USA > California > San Francisco County > San Francisco > Men and memories of San Francisco in the "spring of '50" > Part 13
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We went in to our dinner, but the little omis- sion had made us less hungry than usual, and we dwelt upon our little friend's absence long into the evening.
When morning came she was not there to welcome us, and we waited vainly, almost de- termined to step to the tent and satisfy our curiosity; but did not-turning down the hill, with reluctant steps, to our daily labor. We thought, all through the long September day, about our little friend, sure of meeting her when we went home; but again we were disap- pointed, and resolved to know in the morning all about our missing one. We questioned our host and his wife, but they had not noticed- believed they had seen neither mother nor child that day. At midnight we were awak- ened by a woman's voice in agony of weeping, and supplicating prayer. Starting from our bed, we hastened to the window. All was still ; not a sound came to our listening ears. The moon was wonderfully bright, revealing every object in the still, cool night, with great dis- tinctness.
Thinking we had been awakened by a dream, we were turning back to bed, when a loud cry rang out upon the silent night-a wail so utterly despairing, that our heart stood still.
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It came from the little tent; there was a dull, reddish light through the canvas, unnoticeable before in the all-powerful moonlight. Agoniz- ing sobs followed the long, thrilling cry; the mother's voice calling her darling's name; the sound of oft-repeated kisses; then low moans and silence. The child was dead! We hastily
dressed and hurried to the spot. There were other voices in the tent; soft, soothing words from women's lips and from their hearts-kind, sympathizing neighbors, we knew, by the lighted, open doors near by. Knowing the poor, moth- erless woman was in gentle hands, we turned sadly away to wait for daylight. We longed to offer some sympathy or assistance; but it never would have helped the wretched mother, who was almost paralyzed with grief.
As we went down our daily path, our heart heavy with its first sorrow in this earthly para- dise, we met a man carrying a little coffin on his shoulder. Stopping in the path, we stood uncovered, repeating in our heart, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away: blessed be the name of the Lord!" and went on to the battle of life, with no courage in our heart. When we came home at night, the place seemed strangely altered. A little, level place on the hillside, was all that remained to mark the
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spot where had been the tent, our innocent little friend, the mother's long days of anxious poverty, and her last night of hopeless agony. They were gone from our sight and knowledge, from everything but memory, forever.
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE late James Donahue was one of the most practical men and useful citizens ever known in San Francisco. His great energies were always directed towards some object which ultimately resulted in public improvement and the welfare of his fellow citizens. His sagacity and fore- sight are proven by the eventuating of his undertakings. Having once conceived an enter- prise, it was viewed on every side in the search- ing light of his strong practical sense; and when determined upon, was persistently pur- sued to sure success. His worldly wisdom was only equaled by his modesty and charity; and we may truly say that, among all the men whom we remember, during the almost quarter of a century of our life in San Francisco, we recall not one more moral, useful and upright citizen than the late James Donahue.
Mr. Joseph G. Eastland was in San Francisco in 1849, but we do not place him, until '52 or '53, when he was with the S. F. Gas Co. Mr.
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Eastland was the confidential secretary of the late James Donahue, who was a man to select none but good officers. In brief, to any one acquainted with the late Mr. Donahue, this fact is as good as many elaborated pages upon the character and qualifications of Mr. Eastland, who is indeed a gentleman of refined and cul- tivated tastes, aside from his thorough business capacity.
Dr. Parker-W. C. Parker-was of the firm of Stevenson & Parker, in 1850. Their office was in the adobe building, on the Plaza. They were in the real estate business. Col. Steven- son was the commander, and Dr. Parker was the surgeon of Stevenson's Regiment. We do not think there is a man in California who has any just cause of complaint against Dr. W. C. Parker. Not that he is a negative character, by any means, or a person who will bear the least crowding; but he is so quiet, so unassuming, and still so perfectly just in all his dealings, that we cannot believe any one knows him without coinciding with our expressed opinion.
Colonel Stevenson is too well known for any remarks in our pages. We would like to have the secret of the Colonel's unflagging vigor and vitality. We were turning into a doorway on Montgomery street, a short time since, to visit
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one of the up-stairs offices; and, as we were walking up, Colonel Stevenson brushed past us, with a cheery "Good morning!" and jumped up, two steps at a time, to the landing, like a school-boy. Most of our citizens conform a lit- tle to the fashions, but the Colonel wears the same style of closely-buttoned frock, and mili- tary fatigue cap; and seems the same Colonel Stevenson who came here in 1847.
There was a Dr. Parker, who had an office on Kearny street in '49, and in June, '50; but we do not remember seeing him since that time. He was a tall, large-framed man, with a long, dark beard; and we remember hearing him say that he was from Shirley, Mass., and think he was a graduate of old Harvard.
James L. King arrived in San Francisco on the steamer Tennessee, June 20th, 1850. We believe that Captain Cole commanded the Ten- nessee that trip. Lieut. McDermott, of the U. S. N., was her first officer; and subsequently was on the Alta's editorial staff. Mr. King has been a successful real estate operator, and is exceed- ingly well posted on any titles to land within six miles of the Plaza. Our intercourse has always been pleasant, and we are indebted to Mr. King for many valuable items.
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S. F. Blaisdell is one of the California pio- neers. We believe he came from Lima to San Francisco. To the former city he went as en- gineer of the steamer Rimae, which was built in the United States, and sent out for the Peru- vian Government in 1847. Mr. Blaisdell has long been interested in one of the first estab- lished telegraph companies of San Francisco. He is a man of strong predilections and em- phatic expression, but of true and sterling in- tegrity.
Fred. Thibault was a commission merchant at 245 Montgomery street, in the spring of ' 50. But we have known him so many years in his official capacity, that it is a little difficult to be- lieve that he could ever have been anything else than the most exact of conveyancers and public notaries. To be on the spot "where men most do congregate," and not see Mr. Thibault's well known figure and peculiar sombrero, would be a strange incident in that day.
William H. Tillinghast, now a banker on Cali- fornia street, was, in the spring of '50, of the firm of E. Mickle & Co., on Clay street, north side, between Montgomery and Sansome. Mr. Tillinghast came from Valparaiso to San Fran- cisco. He is a thorough-bred merchant and a courteous gentleman.
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Samuel Price was of the firm of E. D. Heat- ley & Co., commission merchants, on Exchange Court, off Montgomery street. Mr. Price was the consul for Chili in the spring of '50, and, if we are not mistaken, is a native of that coun- try. However, we are sure that no more amia- ble man in business, or the social relations of life, ever came to San Francisco from any part of the world.
R. H. Sinton arrived in California on board the U. S. ship of war Ohio, Commodore Jones, in 1847. Mr. Sinton was acting paymaster, the purser having become insane on the passage. In the spring of '50, Mr. Sinton was of the firm of Sinton & Bagley, on Clay, below Kearny street, their store being on the same spot now occupied by Lewis' jewelry store. In all the years of Mr. Sinton's residence in San Fran- cisco, in his business relations, his official capa- . city and social life, he has had the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. Mr. Sinton is now in the real estate business with Gen. Geo. P. Ihrie, late of the U. S. A.
Phillip McGovern was on the corner of First and Mission streets, in the days when first we knew him-some time, in '50; and in all the time since those days, we have known nothing but good of him. We meet him occasionally,
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and he wears well. We hope he may be with us for many years to come.
Charles Lux had his office on Kearny street, near Sacramento, in 1850; and, if we are not mistaken, is in the same place to-day. Not the same building-a large brick building stands where the old wooden structure containing Mr. Lux's office stood, twenty-three years ago. What shabby old shanties made up Kearny street in those days! We were all in a hurry then; we didn't think so much of appearances as now- hadn't time! Now, Kearny street is quite ur- ban; and our old friend Lux has "cattle upon a thousand hills."
Mr. Thomas Breeze, of the firm of Murphy, Grant & Co., was at a desk in an office on Clay street wharf, the first time we ever saw him. It, was on the ninth of June, 1850; and we remem- ber, also, that Elisha W. Bourne and Captain Brenham, subsequently Mayor of San Francisco, were at Mr. Breeze's desk, on business. We know of few men who have given themselves so unremittingly to business for the past twenty- three years as Mr. Breeze; and we are glad in our belief that he has reaped the reward of his long labors.
John F. Lohse was a merchant on Washing- ton street, between Montgomery and Sansome,
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in the spring of '50, and was an agreeable man with whom to transact business. He still re- tains that amiable trait, and will to-day nego- tiate with affable courtesy the sale of powder enough to blow up every truant husband in the State of California. Music is a grand conserv- ant of men's lives and tempers, and Mr. Lohse is one of the dilettante.
Camilo Martin was on Washington street, be- tween Montgomery and Sansome, in the spring of '50. To-day, Mr. Martin is the consul for Spain, and is in the London and San Francisco Bank. As we see Mr. Martin passing along the street to-day, he appears the same as he did twenty-three years ago.
Mr. William Stevenson, so long the treasurer of Maguire's Opera House, arrived in San Fran- cisco in 1849. Soon after his arrival, Mr. Rowe opened his circus entertainments on Kearny street, exactly where Commercial street now opens into it; and Mr. Stevenson took charge of the financial department. Through all the years since that time, and in the various places of amusement where our old friend has counted so much of "the root of all evil," we may ven- ture to state that the cash always balanced, to the satisfaction of all parties concerned.
Grayson & Guild were on the east side of
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Sansome, between Pacific and Jackson; and in the summer of '50, there was just room enough to drive drays past their store-door; the bank rising abruptly along the line of the middle of the street in front of their store, making the western half of the way nearly as high as the roof of their building. A. J. Grayson and family are painted in Jewett's picture of "The California Pioneer." Mr. Guild, we believe, returned to St. Louis many years ago. Mr. J. F. Lightner, who was with Grayson & Guild at this time, is still a resident, and, we think, is in business on California street.
Norton, Satterlee and Norton were counsel- ors-at-law, and had their office in No. 1, Laffan's Building, Plaza. The late Hon. Edward Nor- ton, Chief Justice of California, and Myron Norton, were the partners of Judge Satterlee, who was Judge of the Superior Court in '52- '53. The late David C. Broderick used to-say : " We are sure of justice in the Superior Court, because John Satterlee sits there." Nathaniel Bennett was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court at that time. The McAllisters, father and son, were eminent lawyers at that time. Hall McAllister always has plenty of business, because he never neglects his clients. Edwards, Chetwood, Rose, Pringle, Whitcomb, Noyes, 18
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Lake, Janes, Boyd, Barber, and many others, were practising law in San Francisco in the spring of '50. Ogden Hoffman's office was also in Laffan's building in '50.
We have elsewhere spoken of Dr. Jones and his eccentric conduct with his gold-dust; but we omitted to mention the fact of his going home to -, we forget the town, in New York State, but think it was Poughkeepsie, his native place-somewhere in that neighborhood, however-and taking his treasure with him. He would not have it out of his sight; refused to deposit or invest it; but kept it in his room, and sat watching it all day and nearly all night; too anxious to slumber-afraid to close his eyes, lest his treasure should " take to itself wings." Of course this could not long continue; and soon the insomnious argonaut died midst his golden fleece.
Fred Gibbs, Morton Cheesman, Capt. Johns, and Florence Mahoney, arrived on the steam- ship California, January 22, 1850. Mr. Gibbs' first place of business was on Washington street, near Kearny; then on Sansome, corner of Wash- ington, where he was burned out ; and was again and again burned out on Sansome street- three times in all. Mr. Gibbs is a generous,
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warm-hearted man and true friend; a good citi- zen, and a graduate of old Harvard.
Morton Cheesman is a good specimen of the men of '50-not half a century, he's a young man yet-and is widely and favorably known in business and social circles. Capt. Johns ar- rived twenty-two days too late for the Associa- tion of Pioneers; but, for all that, they elected him their president, one foggy evening, much to the astonishment of many worthy citizens, who were here two or three weeks prior to Captain Johns' arrival, yet believed themselves ineligible. The next morning, when the fog had cleared away, the brilliant body who had elevated Captain Johns to the presiding chair of their august assembly, looked very solemn, and conferred in anxious whispers, the result of which was a reconsideration of their vote, which let Captain Johns out of the Associationof Pioneers.
This unparliamentary action was more amus- ing than surprising to the citizens of San Fran- cisco, who knew of the prevailing fog about the heads. Some day, a good healthy breeze will clear up the heavy mists, and make it plain sailing for all Californians who were here on the ninth of September, 1850. Florence Ma- hony died long years ago, and all our recollec- tions of him are pleasant. All the partners in his firm-Case, Heiser & Co .- are dead.
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CHAPTER XXIX.
WILLIAM SHEAR was the proprietor of the "Tontine,"' on the southeast corner of Mont- gomery and Commercial, in 1849-50. In Sep- tember, '51, Mr. Shear took the Nightingale Hotel, at the Mission. Tenbroeck & Clark opened the "Nightingale" in 1850.
Mr. Shear is in some respects a very remark- able man. His great fund of vitality and ex- uberance of spirits, health and endurance, are simply wonderful. His quick, keen perception of the situation, and his ability to master it, to make troubled elements harmonious, is nothing less than genius. So many men past youth be- come morose or misanthropic, that it cheers one to meet an old boy like Mr. Shear. Per- sonally, he seems as active and vigorous as in the spring of '50; mentally, just as ready in repartee, in fun and humor; still firm in the belief that happiness is the principal thing in this world; and certainly he is a very good illustration of its value as a sanitary proposi- tion.
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One evening we were in company with a con- vivial party, among whom were Harry B- and Tom F They were very jolly, and as usual, disposed to ventilate their classics. After numerous quotations, correct and very much mixed, they came to a snag-not literal -but literary. They tried, and stuck upon it; tried again and again, but with no better suc- cess, until it was too evident that the professed belle lettre men couldn't make the connection. At this juncture, Bill Shear, who had been leaning back, silently smoking through all the mountain labor, said: "Why, I am surprised, gentlemen! I supposed, at first, that you were joking-here's the quotation!" He gave it correctly, adding, "I knew that I could shoe a horse better than any of you; but I never for one moment imagined I could beat you at your own game."
Thomas J. Poulterer was on the corner of California and Montgomery street in 1849-50. We remember a great sale of China goods, fancy furniture, bedsteads, lounges, chairs, work-tables, silks, shawls, ivory-work, stone- ware, etc., seemingly enough to supply the whole city for a year. Mr. Poulterer is great as an auctioneer; he establishes a sympathy between his audience and himself as soon as he
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commences to speak, which makes his sales successful. There is nothing narrow or mean in his nature, and he makes himself deservedly popular, without the slightest intention.
Mr. Poulterer, after rusticating for a while beneath the shade of his own vine and fig-tree, in the salubrious air of Sonoma, where George Watriss, C. V. Stewart and Major Snyder now reside, has returned to our midst, where we hope he may long live and prosper.
William F. Williamson, Willis Johnson and Samuel Davis built the "Veranda," on the cor- ner of Washington and Kearny streets, in June, 1850, and were doing a fine business there until Willis Johnson's death, which interrupted the smooth flow of fortune's tide, and Mr. Wil- liamson went to Gold Bluff, subsequently to Downieville, and later still to Sonora, Tuolumne county. The Bay View Park Hotel was opened by Mr. Williamson, and kept in better style than any "out-of-town hotel" ever opened in California. It was glorious for the guests, but not remunerative to Mr. Williamson, who has, since leaving the "Bay View," been the Turf Reporter for the "Alta California." No man in California, perhaps none in America, has a more voluminous record of Turf Sports than
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Mr. Williamson, who is quoted as authority in those matters.
Frederick Marriott was in business with a Mr. Anderson, as monetary agents, in Cross, Hobson & Co's building, on Clay street, in 1849. Mr. Marriott was at that time the cor- respondent of the London Times. Subsequently he was with Smith Brothers in the "Exchange for All Nations," on the corner of Sansome and California; and still more recently in business with Mr. Alfred Wheeler. For many years Mr. Marriott has been the proprietor of the News Letter, which has grown to be a very popular and profitable institution, having amongst its con- tributors the ablest pens in California. This paper numbers more Atlantic subscribers than any other newspaper on the Pacific coast, and is found on the reading-room tables of every first class Club in London.
Alexander Austin, our present Tax Collector, had a bakery on Pacific street, in the latter part of '49 or the spring of '50. In '52, perhaps earlier, Mr. Austin opened his dry goods store, on Sacramento street, just above Montgomery. Subsequently he removed to Montgomery, be- tween Sacramento and California; and later still, to the corner of Sutter and Montgomery.
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Mr. Austin has been twice elected to the office of Tax Collector, with satisfaction to all par- ties. He is a true friend, and full of charity and kindness. It has always been a kind of proverb or standing joke, that the Scotch are a close-fisted, stingy nation. We never were in the "land o' cakes," but if the Scotch are so at home, the climate of California has a won- derful effect upon them, for they are the most liberal people in our country. Messrs. Alex- ander and Joseph Austin, Donald McClellan, James Laidley, the Watt brothers, Mr. Chis- holm, the late James Murray and George Gor- don, in fact, all of the Scotchmen we have known in San Francisco, have been liberal, pub- lic-spirited men. Donald McClellan is a good specimen of the Scotch-American; a shrewd, active, liberal-minded business man; open- handed and generous, always developing the resources of any country where he may be liv- ing, and making employment for many men.
The California Courier, a daily paper, was pub- lished and edited by Crane & Rice. T. J. Dryer was city editor and reporter. The office was on Montgomery street, near the Custom House.
Nugent & Co. were the proprietors of the
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Daily Herald. John Nugent was the editor. Office on Montgomery, between Clay and Wash- ington. Subsequently the Herald office was on Montgomery, a little south of Sacramento.
The Journal of Commerce, a daily paper, was published by Washington Bartlett. Office, Montgomery street, between Washington and Clay.
The Pacific News office was on Kearny, be- tween Pacific and Jackson. Its proprietors were J. Winchester and R. N. Allen. J. Win- chester, editor.
The Evening Picayune, a daily paper, was pub- lished by Gihon & Co. Peter A. Brinsmade was its editor. The Picayune office was on Jackson, between Kearny and Montgomery.
The Watchman, a monthly, religious paper, was edited by Albert Williams, in the Journal of Commerce office.
C. L. Taylor's office was on Dupont street, between Pine and California. He was a lumber and commission merchant, the same as to-day, and, as to-day, liberal, enterprising, charitable and public spirited.
Henry Wetherbee was on Pacific street, be- tween Sansome and Battery.
Henry Pierce was the proprietor of the Eagle Bakery, on Stockton street, between Green and Union.
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George C. Potter was Assistant City Surveyor, at City Hall.
Endicott, Greene & Oakes were merchants on Central Wharf. Mr. Greene has since been of the firm of Greene, Heath & Allen.
Probst, Smith & Co. were merchants on Cali- fornia street, between Montgomery and San- some.
Hastler, Baine & Co. were on California street, between Montgomery and Sansome. Mr. Mc- Knight, so many years with the latter firm, is now in Davidson's Bank, on the corner of Com- mercial and Montgomery.
At the head of the medical profession in San Francisco, in the spring of '50, were Dr. Bowie, Dr. Stout, Dr. H. M. Gray, Dr. S. R. Gerry, Dr. Bertody, Dr. McMillan, and Drs. Coit, S. R. Harris, Turnbull, Tewksbury, Bennett, Mackin- tosh and Rowell. Many of these gentlemen are still in practice in San Francisco-all of them men of intellectual superiority and unusual at- tainments. There were many others in San Fran- cisco, but personally unknown to us. Dr. Stack- pole, Dr. May, Dr. Sturtevant, Dr. Megguier, Drs. West, Forbes, White, Whitfield, Trescott, Gihon, Franklin, Grover, Barstow, Gates, Shuler, Morgan, D. S. Smith, Parker, O' Brien, Morri-
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son, Pierce, Dr. Moore, and Dr. Miller, all in practice in San Francisco in the spring of '50. We do not remember the exact time when Dr. Dupuytren, Dr. Badarous, Doctors Cole, Whit- ney, Eckel, Toland, Sawyer, Bruner, Burgess, Fourgeaud, and other eminent men, came to this city, but we are confident that it was subse- quent to the spring of ' 50.
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CHAPTER XXX.
WHENEVER we go out on the Presidio road, or on the much traveled drive to the "Cliff,"' and reach that point of observation which takes in the abrupt shores forming the northern bound- ary of the "Golden Gate," the sight of those precipitous reddish-brown headlands, looking as if sliced off-split away by some Titan's axe- always puts us in a speculative vein-a wonder- ing mood-a wish to know when that mighty bulk of rock and mountain height was rent away from the Coast Range, permitting the pas- sage inland of the waves that had for ages chafed, and foamed, and fretted for admission. There is a kind of recent look about the cleft wall of the "Contra Costa" side of the har- bor's entrance-recent, geologically speaking; but we are no geologists. Hugh Miller could not, we imagine, possibly conceive of a human being, possessing an average intelligence, who knew so little of the earth's formation as we confess to; but we have never looked over at
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the Marin shore without feeling more and more convinced that, in 1578-9, the salt ocean did not flow where we now see the white-winged messengers pass to and fro. We say 1578-9 because, at that time, Sir Francis Drake-or, more correctly speaking, Captain Drake, at that time, afterward Sir Francis-wintered with his crew, at what is now known as Drake's Bay; and it is not probable that, if the harbor had been in existence then, he would not have taken possession, or at least explored it and given it a name.
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