Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-18
ROB PASADENAN
ON A PULLMAN
SAN FRANCISCAN RESTORES
HUGE TIME PIECE
Charles Frederie<s, Whose Berth Was
Searched, Holds Railroad Re-
sponsbIe for Loss-Firm
Used Mansion

Charles Fredericks, vice president of
the Pacific Purchasing company with
vast business interests in Los Angeles
and San Francisco, has been robbed
Of a gold watch and chain valued at
| over $780,
The robbery was as bold an affair as
| could well be imagined for the watch
was stolen from beneath the pillow
upon which Mr. Fredericks was sleep
ing in a Pullman sleeper.
Business demanded that Mr.. Fred
ericls and w. A. Barker. the latter
being president of the concern i'm which
both are interested, should go to San
Francisco Accordingly they both
started north on the Owl last Thurs
day evening.
When 1t became time to retire Mr.
Fredericks stood in the aisle of the
Pullman while he wound his hand
some watch. This gave many a
chance to see the magnificent time
piece and undoubtedly one of those
men who caught such a glimpse is the
thief.
Mr.. Fredericks awakened about 2
o'clock in the morning and he then
felt about the berth for his watch. He
was unable to locate 1t at that time,
but presumed that it had dropped down
among the bedclothing and he thought
no more about it until the next morn
ing.
Stolen from Vest
He is now certain that it had been
stolen from his vest pocket prior to
the time he looked for it at 2 O'Clock.
When Mr.. Fredericks and Mr.. Bar
ker reached San Francisco they at
once notified the railway people and
Mr.. Fredericks says that he will hold
the company responsible for the loss
of his watch. He states that he was
sold a lower berth in car one and that
when he went to the train he found
this berth occupied and had to take
another in car three. He contends that
it is doubly the railways fault because
if he had been in car one he might
not have been robbed.
In San Francisco Mr.. Fredericks'
friends obtained one of those large tin
watches used to advertise a popular
dollar brand of timepiece. This watch
is half foot across the dial and with
it's chain weighs several ounds. These
friends sent the great watch to Mr..
Fredericks by messenger and then
watched to see the fun when he
opened the package
Turns the Joke
He rather got the joke on them,
however, by exhibiting the great watch
in the lobby of the Savoy hotel in
Frisco and attaching to it placard
stating that it was gift from his
San Francisco admirers.
The Pacific Purchasing company
was completely burned out, so far as
San Francisco was concerned, in the
fire in that city.
Mr.. Fredericks, at his Pasadena
n C,x,1 10 or
ing outlined conditions in the north
ern metropolis.
He states that his company has sold
over 100000 worth of goods from
private residence since the fire and
that the new building of the company,
the largest store building completed
since the fire, will be done by Novem-
ber /. 1t stands on Ellis between Van
Ness and Polk, is built of brick and
stone, four stories in height.
Mr.. Fredericks says that when the
fire destroyed the great building of
his company his brother, who was in
charge in Frisco had all of the goods
which could be saved moved to his
own residence at Webster and Clay
streets Here the company opened for
business and there the business has
been carried on ever since.
In Private House
1t was fortunate thing for the San
Francisco brother that his house con-
tained twenty-five rooms for otherwise
he would have had no place to sleep
in with all the goods packed in the
building.
The Pacific Purchasing company has
Jared better than most in regard to COL
lecting insurance. The company had
$175,O00 insurance on it's property and
about two-thirds of that sum is al
ready collected. The company expects
to collect in insurance about 92 cents
on the dollar.
Mr.. Fredericks states that the stories
of the robbery and crime in San Fran
cisco are not exaggerated. He states
that the only street upon which you
find people after sundoWn IS Fillmore.
That street is well lighted.
He allows the city at least ten years
before it can make a showing that will
be anything like it was before the fire.
He says that the property owners are
waiting for the business men to move
before they rebuild, while the business
men and storekeepers are waiting for
offers before they decide upon loca-
| tions.
Need the Money
Evan Ness avenue will be the retail
business district for the next five years
at least" says Mr.. Fredericks. TT is
! going 10 De highly SLOW Du6lHeSS re-
| building and many shackS are going up
| because they can be rented and will
bring in money right away I tell you
there is no holding San Francisco
down and some day she will be as big
as ever
"All they are doing there now is
business. The dealers are not yet
ready to say where they want to To-
cate and the property owners are not
ready to make them offers If they were.
Everyone says In month or so and
1 think it will take years to straighten
| out.
"Our company is figuring on doing
number of things of importance to
Los Angeles and San Francisco, in
both of which cities we have great
business interests, but, would you be-
leVe 1t, we did not get an offer from
anyone to build for us, though we were
on the market for a location.
81 asked one property owned why
he did not build for us and he said
that he did not have the money. So
1t is with many up there. However.
we expect to put our deals through
shortly"
1