California

1849-1913

or

 The Rambling Sketches and Experiences of Sixty-four Years' Residence in that State

By

L. H. Woolley

 Member of the Society of California Pioneers and of the Vigilance Committee of 1856

California

1849-1913

Trip Across the Plains. 

The year 1849 has a peculiarly thrilling sensation to the CaliforniaPioneer, not realized by those who came at a later date. My purpose inrecording some of my recollections of early days is not for publicationnor aggrandizement, but that it may be deposited in the archives of mydescendants, that I was one of those adventurers who left the GreenMountains of Vermont to cross the plains to California, the ElDorado--the Land of Gold. 

In starting out I went to Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Independence, Missouri. Here I joined the first mule trainof Turner, Allen & Co. 's Pioneer Line. It consisted of forty wagons, onehundred and fifty mules, and about one hundred and fifty passengers. Weleft the frontier on the fourteenth of May 1849, and here is where ourhardships commenced. Many of us had never known what it was to "campout" and do our own cooking. Some of the mules were wild and unbroken, sometimes inside the traces, sometimes outside; sometimes down, sometimes up; sometimes one end forward and sometimes the other; butafter a week or two they got sobered down so as to do very well. 

Our first campfire at night was on the Little Blue River, a few milesfrom Independence; it was after dark when we came to a halt, and it wasmy friend Gross' turn to cook, while the rest brought him wood and waterand made a fire for him by the side of a large stump. I knew he was afractious man, so I climbed into one of the wagons where I could see howhe got along. The first thing that attracted my attention was the coffeepot upside down, next away went the bacon out of the pan into the fire. By this time he was getting warm inside as well as outside, and I couldhear some small "cuss words"; next he looked into the Dutch oven, andsaw that his dough had turned to charcoal. I got down into the wagon outof sight, and peeked through a crack; he grew furious, danced around thefire, and the air was full of big words. Finally we got a little coffeeand some cakes and bacon, then I undertook to do a little sleeping butit was no go. Thus ended my first night on the Plains. 

In the morning we started on our journey to travel over a leveluntimbered, uninhabited country for nearly four hundred miles, withoutanything of especial interest occurring save cholera, from which therewas terrible suffering. We lost about seventy-five of our number beforewe reached Fort Laramie, seven hundred miles from Missouri. 

There was a Dutchman in my mess by the name of Lamalfa, who understoodbut little of English. We had dubbed him "Macaroni" for having brought alot of the stuff with him and on our second night out it came his turnto stand guard. He was detailed to the inner guard and instructed as tohis duties. On the relief of the outer sentinel and his return to camp, Lamalfa issued the challenge which was to repeat three times "Who comesthere?" and in case of no response to fire, and as the outer sentinelcame upon him he called out "Who comes there three times" and fired;fortunately he was a poor shot and no harm was done. 

It seems that "Macaroni" was not aware of there being an outer guard. 

When near Fort Childs, four hundred miles out, all the passengers leftthe wagons, except the drivers, and walked on in advance, leaving thewagons light (they were canvas covered). There came up one of thoseterrible hailstorms, common in that country, which pelted the mules withsuch severity as to cause them to take fright and run away, breakingloose from the wagons which were taken by the storm in anotherdirection, first wheels up, then top, until the latter was all in rags;then they stopped. When we came into camp at night they looked sorryenough and you would have thought they had just come out of a fiercefight. 

We pursued our journey along the south bank of the Platte until wereached Fort Laramie, capturing some antelopes and occasionally abuffalo. Up to this time we had had a great deal of sickness in camp. Iremember one poor fellow (his name I have forgotten), we called himChihuahua Bob; he was a jovial, good natured fellow and drove one of theeight-mule baggage wagons. I enquired about him one morning and was toldthat he had died during the night of cholera, and had been left in hisshallow grave. 

We met some returning emigrants that morning who had become discouragedand were going back to their old homes This made me think of home andfriends, the domestic happy fireside, and all that I had left behind, "but, " said I to myself, "this won't do, I am too far out now; pluck isthe word and I'm not going back on it. "

Early next morning we were once more upon our long journey, slowlytraveling towards the far, far West. 

The first place of interest that presented itself to our view was anarrow passage for the river between two perpendicular rocky banks, which were about one hundred feet high and looked as though a man couldjump from one to the other at the top. This was called the "Devil'sGate. " Above and below was the broad prairie. 

At intervals along the Platte were villages of prairie dogs, who wereabout the size of large grey squirrels, but more chunky' of a brownishhue, with a head somewhat resembling a bulldog. They are sometimes eatenby the Indians and mountaineers. Their earth houses are all about twofeet deep; are made in the form of a cone; are entered by a hole in thetop, which descends vertically some two or more feet and then takes anoblique course, and connects with others in every direction. These townsor villages sometimes cover several hundred acres and it is verydangerous riding over them on horseback. 

We will now pass to another interesting object called "Chimney Rock"which is not altogether unlike Bunker Hill Monument. It stands by itselfon the surrounding level country, with a conical base of about onehundred and fifty feet in diameter and seventy-five feet high where thenearly square part of the column commences, which is about fifty feeton each of the four sides. It is of sandstone and certainly a verysingular natural formation. Altogether it is about two hundred feethigh. I will mention here that the banks of the Platte are low, that thebed is of quicksand, that the river is very shallow and that it is neverclear. One of our company attempted to ford it on foot. When abouttwo-thirds over, in water up to his waist, he halted, being in doubt asto whether he should proceed or return. While hesitating between twoopinions his feet had worked down into the quicksand and became soimbedded that he could not extricate them. Realizing his perilousposition he at once gave the Masonic Grand hailing sign of distress andin a moment there were several men in the water on their way to hisrelief. They reached him in time and brought him safely into camp. 

About this time there was considerable dissatisfaction manifested incamp on account of the slow progress we were making. Some left the trainand went on by themselves, others realized the necessity of holding totogether to the last in order to protect themselves as well as to carefor those among us who were sick. The peculiar characteristics of theparty at this time seemed to be recklessness and indifference to thesituation, but the better judgment finally prevailed and we went on inharmony. 

The next three hundred miles were devoid of any especial interest. Thisbrings us to the summit of the Rocky Mountains (at South Pass) whichdivides the rivers of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and ends theircourse thousands of miles apart. Here are the ever snow-capped peaks ofthe Wind River Mountains looming up on the north. They are conical inform and their base is about one thousand feet above the plain thatextends south. This brings us to the nineteenth day of July, 1849. Onthe night of this day water froze to the thickness of one-fourth of aninch in our buckets. The following day we commenced descending thewestern slope, which was very rapid and rough. The twenty-first broughtus to Green River which was swollen and appeared to be a great barrier. Here, for the first time, we brought our pontoons into use and swam themules, so that after two days of hard work we were all safely landed onthe west bank. We are now at the base of the Rocky Mountains on thewest, passing from one small valley to another, until we reached a bendin the Bear River. Here let us pause for a moment and study the wondersof nature. 

First, the ground all around is covered with sulphur; here, a spring ofcold soda water; there, a spring of hot soda water; fourth, an oblonghole about four by six inches in the rocky bank, from which spouts hotsoda water, like the spouting of a whale. It is called "SteamboatSpring. " It recedes and spouts about once in two minutes. All of theseare within a hundred steps of each other. 

Now, our canteens, and every available vessel is to be filled withwater, for use in crossing forty-five miles of lava bed, where there isneither water nor grass to be found and must be accomplished bytraveling day and night. This was called "Subletts' Cutoff, " leavingSalt Lake to the south of us, and brings us to the base of the mountainsat the source of the Humboldt River. 

On the west side, in crossing over, we encountered a place in a gorge ofthe mountain called "Slippery Ford, " now called the "Devil's Half-Acre. "It was a smooth inclined surface of the rock and it was impossible forthe mules to keep their footing. We had great difficulty in getting overit. 

Now we are at the headwaters of the Humboldt River, along which wetraveled for three hundred miles, over an alkali and sandy soil until wecame to a place where it disappeared. This was called the "Sink of theHumboldt. " This valley is twenty miles wide by about three hundred long. During this part of our journey there was nothing of interest to note. The water of this river is strongly impregnated with alkali. 

About forty miles in a southerly direction from the sink of the Humboldt(now called the Lake) is old "Ragtown" on the banks of the Carson River, not far from Fort Churchill. In traveling from one river to the otherthere was no water for man or beast. When we were about half way wefound a well that was as salt as the ocean. We reached this wellsometime in the night of the first day and our mules were completelyfagged out, so we left the wagons, turned the mules loose, and drovethem through to the Carson, arriving there on the night of the secondday. Here was good grass and fine water, and bathing was appreciated toits fullest extent. 

We remained for several days to let our animals recruit, as well asourselves, then we went back and got the wagons. We traveled westwardthrough Carson Valley until we entered the Six Mile Canon, the roughestpiece of road that we found between Missouri and California. There weregreat boulders from the size of a barrel to that of a stage coach, promiscuously piled in the bed of this tributary to the Carson, and overwhich we were obliged to haul our wagons. It took us two days to makethe six miles. 

Arrival In California. 

Now we see Silver Lake, at the base of the Sierra Nevadas on the eastside; our advance to the summit was not as difficult as we anticipated. Having arrived at this point we are at the source of the south fork ofthe American River and at the summit of the Sierra Nevadas. We nowcommenced the descent on a tributary of this river. 

After a day or two of travel we arrived at a place called Weaverville, on the tenth day of September, 1849. This place consisted of one logcabin with numerous tents on either side. Here was my first mining, butbeing weary and worn out, I was unable to wield the pick and shovel, andso I left in a few days for Sacramento where I undertook to make alittle money by painting, but it was a failure, both as to workmanshipand as to financial gain. However, by this time I had gained somestrength and left for Beal's Bar at the junction of the north and southforks of the American River. Here I mined through the winter with somesuccess. 

In the spring of 1850 thirty of us formed a company for the purpose ofturning the south fork through a canal into the north fork, therebydraining about a thousand yards of the river bed. Just as we hadcompleted the dam and turned the water into the canal, the river roseand away went our dam and our summer's work with it. 

Winter coming on now nothing could be done until spring, so I left forSan Francisco where I had heard of the death of a friend at Burns' olddiggings on the Merced River, about seventy-five miles from Stockton, and knowing that his life was insured in favor of his wife I went thereand secured the necessary proof of his death so that his widow got theinsurance. There was considerable hardship in this little trip of aboutone week. On my return, and when within about thirty miles of Stockton, I camped for the night at Knight's Ferry, picketed my pony out, obtainedthe privilege of spreading my blankets on the ground in a tent and wassoon in a sound sleep, out of which I was awakened at about two o'clockin the morning by feeling things considerably damp around me (for it hadbeen raining). I put out my hand and found I was lying in about threeinches of water. I was not long getting out of it, rolled up myblankets, saddled my pony and left for Stockton. Here I arrived at aboutnine o'clock, sold the pony, and was ready to leave at four o'clock forSan Francisco. While waiting here (Stockton) I became acquainted with aKentucky hunter who told me the story of his experiences of the dayprevious. He said:

"I came to the place where you stayed last night, yesterday morning, andwas told that there were a number of bears in the neighborhood, and thatno one dared to hunt them. I remarked that that was my business, and Iwould take a hand at it; I strapped on my revolvers and knife, shouldered my Kentucky rifle and started out. I had not gone more thanhalf a mile, when I discovered one of the animals I was in search of, and away my bullet sped striking him in the hip. I made for a tree andhe made for me! I won the race by stopping on the topmost branch, whilehe howled at the base; while reloading my rifle I heard an answer to hiswailing for me or for his companion--it didn't matter which. Very soona second cry came from another direction, and still one more from thethird point of the compass. By this time one had reached the tree and Ifired killing him. Hastily reloading, I was just in time to fire as thesecond one responded to the first one's howl; he fell dead; then thethird arrived and shared the same fate. Having allowed the first one tolive as a decoy, his turn came last; then I descended and looked over mywork--four full-grown bears lay dead at my feet. "

To corroborate this statement I will say that I saw one of them on thehooks in front of a butcher shop in Stockton, and the other three wentto San Francisco on the same boat that I did. I met the hunter on thestreet about a week later and he told me that he realized seven hundreddollars for his bears. I do not make the statement as a bear story, butas a bare fact. 

Life In the Mines. 

The preceding pages were written about twenty years ago, and onlycovered about one and one-half years after leaving the Green Mountainsof old Vermont. Since which time, I have experienced nearly all of thevicissitudes of the State to the present time (1913). I will now attemptto give an account of my stewardship from that time on. I date myarrival in the State, Weaverville, about three miles below Hangtown (nowPlacerville), September 10th, 1849. This was where I did my firstmining, which was not, much of a success, on account of my weakcondition caused by my having the so-called "land scurvy, " brought onfrom a want of vegetable food, and I left for Sacramento City where Iremained for a week or two and then left and went to Grass Valley. ThereI made a little money, and went to Sacramento City and bought two wagonloads of goods, went back to Grass Valley and started a hotel, ran it afew weeks, and the first thing I knew I was "busted. "

It is now in the winter of '49 and '50 and I went to Sacramento again, and from Sacramento to Beal's Bar on the North Fork of the AmericanRiver at the junction of the North and South Forks. By this time I hadgained my strength so that I was more like myself, and I bought arocker, pick, shovel and pan and went into the gulches for gold. I hadfairly good luck until spring. By this time I had laid by a few hundreddollars, and I joined a company of thirty to turn the South Fork of theAmerican River into the North Fork, by so doing we expected to drainabout one-fourth of a mile of the bed of the South Fork. The banks ofthe river were rich and everything went to show that the bed of theriver was very rich, and we went to work with great hopes of a bigharvest of gold. The first thing we did was to build a dam, and dig acanal, which we accomplished in about four months. About this time snowand rain came on in the mountains, raised the water in the river andwashed away part of our dam. It was now too late to build again thatseason. 

Now you see the hopes and disappointments of the miner. While we were atwork on the canal we had occasion to blast some boulders that were inour way. We had a blacksmith to sharpen the picks and drills who had aportable forge on the point of land between the two rivers. When we wereready to blast the rock we gave him timely warning, he paid no heed, theblast went off, and a portion of a boulder weighing about 500 poundswent directly for his forge and within about six inches of his legs andwent on over into the North Fork. The man turned about and hollered tothe boys in the canal "I surrender. "

About this time the river had risen to such an extent that it wasthought advisable to suspend operations until the next spring. This wasa dividing of the roads, and each member had to look out for himself. Iwent to Mokelumne Hill, staked out some claims and went to work to sinka shaft through the lava to bedrock. The lava on the surface is veryhard, but grows softer as you go down. While I was thus banging awaywith my pick and not making much headway, there came along a Mr. Ferguson from San Francisco, on a mule. He stopped and looked at me aminute and then said, "Young man, how deep do you expect to go beforeyou reach bedrock?" I said, "About 65 or 75 feet. " "Well, " said he, "by ---- you have got more pluck than any man I ever saw. " He went onand so did I, and I have not seen him since. It took me about two weeksto get so that I could not throw the dirt to the surface, then I had tomake a windlass, get a tub and rope, and hire a man to help me at eightdollars a day, and 50 cents a point for sharpening picks. These thingscompleted and in operation, I was able to make two or three feet per day, and we finally reached the bedrock at a depth of 97 feet. The last twofeet in the bottom of the shaft I saved for washing, and had to haul itabout one mile to water. I washed it out and realized 3 1/2 ounces of verycoarse gold. Now we were on the bedrock and the next thing to do was tostart three drifts in as many directions. This called for two more mento work the drifts, and a man with his team to haul the dirt to thewater, while I stood at the windless and watched both ends. This went onfor one week. When I washed out my dirt, paid off my help and otherexpenses, I had two dollars and a half for myself. 

About this time I was feeling a little blue and I gave directions foreach man in the drifts to start drifts to the left at the end of eachdrift. This was done, and we went on for another week as before, andthis time I came out about one hundred dollars ahead. About this time acouple of miners came along and offered me thirteen hundred dollars formy claim, and I sold it, took the dust and went to Sacramento and sentit to my father in Vermont. That paid up for all the money that I hadborrowed, and made things quite easy at home. 

Now, I am mining again with cradle, pick, shovel and pan in gulches, onthe flats, in the river and on the banks, with miner's luck, up anddown, most of the time down. However, "pluck" was always the watchwordwith me. I floated some of the time in water, some of the time in theair, some of the time on dry land, it did not make much difference withme at that time where I was. I was at home wherever night overtook me. But finally I got tired of that and began to look about and think ofhome and "the girl I left behind me. "

Home Again. Married. Return to California. 

In the spring of '52 I left San Francisco on the steamer "Independence"via the "Nicaragua route" for New York, arrived there in course of amonth, and took train for Boston, where I found my father from Vermontwith a carload of horses. This was clover for me. We remained there aweek or ten days, then left for home. The "girl I left behind" was aVermont lady but was visiting a sister in Cincinnati, Ohio. In thespring of 1853 I went on to Ohio to see the "girl I left behind me, " andmarried the "girl I had left behind me. " We then went to Vermont, wherewe remained until the year of 1854. In the summer of this year I had thesecond attack of the "California fever. " I called in Dr. Hichman and hediagnosed my case, and pronounced it fatal, and said there was nomedicine known to science that would help me, that I must go, so I tookthe "girl I left behind me" and started for San Francisco. 

Vigilance Committee of 1865. 

On my return to San Francisco it did not take me long to discover thatthe city was wide open to all sorts of crime from murder, to pettytheft. In a very short time I became interested in the Pacific IronWorks, and paid very little attention to what else was going on aroundme until the spring of '56. Here was a poise of the scales, corruptionand murder on one side, with honesty and good government on the other. Which shall be the balance of power, the first or the last?

On May 14th, 1856, James King, editor of the "Evening Bulletin, " wasshot by Jas. P. Casey on the corner of Washington and Montgomerystreets. He lingered along for a few days and died. This was too muchfor the people and proved the entering wedge for a second vigilancecommittee. During the first 36 hours after the shooting there were 2, 600names enrolled on the committee's books. Of that number, I am proud tosay, I was the 96th member, and the membership increased until itamounted to over 7, 000. 

Shooting of Gen. Richardson. 

I will first relate a crime that had happened the November previous(November 17, 1855), in which Charles Cora had shot and killed GeneralWilliam H. Richardson, United States Marshal for the Northern Districtof California. These men had a quarrel on the evening of November 17th, 1855, between 6 and 7 o'clock, which resulted in the death of GeneralRichardson by being shot dead on the spot in front of Fox & O'Connor'sstore on Clay street, between Montgomery and Leidesdorff streets, byCora. Shortly after this Cora was arrested and placed in custody of theCity Marshal. There was talk of lynching, but no resort was had toviolence. Mr. Samuel Brannan delivered an exciting speech, andresolutions were declared to have the law enforced in this trial. General Richardson was a brave and honorable man, and beloved by all. Hewas about 33 years of age, a native of Washington, D. C. , and married. Cora was confined in the County jail. We will now leave this case in themind of the reader and take it up later on. 

Shooting of James King, of William. 

On May 14th, 1856, the city was thrown into a great excitement by anattempt to assassinate James King, of William, editor of the "EveningBulletin, " by James P. Casey, editor of the "Sunday Times. " Both Caseyand King indulged in editorials of a nature that caused much personalenmity, and in one of the issues of the "Bulletin" King reproducedarticles from the New York papers showing Casey up as having once beensentenced to Sing Sing. Casey took offense at the articles, and about 5o'clock in the afternoon, at the corner of Montgomery and Washingtonstreets, intercepted King who was on his way home, drew a revolver, saying, "Draw and defend yourself, " and shot him through the left breastnear the armpit. Mr. King exclaimed, "I am shot, " and reeling, wascaught up and carried to the Pacific Express office on the corner Caseywas quickly locked up in the station house[1]. 

Immediately following the shooting large crowds filled the streets inthe neighborhood anxious to hang to the nearest lamp post theperpetrator of the crime. Casey was immediately removed to the Countyjail for safer keeping. Here crowds again congregated, demanding theturning over to them of Casey and threatening violence if denied. MayorVan Ness and others addressed them in efforts to let the law take itscourse but the crowd which had been swelled into a seething mass, remonstrated, citing the shooting of Marshal Richardson, and demandingCora, his assassin, that he, too, might be hanged. 

Military aid was called to the defense of the jail and its prisoners andafter a while the multitude dispersed, leaving all quiet. 

Casey and Cora Turned Over to Vigilance Committee. 

Sunday, May 18th, a deputation of the Committee was delegated to call atthe door of the jail and request the Sheriff to deliver up the prisoner, Casey. Upon arriving at the door three raps were made. Sheriff Scannellappeared. The delegation desired him to handcuff the prisoner anddeliver him at the door. Without hesitation, the Sheriff repaired to thecell of Casey and informed him of the request of the Vigilantes. TheSheriff, after going through some preliminaries, brought the prisoner tothe front door of the jail and delivered him into the hands of theCommittee. My company was stationed directly across the street lined upon the sidewalk. Immediately in front of us was a small brass cannon, which a detachment had shortly before secured from the store ofMacondray & Co. It was the field piece of the First California Guard. Itwas loaded, and alongside was the lighted match, and all was inreadiness should any resistance be offered. Other companies werestationed so as to command the entire surroundings. We marched from thegeneral headquarters of the Committee at 41 Sacramento street (FortGunnybags), one block from the water front, up that street toMontgomery, thence to Pacific and along Kearny to the jail, which wassituated on the north side of Broadway, between Kearny and Dupontstreets. Other companies came via Stockton and Dupont streets[2]. 

Casey was then ironed and escorted to a coach in waiting and, at hisrequest, Mr. North took a seat beside him; Wm. T. Coleman and Miers F. Truett also riding in the same conveyance. Another conference was heldwith the Sheriff, requesting the prisoner, Charles Cora, who hadmurdered General Richardson, to be turned over to the Committee. Scannell declined and asked time to consider. The Committee gave theSheriff one hour in which to decide. In less than half that time theSheriff appeared at the door of the jail and turned Cora over to theCommittee. The Committee reached the rooms on Sacramento street about 2o'clock. Casey was placed under guard in a room above headquarters. Corawas also removed to the Committee's rooms in the same manner as Casey, the Committee having to go back to the jail for the second time. Aboutthree hundred men remained on guard at the Committee rooms after theirremoval there. 

Fort Gunnybags. 

Our headquarters and committee rooms were at the wholesale liquor houseof Truett & Jones, No. 41 Sacramento street, about a block from thewater front, and embraced the block bounded by Sacramento, California, Front and Davis streets, and covered by brick buildings two storieshigh. The name "Fort Gunnybags" was ascribed to it on account of thegunnybags filled with sand which we piled up in a wall some six feetthrough and about ten feet high. This barricade was about twenty feetfrom the building. Guards were stationed at the passageways through itas well as at the stairs and Committee by the members of the MonumentalFire Engine Company No. 6, stationed on the west side of Brenham Place, opposite the "Plaza. " Our small field pieces and arms were kept on theground floor, and the cells, executive chamber and other departmentswere on the second floor. 

May 19th found Mr. King still suffering from his wound, but no greatalarm was felt as to his condition. 

Death of James King, of William. 

May 20th Mr. King's condition took a turn for the worse, and at 12o'clock he was sinking rapidly, being weakened from the probing anddressing of the wound. He passed away. Sorrow and grief were shown byall. He left a widow and six children. He was born in Georgetown, D. C. , and was only 34 years old. 

Trial of Casey and Cora. 

Casey and Cora were held for trial May 20th, having been supplied withattorneys and given every opportunity to plead their cases. TheCommittee sat all night and took no recess until the next morning whenthe trials were ended. The verdict of "guilty of murder" was found ineach case and they were ordered to be executed Friday, May 23rd, at 12o'clock noon. While the trial was going on Mr. King passed away[3]. 

Hanging of Casey and Cora. 

The Committee, for fear that an attempt might be made to rescue Caseyand Cora, arranged their companies, which numbered three thousand menand two field pieces, cleared the streets in the immediate vicinity andhad had constructed a platform from out of the two front windows. Theseplatforms were hinged, the outer ends being held up by cords which werefastened to a projecting beam of the roof, to which a rope had beenadjusted for the purpose of hanging. 

Arabella Ryan or Belle Cora was united in marriage to Charles Cora justbefore the execution. 

About one o'clock both Casey and Cora, who had their arms tied behindthem, were brought to the platform and with firm steps stepped out uponthem. Casey addressed a few remarks, declaring that he was no murderer, and weakened at the thought of his dear old mother. He almost fainted asthe noose was placed around his neck. Cora, to the contrary, saidnothing, and stood unmoved while Casey was talking, and apparentlyunconcerned. The signal was given at twenty minutes past one o'clock andthe cord cut, letting the bodies drop six feet. They hung for fifty-fiveminutes and were cut down and turned over to the Coroner. We, the rankand file of the Vigilance Committee, were immediately afterwards drawnup in a line on Sacramento street, reviewed and dismissed after stackingour arms in the Committee room, taking up our pursuits again as privatecitizens[4]. 

Yankee Sullivan. 

James (or Yankee) Sullivan, whose real name was Francis Murray, had beentaken by the Vigilance Committee and was then (May 20th, 1856), inconfinement in the rooms of the Committee. He was very pugilistic andhad taken an active part in ballot-box frauds in the several electionsjust previous. He had been promised leniency by the Committee andassured a safe exit from the country, but he was fearful of beingmurdered by the others to be exiled at the same time. He experienced ahorrible dream, going through the formality and execution of hanging. Hecalled for a glass of water, which was given him by the guard, who atthe same time endeavored to cheer him up, and when breakfast was takenhim at 8 o'clock that morning he was found dead in his bed, he havingmade an incision with a common table knife in his left arm near theelbow, cutting to the bone and severing two large arteries[5]. 

"Law and Order" Party. 

On the 2nd of June, 1856, Governor J. Neely Johnson having declared thecity of San Francisco to be in a state of insurrection, issued orders toWm. T. Sherman to enroll as militia, companies of 150 men of the higheststandard and to have them report to him, Sherman, for duty. The responsewas light and the order looked upon as a joke and little or no stocktaken in it. So on the 7th Sherman tendered his resignation as MajorGeneral, claiming that no plan of action could be determined uponbetween himself and the Governor. The action taken by the Governor inthis move was by virtue of the constitution of the State, his duty toenforce the execution of the laws, he claiming that the VigilanceCommittee had no right to arm and act without respect to the State laws. 

Terry and Hopkins Affair. 

On the 2nd of June, 1856, the city was in great excitement at an attemptby David S. Terry to stab Sterling A. Hopkins, a member of theCommittee. Terry was one of the judges of the Supreme Court. Hopkins anda posse were arresting one Rube Maloney when set upon by Terry. Hopkinswas taken to Engine House No. 12 where Dr. R. Beverley Cole examined andcared for his wound which was four inches deep and caused considerablehemorrhage. The blade struck Hopkins near the collar bone and severedparts of the left carotid artery and penetrated the gullet. Terry andMaloney at once fled to the armory of the "Law and Order Party" on thecorner of Jackson and Dupont streets. The alarm was at once sounded onthe bell at Fort Gunnybags and in less than fifteen minutes armeddetails were dispatched to and surrounded the headquarters of the "Lawand Order Party" where Terry had taken refuge, and in less than half anhour had complete control of the situation, and by 4:15 o'clock in theafternoon Terry and Maloney and the others found there had been taken tothe Committee rooms as well as the arms (a stand of 300, muskets) andammunition. About 150 "Law and Order" men together with about 250muskets were also taken from the California Exchange. Several otherplaces were raided and stripped of their stands of arms. 

Terry was held by the Vigilance Committee until August 7th and chargedwith attempt to murder. Mr. Hopkins recovered and Terry, after a fairand impartial trial, was discharged from custody, though many weredissatisfied at his dismissal and claimed that he should have been held. Terry was requested to resign and resigned his position as judge of theSupreme Court. 

Duel Between Terry and Broderick. 

In 1859 Judge Terry had an altercation with United States Senator DanielC. Broderick which caused the former to challenge the latter to a duel. This duel which was with pistols was fought September 13, 1859, nearLake Merced, near the present site of the Ocean House. It resulted inBroderick's death, whose last words were, "They killed me because I wasopposed to a corrupt administration, and the extension of slavery. "Terry was indicted for his duel with Broderick, as it came in conflictwith the State laws. The case was transferred to another county, Marin, and there dismissed. During the Civil War Terry joined the Confederateforces, attained the rank of Brigadier-General, and was wounded at theBattle of Chickamauga. At the close of the conflict he repaired toCalifornia and in 1869 located at Stockton and resumed the practice ofthe legal profession. Some years later he became advocate for a lady whowas one of the principals in a noted divorce suit. Subsequently shebecame his wife. Legal contention arising from the first marriage causedher to appear before the Circuit Court held in Oakland, over whichStephen J. Field, Associate justice of the United States Supreme Court, presided. 

Terry and Field, Shooting of Terry. 

In open court the justice proceeded to read the decision. As hecontinued, the tenor was manifestly unfavorable to Mrs. Terry. Shesuddenly arose and interrupted the reading by violently upbraidingField. He ordered her removal from the judicial chamber. She resisted, and Terry coming to his wife's assistance, drew a knife and assaultedthe bailiffs. He was disarmed, and together with his wife, overpoweredand secured. The court of three judges sentenced Mrs. Terry to onemonth, and her husband to six months imprisonment, which they served infull. Justice Field returned to Washington, and the next year infulfillment of his official requirements came again to California. Hehad been informed that Terry uttered threats of violence against hisperson, and therefore he was accompanied by a man employed by theGovernment to act in the capacity of body-guard. On the journey from LosAngeles to San Francisco, Field and his companion, with otherpassengers, left the train to lunch at Lathrop. Terry and his wife, whohad boarded the cars en route, also left the cars and shortly afterwardsentered the same restaurant. A few minutes later Terry arose from hisseat, walked directly back of Field and slapped or struck the venerablejustice on the face, while he was seated. Nagle, the guard who attendedField, leaped to his feet and shot Terry twice. Terry fell and diedinstantly. This event occurred on the 15th day of August, 1889, notquite thirty years from the time he shot Broderick. 

Hetherington and Randall. 

On the evening of July 24, 1856, the Vigilance Committee had anothercase on their hands which called for immediate action. 

Joseph Hetherington, a well-known desperate character with a previousrecord, picked a quarrel with Dr. Randal in the lobby of the NicholasHotel. They both drew their revolvers and shot: after the second reportthe doctor dropped and Hetherington, stooping, shot again, striking theprostrate form in the head, rendering the victim almost unconscious. Hedied the next morning. 

The shooting was brought about through Randal's inability to repay moneyborrowed from Hetherington on a mortgage on real estate. 

Hetherington, who was captured by the police, had been turned over tothe Committee by whom he was tried, the Committee going into sessionimmediately after the shooting, found him guilty of murder and sentencedhim to be hanged. 

We were again called out on the 29th and were stationed so as to commandthe situation. This time a gallows was erected on Davis street, betweenSacramento and Commercial. 

Another man, Philander Brace by name, was also to be hanged at the sametime, and at about 5:30 in the afternoon of July 29th they were bothconveyed in carriages, strongly guarded, to the execution grounds. Hetherington had previously proclaimed his innocence, claiming that theDoctor had shot first and he had simply shot in self-defense, but hisprevious record was bad, he having killed a Doctor Baldwin in 1853 andhad run a gambling joint on Long Wharf, and eye witnesses claimed thathe not only provoked but shot first. 

Brace was of a different nature, he was a hardened criminal of a lowtype. The charge against him being the killing of Captain J. B. Westabout a year previous, out in the Mission, and of murdering hisaccomplice. He had also confessed to numerous other crimes. 

Hanging of Hetherington and Brace. 

Thousands of people were on the house-tops and in windows and on everyavailable spot from which a view of the gallows was to be had. Theprisoners mounted the scaffold, being accompanied by three VigilanceCommittee officers who acted as executioners and a Rev. Mr. Thomas. After the noose had been adjusted, Hetherington addressed the crowd, claiming to be innocent, and ready to meet his Maker. Brace, every oncein a while, interrupted him, using terrible and vulgar language. Thecaps were adjusted, the ropes cut and the two dropped into eternity. They were left hanging 40 minutes, after which the bodies were removedby the Committee to their rooms and afterwards turned over to theCoroner. They were both young men--Hetherington 35, a native ofEngland, had been in California since 1850, while Brace was but 21, anative of Onandaigua County, N. Y. 

Ballot Box Stuffing. 

The ballot boxes that had been used by Casey and his ilk were of apeculiar construction, having false slides on the sides and bottoms thatcould be slipped out and thereby letting enough spurious votes drop intothe box to insure the election of their man or men. It was claimed thatnearly the entire set of municipal officers then holding office hadsecured their election through this man. They were afterwards requestedby the Vigilance Committee to resign their offices, but at the firstelection that was held on November 4th, they were all displaced by menselected by a new party (the People's party) that was the outcome of theefforts of the Vigilance Committee. 

Billy Mulligan. 

William Mulligan was shipped out of the State on the steamer "GoldenAge" on June 5th, 1856, with instructions never to return under penaltyof death. However, after three or four years of absence he returned toSan Francisco. He was often seen on the street, but was not molesteduntil sometime in the summer of 1862 when he got a crowd of boys aroundhim on the crossing of Prospect Place and Clay street, between Powelland Mason streets. It was not long before he had trouble with them andshot into the crowd, injuring a boy, however, not seriously. The policewere soon on the ground, but Mulligan had made his way into the old St. Francis Hotel on the corner of Clay and Dupont streets which was vacantat that time. The police came and they were directed to the buildingwhere Billy could be found. When the police entered they found they werehalf a story below the floor of a very large room in the second story. Billy was called upon to surrender. He told them that the first one thatput his head above the floor would be a dead man, and knowing thedesperate character they were dealing with, they thought best to retireand get instruction from the City Attorney, who told them they had aright to take him dead or alive, whereupon they proceeded to armthemselves with rifles and stationed themselves on the second floor of abuilding on the opposite side of the street from the St. Francis onDupont street, and when Mulligan was passing one of the windows thepolice fired. Mulligan dropped to the floor, dead as a door nail. He wasturned over to the Coroner and has not been seen on the streets since. Charles P. Duane is another one of twenty-seven men who were shipped outof the State and returned. He shot a man named Ross on Merchant street, near Kearny. I do not remember whether the man lived or died, or whatbecame of Duane. 

Black List. 

From the book entitled "San Francisco Vigilance Committee of '56, " by F. W. Smith, I quote the following, with some corrections and alterations:

"I am informed by an ex-Vigilante that the Committee roll call of '56, just before its disbandment, numbered between eight and nine thousand. 

In concluding our history of this society, we will give the names andpenalties inflicted on those who came under its eye during the latteryear; whose conduct was so irreparably bad that it could not be excused. 

Those who suffered the death penalty did so in expiation for lives theyhad taken. The names of these culprits are familiar to the reader. Wealso give the names of those who were required to leave the State; allof whom, in the archives of the Vigilantes, fall under the head of theblack list:"

 James P. Casey, executed May 22nd, 1856. Charles Cora, executed May 22nd, 1856. Joseph Hetherington, executed July 29th, 1856. Philander Brace, executed July 29th, 1856. Yankee Sullivan (Francis Murray), suicided May 31st, 1856. Chas. P. Duane, shipped on "Golden Age, " June 5th, 1856. William Mulligan, shipped on "Golden Age, " June 5th, 1856. Woolley Kearney, shipped on "Golden Age, " June 5th, 1856. Bill Carr, sent to Sandwich Islands, June 5th, 1856, bark "Yankee. " Martin Gallagher, sent to Sandwich Island, June 5th, 1856, bark "Yankee. " Edward Bulger, sent to Sandwich Islands, June 5th, 1856, bark "Yankee. " Peter Wightman, ran away about June 1st, 1856. Ned McGowan, ran away about June 1st, 1856. John Crow, left on "Sonora, " June 20th, 1856. Bill Lewis, shipped on "Sierra Nevada, "--June 20th, 1856. Terrence Kelley, shipped on "Sierra Nevada, " June 20, 1856. John Lowler, shipped on "Sierra Nevada, " June 20th, 1856. William Hamilton, shipped on "Sierra Nevada, " June 20th, 1856. James Cusick, ordered to leave but refused to go, and fled into the interior. James Hennessey, ordered to leave, but fled to the interior. T. B. Cunningham, shipped July 5th, 1856, on "John L. Stephens. " Alex. H. Purple, shipped July 5th, 1856, on "John L. Stephens. " Torn Mulloy, shipped July 5th, 18, 56, on "John L. Stephens. " Lewis Mahoney, shipped July 5, 1856, on "John L. Stephen, . " J. R. Maloney, shipped July 5th, 1856, on "John L. Stephens. " Dan'l Aldrich, shipped July 5th, 1856, on "John L. Stephens. " James White, Shipped July 21st, 1856, on "Golden Age. " James Burke, alias "Activity, " shipped July 21st, 1856, on "Golden Age. " Wm. F. McLean, shipped July 21st, 1856, on "Golden Age. " Abraham Kraft, shipped July 21st, 1856, on "Golden Age. " John Stephens, shipped September 5, 1856, on "Golden Age. " James Thompson, alias "Liverpool Jack, " shipped September 5, 1856, on "Golden Age. "

Many others either left of their own volition or under orders to leavethe state. 

Bulger and Gallagher who had been shipped out of the country on June 5threturned to San Francisco. In their haste the Committee had failed toread their sentences to them and they were not aware of the penalty ofreturning. They were again shipped out of the country and ordered not toreturn under penalty of death. 

There were 489 persons killed during the first 10 months of 1856. Six ofthese were hanged by the Sheriff, and forty-six by the mobs, and thebalance were killed by various means by the lawless element. 

"Fort Gunnybags" 1903. 

On March 21, 1903, the California Historic Landmarks League placed abronze tablet on the face of the building at 215 Sacramento street thathad formerly been the headquarters of the Vigilance Committee of 1856, inscribed as follows: "Fort Gunnybags was situated on this spot, headquarters of the Vigilance Committee in the year 1856. " Many of theold Committee and Pioneers participated in the ceremonies. The oldMonumental bell which had been used those stirring days was also inevidence and pealed out its last "call to arms. "

Closing Chapter of Vigilance Committee. 

As a closing chapter to the history of the Vigilance Committee of 1856, or at least the immediate cause of its coming into existence, there wassold at public auction in San Francisco on the evening of January 14th, 1913, the very papers that James King, of William, had had transcribedfrom the records in New York and published in his paper the "EveningBulletin" showing the record of Casey's indictment, imprisonment andpardon, the publication of which he, Casey, resented by shooting King. In addition to these documents were sold many of the books, papers, etc. , of as well as other books and papers relating to the VigilanceCommittee that had been collected together by Mr. C. J. King, a son ofJames King of William. 

Vigilance Committee Work In 1849, '50 and '51. 

While there has been a great deal said about the Vigilance Committee inCalifornia in 1856, there has not been much said about it in '49, '50and '51. That the reader may know what was going on up to that time, Imust now draw largely from previously published accounts for myinformation, for a condensed statement. 

On the 30th day of January, 1847, Mr. Washington A. Bartlet became thefirst Alcalde of San Francisco, under the American flag. At this timethe population numbered 500, including Indians. During '47 and '48 itincreased to two thousand, and by the last of July, 1849, it was overfive thousand. The condition of the town at this time was terriblydemoralized, gambling, drunkenness and fights on every corner. Aboutthis this came a class of offscourings of other countries and the cursesto California. It was during this dreadful state of uncertainty that thefamous Vigilance Committee of 1851 was organized, and it now becameknown that there was an organized committee for the purpose of dealingwith criminals. It was about this time the case of John Jenkins came upand he was arrested and tried by the Committee, and condemned to behanged. He was then hanged until he was dead. The tragic fate ofJenkins, and the determination manifested to deal severely with thevillains had the effect of frightening many away. The steamers toStockton and Sacramento were crowded with the flying rascals. The SydneyCoves and the more desperate characters remained. At this, time the cityserved notices on all persons known to be vicious characters to leavethe city at once, on fear of being forcibly expelled to the placeswhence they had come. This was rigidly enforced and had a very wholesomeeffect. 

The next one to come before the Committee was James Stuart, who wastransported from England to Australia for forgery. It is not worth whileto go into details on account of this man, for he confessed to crimesenough to hang him a dozen times. On the morning of July 11th, 1851, thetaps on the bell of the Monumental Engine House summoned the entireVigilance Committee. The prisoner was then allowed two hours grace, during which time the Rev. Dr. Mills was closeted with him in communion. After the expiration of the two hours, the condemned was led forth undera strong guard. He was taken down Battery street to the end of theMarket street wharf, where everything had been previously arranged forthe execution. Very soon after the procession reached the spot the fatalrope was adjusted and the condemned hoisted up by a derrick. 

The hanging of Stuart seems to have been a very bungling piece of work, but this man's life was given to evil doing, and the great number ofcrimes confessed and committed by him would seem to say that he was notdeserving of any more sympathy than which he got. This was a sorryspectacle, a human being dying like a dog, but necessity, which darednot trust itself to feelings of compassion, commanded the deed, andunprofitable sentiment sunk abashed. 

Two more criminals and I am done with rough characters--SamuelWhittaker and Robert McKenzie, who had been arrested and duly and fairlytried by the Committee. They confessed their guilt and were condemned tobe hanged. Their names being familiar and repulsive to all decentcitizens. They were hanged side by side in public view on August 24th, 1851. The sight striking terror to the hearts of other evildoers, whowere impressed by these examples that they could no longer be safe inSan Francisco, such as had been suspected and notified by the Committee, quickly left the city; they, however, found no shelter in the interior. 

This brings me to where I took up the Vigilance Committee of 1856. 

San Francisco In 1847. 

In view of the great and growing importance of the town of San Francisco(Yerba Buena), situated on the great bay of the same name, we will giveour readers a few pertinent and fully reliable statements. 

"The townsite, as recently surveyed, embraces an extent of one andone-half square miles. It is regularly laid out, being intersected bystreets from 60 to 80 feet in width. The squares are divided into lotsof from 16 1/2 varas (the Spanish yard of 33 1/3 inches) front and 50deep, to 100 varas square. The smaller and more valuable of these lotsare those situated between high and low water mark. Part of these lotswere sold in January last at auction, and brought from $50 to $600. Theestablished prices of 50 and 100 vara lots are $12 and $25. 

San Francisco, last August, contained 459 souls, of whom 375 werewhites, four-fifths of these being under 40 years of age. Some idea ofthe composition of the white population may be gathered from thefollowing statement as to the nationality of the larger portion:English, 22; German, 27; Irish, 14; Scotch, 14: born in the UnitedStates, 228; Californians, 89. 

Previously to the first of April, 1847, there had been erected in thetown 79 buildings, nearly all of which had been erected within the twoyears preceding, whereas in the next four months 78 more had beenconstructed. 

There can be no better evidence of the advantages and capabilities forimprovement of the place than this single fact. "--St. Louis "Reville, "February 12, 1848. 

John A. Sutter. 

I remember standing on the bank of the Sacramento River, talking withCaptain Sutter, in the fall of '49; he remarked, "I have moored my boatsin the tops of those cottonwood trees, where the driftwood showed notless than 25 feet from the ground. "

"The Plaza. "

Portsmouth Square or the "Plaza, " as we then called it, was located inthe hub of the old settlement on the cove, and occupied half a block tothe west of Kearny street, between Clay and Washington. It was the sceneof all public meetings and demonstrations. It was named after the oldsloop-of-war "Portsmouth, " whose commanding officer, Captain Montgomery, landed with a command of 70 sailors and marines on July 8, 1846, raisedthe American flag here and proclaimed the occupancy of NorthernCalifornia by the United States. A salute of twenty-one guns was firedfrom the "Portsmouth" simultaneously. 

On the east side of Kearny street, opposite the Plaza, was the "ElDorado, " a famous gambling saloon, adjoining which was the Parker House, afterwards the Jenny Lind Theatre, while on the north side of Washingtonstreet stood the Bella Union Theatre, and on the west on Brenham Placewas the old Monumental Fire Engine House whose fire bell played soprominent a part in the days of the Vigilantes. 

In the spring of 1850 the writer was in San Francisco, and made theacquaintance of Captains Egery and Hinkley, who were the owners of thePacific Foundry. They being in need of some molding sand for small work, I consented to go to San Jose and get some for them. I engaged Mr. Watts, who had a little schooner that would carry about six tons. He wascaptain and I was super-cargo, and we made the trip down in about oneday. I found what I wanted on the banks of a slough, loaded the schoonerand returned to San Francisco. While in San Jose I came across two youngladies. I had a very pleasant chat with them. I learned later on thatthey were the daughters of Mr. Burnett, who became the first Governor ofCalifornia. I heard no more of them until 1910, when I was on my way toMonterey to attend the unveiling of the Sloat Monument. I enquired forthem of a man in the depot, and he told me that one of them was lyingover there, dead (pointing in the direction), I could not helpexpressing my sorrow. 

The captain landed me and my cargo in San Francisco in good shape, without any mishap on the voyage. I delivered the cargo in good orderand was well paid. 

Early Realty Values. 

In 1850 I was in San Francisco and by chance was on Clay street wherethe city was selling 50-vara water lots in the neighborhood of Sansome, Battery and Front streets, at auction, $25 for inside lot, and $30 forcorner lots. I stood there with my hands in my pockets, and gold dustand gold coin on my person that was a burden to me and bought not asingle lot. There were many others who were in the same fix that I was. You may say, "What a lot of fools, " and I would say, "Yes. " Here isanother little joke: Sometime before this I made a deposit of a sack ofgold dust with Adams & Co. 's Express in San Francisco. When the timecame for me to leave the city, I went into the office to draw my sack ofdust. The clerk brought it forward at once and I said, "How much for thedeposit?" He said, "Five dollars. " Then I said, "You will have to takeit out of the sack as I have no coin. " He said, "Are you going to sellit?" "Yes, " I said. "Well, " said he, "You can sell it at the counter onthe other side, and pay that clerk. " "All right, " said I, and sold mydust. It amounted to $425. He counted out the $25 in small change, andslipped it out onto the counter. I let it lay there until he had countedout the rest. 

A Deal In "Slugs. "

At this time the $50 slugs were in circulation. He counted out the $400in a pile and took hold of the bottom one and set the pile over to myside of the counter, as much as to say, "There is your money. " I said tohim "There is five dollars coming to you for the deposit of the dust. "He picked the five dollars out of the change on the counter. I picked upthe balance of the change and put it into my pocket. I also picked upthe pile of slugs by the bottom one in the same way that he handed themto me and dropped them into an outside pocket of my coat withoutcounting them, and started for the four o'clock boat for Stockton. On myway to the wharf I thought that pile of slugs looked large and I tookthem out and counted them. I found that I had twelve instead of eight. Iturned around and went back to the office, to the same counter andclerk, and said to him, "Do you rectify mistakes here?" He said, "Notafter a man leaves the office. " I said, "All right, " and left the officeand made the Stockton boat all right. But there were no insane asylumsthere at that time. 

Harry Meiggs. 

In the early fifties Honest Harry Meiggs (as he was called) was one ofour most enterprising, generous and far-seeing citizens. His firstventure was in the banking business. It was while engaged in thispursuit that he gained the name "Honest Harry Meiggs. " His bankingbusiness was good for a year or so and then he conceived the idea ofbuilding a wharf at North Beach. It commenced at Francisco streetbetween Powell and Mason streets. It extended north several hundred feetand was used for a landing place for lumber in the rough, to be conveyedto his mill on the South side of Francisco street near Powell. In orderto accommodate the demands of trade an "L" was extended eastward fromthe end of his wharf. About this time he got into financial troubles. InOctober, 1854, he departed with his family for Chili between two daysand passed out through the Golden Gate, and no more was heard of him fora long time. It finally became known that he was in Peru, engaged inbuilding bridges for that government. He took contracts and was verysuccessful and became well off in a few years. He sent an agent to SanFrancisco to hunt up all his creditors and pay them, dollar for dollarwith interest. I knew a widow in San Francisco in the late '60s by thename of Rogers who was a creditor, who married a man by the name ofAllen; I think that was in 1867. They went to Peru and saw Mr. Meiggs. He paid all she demanded, about $300. Allen returned and reported to thechildren that their mother died while in Peru of fever, but they nevergot a cent of the money. 

Mr. Meiggs was born in New York in 1811 and died in Peru in 1877. 

San Francisco's First Town Clock. 

The first public clock ever erected in San Francisco was placed on thefrontage of the upper story of a four-story building at Nos. 425-427Montgomery street, that was being built by Alexander Austin. This was in1852. The clock was ordered by him and brought via the "Panama Route"from New York, arriving in San Francisco on the steamer Panama. 

Mr. Austin occupied the ground floor as a retail dry goods establishmentand it was one of the first, if not the first, of any prominence in thecity. He afterwards moved to the southeast corner of Sutter andMontgomery streets and continued there until 1869 when he was electedcity and county tax collector. 

The clock remained on the building until January 20th, 1886, when thethen owner of the building, Mr. D. F. Walker, had it removed so as toarrange for the remodeling of the interior. 

Mr. W. H. Wharff, the architect in charge of the remodeling, purchasedthe clock and retained it in his possession until November 24, 1911, when he presented it to the Memorial Museum of the Golden Gate Park, where the curator, Mr. G. H. Barron, placed it in the "Pioneer Room. " Itis to be seen there now. 

Admission Day Flag. 

Here is an interesting fact that has never been given publicity before, and I simply relate it as told me by Sarah Connell, the daughter of theman that carried it. 

"Mr. D. S. Haskell, manager of the express and banking business of Adams& Co. , conceiving the patriotic idea of having an American flag carriedin the division of which his firm was to be a part, endeavored toprocure an American flag, but found that nothing but flags of the sizefor ships or poles were to be had. He then started to find material fromwhich to have one made, but in this he was unsuccessful also. So, undaunted, he at last found a dressmaker who lived somewhere in theneighborhood of Washington and Dupont streets, who found in her'piece-bag' that she had brought from New York, enough pieces of silkand satin (they were not all alike) to make a flag three feet by twofeet. He was so delighted with her handiwork that he gave her a $50 slugfor her work[6]. 

"Thus it was that Adams & Co. Were able to parade under the stars andstripes in that memorable parade of October 28, 1850, in celebration ofthe admission of California as a state into the union. After the paradeMr. Haskell presented the flag to their chief messenger, my father, Mr. Thomas Connell, and it has been in our possession since. "

Mr. Thomas Connell. 

Mr. Connell was one of the few of the early comers who never went to themines, though of course, that was his intention. He started, butsomewhere on the Contra Costa side--it was all Contra Costa then--hefell ill of malaria fever. There was no one with time to bother with asick man and he was unable to proceed or return so he expected to endhis life there. When the disease abated he concluded that he had nodesire to penetrate further into the wilderness, so he turned his facetowards San Francisco again. He was a shipwright by trade and thoughthere was nothing doing in his line, he saw the possibilities of aboating business when there were no wharves, piers or otheraccommodations for freight or passengers. One of the curious uses towhich his boats were put was the carrying of a water supply. They werechartered by a company and fitted with copper tanks which were filledfrom springs near Sausalito. On this side of the bay the water wastransferred to wagons like those now used for street sprinkling and theprecious fluid was supplied to householders at a remunerative rate oftwenty-five cents a pail, every family having one or two hogsheadsfitted with a spigot to hold the supply. 

Mr. Connell also carried the first presidential message received in theState, rowing up the Sacramento River day and night in his own boat todeliver the document at the capitol, and for sake of the sentiment healso carried the last one received by steamer as far as Oakland, whencethe delivery was completed by train. 

Uncle Phil Roach, Happy Valley. 

Uncle Phil Roach, editor and founder of the "San Francisco Examiner, "lived on Clementina street near First. He was one of those good natured, genial old men that everybody liked, was at one time president of theSociety of California Pioneers (1860-1), and later elected to the StateLegislature. He afterwards acted as administrator of the Blythe estate, but died before its final settlement. 

The place where he lived was called Happy Valley and the only entranceto it was at the intersection of Market, Bush and First streets, thiscrossing being at the east end of a sand dune about 30 feet high, extending westerly about half a mile. At this time the waters of the baycame up to the corner of Market and First streets, but it was not longbefore this, and many other sand dunes, disappeared, being scraped andcarted off to fill the nearby mud flats. 

There was at this time a little wharf 50 feet wide extending out intothe cove from the foot of Clay street at Davis 1550 feet to a depth of35 feet. It was called "Long Wharf. " To the north of this wharf thewater lapped what is now Sansome street for a block (to Washingtonstreet) and followed the shore line to the corner of Jackson andMontgomery streets. 

Early Water Supply. 

My mind drifts back to the days when our water system was dependent inpart upon a well near the corner of Market and First streets. This wasin 1855 when the population of San Francisco was between 40, 000 and50, 000. I was then living on Third street near Mission and got my supplyof water from a man named Somers who conveyed water about the city tohis various customers in a cart. I took water from him for about threeyears at the rate of $1. 50 per week. 

Many's the time I have gone out to the Mission hunting rabbits. All thatpart of the city was as wild as it ever was, sand dunes and low grounds. About three years later a company built a plank toll road on Missionstreet from some point near the water front to the Mission, a distanceof about three miles. This made an opening through the sand dunes andthat section filled up rapidly. 

Postoffice. 

The postoffice was situated on the lot at the northwest corner ofWashington and Battery streets. It was built in 1855. Previous to theerection of this building the pioneers obtained their mail from thepostoffice on Clay street and Waverly Place, and on Clay street nearKearny opposite the Plaza (Portsmouth Square), and afterwards on Clayand Kearny streets. The great fire of 1852 destroyed these places. Toavoid confusion and facilitate the delivery of the mail on the day thesteamer arrived, long lines were formed of people who expected lettersfrom home. 

It was a frequent occurrence to see the same people standing in placeall day waiting their turn, the delivery windows being arrangedalphabetically. Oft-times persons would sell their places for as much asten and even twenty dollars. 

John Parrott. 

John Parrott, the banker, was a good natured man and could take a jokewith much grace. Here is one: "A broker came to him one day and said:'Mr. Parrott, I want to borrow one thousand dollars on a lot of hams inthe warehouse. ' 'All right, ' said Mr. Parrott. It went on for some timeand Mr. Parrott looked around for his ham man, but could not find him, but he found the hams and the greater part of the weight of them wasmaggots. Mr. Parrot was very much disgusted. Time went on for a numberof years and another man came to him to borrow money on hams in thewarehouse. Mr. Parrott said to him, shaking his finger before the man'sface, 'No more hams, no more hams, ' and walked off. " It was a standingjoke on the street for a long time. This was late in the '50's. 

In 1858-59 I built two very good houses on the south side of Howardstreet near Fourth. I lived in one of them about two years and thenbought on the north side of Taylor street between Clay and Washingtonstreets and resided there 17 years. 

Pony Express. 

I was present when the first messenger mounted his pony to start on thefirst trip across the continent. He started from Kearny street betweenClay and Washington, opposite the "Plaza"--this was on the 3rd ofApril, 1860. It was a semi-weekly service, each rider to carry 15 poundsof letters--rate $5 per half ounce. Stations were erected about 25miles apart and each rider was expected to span three stations, going atthe rate of eight miles per hour. The first messenger to reach SanFrancisco from the East arrived April 14, 1860, and was enthusiasticallyreceived. Time for letters from New York was reduced to 13 days, theactual time taking from 10 1/2 to 12 days. The best horses and thebravest of men were necessary to make these relays, over the mountains, through the snow and across the plains through the Indian-infestedcountry. The distance from San Francisco to St. Joseph, Mo. , was 1996miles and the service was established by Majors, Russell & Co. , ofLeavenworth, Kansas. 

Now I will go back a few years and pick up a little experience that wasscattered along the road. In 1861 I took my family around the bay for anouting in a private carriage. We went through San Mateo, Redwood City, Santa Clara, San Jose, Hot Springs, Hayward, San Leandro, Oakland andback to San Francisco by boat. We enjoyed the trip very much without anymishap to mar its pleasure. 

A Venture In Flour. 

About this time I bought out Loring & Mason who were in the retailgrocery business on the corner of Taylor and Clay streets. This wasanother venture in which I had never had any experience, "But, " said I, "Here goes for what there's in it. " A few days later there came a man inhis buggy from over the hill with whom I was very little acquainted. Hehad charge of the Empire warehouse in the lower part of the city. Hisname was Mr. Garthwait. He called at my store and said, "Woolley, I havea lot of Oregon Standard flour in the warehouse. The storage is paid forone month, and I will sell you what you want for $6 and three bits abarrel, and you can take it out from time to time as you like. " Afterlooking the situation over for a few minutes I came to the conclusionthat I could not buy any lower. I said, "Well, I will take one hundredbarrels. " "All right, " said he, and drove off. In a few days I went downand paid for it. About the middle of December 1861 it commenced to rainin the valleys and a few days later it rained in the mountainsthroughout the State, and the snow commenced to melt and that, togetherwith the rain in the valleys, started the rivers to rising, and as therivers went up so did the flour. The water gauge at Sacramento indicatedfeet and inches in going up while flour indicated dollars and cents ingoing up. On the first of January, 1862, it was still raining and thewater coming down in a greater volume. Communication was cut off fromall parts of the country except by water. The Legislature was in sessionthat winter and was obliged to adjourn and go to San Francisco to finishits labors. In order that my readers may adequately realize thegreatness of this flood it is no more than fair to say that the riverboats from San Francisco went up J and K streets in Sacramento City andtook people out of the second-story windows. Now, then we will call thishigh-water mark and flour $10 a barrel and going up. During this time Iwas letting my customers have what they wanted at the quotation price. It continued to advance about one dollar per day until it reachedsixteen dollars per barrel. At this time I had very little left and itall went at that price. Very soon after this flour came in from Oregonand the price went down, as well as the water, and the market assumed alower level and business went on as usual. It must be remembered thatall transportation at this time was either by water or highway. 

A Venture In Oil. 

In this year was the beginning of the Civil War and for the benefit ofthose who came into active life later on I will give them a little of myexperience in a small way. At the time I purchased the store of which Ihave spoken I took over a standing contract they had with a firm inBoston to send them a specified amount of coal oil around Cape Horn, asnear six weeks as any vessel would be leaving for San Francisco. I tookwhat was on the way at that time and the shipments were continued to me. At this time it took from sixty to seventy days to get answers toletters from the East. Time and business go on. We had on an average ofabout two steamers a month from New York with the mails. In 1862 the wartax and stamp act came in force. It was high and quite a hardship forsome but everybody paid it cheerfully and with a good grace, and feltthat they were getting off easy. About this time greenbacks came intocirculation as money. It was legal tender and you could not refuse it. It made a great deal of hard feeling on many occasions but after a longtime it set settled down to a premium on gold, which fluctuated from dayto day. Finally the premium on gold was so high that currency was onlyfifty cents on a dollar, that is, one dollar in gold would buy twodollars in currency. On account of this many debtors would buy currencyand pay their creditors with it. This was considered very crooked on thepart of the debtor. I myself was a victim to some extent. The "EveningBulletin" exposed a great many men by publishing their names but by sodoing it made enemies and it did not last long. All bills rendered fromthis time on were made payable in United States gold coin. My coal oilcost me fifty cents per gallon in Boston, payable in currency. Thefreight was also payable in currency. Now my readers will readily seethat my coal oil cost me a little over twenty-five cents per gallon laiddown in San Francisco. About 1863 there was an unusual demand for coaloil and it was scarce and there was very little on the way around CapeHorn, consequently the market price went up very rapidly until itreached $1. 50 and $1. 75 per gallon. The result was that I sold all I hadin the warehouse and on the way around the Horn. I kept what I had inthe store for my retail trade. I do not look upon these speculations asany foresight of mine, but the change of circumstances and conditions ofthe market. 

Flood of '61 and '62. 

The great flood of '61 and '62 was an occasion seldom known in theState. Early in December '61 it commenced to rain in the valleys andsnow in the mountains. In about two weeks it turned to rain in themountains and valleys. The melting of the snow caused the rivers to risevery rapidly, the levees gave way and the waters flooded the city. Themerchants commenced to put their goods on benches and counters, anywhereto keep them above water. Families who had an upper story to their housemoved into it. The water continued to rise until it reached a point sothat the boats running between Sacramento and San Francisco went up Jand K streets and took people out of the second story of their houses. The islands were all flooded and there was great suffering along theriver besides the great loss of property. This flood did more damagethan any high water since '49, but it was as an ill wind as far as itconcerned my business, as I related previously. 

Civil War Times In S. F. 

In 1861 Dr. Wm. A. Scott, pastor of the Calvary Presbyterian church, onthe north side of Bush street between Montgomery and Sansome streets, closed his services praying for the presidents of the Union and of theConfederate States. As soon as the benediction was pronounced Mrs. Thomas H. Selby smuggled him out of the side door into her carriage andoff to her home, fearing the congregation, which had became a seethingmob, might capture and do him bodily harm. There was no demonstration atthis time but the next morning there was to be seen in effigy Dr. Scott's form hanging from the top of the second story of a building incourse of construction on the same block. It created some excitement forthe time being, but it soon simmered out. 

Lloyd Tevis was getting badly frightened about this time for fear hishome on the corner of Taylor and Jackson streets would be destroyed andappealed to the police for protection. He was told to go home and drapehis home in black. This he did most effectually, the occasion being theassassination of President Abraham Lincoln. 

One of the exciting times in San Francisco in 1865 was when a mob wentto the office of "The Examiner" on Washington street near Sansome andcarried everything that was movable into the street and piled it up withthe intention of burning. It seems that this paper was so pronounced inits sympathy with the cause of the Confederacy that it aroused such afeeling as to cause drastic measures. The police authorities wereinformed of what was going on and Colonel Wood, captain of police, got asquad of policemen together and proceeded to the scene, but theirmovements were so slow that it was hard to tell whether they were movingor not and by the time they had reached the place the boys had carriedoff nearly everything that had been thrown out. I have two pieces oftype now that I picked up in the street about that time. 

Uncle Phil Roach, the editor, was in later years a member of the StateLegislature and tried to get an appropriation to cover his loss but hisefforts were of no avail. 

President Lincoln and Gen. Vallejo. 

President Lincoln in the early part of the Civil War called GeneralVallejo to Washington on business. While there General Vallejo suggestedto Mr. Lincoln that the United States build a railroad into Mexico, believing as he said, it would be a benefit to both nations. Mr. Lincolnsmilingly asked, "What good would it do for our people to go down toMexico even if the railroads were built? They would all die of fever andaccording to your belief go down yonder, " with a motion of his handtowards the supposed location of the infernal regions. "I wouldn't bevery sorry about that, " remarked General Vallejo coolly. "How so?" saidMr. Lincoln. "I thought you liked the Yankees. " "So I do, " was theanswer. "The Yankees are a wonderful people, wonderful. Wherever they gothey make improvements. If they were to emigrate in large numbers tohell itself, they would somehow manage to change the climate. "

Off to the Nevada Mines. 

Uncle Billy Rodgers, from Peoria, Ill. , was a fellow passenger of minewhen crossing the plains in 1849 in the first division of the "Turner, Allen & Co. Pioneer Mule Train, " consisting of 40 wagons, 150 mules and150 passengers. He was a gambler before he left home and he gambled allthe way across the plains. Many people think that a gambler has no heartbut this man was all heart. I knew him on one occasion, after visiting asick man in camp, to take off his shirt and give it to the sick man andgo about camp for an hour to find one for himself. 

We arrived in California on September 10, 1849. We parted about thattime and I saw no more of him until the winter of '68 and '69 when I wason my way to White Pine in Nevada. We had to lay over a few days atElko, Nevada, in order to get passage in the stage. As we had saddlesand bridles we made an effort to get some horses and furnish our owntransportation, and we had partly made arrangements with a man by thename of Murphy. The day previous to this I overheard a conversationbetween two gentlemen sitting at the opposite end of a red hot stove. After they parted I approached the one left and said, "Is this UncleBilly?" He said, "Yes, everybody calls me 'Uncle Billy' but I do notknow you. " I gave him my name and he was as glad to see me as I was tosee him. We had a long and very pleasant chat. 

Now to take up the line of march where I left off, I said, "Hold on boysa little while I go and see a friend of mine. " "All right, " said they. Icalled on Uncle Billy and told him what we were doing and asked him whatkind of a man Murphy was, and his answer was, "He's a very goodblacksmith, " and repeated it two or three times, then said, "I am in awild country and never say anything against anybody. " I said, "That'senough Uncle Billy, I understand you thoroughly. " I parted with him andwe took the stage for Hamilton and Treasure Hill. The last I heard ofUncle Billy was that he went north as an escort to some party and diedthere. Uncle Billy was a gambler all his life but not a drinker. Hisheart, his hand and his pocket were ever open and ready to respond tothe relief of the distress of others. The writing of the above calls tomind another meeting with Uncle Billy of which I had lost sight, thedate of which I cannot fix. I think it was in the first half of '60 Imet him on the street in San Francisco and our meeting was most cordial. We had a very pleasant street visit and he said to me, "Woolley, I amgoing home, I shall take the next steamer for New York. " I said to him, "How are you fixed, Uncle Billy?" He said, "I have eleven thousanddollars and I am going home. " I congratulated him for his courage andgood luck and wished him a pleasant voyage and a happy reunion with hisold friends. About a week later I met Uncle Billy on the street againand said to him, "How is this Uncle Billy, I thought you were going homeon the last steamer?"

"Yes, " said he, "I thought so too; at the same time, I thought I wouldjust step into a faro bank and win just enough to pay my passage home sothat I would have even money when I got home. But instead of that I lostevery dollar I had and I am going back into the mountains again. Myreaders know the rest. "

My friends this is only one of thousands who had the same experience. 

In 1868 "the girl I left behind me" went East on a visit of six months, taking with her our two children. 

In the fall of that year (1868) I went to White Pine in Nevada. It was avery cold trip for me and I came home in June "thawed out, " sold out mygrocery business and went into the produce commission business andfollowed it for ten years. 

Martin J. Burke. 

Chief of Police Martin J. Burke I knew very well in the early sixties. He was a genial and good natured man, well liked by everybody who knewhim. I went to him one time with a curb bit for a bridle which wouldbring the curb rein into action with only one pair of reins. He was muchpleased with it and used one for a long while. George C. Shreve, thejeweler, had one also, as did Charles Kohler, of the firm of Kohler &Frohling, wine men of San Francisco. He offered me $3000 for my rightbut I refused it. I applied for a patent only to find that another wasabout twenty years ahead of me. 

The Donahue Brothers. 

James, Peter and Michael Donahue, the founders of the Union Iron Workson First and Mission streets, were three honorable, upright and justmen. Their works have since been removed to the Potrero south of theThird and Townsend streets depot of the Southern Pacific Co. , and haveof late passed into the hands of the United Steel Corporation. They arethe largest of their kind on the Pacific Coast and stand a monument totheir founders. James Dunahue built and owned the Occidental Hotel onMontgomery street between Sutter and Bush streets. Peter Donahue had thefoundry and machine shop. At one time there was a littlemisunderstanding understanding between the two and they did not speak toeach other for quite a while. During this time Peter started to build anaddition of brick on the north side of the foundry, got up one story andstopped. The two brothers met one day opposite the unfinished buildingand James said, "Peter why don't you go on and finish your building?"Peter replied, "I have not got money enough. " "Oh!" said James, "goahead and finish it up and I will let you have all the money you want. "'From that time on they resumed their brotherly relations. Peter went onin his business. His last venture was to build the Petaluma railroad. Both are now dead. Michael went East early in the '50s and I knew verylittle of him. 

The Take of A Young Bull. 

In 1870 I was in the produce commission business in San Francisco andhad a consignor in Vacaville by the name of G. N. Platt who had beenpresented with a fine young bull by Frank M. Pixley, who lived inSausalito, in the hills about two miles from town. Mr. Platt requestedme to go and get the bull and ship him to Vacaville, so I left nextmorning for Sausalito. Here I sought a man who could throw the lasso. After two hours I found the man I wanted. He had the mustangs and allthe necessary equipment. We mounted and left for Mr. Pixley's residencewhere we were informed that the animal we wanted was somewhere in thehills with the other cattle. This was rather indefinite information, butwe had to make the best of it and started out. Our mustangs were wellcalculated for the occasion and we went over the hills like kites. Finally we saw some cattle about a mile away and we made for them, foundwhat we were in search of and made for him. He had horns about twoinches long and was as light on his feet as a deer, and gave us a livelychase for about one hour. When we had him at the end of a rope he wasdetermined to go just the opposite way than we wanted him to, but theman and the mustang at the other end of the rope had their way part ofthe time, so after about two hours hard fighting we succeeded in gettingthe little fellow down to the wharf where I found that there would notbe another boat until after dark, so I concluded to wait and come overin the morning and ship him. The next thing was to dispose of the bullfor the night. I said, "Here is a coal bunker, we will put him in here. "So after getting permission we started for it with the bull at one endof the rope and the vaquero at the other. The bull got a little thebetter of the man and went up the wharf full tilt with the vaquero intow. The vaquero said, "There is a post on the wharf, the bull will goone side and I will go the other and round him up. " But he got roundedup himself and left sprawled out on the wharf. This let the curtain downfor the night and the bull went back to the hills with the rope. Ireturned to San Francisco, went back in the morning, hunted up my manand mustangs, mounted and went into the hills again for my bull. Thiswas a bully ride, I enjoyed it hugely, found our game about noon, pickedup the rope with the bull on the end of it. He was still wild and fullof resistance. He was the hardest fellow of his size that I everattempted to handle. We made our way back to the landing, found the boatwaiting. I called the boat hands to help put him on board. They came. Iput one at his head, one on each side and one behind, and they all hadas much as they wanted to keep control of him. Finally he was made faston the boat. While on our way to San Francisco a lady from the upperdeck called down to me, saying, "I will give you one hundred dollars forthat bull. " I said, "No, madam, you cannot have him, he is going intothe country for business. "

After landing in San Francisco I had to take him from one wharf toanother so as to take the Vacaville boat. I got a job wagon and the boathands to take him out and tie the fellow to the hind axle of the wagonand then go by his side to the other boat. We fastened him securely to astanchion and tagged to his destination. This relieved me of any furtherresponsibility. I saw him about three years later in Vacaville. He was afine large fellow with all the fire in his eye that he had in hisyounger days. He had a large ring in his nose with a chain running fromit to the end of each horn. Now as my readers have had the bear story, and now the bull story, they will excuse me on those two subjects. 

Admission Day 1875. 

Another event that might be of interest and worthy of reciting here onaccount of the many noted personages that partook in the celebration wasthe ceremonies connected with the 25th anniversary of the admission ofCalifornia as a State into the Union, September 9, 1875. 

The principal places of business, banks and offices were all closed andthe buildings and streets were gaily bedecked with flags and bunting. The "bear flag" being in evidence everywhere. The shipping presented apretty sight, the vessels seeming to outvie each other in their effortsto display the greatest amount of bunting and flags. 

One of the features of the day was the parade. The procession startedfrom in front of the Hall of the Pioneers on Montgomery street north ofJackson, marched along Montgomery to Market, to Eleventh, to Mission andthence to Woodward's Gardens, where the exercises were held. Whenopposite the Lick House, James Lick, the honored president of thesociety, who reviewed the passing pioneers from his rooms, was given arousing salute by each of the delegations as they passed. In this paradewere members of the pioneer organizations from Sacramento, Stockton, Marysville, Vallejo, Sonoma, Marin, Napa, Mendocino, Lake andPlacerville, as well as the parent organization of San Francisco. 

The escort consisted of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Regiments, 2nd Brigade, N. G. C. , Col. W. H. L. Barnes, Col. John McComb and Col. Archie Wason, respectively. Brig. Gen. John Hewston, Jr. , commanding. Marshal Huefnerand his aide followed. Next came the several visiting pioneerorganizations, then the carriages of invited guests, orator, reader andothers. Then the home society, turning out 427 strong. 

Among the persons of note to have been seen and who wore the goldenbadge indicating that they had come here prior to 1849, were Carlos F. Glein, A. A. Green, A. G. Abel, George Graft, W. P. Toler, Thos. Edgar, G. W. Ross, P. Kadel, F. Ballhaus, W. C. Hinckley, H. B. Russ, A. G. Russ, Owen Murry, B. P. Kooser, J. E. Winson, Arthur Cornwall, E. A. Engleberg, Wm. Jeffry, Capt. Hinckley, Wm. Huefner, Thos. Roche, F. G. Blume, John C. Ball and Thomas Eagar. 

Among the others present were Ex-Gox. Low, Mayor Otis, Ex-Sen. Cole, Chas. Clayton, Paul K. Hubbs of Vallejo, Eleazer Frisbie, L. B. Mizner, Niles Searles, F. W. McKinstry and Dr. O. M. Wozencraft, a member of theFirst Constitutional Convention of California. 

In the Sonoma delegation were Nicholas Carriger, ex-president anddirector; Wm. Hargrave, a member of the original Bear Flag Party of1846, Mrs. W. M. Boggs and Mrs. A. J. Grayson, who came here in 1846 inadvance of the Donner party. 

In the Vallejo delegation were John Paul Jones Donaldson, then 84 yearsold, who was on this coast as early as 1823 and who came back to residehere in 1848. 

Wm. Boggs and his delegation from Sonoma were mostly all 1846 arrivals. 

James W. Marshall, the man who discovered gold at Coloma, about 45 milesnortheast from Sacramento, on January 19th, 1848, was with theSacramento delegation. He was then 67 years old, hale and hearty. 

Mr. Murphy, a survivor of the Donner party, was with the Marysvilledelegation. 

In addition to these were many others who have since become well knownthrough their doings in the political arena and business world, and havemade names for themselves that are honored and respected to this day andwill ever find a place in this State's history. 

At the Pavilion in Woodward's Gardens the literary services were held. D. J. Staples, acting-president, delivered a stirring address, rehearsing the events of the past 25 years. 

Dr. J. B. Stillman then followed with an oration in which he spoke ofthe gold discovery in California, the effect upon the East of Col. Mason's report, the sudden influx of seekers of the "Golden Fleece" bysea and overland, of their hardships and endurance, and theirexperiences at the mines, etc. , etc. 

Mr. J. B. Benton read a poem by Mrs. James Neall. 

The literary exercises were followed by a lunch and that by anentertainment of mixed character. Billy Emerson, Ben Cotton, Billy Rice, Ernest Linden, F. Oberist, W. F. Baker, J. G. Russell and BillyArlington of Maguire's Minstrel Troupe, and W. S. Lawton, Capt. Martinand L. P. Ward, and the Buisley family being among the entertainers. 

A balloon ascension followed the entertainment and during the day the"Great Republic" made an excursion around the bay. 

On an S. P. Pay-Car. 

In the summer of 1874 the paymaster of the Southern Pacific RailroadCompany, Major J. M. Hanford, sent me an invitation to accompany him onthe pay car through the San Joaquin Valley, to pay off the employees ofthe company. I was delighted to have an opportunity of going through thevalley. At the appointed time I was on hand with two boxes of cigars, for I knew the Major was likely to have some lively, good naturedfellows with him, and I wanted to have something with me to help mealong. Now I must say something about this pay car, for it was awonderful thing for me. It had the appearance on the inside of a hotelon wheels. At the rear end was a window through which the employees werepaid; the depth of the room in which were the pay master and his twocheck clerks, was about the same as the width of the car. In it were thesafe, rifles, shotguns, pistols, ammunition galore, with an opening intowhat was used as the dining room and berths, which would accommodateabout 12 people. Then came the cook's room on one side, with a narrowpassageway on the other, into a small room in the front end of the car. This car was sixty feet in length and would make you think you were in apalace hotel on wheels. Hank Small, who had hands as big as a gardenspade, was the engineer, with engine No. 96, which was always expectedto pull the pay car. Then there was a man by the name of Olmsby who wasone of the check clerks, young and very fine looking. Then there wasanother man in the employ of the company by the name of Gerald who wasauditor for the company and had feet twice as large as any other man. Now I want my readers to hold these three men in mind and theirpeculiarities for I shall refer to them later on. 

We are all now seated at the supper table, ten in all, and all railroadmen except myself, with the dignified paymaster at the head of the tableand his check clerk, Olmsby, at the foot, who assumed the duty of sayinggrace by making motions around his chest and head, accompanied withthese words, "Bucksaws filed and set. " This created some amusement andwas the only time it occurred. The supper went on and the tables werecleared away, and then there was chatting and story telling. Finally Istarted to tell a story and had gotten fairly into it when I suddenlydiscovered that every man in the room was sound asleep. It did not takeme long to wake them up and have every man on his feet or on the floor. This did not last long, for I brought out one of my boxes of cigars andthat settled the question right there. The next day we were in the SanJoaquin Valley and continued the trip, paying the men as we went along, until we reached Bakersfield. This was the end of the road at that time. Then we returned to Stockton, to Sacramento, to Red Bluff, which was theend of the road in that direction at that time. From there we returnedto San Francisco, having had a very fine and agreeable trip, and eachone returned to his former allotted position. I at this time was in theproduce commission business on Washington street near Front street. Inside of a year Mr. Olmsby left the railroad company, married and wentto Chico, in the Sacramento Valley, to run a stationery store. In 1876, the year that President Hayes was elected, his wife gave birth to achild and Olmsby sent a telegram to Mr. Hanford reading like this: "Boy, born last night, has Gerald's feet, Hank Small's hands, my good looks, and hollered for Hayes all night. "

Employ of the Southern Pacific. 

In 1884 I went into the employ of the Southern Pacific Co. Where Iremained for twenty years. In 1904 on account of a rule of the companypertaining to long service and age, I was retired on a pension. Iprotested, they insisted, I accepted (because I could not help myself). The company was right and I appreciated the pension as they appreciatedmy services. In all those years I had no reason to complain of thecompany. 

Shortly after my retirement from the employ of the Southern PacificCompany I had sickness in my family and lost "the girl I left behindme, " after fifty-three years of happy married life. This was in 1906, itis now 1913, and I am still behind, but I shall get there bye-and-byeand we will go on together side by side. 

Sloat Monument. 

On June 4, 1910, I went to Monterey, Calif. , to attend the ceremonies ofthe unveiling and dedication of the Sloat Monument at the Presidio ofMonterey. The idea, conception and putting through to a successfultermination of the erection of this monument, was the work of, we mightsay, one man, Major Edwin A. Sherman, V. M. W. It has taken the greaterpart of his time for twenty-four years. A large proportion of the moneynecessary was raised by subscription, but things lagged for a while, when the Major applied to the U. S. Congress for an appropriation of$10, 000 to complete the work and got it. The monument was then finishedunder the supervision of Lieutenant-Colonel John Biddle. 

At the dedication which was held under the auspices of the Grand Lodgeof Masons, Col. C. W. Mason, U. S. A. , delivered the address of welcome, Major Sherman gave a brief sketch of the work and Lt. -Col. Biddle made afew remarks. M. W. W. Frank Pierce, 33rd degree Mason, officiated. 

The monument was erected to commemorate the raising of the American Flagat Monterey, the capital of California, July 7, 1846, by the forcesunder command of Com. Jonathan Drake Sloat, U. S. N. War had beendeclared between the U. S. And Mexico. 

Nob Hill. 

In later days, about 1877, the term Nob Hill was applied to the crown ofCalifornia street from Powell street westward three blocks to Jonesstreet, on account of its having been selected by the railroad magnatesof the State upon which to build their new homes, it being their desireto live together in their home life as well as in their business life. 

On the north side of California street commencing at Powell was theresidence of Mr. David Porter. This was torn down to make way for theFairmont Hotel, ground for which was broken October 15, 1902. There wereother small homes on other parts of the block but they too were removedand the entire block was used as a site for this famous hostelry. 

In the early days a long shanty 40 feet by 10 to 12 feet in width stoodwhere the Porter residence formerly stood. A man by the name of McIntireowned it. It was literally covered with California honeysuckle, and aview point of the town. This entire block was acquired by the late JamesG. Fair, one of the famous mining men of Nevada, and it still remains inthe family estate. The hotel was in the course of construction at thetime of the great fire of April 18-21, 1906, and the interior had to berebuilt entirely as well as the stonework about the exterior openings. 

The next of the large homes was that of James C. Flood, a handsome andimposing structure of Connecticut brownstone. This building stood uponthe eastern half of the block between Mason and Taylor streets and inorder to build, a huge hill of rock as high as the building now is, hadto be removed. This was in 1876. After the fire of 1906 this buildingwas remodeled and is now occupied by the Pacific-Union Club. 

Mason street had just been cut through this same hill. On the west halfof the block stood the home of the late D. D. Colton, who made hisfortune out of construction contracts on the Central Pacific railroad. It was afterwards purchased by C. P. Huntington, another of the famousrailroad magnates. 

On the next corner stood the large frame mansion of Charles Crocker, oneof the builders of the C. P. R. R. , built at an expense of $2, 500, 000. His son William H. Built himself a home on the far corner of the sameblock. This takes us to Jones street. When the late Charles Crockerselected this site for his home there was one piece of property facingon Sacramento street that he could not buy, so in order to get even withthe owner, a Mr. Young, he had a tall spite fence built around thehouse. The owner lived there for a while, but being shut off as he wasfrom the sunlight, had his house removed; still he would not sell andthe fence stood there for years afterwards. 

On the south side of the street commencing at Powell stood the mansionof Ex-Governor Leland Stanford. When Stanford purchased the propertythere stood there a fine house built by the actress Julia Dean Hayne, with an entrance at the corner. This house was removed to the corner ofPine and Hyde streets. 

The stone retaining wall on Powell and Pine streets, owing to a springon the property, gave way and had to be taken down (at the corner) andrebuilt. At the corner it extends 20 feet below the sidewalk and is 20feet thick and 30 feet high. The ground was then terraced. 

The building cost in the neighborhood of $2, 000, 000. 

On the corner above, Mark Hopkins built his home. At his death it passedinto the hands of a Mr. Searles who had married Hopkins' widow and, notcaring to live in California, he had it converted into an art gallery, and the beautiful conservatory into art rooms for the Art Association ofthe University of California, to whom he bequeathed the property. Thebuilding cost in the neighborhood Of $2, 750, 000. 

On the next block, between Mason and Taylor streets, were the Hamiltonhome, the home of Ex-Mayor E. B. Pond and that of the Tobins. While onthe block from Taylor to Jones street stood the A. N. Towne, H. H. Sherwood and George Whittell residences. Just beyond Jones street, onthe same side, stood the home of E. J. (Lucky) Baldwin of race horsefame. 

In 1861 I moved to 1211 Taylor street, between Clay and Washington, andresided there continuously until 1878, a period of 17 years. And I knewof Stanford, Hopkins, Crocker and Huntington, the quartet of railroadmagnates, better than they knew of me. But what shall I say of them?They have all gone beyond the boundaries of human existence and theirmansions, together with all the other homes on the hill, were burned inthe fire of April 18-21, 1906. They were all men of master minds and aredeserving the highest praise for their enterprise, determination andperseverance in the great work they undertook. It was not their moneythat did it, it was their heads. And there is where the greatindebtedness of the State of California comes in to these men. 

Going down the eastern slope on California, just below Powell on thesouth side, at the corner of Prospect Place, stood a house once occupiedby Lieut. John Charles Fremont, while on the corner below stood the homeof Col. Jonathan D. Stevenson. This building was built in 1851 and hadtwo tiers of verandas that extended entirely around the building. TheColonel died at the age of 94 but had not owned or lived there for manyyears. It had been converted into a hotel and known as the Harvey House. 

Across the street on the other corner stood the Grace Episcopal Church. The Crocker heirs, not desiring to rebuild on their property onCalifornia, between Taylor and Jones streets, bequeathed it to theEpiscopal Diocese on which to build a new Grace Church. It is now incourse of construction. 

On Pine street, at the southwest corner of Stockton, stood the Wilsonhome. On the southeast corner of Mason stood the home of J. D. Oliver, while on the southwest corner stood the home of Mr. Fred McCrellish, theowner of the "Alta California, " while just beyond were the homes ofWoods, Jarboe and Harrison and others. On the next block was the oldStow residence while across the street Isaiah W. Lees, chief of police, resided. He was the greatest detective this coast has ever had--his wasinstinct and intuition, and his records will always remain a lastingmonument. On the northwest corner of Jones stood the home of the lateJames G. Fair, of mining fame, of Nevada. 

Going north on Powell street, at No. 812, Mr. Chilion Beach, thebookseller, lived, while next door, No. 814, Mr. D. D. Shattuck resided. This building was erected in 1854--Mr. Shattuck came to California viathe Isthmus and resided here 47 years. On the next block (same side)stood a little one-story house with a high basement in which J. D. Spencer, a brother of Spencer the sociologist, lived for many years. Just beyond stood the old High School building. On the next block, atNo. 1010, resided for many years another of the old booksellers, Mr. George B. Hitchcock, proprietor of the "Pioneer Book Store, " oppositethe "Plaza. "

At the northwest corner of Washington stood the first brick buildingbuilt in San Francisco. It was built in 1851 by John Truebody, the brickbeing brought from New York. It was originally two stories high but uponthe grading of the streets it was built another story downward to thenew grade. He later added another story, the fourth, on top. Even to thetime of the fire (1906) you could see the various stairway landings onthe Washington street frontage. Mr. Truebody originally owned thisentire block. 

The first church building in Yerba Buena (as San Francisco was formerlycalled) was the First Presbyterian Church on the west side of Powellnear Washington. It was built in 1849 of hand-hewn timbers from Oregon. Upon the erection of the First Methodist Church it was moved to the rearand used as a Sunday school. John Truebody constructed it. 

In this immediate neighborhood were many a frame building that had beenbrought around the Horn "in the knocked down state. "

Powell street, from Clay to North Beach, was graded in 1854. It andStockton street to the east, from Sacramento street north to Greenstreet, were lined with neat homes and was then considered thefashionable residence section of the city, while on Powell street werethree churches. 

The streets in those days were all planked. Beyond Mason streets ran thetrail westward to the Presidio, past scattered cottages, sheds, dairiesand vegetable gardens. 

On the east side of Stockton street, between Sacramento and Claystreets, stood the old Pioche residence, wherein were given many lavishentertainments, for its owner was an epicure and hospitable to a degree. He was a heavy speculator and at one time possessed of much property. His death was a mystery and has never been solved. During the '90's hishome was used as the Chinese consulate. 

On the west side of Taylor street at the corner of Sacramento streetstood the home of Capt. J. B. Thomas, after occupied by Addison E. Head, while on the corner of Clay I had my grocery business, living on thenext block, between Clay and Washington, No. 1211. Win. T. Coleman, theleader of the Vigilance Committee, lived on the corner of Washingtonstreet; this house was built by W. F. Walton, and occupied in turn by S. C. Hastings, Wm. T. Coleman and D. M. Delmas, all men of prominence, while on the next corner stood the home of my old friend, Gross, whocame across the plains with me in 1849. In later days, Mr. Chilion Beachresided there. 

On the east side at the southeast corner of Washington, stood the J. B. Haggin home, while on the northeast corner stood that of the Beavers, and at the corner of Jackson, the Tevis. ' In this neighborhood alsolived Ina D. Coolbrith, whose home was the center of the literary geniusof the State, amongst them being Bret Harte, Joaquin Miller, and CharlesWarren Stoddard. Josiah Stanford, a brother of Leland Stanford, lived onthe south side of Jackson street, just below the Tevis home. 

Here is as good a place as any to give my readers a short account of theClay Street Hill Underground Cable Railroad, which operated on Claystreet from Leavenworth to Kearny streets, a distance of seven blocks, and at an elevation of 307 feet above the starting point. The cable carwas the invention of Mr. A. S. Hallidie, who organized the company whichbuilt the line. This was the first time that the application of anunderground cable was ever used to move street cars, and on August 1, 1873, the first run up the Clay street hill from Kearny to Leavenworthstreet, was made, and by September 1st the road was in operation. It wasa wonderful exhibition, and half the town was there to witness it. Manywere in doubt as to the success of the enterprise. The company requiredthe property holders on the hill to subscribe and donate towards theexpense, which they did. The writer owning some property there at thattime, gave $100. 00 to further the enterprise. This was in 1872. Aninterested Chinese watched the moving cars and remarked: "No pushee, nopullee, go like hellee. "

The California Street Railroad Company used the same device. This linewas operated along California street from Kearny to Fillmore and firstoperated April 9, 1878. It was afterwards extended eastward to Drumm andMarket streets and westward to Central Avenue. The Sutter Street R. R. Co. Was in operation January 27, 1877, and the Geary street line, February 16, 1880. Cable cars were also operated over Sacramento andWashington streets as well as over Powell at later dates. 

[1] A few words might be said concerning the principals of this trouble. King, whose name was James King (before coming to California he hadadded "of William" so as to distinguish himself from others of thatname), came to California November 10th, 1848, engaged in mining andmercantile pursuits and in December 1849 engaged in the banking businessin San Francisco. In 1854 he merged with Adams & Co. Shortly afterwardsthey failed, and he lost everything he possessed. Through the financialbacking of his friends, he started the "Daily Evening Bulletin, " October8th, 1855, a small four-page sheet about 10 x 15 inches in size. He wasfearless in his editorials, but always within the bounds of right andjustice, and took a strong position against corruption of the cityofficials and their means of election. His paper grew in circulation andsize, and soon outstripped all the other papers combined. November 17th, 1855, the Cora and Richardson affair held the attention of thepublic, and King in his fearlessness inflamed the population into takingmatters into their own hands after the Courts had failed to convict. Andby his so doing had aroused an enmity, and determination from thelawless element to stop his utterances, even at the cost of his life, sowhen he attacked in his paper, one James P. Casey, a lawless character, gambler and ballot box manipulator and Supervisor, as having served aneighteen-months sentence in Sing Sing, N. Y. , before coming toCalifornia, who also published a paper, "The Sunday Times, " it broughtmatters to a crisis, for Casey taking offense at this and other attackson his ilk, shot King on the evening of May 14, 1856. The shooting ofKing was the cause of the formation of the Vigilance Committee of 1856and the direct means of cleaning the city of the corruptness that hadhad swing for so many years. --[Editor. ]

[2] Two of the unused cartridges of Mr. Woolley's, at the end of thetroublous time of the Vigilance committee, are to be seen in the OaklandPublic Museum. --[Editor. ]

[3] A large number of the citizens of San Francisco interestedthemselves toward caring and providing for the family of the deceased, Mr. King, and through the efforts of Mr. F. W. Macondray and six others, collected nearly $36, 000. They had erected a monument in Lone MountainCemetery, supported the family, and in 1868 the money which, had byjudicious investment amounted to nearly $40, 000, about half of thisfund, was turned over to the elder children, leaving $22, 000 on deposit, but this, through the bank's failure, netted the family only $15, 000. 

[4] The body of James King, of William, was buried In Lone MountainCemetery, that of James P. Casey in Mission Dolores Cemetery, by themembers of Crescent Engine Company No. 10, of which he was foreman, while that of Charles Cora was delivered to Belle Cora and its finalresting place is unknown to this day, though it has been stated that shehad it buried in Mission Dolores Cemetery. --[Editor. ]

[5] His body was interred in Mission Dolores Cemetery. --[Editor. ]

[6] The name of this "Betsy Ross" has been lost, though Mr. Connellprobably knew it at the time. The flag, except for the blue field, isbadly faded. --[Editor. ]