Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-08-20
WHOLE NO. 2OS1.
A CALIFORNIA PORTRAIT OF THE
HON. P. 7. HERBERT.

the following article may be found, in
regard to early "reminiscences of San
Francisco:
AS before said, the individual who
built this house, wooden building near
the corner of Washington and Stockton
streets, built in l849) was by profession
a gambler. by the name of 4.
His father was a member of the Massa-
chusetts Legislature for many years, and
in 1916 removed to Natchez, at the re-
quest of number of relatives who resie.
ed near that city.
At this time young H. was eighteen
years of age, and an only child. Here,
keeping the company of the reckless and
dissipated characters for which Nstehez
was at that time notorious, he plunged
into every species of vice, and soon be-
came irrevocably welded to gaming.
His father, upon learning the dangers
which threatened him in the city, sent
him to reside with an uncle, who lived
few miles in the country, that he might
not be subjected to the temptations that
surrounded him in the city, hoping by so
doing to wean him from the life of dissi.
patton and vice into which he was fast
verging.
He remained in his uncle's family,
where he was treated with the affection
of sen, for six months, when, dishonor
ing his cousin, the only daughter of his
uncle, he left for New Orleans, and in
six months from the time he landed
there. he was confirmed gambler. His
cousin Lucy. whom he had so deeply
wronged, shortly after became mother,
which was a severe blow to her parents,
as well as tothe father of young H. The
child did not live, however, and Lucy,
unable to remain longer in the presence
of her parents, whom she had rendred
forever heart broken, at the request Of
young II. left the house Of her childhood
and Joined him in New Orleans. Here
they remained until the spring of 40, BY
which time H. had become a proficient
at gambling. He now concluded TO try
his fortune in California, and after much
persuasion on the part of Lucy. he at
length assented to her accompanying
him.
They arrived in San Francisco in May
of that year, and turning his attention to
his profession, we find young Fl. at the
end of three months, with means sufi-
cient to build the house We have men
toned. Into this he removed Lucy,
where for some time they lived together
with as much happiness as their social
condition would admit. But fortune,
which had thus far proved favorable,
began to grow tickle, and he lost his
money more rapidly than he won it; and
by degrees he lost every. dollar. his
house being taken at length TO pay gam
b In; debt. He became desperate, and
began to abuse and i'll treat his already
wretched cousin and mistress, not know
ing on whom else to vent his rage in his
misfortunes and in drunken hour he
offered to sell her, for small sum of
ready cash, to gambling companion
Against such an act she at first plead
with fearful eyes; but finding this una
vailing. she at length Indignantly le-
fused, whereupon he struck ber to the
floor with a stick of wood, where he left
her for dead then locking the door. lie
fed to the mines. The blow did not kill
her, and she recovered, finding herself
without money, without friends, and
without home.
Lucy is now living on Washington St.,
leading life of infamy, forced upon her
by the villany of relative. The rose
of health and happiness has faded from
her cheek not ray of hope beams in
her eye, and sickening despair sits upon
that face which once beaueG With joyful
innocence.
The above is not fancy, but true
sketch, as we stand ready to prove.
The Sacramento Spirit of the Age, Of
June IA, copies the above, and submits
some sensible comments thereon, after
this fashion
We have never known, except in the
fertile imagination of some author of 6c-
ton, so horrible picture as is here
drawn from the scenes Of real life. Wio
is this ignominious piece of human me
chanism, who has not even the princip.s
of common gratitude, but accomplished
the ruin of his own beuefators' daughter,
and the lasting disgrace OF h.s own kim
dred ? We are told the desc; ION cor
responds with Phil. L. Her eur hon.
orable member Of Congress 10 repre-.
sents Cahfornians as gsmhiers he man
who insulted and finally ki.led an OBJ
scure waiter in Washington, the nan.
also, who assisted the WaFe.s' 10 sfhe
brutal murder Of Colin Cooke, IA Texss.
We have every reason, from Inc reported
character of the man, to believe in this
addition to his infamous renown. Yet
this is ole of the charictefs which has
been held up, for the admiration If our
rising generation. sas