Chapter 25
In Which a Slight Glimpse Is Had of San Francisco
It was seven in the morning when Mr. Fogg, Aouda andPassepartout set foot upon the American continent, if this namecan be given to the floating quay upon which they disembarked.These quays, rising and falling with the tide, thus facilitatethe loading and unloading of vessels. Alongside them wereclippers of all sizes, steamers of all nationalities, and thesteamboats, with several decks rising one above the other, whichply on the Sacramento and its tributaries. There were also heapedup the products of a commerce which extends to Mexico, Chili,Peru, Brazil, Europe, Asia and all the Pacific islands.
Passepartout, in his joy on reaching at last the Americancontinent, thought he would show it by executing a perilous vaultin fine style; but, tumbling upon some worm-eaten planks, he fellthrough them. Put out of countenance by the manner in which hethus "set foot" upon the New World, he uttered a loud cry. Thisso frightened the innumerable cormorants and pelicans that arealways perched upon these movable quays, that they flew noisilyaway.
Mr. Fogg, on reaching shore, proceeded to find out at what hourthe first train left for New York, and learned that this was atsix o'clock P.M. He had, therefore, an entire day to spend in theCalifornian city. Taking a carriage for three dollars, he andAouda entered it, while Passepartout mounted the box beside thedriver, and they set out for the International Hotel.
From his exalted position Passepartout observed with muchcuriosity the wide streets, the low, evenly ranged houses, theAnglo-Saxon Gothic churches, the great docks, the palatial woodenand brick warehouses, the numerous conveyances, omnibuses,horse-cars, and upon the side-walks, not only Americans andEuropeans, but Chinese and Indians. Passepartout was surprised atall he saw. San Francisco was no longer the legendary city of1849--a city of banditti, assassins and incendiaries, who hadflocked here in crowds in pursuit of plunder. Formerly a paradiseof outlaws, where they gambled with gold-dust, a revolver in onehand and a bowie-knife in the other, it was now a greatcommercial emporium.
The lofty tower of its City Hall overlooked the whole panorama ofthe streets and avenues, which cut each other at right-angles,and in the midst of which appeared pleasant, verdant squares.Beyond appeared the Chinese quarter, seemingly imported from theCelestial Empire in a toy-box. Sombreros and red shirts andplumed Indians were rarely to be seen; but there were silk hatsand black coats everywhere worn by a multitude of nervouslyactive, gentlemanly-looking men. Some of the streets--especiallyMontgomery Street, which is to San Francisco what Regent Streetis to London, the Boulevard des Italiens to Paris and Broadway toNew York--were lined with splendid and spacious stores, whichexposed in their windows the products of the entire world.
When Passepartout reached the International Hotel, it did notseem to him as if he had left England at all.
The ground floor of the hotel was occupied by a large bar, a sortof restaurant freely open to all passers-by, who might partake ofdried beef, oyster soup, biscuits and cheese, without taking outtheir purses. Payment was made only for the ale, porter, orsherry which was drunk. This seemed "very American" toPassepartout. The hotel refreshment-rooms were comfortable, andMr. Fogg and Aouda, installing themselves at a table, wereabundantly served on diminutive plates by Negroes of darkest hue.
After breakfast, Mr. Fogg, accompanied by Aouda, started for theEnglish consulate to have his passport visaed. As he was goingout, he met Passepartout, who asked him if it would not be well,before taking the train, to purchase some dozens of Enfieldrifles and Colt's revolvers. He had been listening to stories ofattacks upon the trains by the Sioux and Pawnees. Mr. Foggthought it a useless precaution, but told him to do as he thoughtbest, and went on to the consulate.
He had not proceeded two hundred steps, however, when, "by thegreatest chance in the world," he met Fix. The detective seemedwholly taken by surprise. What! Had Mr. Fogg and himself crossedthe Pacific together, and not met on the steamer! At least Fixfelt honored to behold once more the gentleman to whom he owed somuch, and, as his business recalled him to Europe, he should bedelighted to continue the journey in such pleasant company.
Mr. Fogg replied that the honor would be his; and the detective--whowas determined not to lose sight of him--begged permissionto accompany them in their walk about San Francisco--a requestwhich Mr. Fogg readily granted.
They soon found themselves in Montgomery Street, where a greatcrowd was collected. The side-walks, street, horse-car rails, theshop-doors, the windows of the houses and even the roofs, werefull of people. Men were going about carrying large posters, andflags and streamers were floating in the wind, while loud crieswere heard on every hand.
"Hurrah for Camerfield!"
"Hurrah for Mandiboy!"
It was a political meeting; at least so Fix guessed. He said toMr. Fogg, "Perhaps we had better not mingle with the crowd. Theremay be danger in it."
"Yes," returned Mr. Fogg, "and blows, even if they are politicalare still blows."
Fix smiled at this remark; and, in order to be able to seewithout being jostled about, the party took up a position on thetop of a flight of steps situated at the upper end of MontgomeryStreet. Opposite them, on the other side of the street, between acoal wharf and a petroleum warehouse, a large platform had beenerected in the open air, towards which the current of the crowdseemed to be directed.
For what purpose was this meeting? What was the occasion of thisexcited assemblage? Phileas Fogg could not imagine. Was it tonominate some high official--a governor or member of Congress?It was not improbable, so agitated was the multitude before them.
Just at this moment there was an unusual stir in the human mass.All the hands were raised in the air. Some, tightly closed,seemed to disappear suddenly in the midst of the cries-anenergetic way, no doubt, of casting a vote. The crowd swayedback, the banners and flags wavered, disappeared an instant, thenreappeared in tatters. The undulations of the human surge reachedthe steps, while all the heads floundered on the surface like asea agitated by a squall. Many of the black hats disappeared, andthe greater part of the crowd seemed to have diminished inheight.
"It is evidently a meeting," said Fix, "and its object must be anexciting one. I should not wonder if it were about the Alabama,despite the fact that that question is settled."
"Perhaps," replied Mr. Fogg, simply.
"At least, there are two champions in presence of each other, theHonorable Mr. Camerfield and the Honorable Mr. Mandiboy."
Aouda, leaning upon Mr. Fogg's arm, observed the tumultuous scenewith surprise, while Fix asked a man near him what the cause ofit all was. Before the man could reply, a fresh agitation arose.Hurrahs and excited shouts were heard. The staffs of the bannersbegan to be used as offensive weapons; and fists flew about inevery direction. Thumps were exchanged from the tops of thecarriages and omnibuses which had been blocked up in the crowd.Boots and shoes went whirling through the air, and Mr. Foggthought he even heard the crack of revolvers mingling in the din.The rout approached the stairway, and flowed over the lower step.One of the parties had evidently been repulsed, but the mereonlookers could not tell whether Mandiboy or Camerfield hadgained the upper hand.
"It would be prudent for us to retire," said Fix, who was anxiousthat Mr. Fogg should not receive any injury, at least until theygot back to London. "If there is any question about England inall this, and we were recognized, I fear it would go hard withus."
"An English subject--" began Mr. Fogg.
He did not finish his sentence, for a terrific hubbub now aroseon the terrace behind the flight of steps where they stood, andthere were frantic shouts of, "Hurrah for Mandiboy! Hip, hip,hurrah!"
It was a band of voters coming to the rescue of their allies, andtaking the Camerfield forces in flank. Mr. Fogg, Aouda and Fixfound themselves between two fires. It was too late to escape.The torrent of men, armed with loaded canes and sticks, wasirresistible. Phileas Fogg and Fix were roughly hustled in theirattempts to protect their fair companion. The former, as cool asever,
tried to defend himself with the weapons which nature hasplaced at the end of every Englishman's arm, but in vain. A bigbrawny fellow with a red beard, flushed face and broad shoulders,who seemed to be the chief of the band, raised his clenched fistto strike Mr. Fogg, whom he would have given a crushing blow, hadnot Fix rushed in and received it in his stead. An enormousbruise immediately made its appearance under the detective's silkhat, which was completely smashed in.
"Yankee!" exclaimed Mr. Fogg, darting a contemptuous look at theruffian.
"Englishman!" returned the other. "We will meet again!"
"When you please."
"What is your name?"
"Phileas Fogg. And yours?"
"Colonel Stamp Proctor."
The human tide now swept by, after overturning Fix, who speedilygot upon his feet again, though with tattered clothes. Happily,he was not seriously hurt. His traveling overcoat was dividedinto two unequal parts, and his trousers resembled those ofcertain Indians, which fit less compactly than they are easy toput on. Aouda had escaped unharmed, and Fix alone bore marks ofthe fray in his black and blue bruise.
"Thanks," said Mr. Fogg to the detective, as soon as they wereout of the crowd.
"No thanks are necessary," replied Fix, "but let us go."
"Where?"
"To a tailor's."
Such a visit was, indeed, necessary. The clothing of both Mr.Fogg and Fix was in rags, as if they had themselves been activelyengaged in the contest between Camerfield and Mandiboy. An hourafter, they were once more suitably attired, and with Aoudareturned to the International Hotel.
Passepartout was waiting for his master, armed with half a dozensix-barreled revolvers. When he perceived Fix, he knit his brows;but Aouda having, in a few words, told him of their adventure,his countenance resumed its placid expression. Fix evidently wasno longer an enemy, but an ally. He was faith-fully keeping hisword.
Dinner over, the coach which was to convey the passengers andtheir luggage to the station drew up to the door. As he wasgetting in, Mr. Fogg said to Fix, "You have not seen this ColonelProctor again?"
"No."
"I will come back to America to find him," said Phileas Foggcalmly. "It would not be right for an Englishman to permithimself to be treated in that way without retaliating."
The detective smiled, but did not reply. It was clear that Mr.Fogg was one of those Englishmen who, while they do not toleratedueling at home, fight abroad when their honor is attacked.
At a quarter before six the travelers reached the station, andfound the train ready to depart. As he was about to enter it, Mr.Fogg called a porter, and said to him: "My friend, was there notsome trouble today in San Francisco?"
"It was a political meeting, sir," replied the porter.
"But I thought there was a great deal of disturbance in thestreets."
"It was only a meeting assembled for an election."
"The election of a general-in-chief, no doubt?" asked Mr. Fogg.
"No, sir; of a justice of the peace."
Phileas Fogg got into the train, which started off at full speed.