The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-08-15


yssn ~ ~oll.' GI,(ne4te. Jsiy Is
s's' u.e trtSS11 ExSottnent!
asmN Hi.ne BY a. y;giiancs Commixss on
AsskA 6'sssf WAsrc-Hu Confsssloa--h ss-
resnss Multitude Pressnt--500 Of the Vigilance
Csxuxsisee an duty u the Execution
AhQxs oo,slOck yesterday morning the tapping
ofAhe, ball Ofths Monumental Engine Company's
honae - the Plaza, attracted the attention of
our citixsus, known, US il was, to BIZ signal of
~ VigilARcs Committee. People soon began
10 thr0ng down in the direction of the commit
tsa room, and IL WAS reported that James Stuart
MA 10 be hung. The bell tolIed for about half
N hour. when number Of guns were fired from
brig In the harbor, and il WAS observed that
many Of the vessels had their h,gs displayed,
and 1t was afterwards learned that the COM
mittee had requested this. BY 10 O'clock 2 or
1900 people had gathered. and appeared to be
quietly waiting with The expectation Of seeing
somebody hung.
The committee, in the mem time, were pas
sing In and out, and it was evident that some
thing was in progress inside. Everything was
conducted, however. with so much secresy, that
1t was known to but very few, If any, outside,
what was really going on; and many after wait
ing m hour or two, went away with the suppo-
sii;on that nothiug would occur. At about half
past !, some one came out OF the committee
room and read n portion of the confession which
Stuart had made, and it was stated that he would
be hung in an hour. The crowd sanctioned the
proposition most unanimously. The news
spread, and large crowd soon gathered. About
half-past two o'clock the committee came down
stairs and formed three abreast. There We're
nearly thousand of them, principally composed
Of our oldest, best known and most prominent
.l,o.x,n and
business men of every description. Previous to
this clergyman had been sent for, who remained
with Stuart some time.
The procession moved up Battery street, pre-
ceded and followed by the crowd, with Stuart
hnndcuffed and pinioned near their centre. There
was no noise, no 0utcry, no apparent excitement
and there was something awfully solemn in the
measured tread Of the procession on the planked
street. When the procession reached Market
street, and it was perceived that they were about
turning down, n rush was made to secure good
places, and some time before the prisoner arrived
every box, bale and barrel had its occupants.
The deck and rigging of the vessels lying around
the wharf were covered and the wharf Itself
was one perfect sea of heads. A galows of
plain upriqhts and cross beam had been erected
= block with a rope in it, with the moose ready
made On the way down Stuart appeared per-
fectly cool and collected and not at all exc'ted.
When he reached the galiows, the rope was
placed around his neck. and with the exception
of slight paleness there was no change in his
appearance, no trembling, no agitation.
He appeared to feel as though he was satisfied
with his sentence, and did not desire to live
Longer. The resemblance between Stuart and
Burdue was most striking, and il is not at all
strange that one should have been taken for
the other. The immense crowd remained
breathless, and Stuart, when under the galows,
said, 81 die reconciied. my sentence is just. =
The rope was pulled, and in moment he was
dangling in the air. As he went up, ne closed
his ewes and clasped his hands togther. He had
previously requested that his face might not be
covered. He scarcely gave struggle, and
although the knot was on the back of his neck,
appeared TO be in but little pain. A slight con-
traction of the lower limbs. and strained heay-
ing of the chest for moment, were all the
symptoms of approaching death. After hanging
about five minutes his hat blew off, and exposed
to view the CHASTITY features of the robber
When he had hung about 30 minutes, he was
cut down by Coroner Gallagher, placed in a
boat and taken to the first district police station
house.
There was no attempt made at rescue by
the authorities, and many persons in the city
knew nothing of the affair till it WAS over. II
was conducted with the greatest order and que
Heaven grant that it may have salutary effect
Stuart was arrested by the Vigilance committee
about week since. He WAS found removing
some stolen trunks, and was tried before the
Committee for the murder of Moore, and upon
variety of ether charges. 1t is said that he has
made some disclosures that tend TO criminate a
number of men in this city whose characters
have previously stood fair, and that ne has giver
the Committee clues that will enable them to
break up the organized bands of villains in this
State.
STEAM FLEET ON THE PAcrFIc-Never has
the world Witnessed so rapid progress in all The
elements OF commercial greatness as has been
exhibited ia California. The trade of every ma
ton. borne in a feet of thousand vessels, has
been poured into her lap Her golden treasures
have iured into the great bay of San Francisco
the flag Of every people, from China to Russia
But wonderful as has been our advance 10 build
ing I'D commercial marine, the increase of on,
steam feet has been proportionably NOR e strik-
ing and rapid. The Pioneer steamer, the Cali
fornia, belonging to the Pacific mail steamship
company's line. first entered the Golden Gate on
the 2sth of February, 1919. Since that time,
but little more than two years and half have
elapsed, and behold what fleet Of steamers
now traverse the waters Of the Pacific.
Pacific Mail Steamship Companys Line be-
t,peen San Francisco and Panama.
California. 1850 tons Oregon, 1000 tons
Panama. 1887 Tennessee, 800 "
Novtherner 1900 Antelope, - I"
Republic, 1900 Carolina, 900 "
Columbus. 600 Islhmus, -
Unicorn. 500 Fremont. 300
Sarah Sands. 1900 g Golden Gate, on the