USA > California > San Francisco County > San Francisco > The annals of San Francisco; containing a summary of the history of California, and a complete history of its great city: to which are added, biographical memoirs of some prominent citizens > Part 33
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Meanwhile, the public wrath was growing very clamorous, the more so perhaps that it was impotent. On the evening of the 1st of June, one of the usual mass and indignation meetings was held on the plaza, where the proposed purchase was passionately de-
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ANNALS OF SAN FRANCISCO.
nounced. Mr. William A. Dana presided on the occasion. This was one of the most stormy meetings that had ever been held in the city. Hon. David C. Broderick, who was in favor of the pro- posed purchase, attempted to make a speech for his cause, but the noise and reproaches of the meeting effectually put him down. Sundry squabbling and wordy sparring took place between Mr. Broderick and Dr. J. H. Gihon, who was on this occasion the people's orator ; and the meeting ended in hubbub, riot and con- fusion. Little cared the common council for such proceedings- the general ire-the mayor's veto-the denunciations and ridicule of the press. The matter was carried finally into the Supreme Court, at the instance of some public-spirited citizens, and shortly afterwards a judgment was obtained recognizing the right of the city and the board of supervisors to make the purchase. This was forthwith done ; and the contemplated alterations were speed- ily made on the building, although at a great expense. The whole affair was long a prolific subject for conversation and discus- sion, for ridicule and the imputation of corrupt motives. It sery- ed to glorify the council of this year, as the notorious aldermen's salaries and medal pieces of business had immortalized a previous party of "city step-fathers."
After the purchase was made and the alterations were comple- ted, it was found that the new structure answered the purposes in- tended better than was at first anticipated. The situation is ex- cellent. At the present time, however (1854), it is beginning to be discovered that the building is too small for the increased business of the city. Movements are now making to purchase additional business chambers elsewhere, or to include a portion of the adjoining Union Hotel into the municipal establishment. Doubtless, before many years pass, the whole of either that build- ing, or of the El Dorado gambling-saloon on the other side, if not both, will be required for the necessary extension of the City Hall, unless indeed it be located in some altogether different quarter, and built anew.
JUNE 28th .- The "Placer Times and Transcript," transfer- red from Sacramento, is first published in San Francisco, under the management of Messrs. Fitch, Pickering & Lawrence.
July 5th .- "Independence-day" falling upon Sunday, was
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DEATH OF HON. EDWARD GILBERT.
celebrated the next day. This national festival has always been a grand affair in San Francisco ; and on this occasion the citizens exceeded all their former efforts. Prominent in the procession of the day were large bands of foreigners, particularly of the French and the Chinese. The latter displayed numerous fanciful flags and specimens of the finest workmanship of their people. Their gongs, cymbals, wooden bowls or drums, and strange stringed in- struments, made the air hideous with diabolical sounds. One wagon was filled with several Chinamen richly and showily dress- ed, who occupied themselves in continually firing off their nation- al crackers. In the evening there was a brilliant display of fireworks on the plaza, where some fifteen thousand of the inhab- itants had assembled to witness the exhibition.
JULY 11th .- The Herald newspaper is printed on coarse brown paper, such as is commonly used for envelopes and for wrapping packages. About this period, and during some months following, all the newspapers of the city were reduced to the same or to even worse descriptions of paper. Day by day, the old broad sheets were becoming narrower and coarser, while they assumed every color of the rainbow. The Alta for a long time was published on a small double sheet (which, however, was of a pretty fine quali- ty), where the typographical matter on a page measured only about fourteen inches in length by ten in breadth. The market had suddenly and unexpectedly happened to be without supplies of proper printing paper ; and many months elapsed before a suf- ficient stock could be procured. Of course prices of the material rose enormously.
AUGUST 2d .- A duel took place this day between the Hon. Edward Gilbert, senior editor of the Alta California and ex-repre- sentative of the State in the Lower House of Congress, and Gen- eral J. W. Denver, State Senator from Trinity County. Gen. Denver having taken personal offence at certain observations which had appeared in the "Alta California," regarding Governor Big- ler's government, published a letter, in which he animadverted strongly on the terms of these observations, and talked of the wri- ter in objectionable language. Mr. Gilbert, the author of the original obnoxious articles, considered the general's letter unjust and offensive to himself, and thereupon challenged that gentleman.
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ANNALS OF SAN FRANCISCO.
A hostile interview accordingly took place at Oak Grove, near Sacramento. The weapons were rifles, and the distance forty paces. General Denver, it was said, possessed an unerring aim, while Mr. Gilbert scarcely knew how to hold his piece. At the first interchange of shots, the general fired deliberately aside ; while Mr. Gilbert missed. The challenger, or his second, insisted on the fight being continued, more especially, perhaps, because the former had been recently in the habit of ridiculing bloodless duels. His antagonist now considered that it was time for him to protect himself ; and, at the next shot, sent his ball through Mr. Gilbert's body. The wounded man never spoke again, and in a few minutes expired. This termination of the duel excited great regret in San Francisco, where Mr. Gilbert had been much esteemed. A numerous company of the citizens assembled to pay the last respects to his remains, public institutions passed resolutions to the honor of the deceased, the shipping hung their flags at half mast, many public buildings and private houses were decorated with mourning draperies, and the newspapers ap- peared with black lines down their columns.
The custom of fighting duels was at the period of which we write, as it at present is, deplorably common among the higher class of people of San Francisco. These encounters are generally conducted in a manner which must appear somewhat strange to the natives of other civilized countries. There is little delicate privacy observed on the occasion. On the contrary, the parties, or their immediate friends, invite all their acquaintances, who invite others to go and witness the proposed engagement. It is sometimes announced the day before in the newspapers-time, place, parties, weapons, and every particular of the ceremony being faithfully given. That no price is mentioned for the sight, seems the only thing that distinguishes the entertainment from a bull or bear fight. If two notable characters be announced to perform a duel, say at the mission, half the city flocks to the place, and, of course, the spectators are much disappointed should nobody be slain. If the bloody entertainment be advertised to "come off," say at Benicia or somewhere in Contra Costa, the steamers of the eventful morning are densely packed with those who prefer the excitement of a gladiatorial show to the dull pursuit of business, or
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loafing about the streets. The favorite weapons are navy revol- vers. The antagonists stand back to back, walk five paces, turn suddenly round, and fire away at their leisure, till one or both are wounded or slain, or the barrels are all discharged. Sometimes rifles are preferred. With these deadly instruments many men can lodge the ball within a hair's breadth of a given mark at forty paces off, which is the usual distance between the parties in a duel of this description.
We intended to have made Mr. Gilbert's death a text, not only for enlarging upon the usual savage and public nature of the numerous duels which take place here, but also for some remarks upon the general carelessness of life among the people, and the frequency of sudden personal quarrels, when revolvers, bowie-knives and " slung shots " are unhesitatingly made use of. But we have at so many other places in this work had occasion to allude to these every-day characteristics of the inhabitants, that little more need be said here on the subject. In the earlier years,-that is, in 1849 and 1850,-fatal affrays were of very fre- quent occurrence in the streets, and in every place of public amusement. In the gambling saloons, pistols, loaded with ball, would every night be discharged by some hot-headed, revengeful, or drunken fellows. The crowd around were always liable to be wounded, if not killed, but notwithstanding, play at every table went briskly on, as if no danger of the kind existed. A momen- tary confusion and surprise might take place if anybody happened to be murdered in the room ; but soon the excitement died away. Similar events often occurred at the bar, or on the steps of a hotel, in a low dance or drinking-house, or in the open street, and nobody was much surprised, though some of the parties were severely wounded or killed outright. It was their " destiny," or their "luck." Since the years last mentioned, quarrels of this description have become less common, though they are still nume- rous. There is a sad recklessness of conduct and carelessness of life among the people of California ; and nearly all the inhabi- tants of San Francisco, whatever be their native country, or their original pacific disposition, share in the same hasty, wild charac- ter and feeling. The circumstances of the time, the place and people, soon create the necessity in the latest immigrant of think-
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ing and acting like the older residents on this subject. It has always been a practice with a large proportion of the citizens, to carry loaded fire-arms or other deadly weapons concealed about their persons, this being, as it were, a part of their ordinary dress ; while occasionally the rest of the inhabitants are compelled also to arm themselves like their neighbors. Of course, these arms are intended for defence against attacks by robbers, as well as to be used, when necessary, against those who would merely assault the person without meaning to steal. Such weapons are not generally produced, except in cases of extremity, or the place would soon be made desolate ; while sometimes the fear of pro- voking their use, may keep the rowdy and the insolent rascal quiet. Yet the unhappy possession of these fatal instruments often gives rise, on occasions of sudden passion, to many lamenta- ble consequences.
AUGUST 10th .- Funeral solemnities, on a great scale, took place this day, in commemoration of the death of Henry Clay. On this occasion political parties of all principles, the different associated bodies, native Americans and foreigners of every nation -in short, the whole inhabitants united to pay homage and re- spect to the memory of the celebrated statesman. The proces- sion was the largest assemblage of respectable people ever seen in the city, and was distinguished as much for the evident heart- felt sorrow in the mourners, as for the pomp and melancholy splendor of the slow-moving train, which extended about a mile in length. The Merchants' Exchange, the Custom House, El Dorado, Bella Union, City Hall, Marshal's Office, and in fact all the public buildings and many private houses were clothed in black draperies, as if the very stones were to bewail the loss of a great man. The whole of Montgomery street was hung in black, the sombre-looking folds of the cloth being relieved at places by wreaths and ornaments of white. Portions of every other main street were decorated in the same elaborate and perhaps over- fanciful manner. The various engine houses were likewise suit- ably arrayed. While the insensate walls thus wore the aspect of universal gloom, the people themselves were dressed according to the solemnity and grandeur of the occasion-the natives of every land appearing in the recognized national costume that expressed
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the deepest grief and mourning in the wearer. The tolling of great bells, the measured boom of the bass drum and the swelling wail of wind instruments turned the hearts of the people heavy and sorrowful. A hundred low-hung flags drooped over the city, and numerous bands of music played dead marches. If mechan- ical means could inspire or strengthen genuine sorrow, it was so on this occasion. The procession moved through the principal "streets till it reached the plaza. There, the orator of the day, Judge Hoffman, delivered an appropriate and eloquent address. The dead no longer heard his praises chanted ; but the memory of his deeds, his fiery eloquence, and the numberless benefits con- ferred on his country and on the world, by the famous orator and statesman, will long gratefully fill the minds of American citizens.
The occasion was worthy of a grand display ; and it was admitted by everybody, that the procession, the ceremonies and general mourning, were of the most novel, imposing, and splendid description that had ever been witnessed in San Francisco.
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CHAPTER XXII.
1852.
Australian gold mines .- Restlessness of miners .- Many who emigrated to Australia return to Cali- fornia .- Superior advantages of the latter place .- Second city directory published .- California Telegraph Company .- General election .- Fire in Sacramento city .- Another fire in San Francis- co .- Intelligence received of the death of Daniel Webster .- Falling of the waters of Lake La Mercede .- Another city directory .- Firemen's election .- Legal execution of José Forni .- De- structive storm.
SEPTEMBER .- For some time back a large number of vessels had left San Francisco with adventurers to the Australian gold mines, while now other vessels were bringing many of the same parties back again. A short notice on this subject may not be out of place.
Gold is perhaps the most extensively diffused metal in the world, although it is commonly found in very small particles. Every land is historically known to have had its auriferous dis- trict. California, however, stood alone in this respect, so far as it yielded large quantities of the precious metal, procured with less labor than any other country. Its gold possessions had already drawn upon it a vast population, who came hither hastily to collect the sparkling treasure, and then leave. The miners gen- erally never contemplated a permanent residence in the country. When they had raised their "pile," they hurried home-to the wives and families or the friends they had left in the Atlantic States or in Europe. So long as they remained in California, they were not closely attached to any one gold-bearing district, however rich it might be. More often, they were incessantly moving about and prospecting, hoping and looking for new and richer claims. When a particularly valuable district happened to be discovered, then a " rush " to it took place from all the neighbor- ing regions, and even from places hundreds of miles distant.
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AUSTRALIAN GOLD MINES.
This restlessness has always been a peculiar feature in the char- acter of the miner, who is naturally speculative. He works hard -harder than an Irish laborer or an English "navvie," for per- haps one month-then he grows weary and discontented with his trifling gains, and wanders about for as long a period prospecting, poking into every odd crevice in likely rocks, sinking pits here and there, and trying the sandy bed of every stream he may see in his rambles, wistfully hoping, though seldom finding, some rich secret deposit that will repay his previous fruitless labor. When his means of living without immediately profitable and earnest work are nearly exhausted, he gets tired of this new occupation, and a supposed good claim may perhaps also be found. Then the digger sets vigorously to work once more, for another month or two, until new ennui and restlessness force him to go on the tramp again, and look about for the fanciful great gains that can alone satisfy his hopes. He chases the rain- bow to find its base. The gold miner, like man in the abstract, " never is, but always to be blest." His business is closely allied to gambling, with its rare chances of suddenly making a great fortune, or of losing time and labor, which make his capital.
While the miner grew thus restless, and was attracted to new placers upon the least rumor of their fancied superiority, and when idle tales arose and were circulated by the weak, indolent or un- lucky, that all the best fields had already been gleaned of their rich harvest, he was naturally prepared to go farther, and to seek in other lands the wealth which he had happened somehow to miss in California. It mattered little in what place or country he made his " pile," so that it was found. The discovery of gold in Australia, nearly a year and a half ago, had produced in that country, and subsequently over a great part of the world, a repe- tition of the troublous scenes which had occurred immediately after the discovery of gold in California. When, therefore, in- telligence of the great quantities of the precious metal which were being found in Australia reached San Francisco, and subse- quently the mining regions of California, great excitement was produced over all the country. Successive reports confirmed the first astonishing yields. Rich as the Californian placers had been esteemed, the Australian diggings appeared much to exceed them.
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in that respect. A good story by travelling loses nothing of the marvellous. The first wonderful tidings of the Sydney diggings -including the notable hundred-weight of pure gold, were almost forgotten, when later intelligence came of the newer gold fields of Victoria-of the famous Mount Alexander region, and its dis- tricts ; Forest Creek, Friar's Creek and the rest, and also of the
Scene in the gold mines.
renowned Ballarat and Bendigo. Large numbers of the migra- tory and discontented miners in California now hurried to San Francisco, to depart for the newer and perhaps true Dorado, just discovered in Australia. Many adventurers from the city joined these emigrants, and set sail for Sidney and Melbourne. At the same time, great numbers of Australians, who had come to Cali- fornia after 1848, now took the opportunity of returning to their original homes. Some of these had wrought patiently at the mines, or lived as good citizens in various parts of the country, while others had long been the disgrace and terror of the commu-
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nity. The "Vigilance Committee " of San Francisco, and similar associated bodies that had been formed in other towns of Califor- nia, had already driven the worst of the last class of Australians away. The news of the gold discoveries in their own country, speedily carried off the rest. The migration from California at this period was therefore not an unmingled evil, although its own mines wanted every hand that could dig a hole or feed a long-tom.
After a time, most of the Californians in Australia grew sick of their new country. They had perhaps found the auriferous earth in general rather richer than what it was in California ; but not so rich as their brilliant hopes had pictured it. At the same time, since the gold happened in general to be buried much deeper in the ground, the labor of extracting it was greater, while the water for washing purposes was often lamentably deficient. Then there was the moral contamination of working beside the convicts of Van Dieman's Land and New South Wales, the un- healthiness of the mining country, the scarcity of proper water to drink, the privations from want of food and severity of the weather, and excessively severe labor. The Californians were farther disgusted by the imposition of a tax of seven and a half dollars per month, laid by the government upon all miners for license to work, as well as by the occasional outbreaks of national jealousy, and disputes between themselves and British subjects. On the whole, therefore, the Americans were glad to leave the country to its first inhabitants and their coming brethren from England ; and so soon as the former contrived to gather the pe- cuniary means, and had the opportunity, they hastened back to their old quarters in California, now doubly endeared to them by their luckless absence. The reports brought by these returned emigrants before long satisfied the wavering and adventurous, that no special benefit was to be obtained by any American in leaving the rich mines of his own country for those, however pro- mising they might appear, of another. On the contrary, all he could look for were many additional hardships, physical and moral, and severe labor ill-requited. Of late, accordingly, com- paratively few adventurers have sailed from San Francisco for the Australian gold fields. This is well for California. It may just also, while on this subject, be said in passing, that other labor in
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ANNALS OF SAN FRANCISCO.
Australia-from that of the rudest workman to that of the high- est skilled mechanic-is only paid about one-half the rates which it commands, has always received, and probably for many years to come, will continue to receive in California. Let interested people say what they will, there is no land so well fitted for the comfortable residence of the poor and industrious man as Califor- nia. Soil, climate, wages, and political, religious and domestic institutions here make his position more ennobling and agreeable than he can expect or possibly find in any other country.
This month the second (wrongfully said in the preface to be the first,) San Francisco "City Directory " was published by A. W. Morgan & Co. It was a well printed, thin octavo, of one hundred and twenty-five pages. The names were not more in number than what C. P. Kimball's Directory of 1850 contained. These, however, in Morgan's book were stated both alphabetically and classified into trades and professions. Some useful general information was also given in an appendix.
OCTOBER 22d .- A city ordinance was passed and approved of, granting a right of way to the " California Telegraph Compa- ny." Some time elapsed before the company could erect posts and extend the wires through the State ; and it was only late in the following year that they got into working order. By means of this telegraph, San Francisco was brought into instant com- munication with San José, Stockton, Sacramento, Marysville, and other towns in the interior.
NOVEMBER 2d .- Election of State, county and city officials, as well as others for the United States. The county and city re- turns were as follows :-
Senate .- John N. Baird, John S. Hager.
Assembly .- Samuel Flower, John Sime, Frederick A. Snyder, George H. Blake, James M. Taylor, Isaac N. Cordoza, Elcan Heydenfeldt.
County Surveyor .- W. P. Humphreys.
Public Administrator .- David T. Bagley.
District Judge .- Delos Lake.
Mayor .- C. J. Brenham.
City Marsnal .- R. G. Crozier. Recorder .- George W. Baker.
Comptroller .- R. Matheson. Street Commissioner .- Wm. Divier.
Tax Collector .- Lewis Teal. Treasurer .- Hamilton Bowie.
Harbor Master .- W. T. Thompson. City Attorney .- John K. Hackett.
City Assessors .- M. D. Eyre, J. L. Anderson, J. O'Callahan.
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FIRES IN SACRAMENTO AND SAN FRANCISCO.
Aldermen.
J. P. Flint, W. A. Dana, T. H. Selby, Geo. K. Gluyas,
J. P. Haven,
C. L. Case, A. J. Bowie, E. J. Moore.
Assistant Aldermen.
H. N. Squier, H. R. Haste, James De Long, J. B. Piper,
W. H. Bovee, G. W. Bryant, Edward Byrne,
Thomas Hayes.
NOVEMBER 2d and 3d .- Great fire at the city of Sacramento, by which nearly two thousand buildings were destroyed. The conflagration extended over fifty-five blocks, and deprived seven thousand people of their usual homes. The value of the build- ings and goods destroyed was differently estimated at from five to ten millions of dollars. Much distress was suffered by the in- habitants on this lamentable occasion. The people of San Fran- cisco, bearing in mind their own great fires, and the loss and misery these had caused, held public meetings, at this time, to express sympathy and to devise measures for relieving their suf- fering brethren. A sum of sixteen thousand dollars was imme- diately collected and remitted to Sacramento for the general relief of those who had been burned out. Other subscriptions swelled the amount to thirty thousand dollars. Many medical gentlemen offered their gratuitous professional services, while the steamers bore supplies thither free of freight. Signora Biscacci- anti, who had recently been performing in San Francisco, gene- rously offered to give a concert for the benefit of the sufferers. This was largely attended, and realized the sum of seven hundred dollars, which was paid into the relief fund. Other public per- formers gave benefits for the sufferers at Sacramento.
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