An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 123

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038

USA > California > Los Angeles County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 123
USA > California > San Diego County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 123
USA > California > Orange County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 123
USA > California > San Bernardino County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 123

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

About the time Sheriff Barton and party were murdered, the citizens of El Monte hanged four Mexican desperadoes, and the Angeleños went further, in hanging eleven Mexicans, for con- nection with criminal acts.

On January 7, 1858, Sheriff William C. Getman was killed by a maniac, who was in turn shot by citizens.

A noted Mexican desperado named Alvitre, was hanged by a mob at El Monte, April 28, 1861, for the murder of his wife. On October 17, of the same year, Francisco Cota was hanged by a mob for the murder of Mr. Leck that morning.

On January 24, 1862, Ciriaco Arza was hanged for the murder of Frank Riley, an Irish peddler, the previous May.

On November 17, 1862, John Rains, of Cuca- monga was murdered near the Azusa Rancho. A Mexican named Cerradel, who had been sen- tenced to ten years in San Quentin, was hung

790

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

by citizens on Banning's ferry-boat at Wilmning- ton, while being taken as a prisoner to the steamer Senator.

On November 21, 1863, " Boston " Dame- wood, Chase, Wood and two Mexicans, all of the criminal class, were taken from the jail and hanged by citizens on Spring street. On De- cember 17, of that year, Charles Wilkins was hanged by the vigilance committee for the mur. der of Jolin Sanford near Fort Tejon.

In January, 1864, Edward Newman was killed near San Bernardino, and one of his snp- posed murderers was killed by a posse on the Santa Ana river. Another Mexican, supposed to have shared also in the killing of Newman, was hanged in June for the murder of a fellow- countryınan.

On April 23, 1865, Robert Parker, a carpen- ter, was called to his door and shot down by parties then unknown. Later on a Mexican was found guilty of this, and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. On July 5, of this year, occurred one of the most desperate and sangnin- ary affrays ever witnessed in Los Angeles. On the night of July 4, at a ball at the Bella Union, now the St. Charles Hotel, Under-Sheriff A. J. King had some difficulty with one Robert Carl- isle, who cnt him severely. Abont noon on the next day, as the stages were leaving for the steamers, and as the hotel and express office were both crowded with people, Frank and Houston King, brothers of the under-sheriff, entered the bar-room of the hotel, and with pistols at- tacked Carlisle, who defended himself in like inanner. Shot succeeded shot with great rapid- ity, and soon Houston King fell, disabled by a ball from Carlisle's pistol. His brother contin- ned the fight unaided. The people fled panic- stricken. A stray ball killed a stage-horse at the door. A bystander was shot down accidentally, and some eight or ten had their clothes pierced by the leaden hail. At last the combatants reached the sidewalk, where Frank King seized his antagonist and beat him over the head with the revolver till it was useless. So far, King was nninjured, but Carlisle was fairly riddled

with balls. With a last effort the latter broke away, staggered into the doorway, leaned pain- fully against the casing, raised his pistol in both hands, and fired his last shot. Frank King fell, shot through the heart. Carlisle died three hours later. Honston King finally recovered, was tried for the murder of Carlise, and was acquitted.

In July, 1865, George Williams and Cyrus Kimball, of San Diego, were on their way to Los Angeles with their families, and encamped for the night by the Santa Ana river. About sunrise in the morning, while the women and children were at some little distance from the camp, seven American cut-throats (the leader being Jack O'Brien) rode up and deliberately shot the two inen dead. When the women came up to see what occasioned the firing, they found their husbands dead, and were ordered by the assassins, under pain of death, to hand over all the money of the party. This they did, and the scoundrels left, having secured over $3,000. They never were captured.

In 1869, Horace Bell, formerly a ranger, was indicted for murder in the second degree for killing a Mexican. The principal witness dying before the case came to trial, a nolle prosequi was entered.

On October 31, 1870, a quarrel between Po- liceman Joseph F. Dye and City Marshal War- ren led to a shooting affray upon the public street between the two, in which Warren was killed and several spectators more or less wounded. . Dye was tried and acquitted.

The notorious Chinese massacre occurred on October 24, 1871. For two or three days pre- vions, two Chinese factions had been quarreling over the possession of a woman of their race. Both sides purchased arms and ammunition and fortified themselves on either side of Negro alley, and exchanged shots. On the 23d, four of the combatants were arrested, and after a preliminary hearing, were released on bail. On . the next morning the fight was renewed, and several officers and citizens interfered to preserve the peace. Officer Bilderrain and two citizens

791

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

were wounded, oue fatally, presumably by stray shots. The news of Robert Thompson's death spread like wild-fire, and brought together a large crowd, composed mainly of the lower class of Mexicans and the scum of the foreigners. The more they talked and drank, the more ex- cited they became, and when an unlucky China- man put his head ontside a shanty, he was in- stantly seized. The mob, now fairly thirsting for blood, dragged him to the corner of Temple and New High streets, and strung him up to a gateway. The rope broke, and the poor wretch fell to the ground, begging for mercy froin his Christian persecutors. In vain. He was again strung up and his life choked ont. The fury of the mob was but whetted by this taste of blood, and they returned to Chinatown for fresh vic- tims. Torches were applied, but this with cantion, from fear of a general couflagration. Then hose was laid, and efforts made to flood the Chinamen out. Excited individuals, more forward than the others, climbed upon the house- tops and shot through various openings into the rooms below. Wherever a miserable Chinese could be forced ont, he was at once hurried away and hanged. Five were suspended in a row to an awning on the corner of Los Angeles and Commercial streets; and three more were hung on the gateway before-mentioned. To the crime of murder was added that of theft. The stores of Chinatown were looted. The knife, rope and pistol were in active use for more than three hours; the dead bodies of eighteen Chinese, one of them a child, were to be counted. The authorities endeavored in vain to quell the mob. Efforts were inade by such citizens as R. M. Widney, H. T. Hazard, H. C. Austin, and others, and they were successful in saving several more Chinese from murder. The excitement finally wore itself ont. An inquest was held, lasting several days, and a few of the mob were im- prisoned in San Quentin for a short time, although the leaders escaped punishment. It is said that more than one citizen of Los An- geles who to-day make great pretentions helped that night to murder the Chinese and violate

order. The United States Government paid a heavy indemnity to the Chinese empire for its slain citizens.

In 1871, two brothers named Bilderbeck, were murdered in Tejunga cañon, and David Stephenson was shot by a posse in Lower Cali- fornia in resisting arrest for this crime.

In June, 1874, a Mexican named Gordo was hanged at Pnente for a murderous attempt upon William Turner, a storekeeper.

The most noted criminal associated with Los Angeles County was Tiburcio Vazques, the out- law. This man was born in 1837 in Monterey County. He early became a highwayman, rob- bing stages, stealing horses, and even commit- ting murders without number. After the awful tragedy of Tres Pinos he came to Los Angeles County. On April 16. 1874, at the head of a band of robbers, he visited the rancho of Alex- ander Repetto, at the Arroyo Seco, and tying Repetto to a tree compelled him, on pain of instant death, to sign a check on Temple & Workinan's bank at Los Angeles for $800. A nephew of Repetto was then dispatched to Los Angeles to cash the check, being warned that at the first symptom of treachery his uncle would be killed. The boy's manner excited suspicion at the bank, and its officers detained him until he told why the money was needed so urgently. Sheriff Rowland at once organized a posse and started for the place, but the boy, by hard riding across country, reached home ahead of them, paid the ransom, and released his uncle. The robbers fled, and, when not more than 1,000 yards ahead of the officers, they robbed John Osborne and Charles Miles of Los Angeles, whom they met on the road, and then made good their escape. This was the last exploit of Vazquez, plans for whose arrest had long been quietly laid by Sheriff William R. Rowland. Again and again the game had escaped him, but he was to be at last successful. Early in May he learned that Vazquez was making his head- quarters at the house of "Greek George," about ten miles due west of Los Angeles, toward Santa Monica, and near the Cahuenga pass. The

792

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

house, built in the form of an L, of adobe, was at the foot of a mountain, the foot of the letter toward the range, and the shank extending south. Behind the house ran a comparatively disnsed road, leading from San Vicente through La Brea Rancho to Los Angeles. In front of the house a small bunch of willows surrounded a spring, and beyond these a vast rolling plain stretched westward and southward to the ocean. A window in the north end of the building afforded an outlook over the plain for many iniles toward Los Angeles. Other windows in like manner commanded the other points of the compass. The middle section of the shank was nsed as a dining-roomn, and a small room in the southern extremity, as a kitchen. It was well known that Vazquez had in Los Angeles confederates, who kept him well informed as to all plans for his capture. Therefore the utmost secrecy was necessary. The morning of Thurs- day, May 15, was determined on for making the attack, and the preceding day the horses for the sheriff's party were taken, one by one, to a ren- dezvous. It was decided that, to disarm sus- picion, Sheriff Rowland should remain in Los Angeles, and the attacking force was placed under the command of the under-sheriff, Albert Jolinson. The other members were Major H. M. Mitchell (attorney at law of Los Angeles); J. S. Bryant (city constable); W. E. Rogers (of the Palace saloon); B. F. Hartley (chief of police); George A. Beers (special correspondent of the San Francisco Chronicle), and two others, all armed with shot-guns loaded with slugs, and with rifles and revolvers. At 1:30 A. M. they started, and by 4 o'clock they reached Major Mitchell's bee-ranch, not far from the house of Greek George, where Mr. Johnson left part of his companions, while with the rest he climbed the mountains to reconnoiter. At first a heavy fog obscured all objects, but as this lifted, they could discern a horse, answering in description to that usually ridden by the bandit, which was picketed near the house. Twice a man resem- bling Vazquez issued from the house and led this horse to the spring, then back to his picket.

Soon a second man, believed to be the bandit's lientenant, Chavez, went in pursuit of another horse, and then Mr. Johnson prepared for action. His two companions, Mitchell and Smith, went in pursuit of the man last seen, while he re- turned to the bee-ranch, marshaled his forces, and prepared to attack the house. Fortunately at this moment a high box-wagon drove up. the cañon from the direction of Greek George's house. In it were two natives, and into it the sheriff's party at once clambered, taking with thein one of the men. They commanded the driver to turn his horses and drive back as close as possible to George's house, promising to shoot him dead at the least sign of treachery. He obeyed his instructions and soon the house was surrounded. As the party advanced upon the door leading into the dining-room it was partially opened by a woman, who, as she canght sight of them, slammed it shut, with an excla- mation of affright They burst it in just in time to see Vazquez spring from the table where he had been eating, through the narrow kitchen window, in the end of the house facing south. As he went through an officer fired on him with a Henry rifle, and as he ruslied for his horse shot after shot showed him the hope- lessness of escape. Throwing up his hands, he advanced toward the party and surrendered, saying in Spanish: " Boys, you have done well; I have been a damned fool, but it is all my own fault. I'm gone up."

The man Mitchell and Smith had gone after was taken, and still another was arrested. A large number of armns was found in the house, all of the latest pattern and finest workmanship. Greek George was arrested in Los Angeles. Vazquez was conveyed to the city and placed in jail. Here he received the best of medical treatment, and, as his injuries were only flesh- wounds, he soon recovered. Mnch maudlin sympathy was expended on him by weak-headed women while he remained in Los Angeles jail. His last victim, Mr. Repetto, called to sce him. After the usual salutation, Repetto said: “I have called, Señor, to say that so far as I am

793

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

concerned you can settle that little account with God Almighty. I have no hard feelings against you,-none whatever." Vazquez returned his thanks in the most impressive manner, and be- gan to speak of repayment, when Repetto in- terrupted him, saying: " I do not expect to be repaid. I gave it to you to save further trouble; but I beg of you, if you ever resume operations, not to repeat your visit to my house." " Ah, Señor," replied Vazquez, “ if I am so unfortu- nate as to suffer conviction, and am compelled to undergo a short term of imprisonment, I will take the earliest opportunity to reimburse you. Señor Repetto, I am a gentleman, with the heart of a gentleman," this with the most impres- sive gesture, and laying his hand upon his heart. He was taken to San José, tried for murder, found guilty, and was there hanged on March 19, 1875. Several others of the band were cap- tured and sent to San Quentin; some were shot by officers, and the whole band was thoroughly broken np.

On October 10, 1877, Victor Fonck was shot in the leg by C. M. Waller, keeper of the Land Company's bath-house at Santa Monica. He died two days later from the effects of the wound. At the time of the shooting, Fonck was erecting a private bath house on the beach, in defiance of warnings not to do so, and Waller claimed that, in doing the shooting, he was acting on instructions from H. Parker, agent of the land company. Waller was found guilty of involun- tary homicide, and was sentenced to one year in the penitentiary. Parker, found guilty of mur- der in the second degree, was sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary. This had such an effect on himself and his young wife that they both died broken-hearted before the sentence could be carried into effect.

In February of 1883, occurred a cause célébre in the criminal records of Los An- geles. Maggie O'Brien, a young Irish girl of Los Angeles, had aroused the jealonsy of the wife of William MeDowell. She had left her home, ostensibly to visit friends, and, after she had been absent some weeks, not having been 50

seen by the parties for whose house she pro- fessed to be starting, Rose, the wife of McDow- ell, presented herself to the authorities with the story that her husband, having summoned Miss O'Brien to Colton, had murdered her, and had thrown the body into an arroyo. Notwithstand- ing the absence of motive for the crime on the part of McDowell, who was fond of Maggie, and of various circumstances tending to prove that not he, but his wife, was the guilty party, McDowel! was convicted of the crime, and he was hanged at San Bernardino, March 28, 1884.

In this year also occurred the murder of Henry Amadon, a locomotive engineer, by his wife and her accomplices.

MEDICAL.

The Southern California Medical Society was organized in Los Angeles, June 8, 1888. For several years the physicians of this part of the State had felt that a district society embracing the leading medical inen of the section would promote the best interests of the profession, and would in many ways benefit the community. Reso- lutions laid before the Los Angeles County Medical Society led to the assembling of rep- resentatives from San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern and San Luis Obispo coun- ties. The society then organized has indicated its character and aims in the following articles of its constitution: "The objects of this so- ciety shall be the advancement of medical knowledge, the elevation of professional char- acter, the encouragement of social intercourse and harmony among the members of the pro- fession. * * To entitle a person to mem- * bership he must be a graduate of a regular medical college; he must hold a registered certificate from the State Board of Medical Examiners, and be of good moral and pro- fessional reputation and be a member of the County Medical Society, in case one exists in his county." The society now numbers 112 members, and is growing rapidly. The present president is Dr. W. N. Smart, of San Diego. Regular meetings are held semi-annnally, the

794

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

first Wednesday of June and December. The second meeting was held in San Bernardino; the third, in San Diego; the fourth, in Pasadena. On all these occasions, many valuable papers were presented, and instructive cases reported. The following are the sections represented by the committees at the regular meetings: Prac- tice of Medicine; Materia Medica and Thera- pentics; Obstetrics; Surgery, General and Special; Gynecology; Diseases of Mind and Nervous System; Opthalmology and Otology; Skin and Venereal Diseases.

The Los Angeles County Medical Society was organized January 31, 1871. The original membership consisted of Doctors William F. Edgar, Russell F. Hayes, Henry S. Orme, J. P. Widney, John S. Grffin, Joseph Kurtz, L. L. Dorr and H. H. Rose. At present the organi- zation has about seventy-five members, most of whom have joined since 1884, up to whichi time accessions were not rapid nor numerous. The aims of the society are, in the main, similar to those of the Southern California Medical Society. Its meetings, held the first Friday of every monthı, have exercises in which the read- ing of papers and discussion by the members are leading features. Dr. J. S. Griffin was the first president.

The Los Angeles Homoeopathic Society was organized February 6, 1885, with Dr. A. S. Shorb as the first president. This was the first physician of that school to settle and practice in Los Angeles. At the present time, there are more than thirty of this branch of medical science in active practice . here, representing most of the best-known colleges. The society has regular monthly meetings, is actively en- gaged in its field of work, and it is a source of great benefit to its members.

The Southern California Odontological So- ciety was organized November 19, 1885, with Dr. J. S. Crawford, one of the prime movers in its organization, as president. No city of equal population in America contains more prac- titioners of a high rank in the dental profes- sion than does Los Angeles. To mantain this

high standard, and to keep in the vanguard of progress in the profession, was the end to which this society was instituted, as appears in the by-laws: "The objects of this society shall be the discovery and promulgation of sci- entific truth relating to dentistry and oral sur- gery, and the promotion of the highest excellence in the art and science connected herewith." The society numbers about twenty active mein- bers, all practitioners in good standing. The organization is harmonious, and it is doing a good work for the advancement of dental science.

DR. RICHARD S. DEN,

the Nestor of the medical fraternity of Los An- geles County, was born in Garandara, County Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1821, and is the eldest surviving son of a truly noble family, whose pronounced views upon the Christian creed no member ever swerved from.

The Dens are of Franco-Norman and Anglo- Norman descent, and arrived in Ireland in the retinne of King Henry II., A. D. 1171. Their accession to power is a matter of history, and their deeds of valor and goodness will be handed down to futurity. The impregnable religious belief of the family, their loyalty to the English crown, and their adhesion to the unfortunate King Charles I., led to the confiscation of all their estates by Cromwell, who bestowed them upon his ruthless soldiers; but, despite of this monstrous injustice, of the infamous penal laws for ages in existence, and of the galling acts of unscrupulous officials, they still held fast to their cherished principles, and by counsel, pre- cept and example continned to do infinite good. Legends, for which the Irish people are famed, are to this day narrated at many firesides of the conscientious victories of the Dens. Although the latter branch of the family tasted of the bitter cup of adversity, they lost not one parti- cle of their faith or honor.

After receiving his preliminary education in Dublin, the subject of this sketch entered the City Infirmary and Leper Hospital of Water- ford, at that time in charge of Drs. Mackesy and

795

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Burkitt, two eminent practitioners, remaining there for six years during the summer sessions. Dr. Mackesy, who afterward became president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, was a warm personal friend of young Den, who in after years felt a desire to return home for the purpose of seeing his mother, his sisters, and his old friend, and of presenting to the latter in person some little souvenir of the warm place in his heart that well remembered him. In December, 1839, having completed the regular courses of instruction and practice of midwifery in Dublin, R. S. Den passed his examination, and afterward received his first qualifications as obstetrician; and in April, 1840, at a public examination of the students of the first-class, held at the original School of Anatomy, Medi- cine and Surgery, in Dublin, the first certificate was awarded him in the three branches of his profession. Continuing to pursne his studies, and having attained his majority, he, in August, 1842, received his final qualifications. Then his friend, Sir John Pirie, Bart., Lord Mayor of London, and an eminent ship owner and ship- broker, desired to place him on one of his largest vessels going to the East Indies, which, how- ever, would not sail for some time; but Dr. Den, desiring an immediate position, songht for and obtained the appointment as surgeon of the fine ship Glenswilly, of Glasgow, which left London dock August 29, 1842, bound for India, with special passengers for Melbourne, Austra- lia. Some of these passengers (who were men of wealth and influence, leaving England with their familes, retainers and servants for the purpose of settling down in a new country), at first sight of the young doctor before starting thought him unfit for the responsible position; but, on learning from the Lord Mayor of the high honors received by him at his examination, and of the length of time he had devoted to his studies, they raised no further objection. Dur- ing the voyage they had every reason to be sat- isfied with his services; and when they landed, December 3, 1842, at Melbourne, where the ship remained some weeks, the passengers were

all in the best of health, and they were profuse in their thanks, and did everything in their power to persuade the Doctor to remain in the antipodes; but, this not suiting his inclinations, he remained aboard the ship, at Port Phillip, the harbor of Melbourne; and while there Dr. Den was informed by the authorities of the port that he was the only ship surgeon who for a long period had landed his passengers in good health and without a single death having oc- curred during the voyage.

After touching at Sydney and remaining there about a month, the vessel set sail, but her course was changed from India to Valparaiso, and arrived safely there. Stopping a few weeks at Valparaiso, the vessel came on to Mazatlan, arriving there July 23, 1843; and while in that port the Doctor received news of his brother, who was living at Santa Barbara, California, and from whom he had not heard for many years. Hailing this intelligence with delight, he determined to start for his brother's home. Accordingly, resigning his position as surgeon of the Glenswilly, he took passage on the first vessel bound for California, the bark Clarita, Captain Walter commanding, and Don Eulogio de Celis (whose family still reside in Los An- geles) acting as supercargo. Arriving at San Pedro August 21, he took passage on the ship California, in command of Captain Arthur, with W. D. M. Howard as assistant supercargo, and arrived at Santa Bárbara September 1, 1843, at the age of twenty-two years.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1038

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038