Yankees, Fists, and Tempers

 

I am half surprised at myself, and yet feel completely justified in my actions. My honor was at stake, but I was out of temper as I have not been these many years. But let me begin at the beginning. We arrived at the International Hotel in San Francisco at 7:45 in the morning. The train did not leave for New York until 6 in the evening, leaving us a day to explore the city. We all were taking a walk when Passepartout made the outrageous supplication of buying several rifles and pistols. He no doubt has been listening to the stories of bandits of the West. I allowed him to do so, to appease him, for the poor fellow was obviously frightened.  Soon after the departure of Passepartout, Mr. Fix joined us. It was a surprise, but a pleasant one. So we continued on our tour.

San Francisco, 1870

On one of the streets, there was some sort of election going on. The crowd was excited, and soon turned dangerous. We tried to escape the rabble, but was caught up among the fists and canes brandished here and there. Mr. Fix and I tried to protect Aouda, which we scarcely achieved. We had almost torn out way through the crowd when a huge sturdy fellow lifted his great fist to swing at me. Fix promptly stood in the way and was knocked to the ground. He rose quickly, with his coat torn, his hat smashed, and his head bruised. He is a good kind of man, is Fix.

After the blow, I proceeded to call the giant Yankee, at which gesture Yankee retorted Englishman. He then demanded we meet again, I said with pleasure. We exchanged names, his being Colonel Stamp Proctor. An outlandish name!

We arrived at the tailors in comparative safety, at which place Fix and I had our clothes mended. We then repaired to the Hotel, where Passepartout was patiently waiting amid a half-dozen guns. We had dinner, and then went to the station to await the train. We reached there at 5:45 and found the train ready to go. I asked the porter the meaning of the uproar we had experienced. He said the election of a justice of the peace had been held. Aouda, Fix, Passepartout, and I, all climbed aboard and the train started at 10 minutes before six. So here I end.

                                                             Phileas Fogg
                                                                   6:11 PM
                                                                   Tuesday
                                                                   3th of December, 1872