davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09

It is not often that man innocent of
capital crime is hanged by mob to a
schoolhouse bal cony until he dies from
strangulation in sight of tho Mortified
pupils. Equally rare IS it for three
brothers whose love Of justice is so
strong that they lead party of lynchers
all to become convicted murderers, one
esca ping the gallows only to be shot dead
in his tracks. Yet these things have hap
pened, and are part of the criminal his
tory of California, though perhaps not
before related in their natural sequence.
Thirty years ago there was no more
peaceful town in. this State or elsewhere
than Monterey. It is quiet now, save In
the summer season, but it is not the
same. The place seems to have lost the
subtitle charm of those restiul days before
the advent of the railroad. True, there
was an occasional bullfght, but it was
usually a tame affair and moved the
apathe;ic inhabitants scarcely more than
did the arrival of a steamer from 'the
CITY," as San Francisco was vaguely desig-
mated
One day, however, a startling event oc-
CURED, thoroughly arousing the people
and causing sensation, which for many
years was the talk of the community.
John Martin, a prominent rancher and
me m ber of we'll known family. while on
his way 10 town from the Carmel Valley,
was shot by an Indian called "Chaps Gre
gorio." The crime was without provoca-
tion, and though the wound inflicted did
not prove fatal the local physicians de-
clared that the victim could not recover.
The story of the supposed tragedy
spread like wildtre and in a short time
the entire community was aroused as
seldom before. The guilty man was found,
frenzied with liquor and brought to town
by a posse of citizens. Alter being fully
identified he was quickly com united to
Jail by Justice of the Peace; but he
never reached the quaint little granite
structure erected by Alcalde Walter Col
ton. Swift vengeance was demanded and
mob, including the Bushton boys hot
headed youths, who up to then had never
been in any serious trouble, congregated to
lynch the prisoner. He was taken from
the officers and without ceremony hustled
to the eastern end of the famous Quartet
on California street
This long two-story adobe building.
erected during the Spanish occupation as
barracks or quarters for the troops, was
afierward used for the same purpose by
the army of General Fremont. Later it
The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09

matter of childish pride to her 10 learn
money and help along"
She has played three years now, she
tells me, ever since she was 5 years old,
and she has been in so many plays that
she cannot remember them all.
''Sister teaches them to me-" she says,
slipping loving little hand into that of
the gentle "big sister," whose special
charge she has been from babyhood.
'She reads it all over to me and explains
it, and then L study it ont by myself"
What kind of plays does she like best?
Those with lots of fun in them,' most
certainly; but still, of all the parts that
she has played, that of the blind girl in
"Out in the Street" and that of Little
Lord Fauntleroy please her best.
perhaps, though" she says, naively,
that is because l made such hits in those
characters"
And then she tells me of her late tri-
umphal tour with a stock company and
of the flowers and candy and more SUBJ
stantial presents that fell to her lot.
Il had fourteen bouquets In one even
ing," she says, land the children gave me
candy enough for the whole company all
the time, and made afternoon parties for
me; and it was all perfectly lovelyp'
But does not all this excitement and
late hours and hard work tire her?
She shakes her curly head emph atically.
Sne ''sleeps late mornings" she says. and
wakes up bright as dollar" and then
she studies little daily, and often goes to
the park, and every day she has ''the
jolliest kind of time with the neighbor-
children. Es+s
Her plans for the future are all made.
In two years she is to retire for a while
and go to school. and then she will take
up her work again and be "the very best
kind of soubrette," and ''get the biggest
kind of salary"-for mamma and the
rest" of course.
Meanwhile she. wants to make trip
East, and she confides that she would like
to go in play of her own, but although
there is play written for her it would
"take so much money to stageit' that she
cannot quite hope for that. However.
that does not make her unhappy, for
"some day"-dear little optimist-"every-
thing will come around all 1ght," and
there will be plenty OF money and a
general "good time" for ''mother and the
rest" And no matter where she goes she
will 'snever forget" that she is "native
daughter" and that the California people
have been her good friends always"
Then she shows me her dolls-Flossy
and Pearl, and the tiny twins, Pansy and
VioIet-and her wonderful silver doll
buggy which she can change into beau
tiful crib at will. Other toys, TOO, in varl-
Gus stages OF demolition. she brings out
for my inspection, and her unsociable
parrot, who doesn't want to be intro
duced to any one he isn't acquainted
with"
The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09

have been long preiudiced against
child stars of all descriptions. since l
have suffered much at their small hands;
but it came about that / went one even
ing to certain popular theater, and was
there figuratively taken captive, horse,
foot and marine by a little local
celebrity called Baby Lewis. OF course
you all know Baby Lewis. When
she first appeared gazed at her critically
and unsmilingly and smothered yawn.
When she began to speak | became sud
denly interested, for she actually seemed
to understand and feel her lines, and the
sparkle of her dark eyes and the poise
and swing of her 1.-THE and graceful little
body told Of spirit that had never been
cowed into tame submission by the Will OF
Others She had evidently been led and
not driven along the path which her
small feet were treading so cheerfully.
and the leading, because of the talent
within her. had been an easy task.
Ii was not, however, until | saw her
dance that l became completely subju-
gated. II it were not for the twinkling
feet executing with perfect ease and precis-
ion some of the most difficult steps known
TO our coast dancers, she would seem
down blown about by the breath of the
music to which her slender little figure
swaEs and bends and turns as lightly and
gracefully and responsively as does the
delicate windhower of the New England
hills to the summer breeze.
After that 1 saw my tiny charmer in
several parts and many specialties, and
then [ determined 10 see what kind OF
child this winsome sprite of the magic
land behind the footlights really is amid
The prosaic surroundings OF everyday llfe
l found her playing with group OF
children in her own yard-the merriest
and noisiest of them all. They were
'.ium ping French" and double Dutch"
she told me, and doing all the other as
tonishing things that little girls do with
skipping-ropes, and "Baby" was jumping
longer and higher and laughing and shout
ing louder than any of them.
There was evidently nothing OF the
cotton rosebud about her, for more
"jinkin', bonnie blinkin, hilty-skilty
iassie'' it was never my lot to meet
The sunny curls were tumbled and the
Tam o'Shanter was awry when she came
in to see me, but her cheeks were as pink
as mountain azaleas and hereyes shining
with the happy excitement of her play.
In two minutes we were excellent
friends and, curled up on the sofa beside
me, she told me of herself and her lifs-
Does she like to appear in public? "Oh,
yes" and her face glows with the earnest
ness OF her affirmation, she dearly loves"
to act and sing and play the banjo. For
one thing, people are all $50 good" to her
and she has 'ssuch nice time; and for
another, there is mamma ana the
rest, and we have no papa and it is
The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09

was made available for educational pur-
poses, and here at this time was conducted
the only public school in Monterey.
1t was just before l o'clock when the
vigilantes reached the schoolhouse. The
children had returned from luncheon and
thronged about the doors. Seeing that
something unusual was about to occur
they rushed pell-mell to the scene OF
action, or did the vigorous ringing of the
bell prevent any but the timid ones from
Witnessing the unceremonious hanging of
a man, who wore no cap to conceal his
distorted features, and who died with
curses on his lips after taking great
drink of raw whisky,
The rope was thrown over the balcony
rail, Gregorio was hauled up hand over
hand. and tae other end of the fatal cord
given few turns around the corner post.
Just across the street was the home of
the Bushtons, who helped to swing this
drunken Indian aloft. The tIniest tots
who viewed the horrid spectacle will not
forget it to their dying days, but it seemed
to i'm buc these Bushton lads with thirst
for human blood, as their future records
will attest.
During the winter of 1871 Monterey was
startled by another tragedy-the stabbing
to death of Martin Hedges on Pearl street
just outside the saloon of Dionicio Ruez,
within stones throw of the old Quartet.
1t was learned that the murdered man
had frequently quarreled with George
Bushton regarding band of cattle the
former had in charge. George confided
his troubles to his brother Jim. generally
L.. a II 4 a. u e
Hedges was the sequel of his story.
Both were held Tor trial and in March,
1872. James was convicted of murder in the
first degree and sentenced to be hanged
OH May II of that year. His mother, a
hard wor rking, earnest woman, immedi-
ately began the labor in his behalf, which
she never relaxed, ana in which she was
measuraby successful. A respite was OBJ.
tanned on June Z, 1872, Governor Booth
committing the sentence to life imprison-
ment, and five days later Jim" was regis
tered at San Quentin. HIS faithful M other
continued 10 plead for her son, and on
October 2, 1885, Governor Stoneman COM
muted his sentence TO twenty-four years.
He was good prisoner, and ON February
II, 1887, having many credits due, he was
discharged.
I But better for him had he remained
within the sheltering walls of the peni-
tentiary which monopolizes one of the
The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09

pleasantest points on the bay. On OBJ
tanning his freedom he went to San Luis
Obispo County, where, on August 10,
1889. after only two and half years OF
liberty, he was shot dead by W. S. Hum
phries, an aged citizen OF good repute.
The ex-convct tried to force HIS way
through Humphries' premises, threaten
ing the life of the old man. who promptly
used his shotgun with fatal effect. Hum
phries surrendered himself to the Sheriff
and was Immediately released on giving
$25, 900 bail.
The preliminary examination resulted
in his discharge the Killing being consid-
cred justifable. He died several years
ago, never having lost the esteem of his
neighbors.
The part that George Bushton took in
the Staying Of Hedges was not that OF
principal, and on May Is. 1872. he was
sent by Judge Belden to San Quentin for
ten years, having been convicted of MUIR
der in the second degree. He was dis
charged and restored to citizenship on
November 18, 1878.
After that, for long term of years, he
was familiar figure on Market street.
But very, very few of the thousands who
daily saw the tall, black bearded tamale-
vender at the Mason-street gore ever knew
or suspected his criminal career, for.
though broken in spirit. he had thor
oughly reformed. When he died, little
more than year ago. there we're some
sincere mourners at his humb BILE fun eral.
The third of these ill-fated brothers was
William. He, too, while not naturally
vicious was unable to control his violent
temper, and in the summer OF 1888 killed
LUIS Cupis, an old Spaniard residing near
Cayucos. San Luis Obispo County.
For this he was sent to San Quentin for
six years. Unfortunately for him, he was
granted new trial by the Supreme Court,
for the result was another ction, and
this time he was given nine years in Fol-
som. Like his brothers. he earned the
good will of those in authority. He has
been released, and is now a respected
member of the community where he is
earning an honest livelihood.
Maybe he sometimes thinks of the
brutal execution OF little Gregorio to the
schoolhouse porch opposite his early
home. 1t is unlikely, however, that he
considers, as psychological problem.
whether, if the law had then been allowed
to take its course, he and his dead broth.
ers had not led happier lives.
e. E. CURTIS.
The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09


smile hidden meaning
And snot
thoughts feed on that which
world show what
"a "Isad"
Nv
uhav
much"
would not willing think they
Signs the natural language he ave had Indian
with him
Should
utterly For all
a
areth
They another
silence heard the halfariculate
no longer held MURIEL
The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09

NJ O. and
They sat another
IL sour
Itwa meeting o eaf-mues
The
the
wn motion deity
almost impossible unframed follow
learning deafmute standpoint
Berkeley
AcCaty Hickman The Berkeley negative"
smiled
But "They
strangely
from and bright wreathed smiles.
The gentleman expained
he that making
unusual all 1t their breathing
diseases"
blonde followed by
Italy flashed his his lips cheeks "a peasant born
OF Ena He only seven
Wait translate
his
WHILE watching graceful What
would valed sweetness
unkng
/
There in the CT
head and hands And others too and 1t
what he saying?
Italian nobenan with MS heao
Rutv der?
called would um nall palmetto
poetcal
arguments too might pled
The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09
mo USE FOX HAY.
A Horse That Prefers Meat to
ANY Other Kind of
Diet.

The most extraord mary appetite known
in horse belongs to Billy, a handsome
bay owned by A. Decourtieux & Son, the
butchers of the Pacific Fruit Market.
Horses are frequently known to show
liking for sugar and instances are related
where they would drink beer, but who
ever saw a horse that was fond of meat
and hsh?
Billy's duties are to draw the firms de-
livery wagon and his stand is on Mer-
chant street in front of the shop. Here he
is often on exhibition, eating with an
apparent relish steak, liver. tripe and in
short almost any variety of meat handed
him. Sometimes. after having had his
fill of oats and hay he refuses to MUNICH
meat but this seldom occurs.
Biily's appetite developed several
months ago. No one knew of it until one
day he was seen to reach into butcher
cart that was tied just ahead of him and
calmly begin eating steak. After that
ne was fed often with the firms wares.
and many a bet has been won and lost on
his appetite.
The horse formerly varied his carnal
meals by purloining fish, but he was cured
in q manner that was ludicrous 10 the
spec ctators, but very painful ior the equine
phenomenon.
He reached into q fish-wagon one day
when his olfactories detected the odor OF
his favorite smelt, but an active and bel
ligerent crab took offense at the intrusion
and promptly fastened TO his lower lip.
Billy shook his head frantically and
whinnied In pain, but the crustacean held
on until he was crushed by being banged
against the side OF the wagon. Since then
the horse has kept clear OF fish.
Billy is the favorite of the market, and
strange teamster who had the temerity
to lay his whip across his back one morn
ing to make him give room was nearly
mobbed by indignant butchers end fish.
mongers. He is also the pet of his own
er's family. and his SLEEK hide and gen.
eral evidence of good care show that he
does not lack for attention.
The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09

People don't know wha. pleasure there
is in swee ping the street." continued the
old woman after she had removed the
last offensive bit of clay. ut puts life
into me. and it makes me feel good to get
out and go to work. Sometimes when l
am tired and worn l take my broom and
go out and sweep. l tell you it is just
like drink of cool water when you are
not and thirsty. II more people would
sweep the earth there would he less sick
ness
The neighbors have grown usad to M "a
The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09

own Mr.. Brosius became very nettled and
declined to yield further. THE gentleman
from South Dakota said Brosius, ''re-
minds me OF verdant youth in my own
town who was heard pacing up and down
in his room repeating these lines:
aIlove my automatic mouth,
1 love IS gidds gurgie,
love its ceaseless flow,
love to wind my mouth up,
love to hear it go"
Mr.. Pickler did not like to have this ap-
pear in the Record and some of his friends
went to Mr.. Rrosius about it with the re-
suit that it was expunged that very day.
Washington Post
The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09

Throughout my long call. "Baby
Lewis" pet of the theatrical public
though she is, is just a natural, simple,
sunny-hearted little girl, with no taint of
"staginess" in voice or look or manner
healthy, happy, loving child, who is
cheerily doing the work nearest her
hand" And when I kiss her good-by I
The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09

incident of last session which never ap-
peared in the Record. Mr.. Brosius of
Pennsylvania was making speech and
Mr.. Picker was asking some questions
which annoyed the gentleman from Penn
sylvania very much, as his time was linn
tied. Finally when Mr.. Pickler extended
his question into little speech OF his
The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09

do so hoping with all my heart that she
nj ay realize her unselfish ambitions, and
that the way may be made smooth for her
to make the best of herself and her
talents, so that merited success may come
to BABY Lewis, who so dearly loves
mamma and the rest"
FLORENCE PERCY MArHEsoN.
The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09

Missouri promises to be a powerful rival
and Eastern Canada in apple-raising.
The Ozark region is said to especially
vi Id bountiiul returns. Representative
Bland has planted seventy acres of one
kind of apple. which orchard is expected
to make even greater returns than even
the silver dollar could. - Meehan's
Monthly.
The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09
1t Was Not in the Record.

Representative Pickler's success in se.
curing the Republican caucus nomination
for United States Senator recalled to .
memb Der of the House yesterday little
The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09
In some of the Eastern countries, nota.

In some of the Eastern countries, nota-
bly, Arabia and. Persia, mamma answer
ing closely to that mentioned in the
Scriptures is still naturally produced in
considerable quantity. 1t comes from the
tender branches of the tanar:sk, ana Is
known to the Persiaus by the name of
"tamarisk honey 1t consists OF tear
like drops which exude in consequence OF
an insect during the months Of June and
July.
The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09

Franks manner, and pay little attention
to her, although she is constantly atrempt-
ing to impress on their minds the many
benefits OF the occupation. Its good
thing the boys get around and fix the
street every few months" said one of the
neighbors, ''or / believe the old woman
would soon sweep hole through the
earth to China"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-01
TARIFF BILL READY
To Present to the Democrats But Not
to the Senate,

Washington. Nay 1.-Senators Ali
son and AldrIch spent yesterday in
placing the finishing touches to the
tarif bill They were the only mem
bers of the subcommittee in the city.
The bill has been completed in all es-
sential partiCu Culars and now only re-
mains to be put in shape for presenta-
ton to the Democrats. The members
OF the subcommittee decline to reveal
th@ changes agreed upon, even to the
members of the senate.
Indeed. senator's generally are as ig-
nOr9tnt OF the amer dments agreed upon
as is the general public. ana it is safe
to say tnat the report. when made will
contain many surprises.
The Democrats say the length of
time taken in committee will depend
entirely upon the character of the
amendments 1t 5 understood to be
one of the purposes of the Democratic
members of the finance committee TO
offer several amendments and force a
vote On them, so as 20 put the RepubIf-
cans on record, and they count upon
having the cooperation of Senator
Jones of Nevada upon some of their
PROPOSITIONS. Senator Jones position
appears to be that he win demand Ger
tain concessions. most of them affect
ing western inter ssts, and that if he
does not secure them from the Repub-
licans he viii JOIN the Democrats in
order to get them, and some, at least, of
the Democratic members have indicat-
ed a willingness to assist him.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-01
FIVE MORE BODIES FOUND.
All the Missing at Guthrie Now Ac-
counted for But 12

Kansas City, Mo. May IA special
to til Times from Guthrie, O. T. says.
Five more bodies have been found in
the debris lett by Wednesdays cata-
Clysm in West Guthrie. The bodies of
George Owens ana Mrs. Charles Ruff
fms were found oil the west bank of
the river. The bodies of Mrs. Henry
Simmons and Ms. Watson and child
were found under a pile of hay near
the GinarrOn. MIS-. Watson had her
child closely cIutChed to her breast, in
which position both met death. Scores
of organized searching parties are at
work, but progress is slow, since tons
of debris must be dug over in the
search It is believed that the rushing
waters of the CiIndrrOn conceal many
cOrpses.
The rea1 portion of the Helm brew
ing plant, containing $4,000 worth of
machinery, caved into the Cottonwood
river. Over fifteen hundred homeless
people are being cared for by the city
Division Superintendent DOlan of the
Santa Fe has increased his force of
tracllmen to 500 and has that number of
men at work on the tracks south of
Guthrie. over four miles of Santa Fe
rOa1bed was washed out The Santa
Fe will lose $250UO. The loss to this
city and county. by careful estimate.
reaches 5000. 900. Seven costly bridges
Were destroyed. Twelve persons are
Yet missing.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-01
MAY BE WANAMAKER
Who Will be Moderator of the Pres
byterian General Assembly.

Chicago, May 1.-The declination of
eX-PTesident Harrison, who would have
been chosen with little or no opposition,
has brought to surface three candidates
for the nlOderatorship of the Presby ter
ian general assembly, which is to meet
at WinOna, Ind, the latter part of this
month.
These are the Rev. Sheldon Jackson
of Alaska, John Wanamaker of Phila-
delphia and the Rev. DR.. Minton of
San Francisco.
The Rev. Mr.. Jackson is the candidate
of the missionary or ''hustIing'' ele-
ment.
There has never been an elder in the
moderator's chair. The lay element,
however, is going to try to put one
there at the next session in the person
of Mr.. Wanamaker, as the representa-
tive of the business element. DR.. Mn
ton represents the conservative ele-
ment which adheres to the idea of hav-
ing dignified scholarly presiding Off
GERS.
It is understood that the committee
appointed to consider the question of
the retention of the mission house in
New York which cost 81. zoe, 900 will re
port in favor of keeping it,although the
annual loss in doing so will De between
$50 900 and $40 600