South Park: A San Francisco Tragedy
of 1855.
Chapter
Two: Starting
Over in San Francisco
But Gordon kept his neck intact and his talent for making money stayed with him.
He founded the first sugar refinery in California, the San
Francisco and Pacific, which later became the Spreckles Sugar Company.
He pioneered experiments in making sugar from beets; he was a
partner in a large iron foundry. He designed a building that was earthquake
proof, but South Park was his pride and his only child, Nellie, his joy.
Nellie was the one saving grace of a miserable marriage. She
was adorable, loved by everyone, and he had the greatest hopes for her.
Often he noticed the child didn't seem quite well,
perhaps more time at his Peninsula home at Mayfield would help her.
But what
would help his wife? Lately she had become more withdrawn
behind the walls at South Park, and to their friends he could only say she was
indisposed.
George Gordon, a man who could create an industry, explore
the secrets of the sugar beet, and master high finance was completely ignorant
of what went on in his home; unaware of his wife's vow of years before that was
heading towards a tragic conclusion.
Once in a while an event happened that erased Gordon's
worries as he saw Nellie enjoy herself. He remembered one in particular when she
was only ten years old. It was 1855 and San Francisco was celebrating the defeat
of the Russians at Sebastopol in the Crimean War. South Park had been chosen as
the scene of the festivities. This is how the day was reported in a newspaper.
The
procession formed on Second St., from Market to Mission at 10:15 o'clock, four
deep accompanied by a large concourse of people headed by the French, English
and Sardinian flags, followed by the French and British consuls, naval officers
and invited guests, the band playing appropriate tunes. A salute was fired by
the British frigate Amphitrite lying off Rincon Point.
At South Park an immense tent, 230 feet in length had been
erected. Within were five banquet tables on each side, covered with a profuse
supply of eatables, and with a bottle of wine at each plate.
A roasted ox, standing, with his horns and all had been
roasted so skillfully that the hair which was left on from the knees down was
still unsinged. There was a cake about 12 feet high. In all 10,000 people were
present.
The whole concern broke up in a general riot, started by a
band of rowdies.
Gordon
wondered why a San Francisco affair always wound up in a brawl. It must be
something in the air that combined dangerously with the grape. The newspaper
story concluded:
A
large concourse of persons marched this evening to the residence of the Russian
Consul, who appeared on the balcony, and with his seven year old son as
interpreter expressed his appreciation of the sympathies of the crowd.
Wasn't that just like San Franciscans? After celebrating the defeat of the Russians all
day, they call on the consul to tell him how sorry they were.
Chapter
three of four
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