Mark of Death Wish 3 sent us in this tip:
I came across a Chronicle article from 1891 about “mission hoodlums” raiding a bar and stealing three kegs of beer, then hiding their contraband in a barn in Bernal Heights. so good.
This is definitely good stuff. First, I am really happy to see Mission referred to as “Mission Road.” Argh. You can always spot a transplant in this town by them uttering the words “Mission St.” I am also digging the picture of the sergeant making “one of the oldest officers on the force” roll the beer barrels up the hill all by himself. Way to be a dick.
The Police Discover the Plunder in a Barn on Bernal Heights.
A gang of Mission hoodlums made a raid last Saturday night upon Hermann’s saloon, on the Mission road, carrying away three barrels of beer, which they secreted in a barn belonging to a man named Bell, on the very summit of Bernal Heights. For some reason the circumstances of the theft was kept from the police until Tuesday morning, when Sergeant Burke received knowledge of the affair in an indirect manner, and for his own information made an investigation of the robbery.
Yesterday Sergeant Burke had occasion to visit Bernal Heights to investigate some depredation recently commited there. While taking observations he happened to be in the vicinity of Bell’s barn, and something prompted him to take a peep inside, where, to his surprise, he espied the identical three barrels of beer snugly secreted in one corner of the barn.
Satisfying himself that it was Hermann’s property the sergeant summoned the owner to identify the property,and at the same time rang in for the patrol wagon to remove it to the Seventeenth-street station as evidence.
During the sergeant’s absence, however, the barrels were rolled out of the barn and slid down the steep hillside to the gulch below.
When he returned with Hermann he observed the furrows cut into the ground by the barrels. Hermann and the sergeant descended to the gulch and there the owner fully identified his property.
While in the gulch below the patrol wagon arrived at Bell’s barn on top of the hill, accompanied by Officer Gallagher, one of the oldest officers on the force. To get the wagon into the gulch below was out of the question, so the sergeant directed Gallagher to roll the three barrels of beer up the hillside to the wagon, where, with the assistance of the driver, they were loaded into the wagon and transferred to the Seventeenth-street station.
(link)
“While taking observations he happened to be in the vicinity of Bell’s barn, and something prompted him to take a peep inside, where, to his surprise, he espied the identical three barrels of beer snugly secreted in one corner of the barn.”
Can you say “warrantless search?” Some things never change.
i was thinking the exact same thing- where’s the PC?
great article – I wonder if by 17th st station they are referring to the abandoned one south of van ness?
I love the vocabulary in old newspapers. They never use words like “depredation” anymore.
Dude, awesome article. I am going to use “depredation” as often as I can. “The depredation of Mr Sutro’s elevated communications facility was remarked upon by many astute residents in our fair city.”
And someone in Bernal needs to start a blog titled “Bernal Depredations”. Because you know something’s happening. A wee bit too quiet up there.
My people! Hello, officer possibly-my-relation.
This is just like Tortilla Flats! Who wants to go back there with me?
[...] Some guy (smarter than Victor Resayre and the suckers breaking “worthless red rock” with small hammers) set up a “beer store” on a table on top of two kegs. (Someone please do the same in Dolores Park when it warms up. (Note this one of many Bernal-beer incidents on record.)) [...]
Mission Flashback: Hoodlums Raid Saloon on Mission Road .Thanks for nice post.I added to my twitter.