davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-08
THUG BEATS WOMAN
TO SECURE MONEY
Victim Attacked in Own Home
and Forced to Hand Over
POcketbOOk

DO you want to buy any lottery
ticllets?' was the query directed to
Mrs. NJ. B. Decker by an unknown man
who rang the bell at her home, 2s17
Bush street, yesterday morning.
Il do not" Mrs. Decker answered
The man turned as if to go, and then
swung around, threw open the door
and dealt the woman heavy blow in
the face. At that he slipped inside,
slamming the door and compelled his
victim to hand over to him all the
money in the house-$5.50 After get
ting the coin he disappeared out of
the front door, and before aid could be
summoned was out of sight.
Jewelry, silver ware and other valu-
ables were stolen Saturday night from
the residence of j. Mendelson at s29
Broderick street.
Climbing up the fire escape, bur-
glars entered the room of w. H. Mat
son at $50 Bush street Saturday night
and decamped with two purses contain
ing 50. The saloon of William J. Hef-
ferman and Charles Sealby at 1881 Fill
more street was robbed Saturday night
of $10.50, and the shoe store of Charles
Spiro at sos Washington street OF a
pair OF shoes. A IL. Anderson, whose
hardware store is located at 20 Fifth
street, reported to the police yesterday
that some time during Saturday night
some one reduced his stock by four
dozen knives IL razors and Watches
all valued at $50. The saloon of Ascher
& KabeI, at Ellis and Steiner streets,
was robbed of $3.50 Saturday night.
Upon the pretense that he was a dep
uty assessor, an unknown man gained
entrance to the home of Mrs. j. Wal
lace, at $50 Capp street, Saturday aft
ernoon, and after he had gone it was
found that two purses and string Of
keys were missing.
James Amoratis has been missing
small sums from his cash register
lately. so he asked Policeman S. Lemon
to keep a careful eye on his saloon
at 1875 Union street Lemon did so,
and Saturday night captured Stamatis
Vrondifs coming out of the place, aft
er having entered and robbed the cash
register of $1.S5.
While returning to his home at 20
Douglass street shortly after midnight
yesterday morning, Charles H. Nc
Carte, marine fireman, was set upon
and robbed of a small sum by two
masked men at Clara and Corbett
avenues.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-08

The struggling energy of the officers
and crew to save time and to make
little profit for the company. battling
with medieval conditions. tells it's own
story. A comandante who goes on a
spree while the ship waits for clearance.
from him is only one OF the ordeals.
In these waters the German the Brit
ish and the Italian flags are more re-
spected than the American flag. If an
American captain has any difficulties lie
may be sure that no support will come
from Washington. What impertinence.
anyway, Why should any American
company presume to fly our flag at sea?
By the shrewdest. cheeseparing man..
agement, with arks that will do for
no other service. the Pacific Mail man
ages to keep up a schedule. Other
wise, all the service on the west coast
would be given by foreigners Most of
the captains are old. haunted by the
days when they had the long run across
the Pacific to China and Japan. dream
ing of the day when they may have it
again, and viii not be Obliged to drop
anchor once or twice a day in sight of
a dozen white buildings on the beach.
I've been here 40 times" said one
captain, when we lay off La Union. Sal
vador, and never been ashore It's all
the same thing-babies playing in the
filth. and a lot of unwashed soldiers"
No ship is as bad as the shore Each
carries the beacon light of civilization
TO the traveller. The few hours aboard
you occupy in regeneration, and then
it is over the side into the surf chair
and crawl up the mountains on the
lackadaisical railroad that runs to the
capital or still another of the nests of
little countries. If you travel into the
interior among the people and the
plantations it is by mule
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-08
BARNEY MURPHY
! REVIEWS THE BATTLE
Aged Philanthropist Regaining
Health and Ready to Struggle
Against Adversely
Former Political Leader, Once
Millionaire, Now Almost
a Pauper

After a struggle against an illness
which had confined him to his bed for
several months, taxing his vitality al
most to the swapping point, Barney
Murphy, whose philanthropies and po-
1itical activities have made him a cele-
brated figure in California history for
nearly so years, was able yesterday to
leave his apartments in the Imperial
hotel and to enjoy the sunshine in the
company of his daughter, Evelyn.
The attack. coming after series of
financial misfortunes, would have been
fatal to a less sturdy and strong
hearted man than the old pioneer. His
physicians say that it was only the
adamantine determination of the aged
philanthropist to rise above the buffets
of physical distress that brought him
safe through the perilous encounter
He was aided in his long sickness by
the constant vigilance and affection of
his daughter. Evelyn Though wasted
In frame, the aged man took new cour-
age yesterday and smilingly remarked
TO some friends that he was ready to
continue the fight against misfortune
Murphy is the direct descendant of
the pioneers of the same name whose
history is identified with the settlement
ana development of the Santa Clara
valley. He once numbered his acres by
the thousands and was reputed to pos
sess fortune in excess of s., ZOO, 900.
Today his last acre has been disposed
of.
The old homestead in Sunnyvale. bet
ter known as Murphy station, and the
ola nome in South Market street In
san Jose, were disposed of two years
ago the property being purchased by
relatives. 1t is stated that the money
received was exhausted some time ago.
The failure of local banking insti-
tuition in 1907 and numbering industry
We're great financial blows to him. He
sternly insisted in reimbursing his
creditors, even to pauperizing himself
Murphy was five times mayor of San
Jose. He served in the legislature and
secured for the Santa Clara valley the
Lick observatory and the normal school.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-08
HOUSE LOOTED OF
ENTIRE CONTENTS
Edgar NJ. Swasey'S Belvedere
Home Robbed Second Time
This Year

For the second time within three
months the beautiful home of Edgar NJ.
Swasey, in Belvedere, has been looted
and stripped from roof to cellar of
everything portable Swasey and his
family have been staying at the St.
Francis during the winter. and it was
their intention to take up their resi-
dence in Belvedere the first of the
month.
Mrs. Swasey visited the aristocratic
settlement yesterday, and to her dis
may found that her home was as bereft
of furniture as a house never occupied.
valuable collection of books was
gone, among the most treasured a diary
written by Mrs. Swasey containing a
detailed commentary of the incidents
the infancy of young Edgar Swasey.
There were about 500 books in the
collection, some OF them old and of
rare editions. A group of Martinez
pictures and the canvases of other
artists were taken from the walls.
Bedding, tables. chairs. rugs. all the
kitchen utensils and dining room ap-
purtenances. in fact everything that
could be hauled away, was seized by
the looters.
1T is almost impossible TO conceive
how the gang could get away with so
yesterday at the st. Francis. If the
robbery was committed in one visit
nothing less than truck would have
sufficed for the haul
There are three or four homes with
in so feet of our residence. so it is
probable that the gang worked in the
night.
The books all bore my name on the
fly leaf, and were marked throughout
by comments 1 made in reading. The
thieves will have difficulty in disposing
of them. The paintings were invalu-
able to me. Many of them were per-
sonal mementOs of long friendship with
the artists that created them.
Last January the Swasey home was
also entered and robbed. At that time
however, the thieves contented them
selves with the silver ware. cut glass
and with vaIuables easily removed That
it is the same gang in both instances is
borne out by the fact that a basket
stolen in the first robbery was returned
or left behind in the second haul. The
thieves in January took the keys Of the
house with them and last week had
easy access to the various chambers on
this account.
Swasey intends to spare no pains in
the apprehension of the criminals and
the recovery of the stolen property.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-08
Personal Brevities

Carl L. Stebbins of Tacoma is at the
Granada
]. c. Gernel of Los Angeles is at the
Baltimore.
Frank A. Brown of Los Angeles is at
the Dorchester.
s w. Hennesy and wife of New York
are at the Savoy.
George Bancroft OF Cincinnati is reg
istered at the Manx.
DR.. r. p Chandler of Reno is regis
tered at the ST. Francis.
Mr.. and Mrs c.. Gilbert Of Seattle
are guests at the Stewart.
William H. Hamilton of New York
is registered at the Stewart
Mr.. and Mrs. James d. Schuyler of
Los Angeles are at the st. Francis.
Mr.. and Mrs. George Rose of Los
Angeles are guests at the st. Francis
L. H. Smith of Fresno. Cal. and A. G.
Phelan of Boston, Mass, are at the st
James
Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Mccorkle OF
Osaka. Japan, are guests at the Union
Square.
ohio, and II. Cass and wife of Chicago
are at the Manx
H. NJ. Yerington of Carson City, New,
IS at the Fairmont accompanied by
Mrs. Yerington
W. H. Fletcher and wife of Los An
geles and +. E. Bush and wife of Fres-
no are at the Argonaut
John Sengfelder and family and Mr.
and Mrs. G.. A. Hei0inger of Spokane
are staying at the Fairmont.
Mr. and Mrs. II. A. Auerback of To-
peka, Kan, and Mr.. and Mrs. a. A.
Guettel OF Kansas City are stopping
at the St Francis.
DR.. Norris Herzstein will leave March
II for Berlin where he will attend the
surgical congress. At the conclusion
of the congress DIR. Herzstein will tour
Europe with Sir Alfred Fripp, one OF
London's prominent surgeons.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-08
DOUBT MOORE'S STORY
OF HOLDUP IN HOTEL
Police Discredit Report of Dar-
ing Daylight Robbery

The police are inclined to scout the
story of holdup and robbery told them
by NJ. c. Moore, manager of the Hotel
Bon Air, who declared that he was held
up and robbed of 500 at the point of a
pistol shortly after o'clock Saturday
afternoon. Moore has not varied a
detail in his story of the alleged crime
though he has been questioned closely
by the detectives.
Edward Rolkin. proprietor OF the
hotel, stated to the police yesterday
that he was in the habit of going out
to the Bon Air every Sunday to square
UP the accounts with Moore but that
he neglected to do so Sunday before
last.
The police do not believe that man
of Moore's intelligence would allow
himself TO be held up in broad daylight
or would delay reporting the matter
to the police.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-08
ASIATIC SQUADRON
ON EXTENSIVE CRUISE
Ships to Spend Several Months
in Northern Waters

MANILA, March S.-The Asiatic
squadron. commanded by Rear Admiral
Giles B. Harber, and consisting of the
cruisers Charleston, Cleveland. CAL
weston, Denver and Chattanooga will
sail from Manila on Wednesday to
cruise for several months in northern
waters. The ships will visit every i'm
portant port in the north during its
cruise. including Hongkong and Vlad-
ivostok, and will later spend a month
in Japanese waters
In the Shopping Center
The new Candy Store of Geo. Haas &,
Sons now open in the Phelan building
Meet your friends by appointment at
this new attractive store.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-08

days. while l was on the trail and
that How" never includes boiled eggs.
1t is fried. scrambled or omelet.
The other mainstays of the foreigner
who fears the meat are frijoles (the
black beans that travellers in Mexico
know. and tortillas. cakes made of
corn meal. Frijoles are most sustain
ing. Though tortillas curry. the mu-
cous membrane / came to like them.
They are delectable when you are ra-
venous after being on the trail for
hours. unless the proportion of sand
is too large. At times, when your
teeth grit on foreign body as big as
a pea the effect is momentarily harass-
ing.
And you may have mantequilla (but-
teri, on your tortillas, and probably
viii unless you know how it is made,
which is this way: Some cream is put
in skin. and then more cream with
each milking is added until the skin is
filed when the churning is done by
the motion of the donkey on the way to
market-for Central Americans are in
genious at labor saving.
SECRETARY QUITS
EATING BUTTER
A certain young secretary of legation
was fond of tortillas with mantequilla.
He and the consul of 90 years expert
ence ate at Nine. Hippopotamus', whose
hospitality l also shared temporarily.
The table cloth was of a deep, rich
brown tint, into whose color scheme
any fresh meat stain sank harmoni-
ously. On one occasion the boarders
threw their stiffened napkins into the
corner, as hint for a change. Nine.
Hippopotamus put them back and re-
minded the offenders that it was not a
custom for guests to throw their
servilletas on the floor
One evening at dinner / was spread
ing a tortilla with mantequilla when
l saw that something-in fact, several
little things-beside my knife was NOV
ing. An examination of the butter dish
revealed mass of life which fairly
blanched the secretary, as he recalled
that he had always sat in the darkest
part of the dining room. The wicked,
calloused old consul grinned.
Il told you when you first came that
I never ate butter" he said You
would not take the warning. and, we'll
I've found that experience is the only
teacher.
You do, however. get the coffee of the
gods everywhere in Central America.
On every table is the bottle of essence
which has dripped from the berries
without boiling, and this you mix as
you mix the Russian tea essence with
hot water, in a ratio to your liking.
Rising at dawn to leave the steamer
and again in the evening, drenched
from the trail, this is your life saver.
The discomforts and the food could not
prevent me from wishing to see more
of Central America from the roadside.
OF its skies and its mountains one
never tires.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-08

While remaining out on Van Ness av.
we viii remodel and repair your furs
for 33 / 3 per cent less than usual sum-
mer prices. H. Liebes & Co., 1444 Van
Ness avenue
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-08
LAND WHERE
HUMOR SENSE
IS REQUIRED
Travel in Central America Is
One Continuous Burst of
Laughter
Requisite Is, However, That One
Should Not Take Things
Too Seriously
By Frederick Palmer

Copyright, 1909 by Tribune company, Chicsgo)
Tourists who would journey of the
beaten track need not go to Bagdad.
Central America is equally picturesque
and far more amusing. if you have a
sense OF humor that surmounts any un-
oertainties of travel with the philo-
sophie patience OF a drifting observer.
Any one starting south from Mexico
City viii fnd Information about Russia
more accessible there than about neigh
boring Guatemala All that the two
countries know Of each other is the
boundary line between them. Aside
from the Pacific Mail steamer. wE.ch
loiters along the west coast every 10
days. heard Of a German line. Final
ly / ascertained the. name OF its agent.
When I went to his Office a clerk gave
me a time table. in which was a sailing
which exactly fitted in with my plans
But We issue this schedule because
the government requires one said the
clerk. 4 have no reason to know that
p steamer will go on that date You'd
better come again when the boss is
here
Twice ! climbed the stairs before
found the boss in. After minutes
thought he recollected that. as an Incl
dent 10 a miscellaneous business. he
was also the representative Of that
company.
one Of my side lines. but not many
customers" ne explained. Mines he
Inquired, looking me over, 'Or mer-
chsndise2"
Neither I am travelling TO see the
country
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-08
TWO STRONG SHOCKS
OCCUR IN ECUADOR
TembIor Causes Panic, but No
Damage Is Done

GU&YAQUIL, Ecuador, Marca =
Two strong shocks of earthquake
lasting half minute We're felt at
midnight at Guayaquil and along the
coast. No damage resulted, but the
populace was thrown into a state of
great panic.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-08
HINDU PEANUT TRUST
is DEALT SEVERE BLOW
Two Asiatics Arrested for Vio-
Iating Ordinance

The Hindu peanut trust was dealt
a severe blow yesterday by the local
police department. when two Hindus,
the owners of peanut wagons. We're ar
rested.
Walter Barkatelli was first arrested
by Policeman b. j. Smith for peddling
within the bounds of Golden Gate park
Late in the afternoon Dudly Kahn was
arrested, charged with a violation of
the new ordinance known as "902'' or
rules of the road" The police alleged
that Kahn was freezing out" a legiti-
mate peanut stand owner by stopping
his horse in front of the stand
1t came to light through the arrest
of the two peddlers that they are
merely members of the Hindu peanut
trust an organization controlling the
sale OF enchiladas. peanuts and pop
corn in the vicinity of the park. The
combination owns about 20 small
wagons which circulate around the
park and at the beach, and each wagon
driver divides profits with the head of
the trust.
Shortly after Barkatelli and Kahn
were arrested yesterday the organiza-
tons agents appeared upon the scene
and made arrangements for their bail
Kahn reluctantly submitted to arrest
and attempted to- elude the officers by
whipping his horse in an endeavor to
drive off.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-08
TRAVEL HAMPERED
BY OFFICIALS

It's a - OF business" he said.
Drop a mudhook to take on pile of
hides. and put over a barrel OF -four
and fll The monkey comandante, und
the monkey doctor nit peer. Doctors,
Dey are blacksmits'
The captain Of the port. the custom
agent the doctor and a half dozen other
retainers must come and go before the
ship begins discharging. They take
their time. 1t is great event for
these little men in uniform. who
scramble out OF the surf chairs and
make profound bows. Every title Of
honor they crave-and the beer
Usually the captain met them with
an outburst OF abuse. whereat their
faces were obscured by a cloud of ges-
tures. which subsided when he invited
them into the cabin and set before each
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-08
SAILING SCHEDULES
Unknown

The skeptical way in which he then
regarded me / might have considered
fattering. He evidently thought that [
looked too intelligent 10 play so foolish
q part
A steamer is supposed TO leave San
Francisco about every 10 days or two
weeks, he said. ~All depends on car
20. But I have word by cable when
she leaves san Francisco: not from any
other port You can count on her tax
ing 10 DAYS from san Francisco TO
Salina Cruz, maybe two weeks, maybe
longer. The only thing to do is 10 go to
Salina Cruz and wait"
This I did, in a hOtei-though Mexi-
can hotels are usually good-which I
remember for the distinction OF always
having flies in the soup. while Guate-
mala seemed to favor ants and Mica
ragua was all for mosquitoes Salina
Cruz is a town Of a few houses and
an unlimited quantity OF sand that is
always on the move when the wind
hlows-Which il does continually for
half OF the year and most OF the
time for the other half
I was walking along the street when
4 hand dropped on my shoulder and a
voice said:
You are an American. aren't you?
You can't deny It."
The speaker let go till he had led
me into his house, offered a cigar, and
posted himself between me and the
door. He was the new consul and
he was pretty lonesome. In the old
days you expected TO find in such out
OF the way places a rum soaked. heeler
politician whom nobody wanted at
home. This young man has passed
his examination under the rules OF
the new service and was taking Salina
Cruz as the first rung Of the ladder in
his profession.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-08
STEAMER AT SEA
ELEVEN MONTHS

That German steamer came in three
days IT belongs TO the Kosmos line,
which plies from Hamburg to London,
then TO the Canaries for coal, and then
10 the straits OF Magellan, where work
begins. From there it goes all the way
10 Seattle and back 70 Hamburg. stop
ping at every little port and anchoring
usually in a seaway. The run averages
about IL months, with month some
times, but generally only two weeks,
in Hamburg.
i go home, 1 kiss my wife" said
the first mate, "und 1 says, .Mein Gotti
how the shillun has grown und
kisses my wife and of TO sea again"
For this service he receives $50 a
month, which helps TO explain the sue
cess Of the kaiser's merchant ships in
driving rivals from the sea. You find
the German ship everywhere in the
world. X was a German steamer. with
the band playing. whose gangway took
me aboard at Puerto Limon after my
travels were over. We had no band
on the Ramses, but a captain with
temper which made plenty of music.
Have I a wife? No. 1 would not be
so hard on any woman" he said. You
have either to swear or forget yourself
in some foolishness or you have insane
gone alreatty on this line"
This was borne out by the captain OF
another west coast German steamer on
which ] was passenger He was a
collector Of bugs and always carried a
bottle in his pocket 1t was on his
ship. the Assouan. that a migrating
revoiutionist let his big. silver mounted
revolver slip out OF his pocket into a
seat during his afternoon siesta. A
steward picked it up. and when the
patriot missed his arsenal he had to
deal with the captain.
This vas a law und order ship al
retty" he said. This vas a German
ship. No vars aboard here If you
vas afraid. You tell me who it vas you
vas afraid Of und ! put him in the chug
You get dot gun ven you go ashore al
retty"
The revointionist was sad and fear
ful but had to acquiesce. Again
quote the captain Of the Ramses who
preferred letting his temper Gy to bugs
as a preventive Of insanity
BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1909-10-27

finitiva cual es la pena que tendra que
sufrir Julian Soler por. haber dado
muerte Illegal a Benito Cantre en- su ba-
rriO de Toa- -Baja.
BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1909-10-27
Numero 26O

P0I los leTdOS de Me1|o
Subscription alberta por ell Casino Es-
oanol de San Juan para socorrer a los
leridos de Melilla y familias de los re-
ervistas.
Recibido de don Enrique Zorrilla. Pre-
,idente del "Casino Espanol" de Ma
lati.
Angel Villamil Vendoval,
t2O, 90 mensuales mientras dure
a guerra y entrega por los me-
'es de Sept y Oct, s 1000
Jaime Calaf 5000
Ramon Moran. 1000
Enrique Zorrilla, 1000
Arturo Cortes, 1000
Manuel Padin, 1000
Domingo Padin, 1000
Francisco Brunei, 1000
Espasas y Simo, 500
Gabriel Espasas, 500
Emeterio Villamor, 500
Teodomiro Taboas 500
Ignacio Franco, 500
Luis Arsuaga. 500
. Valentin Saenz, 800
Pacifico Taboas, 500
Rafael Gambia. 400
Buenaventura Diaz, 800
Ramon Pares. 200
Francisco Echandi. 400
Rafael Anbrosiani. 200
Augusta Cueto 200
Manuel Garcia, 200
Juan Ortiz, 200
Jose Lastre. 200
Delfin Suro. 200
Jaime Suro. 200
Manuel Blazquez. 200
Matias S. Laurido. IS 200
AMlSueI CdlHpOdlllOf. Z,OO
Manuel Espina, 200
Simon Cuadros. 200
Jose Moran, 200
Bernardo Soler,~ 200.
Julio Gambia, 100
Arturo ZorrilTa. LOO
.Justo Cortiella, 100
Florencio Aponte, 100
Eladio Cerame, 100
Joaquin Rios, 100
BartolOme Jaca, 100
Jose Zorrilla. 100
Angel Zorrilla, 100
Nicolas Moreda. 100
Francisco Moreda. 100
Saturnino Ateca, 100
Claudio Garcia, 100
Miguel Servera. 100
Francisco Taboas, 100
Jose Martinez. 100
Tomas Lopez, 100
Andres Cuadros. 100
Francisco Arduengo, loo
E.a.,: ,,.: ' w.
Alfredo Molero. O.5O
Anton;o ,r@,,ara ~ so
a,,'. vt DE- n:st o,y' -"
a. ." Wv n
Jose Barouero. o5o
BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1909-10-27

friendo. Sc escribe bajo una controver-
tida aspiration.
FL que anna, gime, y ,negadme que en-
el susurro del .gemido no hay una verda-
dera rapsodia.
Rodrigo sCeFvantea