In November 1865, Mark Twain penned a somber obituary for a beloved San Francisco icon. Twain was convinced that, despite fame during his lifetime, the deceased would quickly fade from memory.
“I think it is because he died a natural death,” Twain mused, “died with friends around him to smooth his pillow and wipe the death-damps from his brow, and receive his last words of love and resignation; because he died full of years, and honor, and disease, and fleas.”
He went on, “In fact, Bummer should have died sooner: there was a time when his death would have left a lasting legacy of fame to his name. Now, however, he will be forgotten in a few days.”
Twain ends with a sad yet strangely comforting image: Poor, flea-ridden Bummer, reunited with his friend Lazarus in everlasting taxidermy. No, they weren’t people. They were two stray dogs, the local celebrities of their day.
During the 1860s, San Francisco’s stray dogs roamed free around the city. Bummer was easily recognizable – a big dog with a thick black coat, probably thanks to Newfoundland heritage. He was already well known in 1861, when he stumbled across a fight between two other strays.
The fighting dogs weren’t evenly matched, and the smaller pup struggled to stand up for himself. Bummer rushed in and chased the aggressor away. Then, he dragged his new friend to safety. For weeks, Bummer scrapped for food at nearby restaurants and shared with his friend, gradually nursing the small yellow dog back to health. By the time the wounded dog was fully recovered, observers had dubbed him Lazarus, and the two were officially a pair.
In addition to stray dogs, San Francisco was also overrun with rats. Bummer and Lazarus quickly earned a reputation as successful exterminators. On one occasion in 1863, they wiped out a mind-boggling 400 rats in a single day. Shop owners welcomed the two dogs and gave them treats, knowing that they’d keep vermin at bay.
It’s also possible that Bummer and Lazarus’ exploits were exaggerated. Twain was far from the only writer enamored with the two dogs; journalists regularly published stories about their scrapes and exploits.
For example: The two dogs often hung out with Joshua Norton. A former merchant wrecked by a bad investment, Norton declared himself Emperor of the United States. Emperor Norton printed his own currency for his nation of one, and often wandered the city wearing a dressy military uniform complete with a plumed hat. Bummer, Lazarus, and Emperor Norton were frequently dined for free all over the city. Their friendship was memorialized in a drawing called “The Three Bummers,” which made Emperor Norton so angry he once smashed through a window to destroy a copy.
It was easy for writers to project human emotions onto dogs with such a peculiar story and attachment. It was also a welcome distraction from the ongoing Civil War and the first days of Reconstruction.
Eventually, the city began to crack down on the stray dog population, but by then it was too late for them to do anything to Bummer and Lazarus. When Lazarus was snatched by a dogcatcher, the public outcry prompted the city to grant the two dogs freedom to roam wherever they pleased.
Dogs don’t live forever, though, and eventually the two creatures passed away. Despite Twain’s assumption that they’d fade from memory, written words hold power, and San Francisco still remembers them today. If you visit the Transamerica Pyramid, you’ll find a small plaque in the Redwood Grove park nearby.
There, you can even pour one out in their honor. I suggest Bummer and Lazarus, a citrusy gin named in their honor.
If you scroll back super far, you can still listen to an early episode of Baby Geniuses in which Lisa and Emily recount the story. They’re way funnier!
Special Announcement!
Remember last week when I mentioned my Kickstarter? It’s now live!
If the Kickstarter succeeds, we’ll be able to pay all of our contributors and publish a digital magazine featuring 10 wildly original stories about DC’s creative underground. To name a few:
A profile of BOOMscat, an R&B duo making magic in venues across the city
The sideshow performers turning DC’s circus culture on its head
A queer clothing swap carving space for personal expression
A bestselling record-cleaning spray developed by the director of the Museum of Science Fiction
A lawyer building up DC’s tarot scene on the DL
…and more! Each story will be accompanied by beautiful art and photography. I’ve curated, edited, and directed this project from start to finish, so if you’ve enjoyed the quirky, offbeat work I do with Scavenger, I think you’ll really dig this magazine.
While everybody here (hopefully) supports independent journalism, half the fun of Kickstarter is getting cool rewards. So, we made a bunch! Pictured above, you’ll see an art print I commissioned from artist Sophie McTear earlier this summer. We’ve also got a 30+ page print zine designed by Josh Kramer, a big map of all of DC’s public pools, stickers, studio time for podcasters, and a great deal on small business content marketing. Our rewards also make great gifts!
If this sounds up your alley, check out our full campaign and join in the fun. Every pledge, big or small, brings us one step closer.