The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-06
Warm Contest Over Possession O
the Normandy.
O'MEARA IS THE VICTOR
BoARDERS ENDURE FINE AS
soRTMENT OF TRIBULATIoNS.
Water Was Turned Of, Board Bills
Garnisheed and as a Last Resort
the Chimney Was Torn Out
Landlady Capitulated and the
House Is Closed.

The boarders at the Hotel Normandy
on State street have learned that there
are other trials and tribulations in
boarding houses besides the antique
spring chicken and the rehashed hash.
Last night they were stealing out one
by one, in pairs, in triplets and by
families to hunt other places where the
boarding house joke is not carried too
far.
For. tonight the Normandy closes. the
doors will be locked and the curtains
drawn. 1t is the closing act in curl
Gus contest which has been waSed be
tween Landlady Mrs. Mary L. Bour-
goard and Landlord William r
O'Meara Ii is the sequel of the VIC
tory after a hard struggle of the land
lord and the defeat of the landlady.
This sad and sympathetic story is told
for the instruction of landlords. land
ladies and boarders and the amusement
of these who scott at boarding houses
in general.
How 1t Came About.
Mr.. O'Meara owns the Normandy
property. Mrs. Bourgard rents from
him At one time peace prevailed be-
tween them. Mrs. Bourgard led her
boarders and they grew fat and sleek,
so much SC that they didn't like to
leave But the sweet harmony of which
she was the genius has flown away.
Mr.. C'Meara maintained that rent was
due him. The landlady declared that
the amount was too large. But the OBJ
durate proprietor brought suit, which
was contested by Mrs. BOurgard. He
wanted possession of the house and
thought thai he was entitled to 1t
But Mrs. Bourgard was not prompt in
n fact she resisted TO the
utmost. She didn't post rapid fire guns
in the front window nor arm the
boarders. but neither she nor they
would get out.
O'Meara Was Resourceful.
However. Mr.. O'Meara, too. is a hard
fighter. The house belonged to him and
he was going to have possession. Water
rent came one day and he didn't pay
il. The hard-hearted city official whose
business il is to collect the rent, had
the water turned off, whereupon there
was gnashing of teeth at the Norman
dy Finally Mrs. Bourgard paid the
rent and water flowed again.
Mr. O'Meara, though beaten, was
undismayed; he didn't get out of the
ring He garnisheed the board bills of
the boarders. only to learn the amaz-
ing fact that almost every one in the
house paid in advance. There were no
DIS.
Then he executed a coup d'etat of a
desperate and determined character.
Last Thursday afternoon just before
dinner time O'Meara had workmen tear
out the chimney which connected with
the kitchen range.
Cook Went Ahead.
This might have frightened an ordi
nary, every day cook. but not he of the
Normandy. At the risk of burning down
the house he finished the preparation of
the dinner The occupants feared that
the house might burn, still they ate.
Chief Devine. learning of the dangerous
situation, ordered that no fire be built
in the range. Even then this wonderful
chef did not despair. On a two-hole
gasoline stove he cooked and cooked
breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
But Mrs. Bourgard couldn't continue
the fight. She gave up the house last
night. The bOarders who stood by her
are wandering about hunting other
houses and the chef whose courage was
proved in an hour of need now hunts
another job.