CHARLES W. DAKIN
Charles W. Dakin, Captain - January 31, 1906 (#44)

U.S. "MEADE" FIRE - Foot of Folsom

Born in San Francisco in 1871
Appointed August, 5, 1893

Assigned Engine Co. No. 2, 1895
Assigned Engine Co. No. 4, 1897

Appointed Captain February 1, 1900

Assigned Engine Co. No. 9, 1905

U.S. “MEADE” FIRE - Foot of Folsom

Charles Dakin, Captain Engine Co. 4, died January 31, 1906, of asphyxiation while working at the U.S. Meade fire.

During the year the following named widow of a late member of the Fire Department was pensioned under the provision of Article IX, Chapter 7, Section 5, of the Charter, viz:
Mrs. Francis Dakin was granted a quarterly pension of $180.

The 1906 salary of a captain was $1,440 per year.

THOMAS J. HENNESSY
Thomas J. Hennessy - January 31, 1906 (#45)
Engine Co. No. 22 - 1348 10th Avenue

U.S. “MEADE” FIRE - Foot of Folsom

T. J. Hennessy, Hoseman Engine Co. 22, died January 31, 1906, of asphyxiation while working at the U.S. Meade fire.

During the year the following named widow of a late member of the Fire Department was pensioned under the provision of Article IX, Chapter 7, Section 5, of the Charter, viz: Mrs. Nellie Hennessy, widow of Thomas Hennessy, Hoseman of Engine Company No. 22.  Pensioned February 1, 1906.  Effective February 1, 1906
Mrs. Nellie Hennessy received a quarterly pension of $150.00

In 1906, Hoseman were paid an annual salary of $1,200.

TRIBUTE IS REVERNTLY PAID TO HEROES GONE FROM EARTH BUT ARE LIVING IN THE HEARTS OF MEN.
FIREMEN ARE LAID TO REST.
GREAT THONG GATHERS IN CITY HALL ROTUNDA FOR IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL SERVICE FOR CAPTAIN DANKIN AND THOMAS HENNESSEY.
MAYOR POINTS OUT DUTY OF CITY TO THE LIVING.

“O Grave, where is thy victory? O Death, where is thy sting?

Life, and not death - life, the force that is the blood of the universe - life triumphant over death, it’s dark foe, what is the dominating presence yesterday when the Fire Department buried Captain Charles W. Dankin and Hoseman Thomas J. Hennessey, it’s dead, slain in a fight with the fire on the Meade.

Dead - because men must die that Man may live. Dead - because they were brave. Dead - because life is not all that life holds for strong men when danger temps their mettle, and duty above shows it’s inexorable distress. Dead – and yet they live, and will live as virile men in the hearts and memories of hundreds of thousands, and death itself thus crowns them with the greatest reward that men may win.

The whaling rhythms of the funeral marches touched springs of tears in myriads of eyes and the drum beats and tramplings of the funeral procession were solemnly sad, and “taps” sounded, and the graves open and then were sealed. There were the lamentations of the widows and the orphans, and the sorrow of friends; and yet in what heart did there not thrill emotions of pride in the red-blooded manhood of Dankin and Hennessy, in the manhood that pushed onward, ever onward, into peril, into death - all for the sake of life?

Thus they lived yesterday, and thus they shall live as exemplars. In time to come, when men push on to do brave deeds, Dankin and Hennessey will be there, not by their sides, but in their very hearts, as part of them, for Dankin and Hennessey became partakers of life when they died.

SCENE WILL LIVE IN MEMORIES.

Yesterday’s impressive scene will not die from memory from the thousands that be held or took part in it.

They will not forget that willing scream of grief that rang beneath the dome of the rotunda in the City Hall when Mrs. Dankin threw herself on the breast of her dead husband and through her tears pressed kiss after kiss upon the lips that could not respond.

They will not forget how the white-haired mother and the young widow of Hennessy fainted by the side of the coffin of her son and husband.

They will carry impressions of thousands of serious or sorrowing faces and those who all before noon passed around the coffin and looked upon the faces of the heroes. They will remember the pulsing and strain of the funeral music. They will think of the impressive words of Archbishop Montgomery. Perfumes and the colors of the flowers heaped high about the caskets will abide with them. And for all the rest of their lives they will be the better for taking part in the obsequies of heroes.

There was in the fullest measure the reference that the fits a solemn location. Every detail in the great demonstration testify to the love and respect people feel for Captain Dankin in Hoseman Hennessey. The services were held in the rotunda of the City Hall. Previous to this services thousands of citizens of San Francisco filed past the flower banked caskets and murmured prayers and frequent genuflections paid to the encoffined forms of the loving respect that was their due.

The people who came to view the remains of the dead firemen began to gather early, and hours before 1 o’clock, when the services began, the police found it necessary to compel the fast increasing crowd to form and lines. For over three hours the lines extended from the entrances down City Hall avenue to McAllister street. As people passed into the rotunda they were directed by policeman to pass around the catafalque on which caskets rested and after viewing the remains were directed to pass out building again.

There was not one-tenth enough room in the great rotunda to hold the crowd, and thousands could but gaze for a brief moment on the faces of the dead and then pass to the sidewalk, there to wait with bared heads for the carrying of the caskets to the waiting hearses.

Mrs. Dankin, her son, and Mrs. Hennessy, with her children and mother of her dead husband, occupied seats on either of the catafalque during the services. The stricken ones bore well during the passing of the crowds in viewing the remains but at the opening of the funeral services when songs of sorrow were sung and kind words spoken of the dead, there was a giving away of the fortitude that had been displayed and the great dome of the rotunda echoed and reechoed with the whaling and anguish cries of the relatives

FAINT AT LEAVE-TAKING

When the time came for the leave-taking, and with it the realization that for the last time the faces of the dead would be seen, the uncontrollable grief of the wife and mother broke forth. Mrs. Dankin, in paroxysm of grief, threw herself on the breast of her dead husband and begged for a word from him. She was lifted by kind hands and struggling feebly was led away to a chair where she immediately fainted.

Over the casket of Thomas Hennessey, his heart-broken old mother and his young wife  gave way to grieve that call fourth expressions of deepest sympathy from those who witnessed it. Worn by the nerve-racking trials of the past few days and broken in spirit by the realization of their great loss mother and wife both fainted and had to be removed from the side of the casket. As the caskets were being carried from the rotunda and Chopin’s Funeral March was played by the band the elder Mrs. Hennessey was again overcome and had to be carried to the waiting carriage.

At the hour of the commencement of the services, the floor of the rotunda was filled with people, the two tiers of the upper galleries were packed. On a raised stage on one side of the gallery were seated the judges of the Superior Courts, the Police judges, members the Board of Supervisors, the Fire Commissioners, the Police Commissioners, Mayor E. E. Schmitz, Chief of Police Dinan and Captain of Detectives Burnett, representing the Police Department. Major-General S. S. Sumner and general Frederick Funston, representing the United States Army, Captain J. H. Riley representing the Transport Service, and practically all of the officials of the City and County of San Francisco.

The regular Catholic funeral service was conducted by the Rev. Father M. D. Connolly, Director of St. Paul’s Church and the accompanying psalms were chanted by surplice sanctuary choir of St. Paul’s.

ARCHBISHOP GIVES EULOGY.

The eulogy was delivered by Archbishop Montgomery who spoke from the raised stage. He read from St. John, Chapter XI; “I am the resurrection, and I am life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall be live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”

With these words as his text, the Archbishop spoke in part as follows;

“There are in human life so many shortcomings, so many disappointments and discouragements, that left to ourselves, we would be inclined to a pessimaistle view, if not to despair entirely of better things. But, thanks to occasions like the present, sad and sorrowful as they are, a shock comes to us from time to time and manifest other qualities of human nature that shine out by contrast and come to us all when we need them most.

“One of these redeeming qualities is that Death has not lost its salutary and refining a influence on the human heart. Death is never trivial - never commonplace. It is not speculation, not an abstract something, but the most impressive and significant fact witnessed in human experiences. It is ever a solemn and sacred thing. The bared head, the hushed voice, the light and careful step in the presence the dead attest this.

“Two heroes die and discharge of duty, and a reverential and appreciative public do homage to their memory. This outpouring of warm and generous hearts is in its very nature, solemn protest against that cold materialistic philosophy that makes of the soul at best a mere function of matter.”

“Our city is built mostly of wood and largely upon hills, no city more exposed to the winds from the ocean. All these characteristics are so many severe tests of the efficiency of the Fire Department; and we believe that if we have had to protection of life and property that we know we have enjoyed we owe it to the personnel of the Fire Department, an example of which we have before us in the silent dead.

“The whole city, as is meet and proper, strives to show the city’s gratitude for those know who lives surrendered in the discharge of duty.

“A particularly touching incident in the death these brave men is, I understand, that one subaltern voluntarily exposed and lost his life in effort to save that of his captain.”

Following the eulogy a quartet from Aerie No. 5 of the Eagles rendered “Calvary.” The quartet was composed of Messrs. Everett, Groove. Richards and Conlon.

DUTY TO THE LIVING.

Mayor Schmitz, as chief executive of the city, spoke briefly. After referring to the great heroism display by Dankin and Hennessy in the Meade fire in giving their lives that others might live he said;

“The people of San Francisco and never forget these brave men who here in death because they perform their duty to our city. But we must not forget not only the acts of these heroes. We must bear in mind those left behind who were dependent on the men we are here to honor. No human hand can reward those who are dead, but human love can find a way to aid their widows and orphans.

“In the presence of these great men who are now gone, as the chief executive of San Francisco, I extend the sympathy of a great city to the wives and families of these men. It is to be hoped that San Francisco, not only in words, but in a more substantial manner, show those left behind how the sacrifice of these two lives is appreciated.

At the termination of the services the rotunda was cleared, and protective as much as possible from the curious, the leave-taking was made. The caskets were then carried to the waiting hearses, which stood at the sidewalk without the rotunda entrance,  surrounded and a hollow square by the members of the different organizations that participated in the funeral procession.

In addition to the pallbearers from the Fire Department these names were published yesterday, the following honorary pallbearers represented Police Department: Policeman G. Woll-Weher, P. A. McIntyre, J. H. Fairweather, B. C. Wood, H. S. Prowse, R. M. Barry, R. M. Silver, W. J. Rice,, C. J. Carroll, J. F. Denman, A. Winslow, J. O’Connor, J.  Moriarty, D. J. Driscoll, W. P. Dalton and A. Thompson.

NOTABLE ESCORT.

Preceded by the escort, the hearses and carriages in double line drove to Valencia and Seventeenth street ,where the escort dispersed.

As the procession past the quarters of Truck 3 and Engine 19, at 1421 Market street standing at attention with caps held to shoulders.

At Fifteenth street the army escort, the Third Battalion of the Fourth Regiment, U.S.A., fell into a single line at the sidewalk’s edge and presented arms at the passing of the hearses. The escort of fireman, the exempt firemen, the members of Rincon Parlor, N.S.G.W., the police escort and the city officials broke into two lines, one on either side of the street and stood with bared heads as the hearse passed. Two lines of the escort in this formation extended from Fifteenth to Seventeenth streets. After the hearse and carriages passed the lines the escort dispersed.

The body of Captain Dankin was interned in Cypress Lawn Cemetery. The last rites were performed under the auspices Rincon Parlor, N.S.G.W., of which the deceased was a member. The burial ritual of the order was conducted under the direction of  William J.
Wynn and John Hanson.

Reverend Father Connolly officiated the burial services at grave of Thomas Hennessey, who was laid to rest in Holy Cross cemetery

Among the many beautiful floral pieces sent to the City Hall as token of love and affirmation for the dead heroes, none much more appreciated to the Dankin family than that sent by a number of neighbors to the quarters of Engine 9, where Capt. Dankin was formally stationed. Those who also contributed to the floral peace where Housen & Steffens, Frank Leamy, Mrs. Phue, H. Harding and Thomas Regan.
Source: San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco,02 February 1906, Monday, Page 5.

GO TO RESTORATION PARK SUNDAY AND HELP FIREMAN’S FAMILIES.
GREAT BENEFIT DAY OF BOXONG AND BASEBALL.
ATHETICS THAT WILL CALL TOGETHER THOUSANDS OF POEPLE IN SPLENDID CAUSE OF AIDING WIDOWS AND ORPHANS OF HEROES.

1906 February 6

There is one especially glorious thing for San Franciscans to say, among all the things that can be said in the glory and praise the city. It is that when a brave fireman in the life performance of his duty he may know it is last conscience moment that his widow and his children will not suffer in pitless poverty when he is gone.

San Francisco firemen are brave. They have never hesitated, however terrible the task before them.

The fireman who died when the Meade was burning knew the danger they faced when they went into the hold. Their training had made them expert in the knowledge of such dangers. Chief Sullivan had warned warn them, and they had once collapsed before returning to acceptance of the awful risk.  They understood peril. Believing that the fire in the hold was likely to reach the explosives, blow up the ship and perhaps kill some of their companions and the transport men. Dankin and Hennessey went back into the hold while dozens of their comrades were being taken away to the hospital.

Every fireman in San Francisco knows that any night in the year he and those dependent upon them may be in danger of death by fire. He knows, too, that the firemen do not refuse to take any chance when there are lives to be saved. In helping to raise “The Examiner” fund for the fireman’s widows and orphans as such funds have been raised before, he knows that he has the opportunity to show his appreciation of the work that firemen do. Next Sunday afternoon there will be a chance testing by contribution, at the admission gate and by the presence at two great demonstration, the public appreciation the fireman’s heroism.

SUNDAY ATHLETIC EVENTS.

At recreation Park, corner of Eighth and Harrison Street, on Sunday afternoon, there will be two splendid boxing events and a great benefit game of baseball.

At 2 o’clock Sam Berger and Jimmy Brent. are to start the entertainment with the four around go. Burger is the amateur heavyweight champion of the Pacific Coast, Jimmy Brett the famous lightweight that everybody knows all about. This go will be an event worth several times the amount of the $.25 admission fee, without giving any thought to the benevolent object of the entertainment.

Then Eddie Halman and Toby Irwin, two of the most popular native son pugilists, will perform four rounds, and that again will be worth far more then to the two-bit gate fee.

Lots of men have paid from $10-$20 to see these popular pugilists in action and nothing but such a benevolent occasion as this could induce any one of the famous boxers to appear the two-bit show.

Eddie Graney, “the honest blacksmith,” politician of the fight trust, is to referee to fistic events. He is a man known to the entire athletic world and for those who do not attend the big championship fights this will be an excellent opportunity to see him.

THE BASEBALL GAME.

But this is not all that the charity contributors will received for $.25 cents on Sunday. After the boxing event a baseball game is to be played by the best players on the coast. Mike Fisher, formerly of Tacoma, but now managing the new Fresno team, is selecting the men for one of the nines. Jack Gleason, the Olympic club leader new manager for the San Francisco baseball organization, will choose the men players for the other team.

Jack Sheridan, the famous face easterner, will be umpire.

It will be a great game and even if there were to be no pugilists attractions the grounds would be thronged.

Andrew J. Clunie and Eugene F. Burt have donated the use of the grounds.

The committee in charge in the day at Recreation Park is composed of Battalion Chief Thomas Murphy, chairman, Captain Gillig of Engine Company No. 1, Lieutenant Charles Murray of Chemical Engine No. 3, Lieutenant Walter Creber of Chemical Engine No. 1, Lieutenant T. J. Harrington of Truck Company No. 10, and John MacGowan, Engine Company No. 28.

Souvenir programmes are to be published under the direction of Lieutenant T. J. Harrington, and they will be sold at the grounds by the Assistant Chief Doherty and Capt. Mike Bowden.

Battalion Chief McCloskey and Battalion Chief McKittrick are to have charge of the gate. Captain William Gallatin Engine Company No.5 is to sell lemonade, and Lennon and “Windy” Mitchell Engine Company No. 2 are to sell peanuts.

The money to be raised on Sunday is to assist in the buying of homes for the Dankin and Hennessey families and in providing support for them. Chief Sullivan and the Commissioners give their heartiest support to this Sunday programme.

Contributions to the fund yesterday nearly $1,500. At the Hoffman cigar store this subscription is open and $42.90 was received there yesterday.
Source: San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, 06 February 1906, page10.

BENEFIT BALL GAME FOR FIREMAN A GREAT EVENT.
ROW WITH UMPIRE WILL BE ONE OF EXCITEMENT.
MOVING PICTURE MACHINE TO TAKE SCENE IN WHICH POLICE, SPECTATORS AND PLAYERS WILL TAKE PART FOR REPRODUCTION.
FUND NOW REACHES TOTAL OF $7,512.80

1906 February 11

The great benefit to be given to the widows and children of Captain Dankin and Hoseman Hennessey will positively take place this afternoon. While some of  the more timid and inexperienced minds looking upon the rainfall of yesterday with fear for the success of the exhibition, those who have charge of the athletic events pleasantly remarking to each other, “This is great. Just the way to keep the dust and make things look fresh,”  said Mike Fisher to Lieutenant Harrington.

The interest taken in to-day’s benefit game has been so widespread that without a doubt the attendance will be the largest created in history of the city.  Excursions have been planned from the nearby suburbs. The city itself has been talking of nothing else for the past week,

While the lovers of sport, of baseball and boxing, while the lovers of sport, baseball and boxing, are gloating over the prospect of seeing in the same afternoon, on the same field, the greatest exponents of America’s athletic pastimes.

That there may be no unnecessary crowding at the gates of Recreation Park the doors will be thrown open at 12 o’clock. While crowd is filing within the gates the League of the Cross band will be on hand to dispense stirring melodies and to make those who come early to get the choice seats pass the time pleasantly.

The young women of the “Woodland” show at the Columbia Theatre will also be on hand early and the sale of souvenir programmes will be brisk and entertaining. Everyone of the fair singers is determined that the gold watch offered my Sol Lichtenstein to the lassie who gathers in the most money, shall be taken away by her as a memento of their stay in San Francisco. There is also to be a competition for many young women residents of the city, who naturally think that the San Francisco girl should be a match for her fair sister from the Eastern States.

FENCERS WILL BE FIRST.

The entertainment will begin at 1:45 with an exhibition with the foils and sabers given by Miss Ruby Masten, champion woman fencer of the Pacific Coast, and Harry J. Ansot. The boxing bouts will follow. There are four matches scheduled. Jimmy Britt will do the burlesque stunt with Sam Berger that has often won applause and just such an event as to-days. Eddie Hanlon will also don the gloves with Toby Irwin, and Al Kaufmann and Twin Sullivan, Frankie Neil and Johnny Frayne will also give exhibitions.

All these bouts will be of short duration. The baseball game is to start at 2:30. To anyone who has followed the game, either on the side of this continent, or in the major leagues, this contest cannot but be fought with interest. Men whose names are baseball history  in fields afar will be seen on the local diamond for the first time. “Silk” O’Laughlin, the greatest empire in the country, has come all the way from Los Angeles to participate in the benefit and to judge the game. Sheridan, also famed on major league diamonds, will assist in the umpiring. Jake Stahl and Sam Meries, the former of the Washington team, and latter of the New York aggregation will take part in the contest. Other positions will be filled by men known locally as the best in the business. Joe Corbett, who was thought to have retired from the game for good, will shoot his elusive curves at the batsmen, and there is sure to be some great pitching done.

While all these exercises are proceeding, pictures will be taken on the moving picture apparatus operated by Miles Brothers, from the firm which made famous picture of the Britt--Nelson fight at Colma.  The crowd will caught coming in, and some of the boxing bouts will be reproduced. As Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz steps onto the box to deliver at the first ball not a single step will be missed. Lieutenant Harrington, who is to catch the first ball will also be mirrored on the screen.

And then will come to the feature of the day. One inning of baseball game is to be “programmed.” There is to be a close decision at the third sack given by “Silk” O’Loughlin. It is to cause quite a disturbance, the umpire will finally pacify the angry players. While the threats are still in the air, however the man at third is to attempt to steal home, and by a most flagrant mistake in judgment on the part of the umpire he is allowed to be safe. Then comes the real trouble.

Mike Fisher is to begin a quarrel with O’Loughlin. The players are to join him. The other team is to be convinced that the umpire was after all in the wrong, and O’Laughlin is to take to his heels. He is to be pursued into the crowd, the men on his heels yelling murder. In this predicament the police are to intervene, and a fireman feeling that the benefit game on their account, and that the other department at municipality is butting in, are to become enraged at this new offense and to expel the coppers from the grounds.

After the “programmed” inning, the game resumed seriously. It is intended to reproduce these pictures for the benefit of the widows and orphans of the two deceased firemen.

The fact that within a few hours last night, while it was raining, E. Lennon, J. Mitchell, Lew Ballatto and M. Collins of Engine 2, on O’Farrell street, above Market. could dispose of $300 worth of tickets is taken as a good omen that the little sprinkling  that occurred last night will not in any way hurt the attendance.

The autos that are to carry the “Woodland” girls to Recreation Park leave the Columbia Theatre 12:30.

“The Examiner” subscription fund which has been taken up for the widows and our orphans of Captain Dankin and Hoseman Hennessey increased rapidly yesterday, mainly through the $1,000 magnificent gift of the Underwriters Fire insurance Company:
“THE EXAMINER” SUBSCRIPTION FUND
Previous acknowledged Fund Total: $6,103.70. Gifts before to-day’s event: 1,409.10, totaling: $7,512.80.
Source: San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, 11 February 1906, page 4.

 WIDOWS OF FIRMEN WILL GET SNUG AMOUNT.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO “EXAMINER”  AND CASH TAKEN AT GROUNDS TOTALS $8759 WITH DOUBLE THAT TO COME FROM TICKETS SOLD.
15,000 PERSONS AT RECREATION PARK.

1906 February 12

The largest crowd that ever turned out in San Francisco to witness an athletic exhibition gathered yesterday at Recreation Park to assist in developing the fund that is being raised for the widows and orphans of Captain Charles Dankin and Hoseman Thomas Hennessy, who on the morning of February 1st lost their lives while attempting to save lives and property for the transport Meade.

15,000 persons found their way into the grounds and at least 5,000 were turned away from the gates. It was a merry gathering, although its inspiration and its object were sad indeed. The young men of the League of the Cross band, clad in their crimson jackets, played stirring music that made the heartbeat life and the foot stamp in gleeful accord. Many  a jest was given its brief recital and as the crowd jostled, elbow to elbow, on the green award of the outfield their smiles were as serene and as happy as the sky above them

Yet there were faces and the surging throng that spoke of grief, man could not throw off the weight of one as lightly as one might doff his cap,  companions of Dankin and Hennessey, brave men, heroes, too, who have gone down into the hole as courageously as did their unfortunate companions; who have smelt the Smith thing smoke creep into their nostrils on that fateful morning the same as the men who were now in their graves; and these men as they gaze upon the holiday throngs ranged tier by tier, could not live over again the last size scenes and the careers of their comrades.

To the optimist likes to believe that humanity is noble, spectacle of San Francisco’s largest recreation ground crowded to such a degree that it was well near impossible where the games proceed must be indeed gratifying. Men who had never seen a baseball game in their lives, women whose modesty would forbid them from attending the regular price fight, children in the arms and a host of youngsters filled grandstands. Not finding room in the custom places the crowd surged through the field. Probably there is no other city in the country where such a benefit would have been conceived; certainly there is none where such a mammoth exhibition could be so successfully carried out.

PROGRAMMES SOLD WELL.

The young women who had programmes to sell took advantage of the wait in the proceedings to separate the throng from some of its change. Big, stalwart fireman went about the field with baskets attached to their waste dispensing cigars and gum. They were received cordially in short time almost everybody had a program, a cigar and a package of gum.

The League of the Cross Band, under the direction of Lieutenant Ernest Williams, had been playing various selections and managed to keep the crowd amused during the waits. When the fencers were ready to come on field, however there was a little or no room to give the exhibition. The band was used clear the field with the quintet of trombones in the first rank it picked its way through the scattering mass. Miss Ruby Masten, a champion swordswoman of the Pacific Coast, and Henry J. Ansot then gave an exhibition with foils and sabers that was well received,

After this curtain raiser boxers appeared. Jimmy Britt and Eddie Hanlon were clad in green tights and Burger and Kaufman were in blue. As soon as the crowd caught sight of the men of the ring a tremendous shout arose. The spectators who were roped in broke down the barriers and rushed down the field. The fighters were lost in the rush. At the same time those who had been barricaded outside the grounds by the police when the place was already overcrowded broke down an entrance on Harrison street and hundreds poured into the field, to add to the disturbance.

Under this invasion fighters took to their dressing rooms. Seven or eight thousand persons were scattered over the field and they showed no disposition to move. Half an hour passed before fireman appeared with ropes and began from the press stand to force the crowd backwards. It was a slow, laborious process, in which Jack Gleason and Mike Fisher were particularly conspicuous.

GOOD BOXING BOUTS

When things were once more in readiness the boxers showed their faces again and Billy Jordan introduced them. Sam Berger was the first to make his bow. He was hailed as the “amateur heavyweight champion of America,” and Kaufman followed answering to the introduction “the heavyweight champion of the Pacific Coast.” Mike “Twin” Sullivan was also brought forward and then Jimmy Britt received an ovation. “Cute” Eddie Hanlon, Toby Irwin and Eddie Graney, “the world famous referee,” were also presented by the incomparable announcer.

Boxing then began, the moving picture taking every motion. The men were paired off and for one round rotation. Hanlon and Irwin wound up their go in a sensational manner. With a good right swing Hanlon had floored his opponent, and with a ruthless desire to knock him out he sprang up on his opponent as he was just rising from the ground. Eddie Granny jumped between the fighters and was received with the volley of blows from both contenders for interfering. The bout ended in loud laughter and applause and much sympathy for the “little horseshoer.” Britt and Berger also wound up their mill with a double knockout. The thumb of Jimmy’s glove as it settled on Sam’s jaw was heard all over the field. But when the huge Olympian returned the wallop there were tears for the former light weight champion. Al Hoffman and Mike “Twin” Sullivan entered upon there go with such vim and spirit that before the end came the red tide was running down the “Twins” nose.

All was now in readiness for the ballgame. and as the ball players took their places on the diamond the band struck up ”Hot Time.” “Silk” O’Loughlin, the greatest umpire in the country, who had come from Los Angeles to take part in the benefit, was introduced, pas were his is confreres, Jack Sheridan, Bill Lange, Jim McDonald and Jack McCarthy.

MAYOR GETS AN OVATION.

Then came the ovation of the day, Mayor Eugene Schmitz had been a silent spectator of the exhibition up to this time. He was now called upon to take an active part in the proceedings. He was escorted by Jack Gleason and Mike Fisher to the pitches box and Joe Corbett handed him the ball. The cheer was deafening. Some wags in the bleachers cried to the city’s chief executive that he ought to remove his coat, but His Honor went no further then removing his hat. He was happily introduced by Billy Jordan as “the great and the only Mayor Schmitz,” and all the formalities over with, he settled down to work. “Wally” Waldron stepped to the plate. “Wally” has a good eye and is rated one of the best batters in the league. Behind the plate Lieutenant T. J. Harrington crouched down to receive the ball. Those who do not know that the Mayor was once the pride twirler of San Francisco sand lot had some apprehensions that he might toss the ball into the grandstand. They had never heard Mike Fisher declare;

“Mayor Schmitz has one of the best drops I have ever seen. If he would give up his dignity as the chief executive I would gladly give him a position on my team.”

Meanwhile the Mayor was twisting ball and rubbing the smoothness off it, that might he might get a good grip. The crowd that waited in restless suspense for the third strike of the famous Casey was not more attentive than the gathering at Recreation Park. The ball fed swiftly and true to its mark, Walden let it go by, and the umpire called “Strike.” The feat was received with much applause, and the Mayor returned to his seat.

There was not much room for the baseball game, the crowd was pressing on the players so much that there was practically no outfield. Ground rules were in order, and when the ball was batted into the crowd the runner was allowed to take two bases. Joe Corbett pitched the opening innings and looked to be as good as he ever was. He was succeeded by Charlie Baum, who finished the game. On the other side Whalen and Williams alternated in the box

Doc Moskiman was in fine form and made a couple of throws from left field to first base that were marvels. It is safe to say that as long as the medico chooses to wear a uniform he will be the idle of the fans.

“Silk” O’Laughlin came in for a great deal of attention. It was the first time that the noted umpire was seen on a local diamond. His particular habit of  crying ball “tub” when the pitcher had twice failed find the plate made some of the youngsters in the bleachers nickname him “Tub.”

MISS KILDAY GETS WATCH.

The gold watch given by Sol Lichtenstein to the young woman who turned in the most money for the sale of the programmes was won by Miss Agnes Kilday, a San Franciscan. She realized about $75. Many of the young women of the “Woodland” company did very well. Miss Drew being particularly active.

The amount taken in the gate yesterday was $747.35. Flowers and programmes bought $342.55, and the nuts and gum $146.35. In all $1,236.30 was taken in cash. The tickets taken at the gate were not counted last night, but it is estimated that were more than 1,500 people within the grounds. Taking into consideration that 40,000 tickets were out, and the most of them sold, the benefit will doubtless add a magnificent some to that already collected by the examiner
Source: San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, 12 February 1906, page 3.

Extracted from original sources with grammar and spelling as published.

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