The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-07
California Ne,va


Francisco, having come via San Juan. An
equally remarkable voyage, speaking compare
lively, had been accomplished by the clipper
ship Flying Cloud, which reached San Fran
cisco from New York, UiG Cape Horn, in
eighty days, being sixteen days less than the
time occupied by any other sailing vessel.
The San Francisco Courier of the LIST of Sep
TENDER says:
"The accounts from the mines are equally as en-
couraging as heretofore. In the southern portion
Of the country machinery ia being rapidly put
into operation, in great measure under Mexican
superntendence. In the northern mines the same
thing is observable, with the exception that the
machinery is nearly all owned and worked by
Americans. The results, in almost every instance,
are atisiacory-suifciently so to induce mum
bers who have hitherto worked in the ordinary
way to take to that description of mining. On the
Feather and Yuba rivers, and in the creeks be-
tween the two, there is a very large number Of
men engaged in washing; and rich quartz veins
have lately been discovered in that region within
few miles of Marysville.
"The produce of the country is now brought to
market, and the quality is very superior. The
farmers in some portions complain greatly of the
damage done to their crops by the vermn but,
on the whole, their expectations likely to be
fully realized
We append details of another case of lynch
law in the streets of San Francisco, under the
superintendent of the Vigilance Committee.
From The San Francisco Herald, august 25h
About quarter past two O'Clock Yesterday af
ternoon the Jail was forcibly entered by division
Oh the vigilance committee, consisting of thirty
SIX members, and the prisoners Whitaker and
Mckenzie taken and carried to the room of the
committee, on Battery street, where they were
hung.
The REsCUE.-The circumsta noes Of the proceed
ing are as follows: The Rev. MIR. Williams, as has
been his custom on Sundays for some weeks past,
was engaged in religious exercises with the pris.
soners, who had been brought out from their cells
into the yard bet ween the inner wall of the
PRISON and the high wooden fence that surrounds
it, There were about eight spectators present, and
among them two children of the clergyman. The
hymn had been concluded, and the minister was
Offering up prayer, when noise as of persons
endeavoring to force the door in the wooden barri
cade was heard. Captain Lambert attempted TO
keep 1t fastened, but it was burst through and the
detachment thirty six men rushed in. One por.
ton instantly pinioncd the officers on guard, and
etectually prevented any interference on their
part, while another portion seized Whitaker and
Mckenzie to bear them off, They, however, strue-
gled and resisted until iorciby carried off by their
captors During this scene the other prisoners re-
manned overcome with fear, and profoundly quiet.
Several shots were fired during the melee; it is
probable, ns nobody was hurt that the shots fired
by the attacking party were aimed at no one, but
were merely signals. One of the guards, of whom
there were four, including Capt. Lambert, on duty
at the time, came down from his post the top of
the Jail into the yard and scuffle ensued between
him and one OF the attacking party.
The ROUTE TO THE COMMITTEE RooMs.-In the
mean time the prisoners had been hurried off in a
carriage provided for the occasion, standing ut the
corner of Dupont and Broadway streets, but few
steps from the Jail Into this they thrust, fol
lowed by guard of the committee. The driver
piled his whip, and off dashed the vehicle at the
utmost speed up Broadway to Stockton street.
along Stockton to Washington street. down Wash
ington to Dupont street, and through Dupont, Sac
ramento, Montgomery, and California streets to
the rooms of the committee, Battery street.
The whole affair was conducted with suoh expe-
dltion that before those In Montgomery street. who
knew OF the rescue almost as soon as it occurred,
could run down to the committee rooms, the pri5-
oners had been carried within, and the carriage
was returning Before they had yet reached the
rooms, however, the bell of the Monumental en-
CINE commenced to strike the we'll known signal
for the instant assemblage of the committee. All
understood in an instant how matters STOOD and
the whole city seemed rushing towards Battery
street
The ExEcUTIoN.-In incredibly short space
of time ropes were reeved through the two blocks
that hung from beams projecting from the front of
the committee rooms, over the doors in the second
story, and the two ends taken inside the
rooms. Moses were made at the end of each, and
in a minute the two criminals were led to the
doors in their shirt-sleeves. The ropes were adj
justed around their necks and in an instant they
were jerked simultaneously into the air until their
necks struck the blocks. They descended little
distance, and were again jerked up to the block,
causing them to swing violently to and fro. Their
arms were pinioned to their sides; but, McKen-
zies hands being free, he caught the rope by which
he was elevated In his left hand he was lowered
for an instant, causing him to loose his grasp, and
all was over. They said nothing to the multitude
who stood gazing upon them and when at last
they ceased to vibrate, not CONFUSION or move
ment Of any kind could be eeen. AS they were
launched into eternity tremendous shout of sat
isfaction went up from the crowd. There they
hung, slowly swinging round, now exhibiting
their countenances to the spectators, and again
averting them. Not movement of any kind was
made to interfere. All seemed TO be conducted
with the utmost order and according to a prcar-
ranged plan. There was confusion-n no hating
or hesitation.
ADDRESSES TO THE PEOPLE, ETc.-When they
had been hanging about half an hour, Mr.. Samuel
Brannan came TO the open door in the second story
OF the committees building, and briefly addressed
the crowd, informing them that the prisoners had
confessed their guilt, had acknowledged that they
deserved death, but affirmed that they would not
have been led to pursue the course which has ended
at the gallows, had it not been for the weakness
and corruption of some of the authorities. Mr..
Brannan stated that the committee were fully cen
sible of the soemnity of the OCCASION the fearful
responsibility which the first law of nature self
preservation, imposed upon them, but they could
not act otherwise than they had without holding
out a direct premium to crime. He trusted
that the committee would be supported by the
citizens when they did right, and would receive
their frowns when they acted wrong. No innocent
man need fear; it was qualification to the com.
mittee to be compelled to take the life of fellow
being, and in no case would they do it unless the
proof Of guilt was beyond cavil. He was followed
by Dr. Robinson, from an elevation ON the wharf |
but his speech could only be heard short distance
from where he stood. Mr.. Payran called for
by the assemblage, and briefly addressed them he
by stating that il the request of the
that the bodies of the unfortunate men
be allowed hang until the going down of the
sun, to be then delivered to the coroner, should he
demand them.
About this time, while the crowd was densey |
packed upon the wharf, cry was raised that the |
railroad cars, loaded with earth, were descending
panic seized upon portion of the |
crowd, who rushed wildly from the spot. by the |
exertions of gentlemen present they were induced
to halt, otherwise i'll the dreadful press serious ac-
cidents might have taken place
After the doomed men had been hanging about |
IN hour, they were lowered, and Mckenzie taken |
into the rooms and bled by physician present, to
see il life was extinct. Strange to say, after
IN OF slc 10Th If hInod tbo