USA > California > San Francisco County > San Francisco > Colville's San Francisco directory for the year commencing 1856-1857 > Part 6
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
Healthful as the city had proved, many persons nevertheless traveled the dark road whence they return not. The old grave-yards within the city had given up their dead, the march of improvement had covered most of them with buildings, or cut streets through them. But one remained within the city limits-Yerba Buena Cemetery-and that already had gathered a multitude to its narrow cells, and the inhabitants of the living were fast approaching the silent chambers of those who lay there in slumbers which wake not. New and more spacions grounds suitable for a cemetery capable of answering the melancholy demands of a great city, became a necessity. Two or three persons selected and secured a tract of land toward the Pacific Ocean, and about three miles from the harbor, and set it apart for the sacred purpose. It is of quite uneven surface, hill and dale, very generally covered with evergreen oaks and other trees and shrubs, and from portions of it the city, and the Pacific are visible. This spot containing one hundred and sixty acres, was dedicated to the purposes of a Cemetery by name of the Lone Mountain, on the thirtieth of May, with appropriate ceremonies, addresses, an ode, poem, prayer and hymns. In allusion to the chemical decomposition and rearrangement of the particles of matter by which even the changed human organization may become portions of the shrubs and trees beneath which it is buried, the poem concluded thus:
xxxii
HISTORY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
" From every nation, and from every clime, Youth, innocence and beauty gathered here, With springs returning warmth and joyous time, In renovated life shall re-appear ; Their voices whisper in each rustling leaf, Their beauty glowing still through bud and flower,
Like their own transiet life, as fair, as brief, Shall give our tottering Faith new warmth and power, And Hope new wings to scale that blissful shore, Where, Love, grown God-like, shall be faint no more."
Since that time many a beloved form has been laid in that last home of our citizens, and many improvements, which love and veneration have dictated, have been made to render the place as beautiful as it is sacred and mournful. The seasons deck it in perpetual green, and the deep organ of old ocean rolls forth its eternal dirge. Its keeper is sad, beautiful, sublime Nature.
Much trouble had been experienced for a long time in consequence of the unsettled state of land titles. The squatters or settlers had frequently been at loggerheads, and many lives lost in consequence. The feeling engendered by such a condition of affairs arose to such an intensity that during the month of June a regular battle occurred between certain squatters and a party which attempted to eject them from a lot claimed by Capt. Folsom, in which one of his party was killed. A few days afterward a woman was killed in another part of the city during one of these unhappy riots. This was soon followed by an organization of property holders as a special police for the protection of their property, and about one thousand persons enrolled their names as members. It is hoped that all such collisions have passed away, no more to be repeated, and that no similar organization will ever be required in consequence of disputes arising from conflicting land titles and claims.
The social state of society had in some respects much improved, in others little or no better condition existed. The ruinous vice of gambling had much decreased, so of some other reprehensible practices. There were more homes to attract, more comforts, more opportunities of social intercourse and improvement. Little offenses and misdemeanors were more certainly punished. But great crimes quite as generally escaped, as in former years, at least such as legally merited capital punishment. If the penalty attached were known to be incarceration in the penitentiary, there might be conviction for crime. But almost without exception the murderer escaped. Technicalities, quibbles, sharp practice added to the sympathies of juries not always constituted of the most reliable material, and that feeling of pity for the living criminal which with so many banishes a sense of justice to the murdered, and to outraged society and law, were generally sufficient to shield the accused whatever the evidence, and however heinous the crime. The transient character of those classes of the inhabitants who are most likely to be spectators of bloody affrays, and the consequent difficulty of securing their testimony, made it still more difficult to convict. But not always did crime go unpunished. On the twenty-eighth of June, Wm. B. Sheppard was found guilty of the murder of Henry C. Day, and sentenced to be hung on the twenty-eighth of July. The mandate of the law was carried into effect, Sheppard protesting his innocence. He played the part of a hero on the scaffold, and won the honors of "dying game." Yet he was justly punished for a deliberate murder. There are witnesses who were not present on the trial, that are now residing
HISTORY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
XXXIII
near the city, who saw the deed committed. Shepperd left a confession of his- innocence! Of so much value are such professions on the gallows, of just so much value are deatlı-bed conversions, both, usually, breath and no more.
The fire-proof brick office of the "Alta California" newspaper having been purchased for the round sum of nearly fifty thousand dollars in scrip, for a Hall of Records, was opened for that purpose on the nineteenth of July. This is one of the very few evidences of any value received by the city for all of its vast expenditures. About this time the strong opposition felt by many to the great influx of Chinese, received new strength from the dreadful condition in which many of them reached the port. Whole cargoes of them-or rather such as lived to reach the bay-were landed at Goat Island, where the mortality was very great. The disease which caused such wholesale destruction, was the scurvy. The horrors of the African slave trade seem to have been reproduced on board some of the miserable old hulks which left China loaded with these wretched creatures, bound for California.
To the great number of churches already erected, were soon to be added two synagogues, the corner-stone of the first being laid on the twenty-third of July. A House of Refuge having become necessary, the Supervisors made a movement toward one by purchasing a lot of ground to the west of the Mission, for an immense price. This done, and the cash or scrip paid and divided, the whole subject was left to fall asleep where it slumbers still. The Plaza was inclosed with a handsome iron fence, and the ground considerably improved, leveled, and planted with trees and shrubs. The election which occurred on the seventh of September exhibited a heavy vote, 10,883 being cast in the city. On the first of October the Yankee Blade steamship, was lost near Point Conception, and many of her passengers were drowned. Soon after, the city was thrown into another intense excitement, by the discovery that Harry Meiggs, " honest Harry," who had held office in the Council for years, and who had possessed an enviable reputation as a man of integrity, energy, enterprise and benevolence, had escaped by sea with his family and brother just elected Controller of the city, leaving behind him several hundred thousand dollars of forged city warrants which he had hypothecated and for which he had received heavy amounts of cash. Harry made his way to South America where he resided when last heard from.
Col. Walker having been indicted and tried for having fitted out an armed expedition to Lower California, etc., was acquitted on the nineteenth of October. This ended that filibustering tragedy and farce. The assessed property of the city at this date was over $34,000,000. The schools at this time were in a flourishing condition, the children by the census amounting to 3,780, of ages entitling them to the privileges of scholars. Much interest was exhibited at this period in favor of inducing immigration, and several meetings for the purpose took place. But they resulted eventually in nothing more than resolutions. The last event of importance of the year 1854, was the decree by the Board of U. S. Land Commissioners, that San Francisco was a "Pueblo " under the Mexican Government, and as such entitled to the lands within its limits, etc. Many hailed this decision as their salvation, others denounced it as a fraud, although indorsed by the Commissioners. Upon a question respecting which learned lawyers disagree, and differ so widely, a non-professional may be excused for expressing no opinion, especially as it could have no beneficial
3*
xxxiv HISTORY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
effect, be it what it might. That Commission has confirmed several claims which cover partly the same territory, but their defenders say in their support that their decisions are not inconsistent, as they only determine between the United States and the claimants, and not between the claimants themselves, as to the respective merits of their titles. Thus the United States are relieved from the suits, and Limantour, Bolton, Barron & Co., and others, are left to settle the matter as best they can. Joy to them. So ends the year, many things for which to be glad, many to regret, fortunes lost, some made, gold passing through the city by millions, yet many persons in want, many formerly rich, feeling now much poorer, and all hoping that the bottom of that deep slough-" hard times"-has been reached. Upon the whole the city has considerably improved in appearance and substantial progress. Yet many are disappointed, for the fast days, prices and business of former years for which they have hoped, have not returned, and it is hard to yield a cherished idea, and bury a beloved hope. So along the road of time travel people and city, leaving the worn track of the old year with its ruts and broken pavements, and looking ahead for the avenue opening into the new year, which fancy, hope and desire have laid among pleasant scenes, and paved like a new Jerusalem, with gold, gold, gold.
During January, 1855 the new Merchants' Exchange, a very beautiful building, erected on Battery, between Washington and Jackson Streets, was opened. Subse- quently the United States Circuit and District Courts were located in its principal rooms, and there their sessions are now held. A great excitement caused in the city by reports of exceedingly rich gold discoveries at the Kern River mines, reached its climax during the month, and the bubble, like the Gold Bluff exaggerations, exploded, leaving many disappointed. Rumor is as great a liar now as she was represented to be by Ovid in his time. The mines proved to be very poor, and hundreds lost money, and some their lives, in consequence of the hopes excited by the false reports of their richness.
On the seventeenth of February, begun the greatest financial excitement ever experi- enced in the city. On that day commenced a " run " upon Page, Bacon & Co., in consequence of reports received from the East. On the twenty-second they suspended. This firm had for years done the leading banking business of the city, and the closing of their doors created an intense excitement. It caused a run on several other banking houses, and on the twenty-third Adams & Co., Wells, Fargo & Co., Robinson & Co.`and Wright & Co., suspended payment. The public mind was in a furor in consequence. Indignation, condemnation, discussion and law suits innumerable resulted. Arrangements were made by which Page, Bacon & Co. resumed on the twenty-ninth of March, but after keeping open a few weeks, they were compelled again to close in consequence of the conduct of the House of Page & Bacon of St. Louis, Mo., with which they were connected in business relations. Wells, Fargo & Co. soon resumed, and have continued in successful operation ever since. Many of the creditors of the other houses lost the entire amount of their deposits, not a few of them being thus deprived of the whole of their fortunes. The miserable uncertainty, injustice and partiality of the laws touching banking insolvency and assignments, saying nothing of the practice of our courts and lawyers, have succeeded iu expending in fees for litigation, and in shielding roguery and embezzlers, all, or nearly all the great assets of these establishments, so that while a few have saved themselves, and
HISTORY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
XXXV
lawyers and others have grown rich from the spoils, the honest depositors have generally lost all.
During April several jobbing and some importing houses failed, one of the latter with liabilities exceeding $200,000. By this time through such and other causes, business became paralyzed, and hard times sat like a blight upon the city. The new charter for the city had been passed by the Legislature, and some hope was entertained that under it the city's interest would be better secured, and its expenses greatly lessened. This really proved true. About this time the ship Charmer sailed for New York, loaded principally with California productions, wheat, barley and flour. The tables seemed now turned, and instead of importing breadstuffs, from the East, the State was in a condition to supply a surplus to other countries. The Branch Mint during June was coining at the rate of two and a half millions of dollars per month, and assaying weekly one million two hundred thousand dollars of gold. Notwithstanding so much treasure was in the city, and so much coin issued from the Mint, business men in great numbers went by the board. Within two and a half months there were fifty-six applications for the benefit of the insolvency law, with an excess of liabilities over assets, even estimated by the bankrupts themselves, of over three millions of dollars. This was one coloring of a gloomy picture.
The Bolton and Barron claim to the land of a great portion of the city, was con- firmed by the United States Land Commission, on the fifth of June. Much excite- ment, in consequence, resulted among the settlers ; meetings were held, resolutions passed, and a determination expressed to raise a fund and fight the claim before the United States Courts to the last. The council voted, on the 20th, to purchase from the United States its title to all lands within the boundaries of the city, and to grant it to persons in actual possession. The Mayor entered the lands at the Land Office in Benicia, for that purpose. Another immigration excitement, which effected nothing, existed during the month, and an Immigration Society was formed.
An Italian newspaper was issued during July or August, thus giving utterance to another nationality. I. C. Woods, of the firm of Adams & Co., left for Australia secretly, in the month of August. Many believe that he took with him a large amount of the funds of Adams & Co., known to have been in their vaults during the night previous to their suspension. An election, under the new charter, was held on the 5th of September, when the vote of the city and county reached 12,724, that of the city being about 11,700. The steamship Uncle Sam, of the Nicaragua Line, reached the city September 14th, with the cholera on board. One hundred and twenty persons had died on the passage, out of six hundred and fifty on board, and a large number died after the vessel reached the port. But the disease did not spread in the city.
The sale of the "City Slip Property," which had occurred in December, 1853, and which had brought a million of dollars, was declared, by Judge Norton, invalid, and the city was held liable to refund the amount received. This was a shock to the city's credit. From its treasury, between October 1st, 1849, and July 1st, 1855, $4,324,650 19 had been disbursed. People wondered where it had all gone.
The English, French and Sardinians in the city celebrated the 26th of November, by a grand Fete at South Park, in honor to the success of the " Allies" in the Crimea. It was chalked out for a splendid affair. An immense tent was erected, decorated
xxxvi HISTORY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
with flowers, evergreens, flags, inscriptions and views of Crimean scenes, and all which music,' religious ceremonies by the priesthood, speeches, etc., could do, was done. Men-of-war anchored opposite the grounds, salutes were fired from on board and from an eminence near by, named, for the occasion, the "Malakoff," and everything went har- moniously until during the repast, when a band of rowdies created a disturance, tore down the flags, destroyed the dinner, broke the dishes, and broke up the celebration. A viler outrage upon a peaceable meeting was never committed. It was a disgrace to the American name, although committed by the vilest of the vile.
The "consular difficulty," arising out of the trials of the Mexican and French Consuls, before alluded to, was settled on the 30th of November, in accordance with the terms agreed upon by the French and American Governments. The United States ship Independence saluted the French ship Ambuscade, in reparation to M. Dillon, the tricolor was again hoisted over his consulate, and thus amity was restored, never, we hope, to be again interrupted.
Some idea of the crushing nature of business, during the last year or two, may be inferred from the disheartening fact that, during the year 1855, one hundred and ninety-seven persons applied to the courts for the benefit of the insolvency act. Many of these failures were for large amounts, and although a large portion of the losses had to be borne by persons out of the State, the effects in the city were very serious and discouraging. Business reached a point of depression which had never been felt before. The city's head was bowed, and the whole business com- munity tottered in consequence of the reverses which led to such results. And yet more than forty-five millions of gold were shipped from the city during the year, besides all which went by private hands, and which doubtless amounted to several millions, although not entered at the Custom House. Over thirty-one thousand per- sons arrived during the year. The arrivals of vessels from foreign ports were one thousand one hundred and sixty-three. Seventy-two millions pounds of flour were shipped for markets out of the State. The entire exports exceeded four millions of dollars in value. Freight, paid upon goods from foreign ports, exceeded four millions of dollars. During the year, two hundred and sixty-seven marriages occurred in the city ; seventy-two applications for divorce were made, and forty-one petitions for a dissolution of the silken bands were granted. Instead of silken bands, perhaps the term gossamer were more appropriate. Nearly all these suits were commenced by the wives of the disagreeing pair. Comment is left to others. During the year, the losses by the various fires which occurred, amounted to over two millions of dollars. The enrolled and licensed tunnage, at the close of the year, amounted to 79,319 tuns. The coinage in the mint, for two years, was over $30,000,000. Arrivals of persons in three years, 117,292 ; departures, 76,407-leaving an addition of population of 40,885.
A large sale of three hundred and nine lots of land, belonging to the estate of Captain Folsom, deceased, occurred on the 10th of January, 1856, which brought $607,695. A little while afterwards, the Limantour claim was confirmed by the United States Land Commission. On this immense track, which covers nearly or quite two-fifths of the surface of the city, perhaps twenty thousand persons dwell. The decision created an intense excitement among a large portion of them, some of whom had purchased their lots several times over, being covered over by various
.
HISTORY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
xxxvii
titles besides that of Limantour. An excitement of a different kind occurred on the sixteenth, when the people of the city were shaken from their propriety, and some from their beds, by an unmannerly earthquake, which created no little terror. It was by far the heaviest which had been experienced, and was severe enough to throw down some parapet walls and crack others. Had the shocks lasted as many minutes as they did seconds, there is no telling how great would have been the destruction. It commenced by a loud report, which sounded like an explosion of a steam boiler, or magazine of powder, and immediately the rumbling and trembling motion com- menced. It occurred in the latter part of the night, and pretty effectually aroused the people from their slumbers. The shock was more severely felt in those parts of the city which had been built on the new land, made where the waters of the harbor had previously flowed. The fright created was, however, greater than the dam- age done.
A Mormon newspaper, called the " Western Standard," was issued on the 23d of February. Nearly every sect, party, profession and interest, has now its editorial vindicator. There seems little room, henceforth, for any new newspaper enterprise, unless some enterprising person, emulous of editorial honors, shall start "The Putty Prices Current." Here's an opening for genius.
A suit, which had been instituted by Henry M. Naglee, Receiver of the effects of Adams & Co., against Alfred A. Cohen, previously appointed Receiver, was decided on the 8th of March, against the defendant, for $269,046. Under the operation of this verdict, Cohen was held in jail until discharged by the Supreme Court, about the close of September. The yearly amount of correspondence between the State and the great abroad, may be conceived from the fact that 257,175 letters were sent from the city to the Eastern States during the first three months of this present year, and 216,175 were received. The least postage on each of these letters was ten cents- more than three times the amount charged the citizens of the other thirty States for their correspondence with each other. But California is used to these oppressions in the shape of onerous and unjust discriminations against her. Distance may lend enchantment to the view, but in the instance of our own geographical position, its enchantment is not of the most favorable kind.
In April, the traveling facilities of the city and State were diminished by the stoppage of the Nicaragua liue of steamers. General Walker having seized and con- fiscated the steamers and other property of the Transit Company in Nicaragua, the communication was broken up, and the ships ceased running, with the exception of the Sierra Nevada, which, being under the control of, or owned by, Messrs. Garrison and Morgon, has continued her monthly trips. The grand Bulkhead project came before the council and the citizens during this month and created much discussion, being severely handled by the press and the public generally, though strongly urged by a company formed for the purpose of obtaining the grant to build this wall along the front of the city. The opposition had the effect of defeating the proposed measure.
But all these causes of excitement were soon to sink into comparatively nothing- ness before an event and its consequences, which tore up the very foundations of society in the city and State, and fell like a thunderbolt upon quiet people here and elsewhere. On the 14th of May, Mr. James King, of William, Editor of the
·
xxxviii HISTORY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
" Evening Bulletin," was attacked in Montgomery Street, while on his way home, by James P. Casey, and shot through his left breast with a pistol ball. Mr. King lingered until the 20th, when he died. Casey had served out a term of imprison- ment in Sing Sing, and made the statement of the fact in the " Bulletin" the occasion and excuse for killing the editor. This execrable act was followed by an excitement such as had never before existed in the city.
A desperate effort was immediately made by the crowd to seize Casey. "Hang the murderer !" "Hang him ! hang him !" sounded from all sides. But the police had succeeded in conveying him to the jail. The Mayor called out the military com- panies, some of whom were stationed in and on the jail ; a citizens' posse was sum- moned and assembled in front, and, with arms, guarded the building. Many of the enraged citizens were for attacking the jail at once. But cooler counsels prevailed, and a surer method was subsequently adopted for obtaining possession of the prisoner. The nucleus of a Vigilance Committee was formed that night, and its numbers increased rapidly. On Sunday, the 19th, the Committee appeared in the streets in great force, armed and formed into companies and battalions. They took possession of all the avenues leading to the County Jail, and the points which commanded it; arranged a strong force in front, along Broadway ; placed a cannon directly opposite the jail door, and made a demand upon the Sheriff for Casey, who was confined within. After some delay, the deputies of the Committee were allowed to enter the jail and take possession of Casey, who was conducted to a hack in the street, and strongly guarded, was taken to the head-quarters of the Vigilance Committee, in Sacramento Street. Subsequently, Charles Cora, who had been indicted for the murder of General Richardson, United States Marshal, was also taken from the jail, and, in like manner, removed to the Committee Rooms. The whole scene was a very quiet, yet very exciting, determined and fearful one.
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.