Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • Page 17

fa- AXLV 1 FEATOHRLE-S CXLI Mexican cuartel, California and Webster Streets, the first issue of the Monterey Sentinel was printed on Jun2, 1855. It was 20 columns in all, with a page 24 by 30 inches, subscription price $6 a year. the building a sign which on the north side read 'First and on the south side, 'Last Jurgens would open and close the store alone, working some 16 hours a day. It was in front of his place that a little steam little Methodist Church on the hillside, and one of its old members? a little old German miner, asked me to come and see him at his cabin. I picked my way to his door, stepping over many little rivulets, which seemed to be wriggling down the mountainside everywhere, and sat in his pleasant cottage, while he talked, of olden days in the mines.

In the course of his conversation, which was in somewhat broken English, he remarked in melancholy tone "My hurt me." I told him doubtless some good liniment wduld help them. "No! No! No!" he exclaimed, "I mean my 'shins' inside me." "Oh," I said, "It's your sins that hurt you. That's a matter" of repentance and prayer." Sierra City is unique among old mining towns, in that it has never been devastated by fire, probably due to the abundance of water in the streams tumbling down the mountainside all about it. On its pleasant main street stand some old buildings, one of them, the old "Busch Edifice," two stories of brick and. a third of wood.

The letters C. still mark the ancient doorway, placed there by the famous secret society, Clampus Vitus" Avhich met in the building, and whichTiad celebrated the erection of structure, beginning on the Fourth of July. 1871. Here in Sierra City Clampus Vitus" had its origin and most fertile forms of raw fun. Above the on the side of the great Buttes, are two old mines, which have been great producers down the years, the "Sierra Buttes Quartz Ledge," discovered in 1850, and the "Monumental Quartz Mine" where in 1860 a gold nugget of 1596 troy ounces, worth found.

the fire was mismanaged is, not putting it half strong enough. It coujd not possibly have been worse. The streams continued to be played at long range, with the exception mentioned, until about 9:45 o'clock, when an "attempt was made to throw one from the top of the front porch, but the game was then too far gone, and no good was accomplished. The building was finally burned almost to the ground. Eyebrows Raised "When the remains of the conflagration had cooled, there we.re several peculiar circumstances the event, and several questions sordifficult to answer that many eyebrows we're raised and many tongues clucked in tacit disapproval.

Indeed, there must have been a screw loose somewhere, something out of kilter, for the fire was discovered by outsiders, and outsiders gave the alarm. Where was the watchman? Hose lay about all mixed up, twisted and crossed, and several times the nozzle was jerked out of the hands of those playing it on the fire by others who had gotten hold of the wrbng line. What was the matter with the Phoenix men? Fe'lton engine was on 14th Street "before Phoenix came out, over eight minutes after the alarm was sounded, as checked by bystanders. Felton also was the first to work and the firsttphave a stream of water on the blaze The PhoraTX-ngina been out of repair considerably lately and it was learned recently that it was condemned in San Francisco before this city bought it. As a matter of fact, its stream had just got to work when the engine broke down-and had io abandoned for the night.

The nozzle of the Felton hose came off several times, showing poor work somewhere. The firemen, were so excited. It only threw water a few JSew nozzle put on. WKen the belfry caught fire, much' apprehension was felt for those who were running back and forth from the offices, as the bell, which weighed several tons, was liable to fall at any minute. When the.

crash came, however, it did not fall far, landing on the second floor. But the happiest part of the story lies in the fact that no one was injured or killed, and the good citizenry of Oakland Was treated to a thrill that comes but seldom in a lifetime. Edward T. Planer Jr. NANIMITY as to the entire Repub lican slate was becoming increasingly evident this week, and general indi- cations from all sections of Calif or- i nia were that organization for the November campaign is in a more advanced stage at this time than at the same period four years ago.

Whereas in the past there has been a tendency to conduct separate campaigns in behalf of the various candidates and by localities, the party is now organizing on a ticket-jQHde basis, and that situation has facilitated early perfection of concrete campaign plans. Rank and file Republicans are aware of the vital importance of the impending contest, and will be quick to rally to the leadership provided by Gov. Earl Warren. Under his general supervision, William F. Reichel of Oakland will have charge of the campaign in Northern California, and Raymond Haight of Los Angeles, national committeeman, will direct the southern drive with the co-operation of Leo E.

Anderson, State chairman of the party. Participating in all conferences with them will be Mrs. Jessie-Williamson of Berkeley, national committee-woman, who will handle the women's aspect of the campaign. Separate finance committees will be set up for the northern and southern sections, and Charles R. Blyth of San Francisco has already assumed leadership in the fund drive in this area.

Although office space is at a premium, it is. expected that northern headquarters will be opened shortly in San Francisco. Activities in the two sections will be closely co-ordinated, and it is probable that county chairmen will be called together in. the near future in sectional meetings to assure further co-ordination of the campaign plans now taking shape. Locally, the -Republican county central committee is proceeding "under forced draft" to get precinct work under way.

an district-vice-chairmen were requested to can separate meetings of their groups to plan their drives, and the 'full committee will be assembled shortly to consider district progress reports and integrate the various programs into Vfhe dounty-wide campaign. If the enthusiasm for the ticket apparent locally is general throughout the State, the forthcoming campaign may! be expected to set a new high in activity. Old Fire Fighting i The Knave: My uncle, the late George Planer, was a volunteer member of the Oakland Fire Department from 1899 to 1917, and on many a later occasion we have reminisced over, the old days of fire-fighting, and extinguished many times over some of the city's iore spectacular blazes. Where his mimory Mvas cloudy on some of the interesting details involved in the work of the fire laddies, I refreshed it from newspaper accounts taken from the files of local dailies in the Bancroft Library at the University of California. Etched vividly in the memories of very old-timers was the City Hall fire of 1877.

At that time the building faced south, looking down Washington Street. while to the east of it on 14th Street was a land-escaped square or park, and to the west was the "Centennial House. As a Transcript reporter was going to the hall at 9:20 p.m. on the evening of Saturday, August 25, 1877, he noticed that the fourth story or attic windows in the rear of the building were lighted up, an unusual cir- cumstance, and it was but a moment before the front windows were brilliantly lighted. The redness of the light convinced him that it did emanate from either candles or lamps.

He therefore went at the top of his speed, and, rushing in at the basement of the building, met Officer Lufkin coming out to ascertain the meaning of the cry of "Fire!" which was being raised by a number of men around the building. The situation was explained, and Lufkin directed Officer Mitchell to send in the ilarm to the engine houses while he rang the City Hall bell continuously until the rope was burnt off. Could Not Have Been Worse "The next thought of the men about the building was to get on a stream of water. A small l'-inch hose, which was reeled at the door of the city physician's office, near the dasement entrance, was unwound and dragged the stairs. The reporter assisted in this, and managed to get it up where a stream might have been poured on the blaze, but the water was either shut off or else the head was not v.

4 1 I- 12,, 4Un timet the fire engines arrived, the roof was all ablaze. v4iii uic t.iigiiiv.o iniuiijr ftv1' klJ I fifteen minutes after 'the alarm had been dummy with one car would turn and go back to somewhere in Berkeley. The single track was on the west side of what was then but a county road, and sure rough. If you came from Oakland and missed the dummy, it was a long, dark walk after you passed the home of Mrs. Peralta, also of Dr.

Ayala, close relatives of the dons of Peralta. The location now occupied by. a large creamery, dry-cleaning establishment and skating rink-n Telegraph Avenue and 54th Street. Many of the old-timers will remember the two bobtail car drivers, Bob Goodman and Bill Sterns. There was a long box to drop your fare, which would make a loud noise for the driver in front to hear.

I do not believe it was bell, as it sounded more like hitting a piece of boiler iron. The driver worked the car brake something similar to the old family coffee grinder. It was a one-car track, with only two side switches into Oakland. Traffic was stopped only should the horse become lame or step on a nail; in this case the men passengers would help to push the car to the next side track, and whichever was down grade, there was a bell attached to the front of the horse which could be heard-for some distance. I remember on several occa- sions Bob Goodwin, coming from Oakland, and who lived sontewhere in the neighborhood of 42nd Street, would ask some of us to do him the favor of driving the horsecar to the turn-table opposite the car barn, and return, -when Bob having had his lunth or calling to see, perhaps, some of the family who were ill; then would take charge of the car at 42nd Street.

We then earned a free ride, I believe it was a Mr. Lawrie A van fir Yorrre Ann aeveniy rears ngo "I wonder if any of your readers can recall anything about Buisday and his balloon?" asks Warren T. Russell. "I clipped the following from The Mountain Democrat, Placerville, out of their column of bygone events: Seventy years ago, July 18, 1874, Main Street was lined from end to end last Monday morning with people enjoying a sight of Buisday, sailing mountainwards in one of his balloons. He had made the ascent from San Francisco Sunday afternoon, accompanied by two newspaper reporters.

They landed near Latrobe, (El Dorado Co.) about eight o'clock that eve ning, laid overnight and in the morning Buis- day and one of the reporters ascended, pass- ing north of this city over Coloma, George town and Michigan Bluffs, landing on the summit of the Sierra toward evening. The aerial voyager was visible from this city for ten" or fifteen minutes, appearing about as large as a hogshead and variously estimated to be at a height of 500 feet to two and a half miles. Its speed was variously estimated at 15 to 60 miles an hour." I can recall my elders speak of this balloon at different times. It passed directly over Garden Valley before reaching George--town. At that time the California Water pany of the Georgetown divide was repairing its flumes on the South Fork of the Rubicon River, there being one nine-mile stretch of flume' at that point.

Among their employees were a number of Chinese. And when they glanced upwards and, saw the balloon sailing along a shdrt distance over their heads they were badly frightened, thinking some horrible monster was after them. A Santa Cruz Birthday Having arrived at the age of 89, the Santa Cruz Sentinel-News has marked the occasion by issuing" an attractive booklet" reviewing some of the journal's history. A remarkable part of the story is that for 80 of the paper's 89 years its ownership was in the hands of one family, the late Duncan McPherson, the late Fred D. McPherson, and the present publisher, Fred D.

McPherson Jr. But, to go back to the beginnings, the pamphlet says: "The history of the Santa Cruz Sentinel is the historv of Santa Cruz. The fortunes of the people and the city have been recorded by this newspaper in iK' flnnHnimiic rnV! iyia mn cinrta Tuna 1A ll.t bill UUU UUUUVOllUll .) v. vj when it moved across the bay from Monterey, r. where it had been in existence for a year.

John McElroy, veteran of the Mexican war, had with John A. Lewis; in 1851 founded the Los Angeles Star, which was also the Estrella, with 'some of its columns in Spanish. McElroy, a native of Ohfo who had served three months in a Louisiana Volunteer regiment in the Mexican war, drifted north, after the custom of printers of those days; with Col. Richard Rush published the Marysville Express; worked briefly on a paper in the San Joaquin Valley and in the Spring of 1855 interested Delos Ashley, a Monterey lawyer who had come from Michigan in 1849, in starting a weekly paper. Typ'e was secured from the Illustrated Sacramento Union.

Where the press came from, McElroy 30 years later, said he did not know; Dr. Andrew Rand- all procured it. In the library room of the old MOVeCl irOITl Monterey "Santa Cruz, thriving with its lumber and lime industries across Monterey Bay, attracted McElroy frorh the start. When Albion P. Jordan, the 30-year-old Maine mechanic who was partner in Davis Jordan, lime manufacturers, offered free transportation for the plant, McElroy accepted.

Santa about the opportunity to secure a newspaper. A list of 89 paid-in-advance subscribers was signed and the little "printing plant crossed 20 miles of water on the schooner Queen of the West. The business district of Santa Cruz had just moved down from the adobe-lined mission 'plaza and no building was available until George Ins-keep, a young Missourian working in the Courthouse and owning 'half interest in the livery stable, offered free rent for a year of a tiny cottage on lower Mission Street. The name was changed to the Pacific Sentinel of which the first issue appeared on June 14, 1856, with 20 columns on pages 20 by 36 inches. The name of Fred K.

Krauth, a wandering printer, appeared as co-publisher for a few weeks and again in 1857. A quarter of a century later he was publisher of the Alameda Encinal." William Heath DciVIS William Davis was perhaps San Le-andro's most no'ted and outstanding citizen, second only to his father-in-law, Don Jose Eus-tillo. Lesl.is J. Freeman of the modern San Le-andro, a man who likes to dig into the" story of his community, teas me: jinam n. udyis wa on' his side was.

a native of 'Hawaii, and her husband, Aliver Holmes was at one time Governor of 0ahu Davis made several trips to California; his first visit being in 1831,. as a small boy, and his last trip in 1838. Early in 1839 -he became acquainted with Captain Jonn Sutter and decided to throw his lot in with Sutter's proposed trip up the Sacramento River. I was on August 9, 1839 that Sutter, accompanied by Davis, made the perilous trip up the Sacramento to a place where Sutter landed, naming it 'New The trip consumed eight days, and at night the boats drew up alongside the -banks, while the sailors fought mosquitoes, the pests causing them almost to abandon the trip. Upon one of his frequent trips to Santa Barbara as a ship's merchant, he met Senorita Maria de Jesus Estudillo and fell in love with her.

His courtship caused him to make frequent trips to the Rancho in San Leandro of Jose Joaquin Estudillo, and the romance had its culmination at Mission Dolores, when in November, 1847, the young couple were married. The bride; was carried by her uncle, Don Jose Martinez on a spirited black horse from Pinole. The wedding celebration lasted several days with dancing, rodeos and picnics, allowing the bride and groom little time to enjoy one another's company. Laid Out San Leandro "Following the death of Jose Joaquin Estudillo," Freeman continues," William Heath Davis was appointed manager of the Estudillo hold ings, and the years 1856 and 1857 were the last yegrs under hJs management. Davis and Ward had much to do with the laying out of Saff Lean dro.

Toward the end of his, management fhe Estudillo Rancho brought an annual income of more than $40,000 for rental of lands. Upon the advice of Ward and Davis, the widow, Mrs. Juana Estudillo, and her children granted a deed to the county for a site for the Alameda County Court House, as well as 200 acres of land 'were also reserved for a town, which forms a portion of the present City of San Leandro. A hotel bearing the family name was also constructed on the present corner of Davis and Washington Avenues. In a facsimile copy of 'The Californian' of March 15, 1848,.

is an advertisement of William Heath Davis, and the first local mention of the discovery of gold at Sutter's MUl, January 24v'W48. Davis was-an n-poiant property owner in the early Mays of San -Francisco and was held in high esteem by all who knew him, having served on the city town council at one time. He d.ed at Hayward, April 19, 1909. His name has been perpetuated by both San Francisco and San Leandro, having streets named in his honor. One of his daughters, Miss Lilly Davis, still Tesidcs in the City of San Leandro." Old Sierra City The Knave: It has been a quarter of a century since my first visit to the little mining town of Sierra City, located at the foot of the giant Sierra Buttes, which lift their stoney heads nearly a mile above the village in the North Yuba River Canyon.

In those bright Summer davs I fished alone the stream, climbed about the mountain sidaAn" slept in the ancient hotel on the main street of the town. One evemng I was preacher at the Sierra City was founded in 1852, but the heavy snows slid down the mountain side that Winter and swept the town away. It was not re- built on this location until 1858. An interesting monument on the main, jjr an 0id two-wheeled hose-cart, brou'ghtaround the "Horn" in 1850. 1 walked down the wind ing road along the sparkling river to and again and again at some bend in the road I would catch a glimpse of the great Butte peering at me over my right shoulderv-I-thought: "He is watching me to see that I' leave the country, being suspicious of every stranger.

He has had his 'pockets' picked so often in the past." John W. Winkley, 'JfeJiQnce Clllb DaVS' "Sow and ye shall reap," says E. R. and carries on. This is an old saying, but evidently it still holds good.

To continue with gentlemen's night, greetings and kindest regards to you, "Soldier Phil Green," and also Mike Mc- Clure. It was like living the "good old days all over again to hear your comments through the Knave. I saw you both inall your bouts at the club, and with such as you boys on the card we were assured of an "entertaining evening." Maybe you also rememberthe go between "Vincent White," the wrestler, and Ned O'Malia, from "the patch" gang, a fighter, both big men, but White about 50 pounds the heavier. These boys were matched to settle the ever doubtful question as to who was the better man, a wrestler or a boxer. In this particular bout we found out quick, with White on the floor out cold.

And the "battle royal" between four colored boys, all heavies, one in each corner. The opposites would go a round and then the other two would take up the job, and when they got going good, that was really something. There were no reserved seats at these shows, so we members who- practically lived at the club would deposit our "topcoats" (overcoats in those days) on a first-row seat and go on with our other chores of billiards, cards, until ring time. This worked out fine until one night when full of anticipation of an enjoyable evening, went into the gym and to my seat, to findf it occupied, and my coat cast aside. This led to quite an argument, until suddenly I recognized the occupant of the seat as being Frank Wilson, the then chief of the Oakland Police' Department, and, of course, I then retired to a seat in the rear.

And a word about the billiard sharps, including Dr. Weston, and the likable father of the club, "the Irish are a great race," Pat Cadogan, and the handball experts, the Jellett brothers, Gene Brock, J. J. Allen, Doc Slavich, Jim and Joe Makins, and yours truly." Fircf Plfinn 1 USi riUllU Many Checked Back like many other members of the local Pioneer Society, read with a great deal of interest," A'. Vander Naillcn writes, "your column concerning 'old-timers, and specially about doings in old Temescal, where for many years I was known as the Mayor of Temescal.

In the Knave issue of July 16th and 24t'h, the name Pedrini was mentioned. He built a two-story building at 49th Street and Telegraph Avenue in the middle '70's, where in later years I was employed as a grocery clerk and delivery boy, delivering groceries to the Porier who, qvvned an 80-acre ranch at about 55th Street and Grove reached only by a muddy road. This ranch in later years was sub-divided into the many Santa Fe subdivision tracts of. lots and streets. Both brothers were bachelors, both now dead, one only recently, who always Wore a little blue soft hat and white necktie.

They were reported to be very wealthy. The old home still remains. Your Knave column July 16, with the heading 'Do You certainly proved very interesting to many of us who are members of the Oakland Pioneer Society. The society met at dinner in some spacious restaurant, on the 20th, at which 'more than 150 were present. Since then many have referred to Mr.

Norman's column, and quite a number could remember every one of the names mentioned. To was reminded the name of Louie Schaeffer. Louie was the leader of a certain crowd in his locality, and Jack Childs the leader of Ms locality. The old Pedrini two-story building was the only building in that neighborhood, and farmers regarded it as we do today of a sky scraper. The old landmark was condemned and replaced by an Oil station several years ago.

As for rnany years after, I graduated as a civil engineer, and was employed on many pioneer railroad constructions; also, the first railroad out of San Diego, when San Diego had only a population of 700; surveying for the first railroad near the Shasta mountains, and many Government projects, doing considerable traveling, but always coming back to the family estate in Temescal. Bob-f dit Lines "Regarding old streetcar lines," says Mr. Vander Naillen, "I remember it used to take us nearly one hour to ride on the one-horse bobtail car, with the entrance in the rear end, to go from the old car barn, which still remains at 51st Street, to Seventh Street, along Telegraph Avenue. The car would start from Charley Jurgens, a 20x20 one-story grocery wood building, near the car barn. Jurgens had a small counter in the rear where you could obtain a glass of steam beer.

On the front of The Knave: Your description of the first -pianos that came to California was very inter- esting to me, as it describes one I have which I have been told was one of the first to be sold in Francisco. It has the same brass pedals and the two brass candlestick holders on either side of the keyboard. It was bought by Dr. H. Morey, of Gilroy, who located there in '62, I think it was, and practiced there all his life.

He, passed away about 20 years ago and when-his wife, who was my aunt, broke up housekeeping, 1 she gave the piano to my son, H. Ymar' Joy. She passed away about 10 years ago at the ge i sounded, the streams were all directed from structurs and fight the flames at close quarters. Tc be and outspoken, the firemen acted as if there were no head to the depart- Qment. After a time, and when the flames had forked dtfwn to the second story, some of the boyi got on top of the old Council chamber and lent in a well-directed stream, staying man fully at their posts until finally compelled to bade 4way from the intense heat.

To say that of 100 years and one month; The name on this piano is Roenisch, Konigle. Hof-Lieferaftt, MRS, M. E. JOY. 't THE KNAVE.