The San Francisco call., 1907-01-29
HILL TERROR DIES
WITH SPURS ON
Children and Goats Less
Fearful Of Wandering on
Latin Quarter Eminence
FURNISHES A FEAST

The terror OF Telegraph Hill is dead.
He died. as terrOrs should, with his
SPURS on The few that mourned his
passing took consolation In the feast
that followed, FOR the terrors remains
were roasted and his every bone picked
clean. The terror was a white Leghorn,
man hating rooster that measured two
feet from his toes to the tip or his
comb. wore three-inch spurs weighed
fifteen pounds in his feathers and
feared neither man, woman nor dog.
The terror" was owned by the Fer
nandez family, which occupies shack
40 IN the camp located on the summit
OF the hill When the terror went
abroad the hill colony fed inooors.
Long ago he killed every other rooster
that dared 70 roam beyond the pro-
tection of its own chicken yard fence
He tackled the goats next He spared
their lives, but pUnctured their hides
and limited their pasturing 10 such
parts OF the hill as he elected 10 stay
away from.
To children the terror was all his
name implied. AT least half dozen
youngsters bear the imprint OF the
Tooster's beak or furrOw ~1farks made
on cheek, arms, or little bare legs By
his sharp tipped spurs AS the terror
extended his activities the neighbors
of the terror's owners kept their chill
dren at home or allowed them to play
outdoors only when some adult, armed
with stones and q club, could stand
guard over them.
Nobody was too big for the terror
10 tackle. and when Dr. Curtis, one
OF the city sanitary inspectors. visited
Telegraph Hiu and attempted 70 inspect
the Fernandez premises the rooster put
the medioo to ignOmfnious flight.
Curtis returned with reinforcements
and the terror gave the invaders battle.
Dr. Tilton Tillman. health inspector for
the relief committee, who was inspect
ing the campg went to the assistance
of the Curtis party. Tillman, like
ROsalin6. is more than common tall
lie has light with his inches and at
Heidelberg learned everything worth
knowing Of the art OF fencing. Armed
with an umbrella he advanced on the
rooster. The terror crOwed a shrin
challenge and few st the medicine
mans head, sidehying the thrust Of the
-Tillman umbrella and landing q vicious
hook with the right spur on the
medico's left ear, nearly dislocating the
doctors neck with the impact OF his
fifteen pounds.
The Curtis party took refuge behind
Tillman's broad back saying shoe" In
chorus every time the rooster rushed.
in the subsequent attacks the Leg
horn lost 8 few feathers, but was SOUND
in wind and limb when he finally
strutted of TO chase a goat from
patch Of green pasture. leaving TIL
man with a tattered umbrella and
modified idea of the Heidelberg system
Of fencing
Tie health inspectors were sur
rounded BY hill residents, each OF whom
had q tale of woe TO tell in which the
terror figured as q public menace. The
inspectors notified the Fernandez fam
Sly that the bird must be destroyed
within twelve hours A reluctant
promise that this would be done was
elected.
Dr. Tiuman visited the scene OF his
discontinue yesterday for the purpose
OF killing the LeghOrn II the mandate
OF the health authorities had not been
( carried out With revolver in hand
he searched Telegraph Hill, and
desisted only when he found the Fer
nandez family picking their teeth and
behind q fence saw the terror's crest
and spur-adorned legs lying IN clutter
OF blOod-stained feathers.