Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-10-25

A Characteristic Scene in San Francisco

Ia Characteristic Scene in San Francisco.
The lively San Francisco correspondent of
the Chicago Tribune thus decribes a curious
scene in that city Immediately after the re
cent election NJ h'7abs ass
ssSome DAYS before the election, when it
was generally conceded that the State would
+ 90 for Gorham, but the city would give the
I Democratic ticket a small majority, Mr.. Hig-
gins, warm friend of Mr.. Gorham, banter
cd Michael Hayes. an equally warm friend
of Mr.: Haight, for bet in any shape on the
result. Hayes fought shy, but finally said,
4 will bet you one hundred dollars that |
will propose a bet you will not accept, The
/ bet was taken. and Hayes proposed to carry
hand organ through Montgomery street by
daylight, playing before all the banks and
/ hotels, and solicit contributions for the or
phans, the proceeds to be equally divided be-
tween the Protestant and Catholic. asylums.
| if Haight did rot carry the city by one thou,
sand FIVE hundred majority and if he did
carry it by that number Higgins was to, do
the same thing. The bet was made; and
| Higgins lost. Now mark the result. Any
where outside of California the terms of the
wager would have been carried out, attract
ing a big crowd and creating much talk for,
a few days; but there it would have ended.
Here, however, the people took the joke to
heart, and called on all the candidates, ,elec-.
ted and defeated, to walk side by side in the
procession and assist in the collection of the
funds and to their credit be it said, most of
~ ~ I j 4~>+
mark, howevax accepted the challenge and
turned out At 10 A. NJ. yesterday | rode
through Montgomery street.. and found it
packed from end to end with men, women,
and children, while every window was full
and every roof and balcony was black with
heads. At II A. NJ the cortege turned into
| Montgomery street, and fifty policemen, on
horseback and on foot commenced strug-
Cling with the heavy mass Of humanity to
clear the way for the passage southwards.
First came full brass band playing when
Johnny Comes Marching Home, The Bat
tie Cry of Freedom Marching Through
Georgia,' etc., etc. Then two collectors
with huge buckskin bags to receive the sill
yer and gold which was rained down from
roof, balcony, and windowin showers, as the
procession advanced Then came Michael
Hayes, the winner of the wager, carrying a
large tin box capable of holding thousands of
dollars. which he expressed a determination
to fill before night Next followed William
i t. Higgins, who was fanked on either side
/ by two friends, one carrying monkey and
the other splendid floral ornament. Next
/ appeared two treasurers for the OCCASION
Messrs. Miles D Sweeney and j !. B. Badger,
seated in coach, from which each held sus-
pended canvass bag as large as a -four sack,
them followed several of the elected and
defeated candidates and host Of people
The first halt was made as soon as the organ
j grinder had crossed jackson street, when
the crowd were clamorous to judge Of Hig
ginss music-grinding power, and he played ;
but amid the bable of shouts, hurrahs, and
laughter, not note could be heard twenty
feet from him. H-sit
For three mortal hours the police strug-
gled to clear the way, and fought with the
good humored crowd for a passage for the
procession before it reached it's destination,
less than half mile from the starting point.
thousand dollars were gathered on the
first block. and the start was hardly made.
A long row of teams to carry provisions and
clothing, anything for the benefit of the or
phans, followed the performers, and no less
than ten wagon loads, worth some thousands
Of dollars, were gathered in this manner. =
Flour, bread, confectionery, clothing, fruit,
even huge packages Of tobacco and boxes Of
cigars, Intended to be sold for the orphans
benefit, were tumbled into the wagons as
they passed along. The scene fairly beg
CARED description. ! doubt if it's equal could
be found anywhere out Of California. 1t was
perfect carnival Of reckless, extravagant,
prodigal aims giving AS the procession
struggled along, carriages We're overturned
women upset and men thrown down and
trampled on. but the utmost good will and
hilarity everywhere prevailed .il..