Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-01
CENTURY
MARK ON FOURTH
SANTA MONICA MAN IS 10l
YEARS OLD
In Spite of Advanced Age centenarian
Retains Memory and Mental Fac
uties and Does His Own
Housekeeping

| Thursday is Dan Turner's birthday,
and on that date, the Fourth of July
the old soldier trapper and scout
will celebrate the one hundred and first
anniversary of his natal day in his
little home in South Santa Monica.
Friends of his youth will not gether
with the old man this year-they have
all gone before-but the many friends
of his old age, those whose acquaint-
ance he has made since coming to
Southern California to make his home
more than twenty years ago, will again
assemble around his hearthstone and
listen to stories of the days long before
the rush for gold in 40, and of the
many adventures of these rude pio-
neers, warriors and settlers.
Preserves MenaI Faculties
Despite his advanced age Turner's
memory and faculties are still as bright
as those of the average man Of fifty.
His firmly knit form and pleasant face
are familiar to all dweiiers i'll the beach
city, while his CHEEKY voice Is often
heard on the streets calling out saul
! tations to his friends.
| In addition to this Turner Is mus-
clan of no mean ability, and often the
tone of his little organ can be heard
by passersby as the old man sits at the
instrument and plays melodies of either
religious or martial nature.
In his house can generally be found
two or three cronies, and with them he
discusses topics of the day in a brilliant
manner. He is a confirmed reader of
newspapers and magazines and In this
way has succeeded in keeping up with
the times until he can speak intelligent
ly on all subjects of interest.
One thing which impresses itself upon
his visitors is the spick and span man
ner in which his house is kept. Never
is thing misplaced and Uncle DAN
can always place his hand on anything
he wants at moments notice. Yet that
house has never had woman's care.
No woman has ever aided the old man
in taking care of his possessions, for
despite the fact that in his youthful
days his fame as a hunter and warrior
reached far and admiration for him
filled the hearts of many of the fair SEX
Turner never married, but preferred to
live the care-free life of a bachelor so
he could go when the spirit called him
and not be held back by wife or kin.
Likes the Women
at like women we'll enough said
Turner yesterday, "but never felt that
IL would care to have enc live in the
same house with me. AS it is, 1 can go
my own way and I don't have anyone
to tell me what to do and what not.
suppose would have been married
when / was young man, but seldom
remained in one place long enough to
get well acquainted with any girl. ]
was always on the move, for with me
wandering and seeing new sights was
half of life.
Eyes, my birthday is July 4, and it is
probable it will be the last one I will
ever see. A man cannot live always,
and 1 suppose I have nearly reached
my limit. 1 do not fear to die, yet
feel that I do not wish to leave the
beautiful flowers and birds and the
many dear friends I have made since
coming here.
"Just how 1 will celebrate my BIRTH
day is as yet uncertain. AS a usual
| thing nearly all my friends drop in
and say a pleasant word to me and
generally I receive many gifts from
them, as we'll as from acquaintance
| in other parts of the country. Last
year one friend, little boy. presented
me with five punches of firecrackers.
and IL you know how boy prizes
| those things on that day you can guess
how much appreciation the gift calls
for.
Dresses IN Uniform
Usually dress up for the day. That
is, again put on the dress coat of the
United States artillery, the one 1 wore
while serving with the Utah battery
during the Civil war. I also bring out
my rifle and few trinkets of my life
as hunter, as many of my friends en-
joy examining them and hearing tales
of the days when California was a
strange land.
"There is one present I get each year
which I duly appreciate and yet never
use That is a gallon of whisky. 1t is
sent me by friend in Sawtelle, and
regularly send him letter of thanks.
Each year for ten years he has sent me
this present, and now have ten gall
| Ions of whisky stored up in my cellar.
have never tasted liquor of any kind
in my life, and do not believe in It's
use 1t may be all right for medical
purposes, yet I never found It neces-
sary to use it."
1t has been arranged by the business,
men of Ocean Park to hold public
celebration on July 4. at which Turner
will be invited to be the guest of honor.
Speeches will be made and It Is ex-
pected that the old man will also adj
dress the audience. In the past Turner
has spoken at these celebrations and
his words have always been listened to
with great attention by the assem-
blage.
eI,1 Co do nj