davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-16
CktEr HotsSs @-

quests for the buried treasures left by old
sea captains, ct al, ana according to the
advice of spiritualists, old charts, etc,
but they have nothing to do with mining.
Cinnabar or the ore of quicksilver has at
various times opened wide the eyes of
contractors and lot owners who did not
know that there is any amount of CHINA
bar through the Coast Range. but seldom
a deposit large enough to work.
But the story of the beach sands is a
slightly different one. The beach sands
from Alaska to Patagonia show generally
traces of gold, but only here and there
are they concentrated so that they can
be worked profitably. Below the Cliff
House is such a place. The gold is asso-
ciated with black sand, or magnetic iron.
The gold has been washed down to the
sea by the ages of erosion of the very
low grade veins inland and beaten out
of the bluffs by the eternal hydraulic ope-
rations of the waves.
One skllfuI with pan can find "colors"
in nearly every pan washed along that
beach, but it is only strata of concen-
trated black sand and gold buried a few
feet deep which ever pays to work IN
slutces. For more than a genera ton
these sands have been worked at times.
The great day of the beach was in the
winter of 1SS3-S4, when MooneyvilIe was
booming. A craze set in and over 200 men
took possession of ground, camped there
in picturesque array and made a redhot
mining camp. Con" Mooney ran a little
resort near there and gave the camp it's
name. Crowds went there daily. takers
swarmed, the police We're busy and all
sorts of processes for saving the gold
came to the front. A few made money
and many did not. The gold was fine and
hard to save. The winds would fill up an
excavation
breakers sometimes. When the richest
strata Of black sand seemed worked out
operations ceased, but at times men have
returned and perhaps made wages.
So fine is this gold that Henry G. Hanks
has estimated that it takes 155. 500 average
particles TO make an ounce worth SIS.
This gold is always in thin scales about
.O095 by ,O03S4 of an inch in size. One com
pany of miners spent several hundred
dollars and secured So worth of gold alto
gether. w. B. Farwell of Alameda Is now
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-16

is part Of tilted sedimentary stratum
harder than the strata on either side,
which have thus worn away, leaving lit
tie of the stratum of schist protruding.
How far bedrock on either side lies below
the sand has not been found.
Some small samples Of the rock were as
sayed at the laboratory OF Abbott A
Hanks on Montgomery street for The
Cali. Pieces containing quartz showed no
gold at all. piece of the schist itself
showed "a trace of gold' Mr.. Hanks
found-possibly at the rate of 30 cents a
ton The new gold mine thus seems at
cursory view to be in a sedimentary STRAIT
un into which little gold has been de-
posted in solution as 1t is deposited here
and there in granite, sandstone and the
country rock Of gold-bearing veins gen.
orally.
Henry G. Hanks, the old and widely
known mineralogist, who was State Min
eralogist for six years, on seeing the rock
said:
There seems to be nothing to this
schist that a mining man would attach
any Importance to at all, though there
might be gold in such rock. Nothing has
ever been discovered on the peninsula to
warrant any great expectations. There
are many small quartz veins which show
traces of gold and such discoveries have
been made at three or four places between
the park and Baden. but none have been
of value. Near the Baden packing house
there are good copper indications and a
shaft seventy-five feet deep was sunk
there once. Copper has also been found
about South San Francisco. About Twin
Peaks there are a dozen prospect holes,
where people have found mineral indica-
tions, and about the Corbett road near In
gleside. Where the boulevard turns west
from the Almshouse through the gap con-
siderable prospecting has been done. Cop
per, chronic iron, cinnabar, oxide Of man.
ganese and a little gold have been found
within the city limits, but no deposits Of
economic value. A valuable deposit Of
quicksilver would be more likely found
than one Of gold. The formations are not
favorable to gold, and nowhere In the
Coast Range south of Trinity County has
anything been found worthy of the name
of a gold mine. There have been little
discoveries here and there rich in small
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-16

amounts, but none that ever amounted to
anything. At one time gold mill was
put up al one discovery in the Santa Cruz
mountains, but was abandoned"
Almarin B. Paul, one of the Oldest min
ing engineers of California, is another
meteorological expert who has given some
attention to this field in the past.
twenty-five years ago I went out to
near where Baden is now to see a gold
mine" he said, land I have been out
there in later times. There has been a
good deal of talk about gold discoveries
at various times. 1 made an assay for
one man many years ago, but don't re-
member the result. That rock was from
Sutro's land. w. T. Coleman once
thought he had struck gold on his place.
l found he had a quartz vein, but there
was only trace OF gold in 1t. Traces of
gold In very low grade rock may be found
in many places, but as to profits I
wouldn't pay car fare for all of it. If
cinnabar were found there might be soma
sense in it. for the formation is favorable
to that The only possibility of making
any money out of gold mining in San
Francisco is in the beach sands.
The memory and the voluminous records
of Henry G. Hanks provide recollectons
of number of past gold 'excitements" in
San Francisco.
A generation ago some yellow metal was
found near the Preside and there was
quite a fuss about It, but it turned out to
be brass filings on the site of an old ma
chine shop. Several times red jasper has
been found in the hills showing minute
yellow specks ana as many times ii
turned out to be brass scraped off softer
brass nails in shoes. A good many years
ago two men thought they had found a
bonanza at Main and Market streets,
where colors of gold were found in the
dirt. Then some pioneer came along and
remembered a quartz mill that was there
in the fifties and shoveled out it's tailngs.
In 1886 the laborers employed by some
street contractors uncovered a ledge of
gold at Geary street and Central avenue.
The contractors hastily boarded up the
place and spent a week getting ready for
operations, for the rock was fairly yellow
Then an assayer told them they had sui
phurets of iron.
OF course there have been all sorts Of
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-16

picturesque and full Of contrasts out that
way. They were just getting their tent
into shape. The dynamite packages were
arranged for pillows on the ground at the
head of the red blankets at either side,
the candle on a stick was ready for even
ing and the shotgun was at rest It was
too early to slip about for one or two
jackrab bbits for breakfast. They have
splendid living, anyway.
That's the mine down there a few yards
A mass of rock ten feet thick happens to
reach its top Just to the level OF the sur
rounding ground They have been dig
ging beside it, and an excavation is ten
feet deep with a foot of water in IT. The
irregular mass shows no vein formation,
but the miners say 1t is a quartz vein
sticking up above bedrock. No free gold
shows in the rock but Mr.. Zammitt says
that one assay shows S6 SO and another
S11 so per ton
Mr. Zammitt cheerfully sits on his store
Of gold and tells He has prospected up
north and around in past years. and in
the great days of old Mooneyvile by the
Sea he worked black sand there. He be-
lieved as did others that the gold came
from back there some place, and for fff-
teen years he has taken his gun end
spade at times and wandered the penin-
sula over, just as many other hopeful
ptpple IloNt upilt
few weeks ago a scared jackrabbit
led him to some loose rocks in the bushes,
assays of which showed gold, and then he
found where the rock came from. John
F. English, the commission merchant.
whom he knew well, happened out that
way and the upshot was that Mr.. En-
glish quietly slipped around and bought
lots to the extent Of 24O by 500 feet. Mr.
Zammitt has a half interest in the mine
and Ostwald, who has prospected, too,
was hired to help begin operations. A
small hand bige pump is being rugged up
and the rock is to be explored in depth
until gold or faith gives out.
There IS some gold in that rock, but 1t
is not a defined quartz vein. The body of
that big quartz VEIN Is schist a sedi-
mentary rock, and some nodules and
streaks of quartz show through some of
It, probably intruded by percolation and
crystallized. 1t would seem likely that it
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-16
RES THE WAY FOR YOU TO MAKE LIFE MASKS OF YOUR

TH HE taking Of masks from the dead
hy any but n skilled operator ac-
customed to such work is distinctly
GisaEreeable and difficult, and per-
- haps particulars Of the modus op-
erarGi upon such occasions would some
what disturb the nerves Of our more SEN
s.tiye readers.
In the accompanying interesting photo
graphs we are able to illustrate the pro-
cess of obtaining a mask Of the face during
life, the subject operated on being very
FAR from dead. Death masks are usually
taken for the purpose of securing an ex-
act reproduction Of the features, so that
any artist or sculptor who intends to
execute a painting or statue Of the de-
ceased may have something definite TO
work upon.
one often observes when reading Of the
demise Of a celebrity that a mask was
taken by Mr.. So-and-so, the celebrated
sculptor. soon after death, but really very
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-16

Care must be used to get the ears out
without breaking either the subject or
the mold. The cars are only taken on
the front sides, cotton wool being placed
at the back to prevent the plaster going
around. When removed the three pieces
are put together and plaster placed on
the exterior to hold and strengthen them.
The molo IS now well washed and
soaped and then filled with freshly mixed
plaster. 1t is best to take it in the hands
and give 1t a slow rotary motion so that
the plaster may lie evenly on every side.
When this has quite set the mold IS
chipped off with a mallet and chisel.
Through being soaped it easily comes
away with the mask and leaves an exact
replica of the face
AS a rule the mold is taken from the
top of the forehead to the neck and
reaches outwardly to the ears When
taken from life a great deal depends on
the quickness and dexterity of the opera
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-16

tor, as many unpleasant If not serious
results may occur through any laxity or
carelessness on his part.
The finished mask shows the face in
repose, with the eyes closed, but any
artist with a little skill would have no
difficulty in afterward working up the
eyes so as to make them appear as IL
opened. When the subject has a beard
or heavy mustache 1t has to be made into
solid mass by the aid of vaseline or
soft soap. An easier way in the case Of
a beard is to cover it with tissue paper
This prevents the plaster from going into
the beard. and it comes away easily with
the mold.
The whole process is most interesting
and the amateur, although hardly able to
take mask of the human face. may
most certainly cast a hand or foot or
the head of a dog or any other animal
after death ard get some very curibus
and practical results.
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-16

few people know how this is carried out
They might have some idea that plaster
Of paris is put over the dead mans face.
but there the idea ends
A mask from life is taken almost pre-
cise!y in the same way as after death.
save that much greater care has to be
used, as the subjects life hangs on a
very thin thread or to be more precise.
two small quills. 1t requires a great deal
OF nerve and patience to undergo, the
sensation being most disagreeable.
When mask from life is about to be
secured the subject reclines on a long
table and towels are placed around his
neck and forehead TO prevent the plaster
going where not intended The face is
slightly creased, but not enough to fill
the pores Of the skin Care has to be es-
pecially taken with the eyelashes as
otherwise, in the subsequent operations.
these are likely to be pulled off. which
would not be exactly pleasant A small
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-16

before mentioned threads are pulled up
through the mold so as to cut the plaster,
otherwise it would be impossible to re-
move it from the face.
The subject whose mask is being taken
is now having a lively time. The plaster
presses and burns his cheeks. He thinks
Of all the horrible things that might
happen should those two little qullls get
choked. Not a sound of the outer world
can he hear save some indistinct rumbling
and the thud, thud of his beating heart
almost deafens him. Hours seem to pass
and he is poweress to know what is going
on. He lies helplessly there, and, perhaps,
out of curiosity, tries to raise an eyelid
That settles him, as by this time the
plaster has hardened and holds the lid in
an immovable grip,
A sickly sensation comes over him-he
feels paralyzed and unconsciously gives
a long groan. This, by the way can only
come through the quills in his nostrils,
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-16

quill is now inserted in either nostril to
allow the subject presently to breathe
through. and cotton wool lightly pressed
around the base to keep the liquid plaster
from intruding. pair Of scissors is al
ways kept handy. so as to be able to cut
off the tops of the qulls should by any
chance the plaster splash up and cover
them
All being ready. few cheering words
are spoken to the unhappy victim and the
plaster is mixed. This IS carefully poured
or sprinkled over the features.
The following operations have then to
be performed with skill and celerity:
Directly the plaster lightly covers the
face a small but strong thread Is laid
on either cheek, running from the top of
the head down to the neck. and is pressed
into the plaster until 1t almost touches
the skin. Additional plaster is now placed
on. until the whole is about an inch in
thickness. Ere this has quite set the
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-16

and 1t naturally alarms the operator. who
Immediately shouts as loudly as he can to
know if anything is the matter. The
subject Is just able to hear his voice and
so raises his hand, prearranged signal
that "alls we'll"
The plaster, through being mixed with
warm water, quickly hardens, and in the
course Of about five minutes the mold is
strong enough to be taken off. 1t has
to be carefully done, as the subject is
generally so very eager to get mouth
full of fresh air once again. A slight tap
with the nand is given to the two side
pieces. which relieves the joints made by
the thread. The top or central piece is
then lifted up and pulled slightly down
ward, so as to withdraw the quilts from
the nose as they come out with the mold.
The sides are then taken off. Probably
some of the hair may hold the mold, but
with a little coaXng or by the insertion
of the scissors it can soon be removed.
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-16

gold must become an explorer and learn
a good deal of local geography. You get
off at silent Little Lake station, half way
down the south side of the park, and
wonder where to go. Up the track a little
way you find place to climb to the top
Of the big sand bluff and then you see
something. Away over by the top OF
ridge you see quite an area of green.
where springs have made vegetation take
root and create firm oasis. If you know
enough and look sharply you will see
little white tent over there. That's by the
mine
II was here that P. +. Zammitt and
Harry Ostwald were found the other day.
A picturesque little bit OF a mining
camp their place is, and everything is
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-16

% HERE'S another gold mine In San
Francisco. The owners are work
ing away in It with faith and dyna-
mite. and they are going to go
away down into the bowels of the
sanddunes until they find the rich
ore and then they will probably put up a
mill and make great deal Of money.
That is the programme that Mr.. Zammitt,
the superintendent and part owner, an
nounCed, at least.
This latest gold mine is q mile or so
from anywhere. Il IS out IN the middle
Of that great desolate stretch of shifting
sands and sagebrush south Of the park,
where there is not even a trail in three or
four square miles.
An old inhabtant visiting this place Of
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-28
YOUNG MEMS INSTITUTE.

On the night of the oath of May Coun-
ellis Nos. 1, {, 90 and 129 had a very inter-
esting joint meeting at headquarters.
A short time since Los Angeles Council
gave a Mikado party. or as it was termed
Waltz Carnival All the decorations
were after the Japanese style and the eff
feet was exceedingly pretty.
Several of the grand officers will pay
an official visit to the council in Menlo
Park on the 9Th inst.
Columbia Council at its meeting on the
18th of May initiated Joseph Nolan, DR..
Z. M. Smith, Alfred J. Fritz, Joseph NJ.
Campodonico and William O. Patch.
After the ceremony there was a pleasant
reunion and a collation. followed by an
impromptu programme that proved very
enjoyable. The council had eleven appli-
cations at the close of the session to act
upon at the next
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-28
THE CHOSEN FRIENDS.

The anniversary ENTERTAINMENT by Sac
ramento Council in the old pavilion in the
capital city was a great success, there
being more than two thousand people
present. There was a fine programme of
entertainment and the principal address
was delivered by Supreme Vice Councillor
II. w. Hutton in place of T. H Sewage,
who was detained at home by illness in
his family
The celebration al San Jose was also a
grand affair, Turn Verein Hall being
packed by those who wished to listen to
the excellent programme and an address
by Supreme Vice Councillor Hutton. Dane
ing followed the programme.
During the past three weeks there has
been remarkable increase of member
ship in all parts of The State.
Grand Councillor Savage came to this
city from San Pedro last Friday. He will
visit a number of the local councils and
some in the counties near by.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-28
WOMEN or wOODCRAFT

Redwood Circle No. - of the Women
of Woodcraft has of late been very act
i've. ard under the dispensation which
permits it to admit members at cost it
has recently initiated several candidates,
including two prominent Woodmen and
Mrs. L. j. Wheelock, past grand protec-
tor of the knights and Ladies of Honor
The circle also received four Propositions.
On the evening of the 18th of June the
circle will give an entertainment and
dance in Shasta Hall. Native sons build
ing. for the special benefit of the wives
of Woedmen and their friends. The
committee, consisting of Mrs. Daniels,
Blake and Miss Robinson, will provide
an excellent programme. and there is
every indication that there will be a
large attendance
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-28
ORDER Ola AMERTCTs

Last Tuesday night San Francisco
Council of the Order of Americas al its
meeting in the Alcazar building had q
good attendance of members, and after
initiating three strangers there was a
hurried closing to enable the committee
en- entertainment. of which Charles j..
King is the chairman. to provide an intel
lectual treat for the members and num-
her of friends who had been invited. There
were selections by the knickerbocker
quartet after which the chairman eX-
plained that 1t is the purpose of the coun-
eli to give on the fourth Monday of each
month an entertainment that will have
for its special feature an address by some
well-knoWn speaker. who Will talk on
some important topic of the day. so that
those who listen may become enlightened.
He then introduced Henry K. Highton,
who for nearly an hour entertained the
audience with an address on corporations
ard trusts giving in a logical and com
prehensive manner very interesting ex-
nlanation of that which is now engaging
the attention of the public mind all over
the Union. Frequent applause and pro-
concluded, followed ~ a rising vote of
thanks, were the marks of appreciation
from the audience to the speaker. This
was followed by some amusing dialect
stories bv Captain Leale, the serving of a
collation. and cigars and the rendering of
several selections by the quartet. There
were present visitors from the council in
berkeley John Van Allen the manager
for the Pacific Coast, announced that at
the next meeting there will be consider
able work for the council to do.
IMPROVED ORDER RED MEN.
Next Sunday the Bald Eagle and Poca-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-28
RnyAI. ARCANuM.

The third council of this order in san
Francisco has been instituted by supreme
Deputy Parrish. assisted by e. w. DIX
on of Argonaut Council. 1t has peen
named Buena Vista, has twenty-elght
charter members, and Gus Gunzendor1er
is the regent.
This order now has Grand Counch 1oF
California. it having been recently organ
lied in the city of Los Angeles
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-28
THE DRUIDS.

The picnic that was recently given at
Mirabel Park by the Italian groves Of
this city was a great success, more than
1900 persons taking advantage of the OPP
portunity for a days outing. In addition
to those who went from San Francisco
there was a special train from Healds-
burg, and any number of people drove
to the place from Santa Rosa, Guerncy-
vile and other places in Sonoma County.
The picnic of Templar Grove in San
Jose was also a pleasant affair.
Perseverance Grove has arranged for a
picnic in Fairfax Park to-day. This
grove recently conferred the third degree
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-28

GERS for the current term: Mary ].
Thomas, P. L. c.; Marie T. Zipt, L. c.;
Mary A. Warwick, L. L. c.; Blanche NJ.
Whiteman. L. r. K; Geneva E. McTag-
CART, L. F. X; Elizabeth A. Croker, L.
c.; Frances E. Stokes, L. NJ. at A; Mary
]. Stokes, L. s.; Elizabeth Barker, L.
Sent; Abigail A. O'Connor, L. P. The
establish the work of the order in that
State.
California Hive gave a very pleasing
entertainment last Thursday night in the
social hall of the Foresters' building. The
programme was followed by a dance.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-28

on three candidates. and at its last held
meeting conferred the iniuatory ueslee
two.
The committee of arrangements IS pusy
preparing to entertain the grand onlcers
and representatives to the Grand GroVe,
which will hold its session In Placer oli
the 10Th of June.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-28

and specalties by Miss Laura Hughes.
Mrs. palZell. Miss Grace Elliott. Miss
Vera Mears. d. e. Hanlon and the Gold
en- Gate Musical Club. Then followed a
good programme of dances, which kept
the merry party together until midnight.
After the first of June this lodge will
hold its meetings in the odd Fellows
b11ildinp