The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1920-07-08

From the Los Angeles Times
Ny first visit to Los Angeles was IN
March, 1870. fifty years ago. The est1-
mated population was 10.OOO1perhaps
It was less. l came from San Fran
cisco by steamer to San Pedro. thence
to the pueblo by stage. Gen. Piline;is
Banning ran stage line between the
two points. Tourists and those looking
for locations were given welcome on
their arrival in the pueblo. and told OF |
It's many advantages as to location ana
climate. and its future was painted In
glowing words. In a group OF visitors
and citizens. one of the boomers =
predicted that the town would have
u population of 5000 in Il few Years.
Another predicted :O.OcO some day.
Several of us looked serious and sup
pressed IA doubling smile. n street car
line was also . talked OF as coming
in the near future. This would aid III
extending the town southwark. A rat
road to San Pedro was also lin the air.
stopped ut the Bella Union Hotel,
which was situated OH the west side
of North Main Street. Il few doors north
of Commercial Street. 1t was two
story brick. and kept by John King.
II was the principal hotel in town. and
headquarters for the stages running
north and south. and to San Pedro
The building is still standing. The La
fayette Hotel. also Il two-stOry brick,
was just opposite. The building Is also
still standing. These We're the only no
tells in town. The pico House. On the
southeast corner of Main street. OPP
pDsite the Plaza. was about finished,
and was soon to open.
Next door to the Bella Union Hotel
was the Bank of Hellman. Temple 4
Company. The post0tfice was III the
| Temple Block.
\ few weeks after my arrival there
was i; near tragedy ut the Bella Union
Hotel. Nearly all of the guests We're
taken sick soon after dinner. Some
thought that it WAS caused by eating
4 pie. Int on comparing the dishes eaten
4 of. 1t was traced to the soup. The head
cook had been discharged IL few days
! before, and 1t was thought that he had
sneaked into the kitchen and put poi
son in tile SOUP Others held that 1t
was owing to the filthiness of the vessel
in which thesoup was boiled. However,
the mystery" was never solved. At
the time l was working Oh the Star.
and during the night became so sick
that 4was compelled to quit work. MIR.
& Hamilton, the proprietor. who also had
taken some of the soup. was very sick,
hut continued his work until the paper
went to press.
Within Il few days the Pico House
opened, and several left the Bella Union,
myself among the number, and went to
the new hotel. 1t was finely furnished,
Il and tile fare was boulltiful. The dining.
room was on the first floor, and frOnted
tile plaza. always had IL seat NEAR
the corner window. and had fine view
of the plaza and Soiloratown beyond
J A few days ago stood Oh that corner
!. and looked ut the motley crowd playing
billiards. in what was one of the best
dining-roOnlS in California. | thought
OF the past with many signs. The Iict
House was, believe. the only three
. story building III town. and. there Were
not many of two stories.
81 The Star had been Il weekly paper
and as the town was growing and !;
bright future was almost in sight. MIR
Henry Hamilton decided to turn 1t int
a daily. 1t had four pages. six column.
to the page, published every morning
except Monday. 1t was printed in /
building OH the west side of Sprin:
!, street. between First and Second. Mr
Hamilton was Il Eotanist, and well read
Being bachelor he roonled in a PAR
Of the building There was Il cour
ietween bis apartments and the office
/ in which were several orange trees
The paper had hut one reporter. Til
/, edition was struck off on a haid pres.
The Neirs was the other morning
q newspaper. and was also struck off d
band press. 1t was owned by 4. j
q King and j. s. Waite Mr.. King. VIII
Z .was also Il lawyer. was editor: an
Waite was the . outside man." that i.
. lie went after the advertisements CO.
r lected the bills and paid the printer.
The Nc,rs had only one reporter. Cap
i Beane, who came from Virginia, an
) had served In the Confederate Army.
Many of the citizens We're from til
= Southern States. One day was Intro
diced to Il group of takers OH a corner
! and my introducer Incidentally mel
toned that / was from, the South an
, had served in the Confederate Army
! = What rank?' asked one Of the cit
zens.
I'rivate!" l replied
Well! You;are the first private tia
ever came to this town-all were cal
taills. majors. or colonels. We thouyi
that. every man In the COnfederat
Army was an officer. Come; let's Il
take a drink
II A few nights later. i, crowd wa
e drinking In s,lloOp near the Ncu
:. Office. Capt. Became had introduced
/ friend of his from Virginia Camille
a The gambler made a remark to whic
: John Wilson took exception, and i
$ threw glass of water into the gan
e blers face. The gambler. one Anderson
c did not resent 1t, whereupon Cap
II Beanie challenged Wilson. Next NOR
II Ing they went out In buggies abo,
Il mile south of town and exchange
Il shots. Wilson received bullet In til
\ fieshy Fart of the arm. Beane was II,
g hit. \ few months later, while In
!, Of despondency. Beanie shot and kiIle
= himself. He was a bachelor. and Ia,
Z no relatives In the town.
d The only !. show places were Il
ed fort on the summit Of the hill.