October 11 Tuesday – The local article, “Had a Fit,” in the Call is attributed to Sam [Branch, C of Call 300]. This is the last article thought to be by Sam Clemens in the Morning Call while he was employed as a city reporter there.

HAD A FIT
A lad of some twelve years was seized with convulsions, while sitting in a buggy at the corner of Sacramento and Montgomery streets, yesterday afternoon. Restoratives were speedily brought in play, and in a short time the youth went on his way, viewing with astonishment the multitude that had collected, which was variously estimated at from one thousand to four thousand eight hundred and eighty. One kind hearted person, whose condition, unfortunately, bordered on the “salubrious,” had his place close to the convulsed boy, and puffed smoke from a villainous cigar into his eyes with seeming industry, until gently remonstrated with by a Policeman, on whom he turned furiously, insisting upon tobacco smoke as an infallible remedy for fits, and that he would give the officer fits if he interfered further. However, during this sanitary dispute, the subject had come to and gone off; and the opportunity for determining fully the efficacy of burnt tobacco and whisky fumes in cases of fits, was unfortunately lost for the present [Branch, C of Call 53].
Branch on this article:
“‘had a fit’ is the latest local item published in the Call that I ascribe to Clemens. It is my theory, unencumbered by the least shred of evidence, that the day George Barnes read this piece was the day he eased Clemens out of his job. The flippancy and the don’t-give-a-damn attitude that sometimes rises to the surface in Clemens’ reporting are readily seen here. The writing borders on the burlesque, and a general meaning that emerges is: What fools we are. One imagines that the item implies disrespect for the estate of Journalism—or at least for lokulitem’s role in it—as though he did not care whether he kept his job or not” [Branch, C of Call 53].