the funds
needed, as result, while more money
was expended in current expenses. less
than the usual amount was received, the
year closing with a deficiency.
During the present month still larger
demand has been made upon us, more
children being reported to us than in any
previous month. Within the past week
we have been urged to take eighteen
children who are declared to be either
orphans, or worse than orphans most of
them, twelve boys and six girls, two
sweet little baby girls of four months,
the others from one to twelve years of
age. We already have number of little
ones boarding, the monthly account due
February LIST, will amount to about
$50; other bills then due will bring up the
total to at least $500. The amount in the
treasury to meet these obligations is
$40. We therefore in this emergency ap-
peal to the philanthropic public to decide
whether we shall refuse to provide for
these eighteen helpless little ones or not.
We will do our best to care for them and
place them in good homes, if those who
appreciate this work will contribute to
the cost of carrying it on. Will not every
reader send in contribution at once to
one of us or to the financial secretary
Rev. G. 81. Ingram, so that he may be
able to report at the next monthly meet
ing of the Executive Committee all bills
paid up to the first of February
M t. LAMB, Superintendent.
WALTER l.. MAYO, Asst. Supt.
Further information will be furnished
and contributions will be received by
Rev. w. d. Stultz, President or John S.
Ware, Treasurer of the Local Society.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1897-02-04
Sad Plight of a Family.

Dlphtheria threatens to wipe out the
Halston family of Camden. Two of the
members of the family are dead and
three others are down with the disease.
When Medical Inspector Levitt was
called to the home of John Halston yes
erday morning he found two of the child.
ren dead in one bed and three more child
rem so ill with diphtheria that they are not
likely to recover. Besides this, Halston's
wife is ailing and he is out of work.
They have neither food for fuel.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1897-02-04
JERSEY EDITORS IN SESSION.
They Indorse the Proposed Libel Law
Which is Before the Legialature.

Wnlcn is Before the LEGISLATURE.
The forty first annual meeting of the
Editorial Association of the State of New
Jersey was held Monday in the Tren-
ton House. George w. MCGOWAN, of
Bridgeton, presided. The association
adopted resolution, introduced by Fl.
Y. Page, Chairman of the Legislative
Committee, unequivocally indorsing the
proposed libel law now pending in the
Legislature, known as House bill, No, 81,
and introduced by Mr.. King, of Passaic.
we look upon it as embodying a fair
measure Of tardy justice to Legitimate
newspaper enterprise, while in no Way
hampering the speedy and condign
punishment of unprincipled and venial
sensation-mongers."
The Treasurer, James S. Yard, reported
that the association had 81 ,04227 on hand
January l, 1896, aud that $I22. 49 was re-
ceived during the year.
The Legislative Committee ren6,tad
with respect to an effort to secure sucb
legislation as would authorize the nnbli-
csssjorl OF the laws in the newspapers. that
they were unsuccessful. The committee
had niil drawn, and it was introduced
III the Assembly and referred TO the Com
mlttee on Revision of Laws, where it
died. The report adds: "a careful cam
vass OF the Assembly led US to believe
enat the bill could have been passed in
that body, but in the Senate the opposi-
tioh was so strong that it was impossible
10 get encouragement enough to go any
further. We also learned that the Cow
ernor was unfavorable to the bill and
would have vetoed it."
The following officers were elected
President, Colonel H. c. Page, Bayonne:
vice president, Benjamin T. Ladd, vine-
land secretary. Charles Bechtel. Tren.
TON treasurer, James S. Yard, Freehold,
Executive mmittee-Sinnickso Chew
Camden; Edward D. Stokes, Mount
Holly; Frank w. Baldwin. ORANGE.
Josiah Ketchum, Belvidere; Charles
Starr, East Orange.