The weekly Placer herald., 1853-06-04
From the San francisco Herald
Rush for the Spoils.

Il,
Editor ofthe Hel aid; Passing up Mont
gomery street yesterday afternoon, be-
tween and O'Clock, my attention was
attracted by lit gent enan with a
srna mustache, who rushed hastily past
me, and turning down Commercial street,
sought to escape observation by plunging
among the crowd of drays that perpetual
y tangle up Long Wharf Though
slightly lame, he passed me with a speed
that may have been equaIled, but for q
man of his size could never have been eX-
re led; and his look of frantic terror-his
countenance, wild, pallid, with al,prehen-
sion, as | caught for an instant his horror
stricken gaze. | shall never forget. had
turned partly round to watch his flight,
when with sudden shock | was borne
hurrledly along, and in an instant found
myself struggling and plunging in the
midst Of a mighty crowd who were evi
IDENTITY III hot pursuit. There were old
men, young men, and maidens-or at
least | presume they were uaidenS, but it
was no time for close scrutiny; there were
Frenchmen, EngiShmen, Cinnamon, and
every other description of men; gente-
men with spectacles and gentleman that
were spectacles to behold; men with hats
and men without hats; an angry sea of
nustacheS, coat tails and hickory shirts,
with here and there a dash of foam, in the
way of pettcoat; and all pouring and
rushing down Long Wharf with me in
the midst, like a bewlldered gander in a
milI-race.
There was no shouting,--a look of
stern and gloomy determination sat on the
countennnce of each Individual; and save
IA mnttered elacu alton of 'FThere he
goes !" 81 see himI' we rushed on in hor-
rid silence.
A sickly feeling came over as the con
victlon that was in the midst Of the far
famed and dreaded Vigilance Committee
settled on my mind; here was |, borne
along with them an involuntary and un
willing member-I, life member Of the
Ant!-Capital Punishment Society, and au-
thor Of IA little work cal ed "Peace, or Di-
rections for the use of the sword as
pruning hook" who never killed fly in
my Ilfe-here | was probably about to
conntenance by my presence the summary
execution of the unhappy little culp prit
with the sma! mustache, who for aught
know to the contrary, might he as itnmac-
ulate AS Brigham Young himself
What would Brother Greedy say to me
now? But it was no time for reflection.
I"OnWard we drove in dreadful race, pnr-
suers and pursued,' over boxes, bales
drays and horses; the Jews screamed and
1shut their doors as they saw lis coming;
there was a shower Of many-bladed knives
German silver pencils, and impracticable
IpIStols, as the show cases flew wildly in
The air. 1t was dreadful scene. am
not fieShy man-tbat is, not particularly
fieshy-but an old villain with bald head
and spectaces, punched me in the abdo-
men; lost my breath, closed my eyes,
and remember nothing further
On recovering my faculties, | found
myself janmed up fiat against a sugar
box, like a hoecake, protruding over the
top in the most uncomfortable manner,
and apparently the weight of the whole
crowd (amountng hy this time to some
six thousand,) pressed against me, keep
ing me ineAtrlcably in my position. Here
for an instant | caught a glimpse of a
Stockton boat ust leaving the wharf:
then everything was obscured by Il Sudden
shower of something white, and then
burst from the mob Il deep and meIan
choly howl, prolonged, terrific, hideous.
Wrenched myself violently from the su-
gar-boX, and confronted a seedy looking
individual with battered hat; in his hand
he held a crumpled paper, and on his
countenance sat the gloom of despair
"In the name Of heaven" | gaSped,
"what Is ihis?' "He has escaped," he
replied, with deep groan. "What has
he done 20 said i; "who is the crininal?"
''Done,'' said he of the seedy garments,
turning moodiIy away, "nothing-ft IS the
ne,c Collector ILL.,! He's off to Stock
ton." The crowd diSpersed; slowly and
sadly they all walked off. looked over
the side of the wharf. ! am not given to
exaggeration. You will believe me when
tell you that the sea was white with let
ters that had been thrown by that crowd;
for miles it was white with them, and
far out in the stream, her wheels fl led
with letter paper, her shafts cogged with
diSsolving waters. lay the Stockton boat
On her upper deck, in a frenzied agony,
danced the Pilot, his hand grasping his
shattered jaw. An office seeker had
thrown Il letter attached to stone, which
had dislodged four of his front teeth AS
gazed, the steamers whee S began to
move At her after cabin window appear
ed nose above small moustache, a
thumb and fingers twnkled for an instant
in the sunlight, and she was gone. |
walked up the wharf, and gazing ruefuIly
on my torn clothing and shattered boots,
which had suffered much in this struggle
of da,nocrocv leT'hnnk C.odi Oh SuiIi-