Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-12-07
Ihe Emeute.

VI I'A-i0 OiiaH L dllOn-tne man VINO kllleQ
jeremiah McKisson ct Rich Gulch in this
county, recently-out of Jail and hanging
him, has been well known by the officers.
The movements and actions of the yigllantes
have been closely watched and the plans
adopted at their secret conclaves, together
with the knowledge Of the various times ap-
pointed for their execution, have been as well
known by the officers of the law as they were
by the members of the organization them
selves. Being in possession OF these facts,
the necessary precautions were taken to pre-
vent the contamination Of the designs of those
in league against the law, and they were
informed that an attempt to lynch Fallon
would be resisted to the uttermost and would
only result in bloodshed. The expression of
this determination on the part of the officials
caused postponement of an attempt being
made, on one OF two different occasions, and
it was hoped that the idea had been abandon
ed altogether. On Friday, a week since,
however, information again reached the
officers that the raiders, with largely aug
mented forces, would make desperate at
tempt, sometime during the night, to obtain
possession of the Jail, and that SO far from
being satisfied with Fallon, they were also
going to hang the negro and Mexican who
about year since. Word was again sent
to the raiders that the officers were fully pre-
pared and would protect the prisoners at all
hazards; also thata large posse, fully armed
would assist them III the performance of their
duties. It is well enough to state, in this
connection, however, that those who had
protested their services did not make their
appearance when it was known they would
be needed, and there was no one in the JAIL
until after the danger was over, except
Deputy Sheriff Matthews, jailor Peek and
Constable McLennan, of West Point. A
messenger he'd been sent to San Andreas for
Sheriff Olphant, who was on the ground as
promptly as possible. Necessity is the
mother of invention" and while trying to
think of some plan by which the efforts of
the raiders could be defeated without the
efusion of blood, the idea luckily entered
the mind of officer Matthews that if a gen.
eral alarm could be given when they ap-
preached the Jail, it might possibly deter
them from the attempt. The idea was i'm
mediately acted upon and arrangements
perfected by which, at preconcerted signal,
the fire bell should be rung. This precaution
undoubtedly frustrated the attempt and pre-
vented the loss of life. About half past one
on Saturday morning, the ''forlorn hope" of
the raiders, consisting of sixteen picked men,
marched rapidly up to the gate in front of
the Jail and halted. At the same time
large number got into the yard by climbing
over the fence in the rear. The squad in
front, whose duty it was to make the first
assault, appeared to be lndecisive in their
actions. Some of the more courageous were
cursing the timid for their cowardice, and
demanding that they should Immediately
proceed to storm the Jail. Others wished to
temporize. All was as dark and silent as
the grave about the jail. At this critical
moment the signal was given, and suddenly
the hoarse changing of the alarm bell smote
harshly upon the still night air, arousing our
citizens from their peaceful slumbers and
tolling the death-knell of the hopes of the
raiders. Imagining that it was the tocsin
which would summon an armed host, their
courage, like Bob Acres, oozed out Of their
fingers ends, and being suddenly seized with
the Bull Run collie they went down the hill
much faster than they came up it. Their
flight was SO preclpitate that they left
portion Of their "tools'' behind them. TX
actly how many were concerned in the affair
is not known; but there were probably some
where near hundred. Such infringements
OF the law are to be deprecated, and should
and will be discountenanced by all good
citizens. An excited mob can never be the
just arbiter of mans fate. 1t matters not
what crime has been committed, nor how
lnhuman and barbarous it may have been in
its details. Let the law take its course.
Time enough has elapsed since the homicide
at Rich Gulch was committed to allow mems
passions to cool. Its perpetrator, be he in
nocent or guilty of murder is in confinement
and must answer for his deeds before the
proper tribunal. While all sympathize
daopIv NTH 4bo Gl;o+o5 f,,,;1,, ,,d fr;o,1,
of the one who met sudden and violent
death, and are anxious that strict justice
should be melted out to Fallon, they do not
recognize the necessity Of infringing the laws
and placing his fate IN the hands of irres-
ponsible persons. Any attempt to deal
summarily with him, in the future, will be
futile, and can only have the effect of turn
ing the tide of public sentiment in his favor.
We sincerely hope that those who have
allowed their passions to sway their judg-
ment and lead them into error, will see the
folly of their course and desist from unlaw-
full proceedings in the future.
ORGANIZATION OF THE LEG1sLATuRE.-The
following is list of the officers elected in
both branches Of the Legislature
Senate-L. D. Miner as President pro
tenn; John White, Secretary W. F. Heustis,
Assistant Secretary F. S. Lardner, Ser
geant-at-arms; I. Mahoney, Assistant Ser
geant-at-srms c. E. Barnes, Minute Clerk;
John E. Dent, Journal Clerk w. H. Frink,
Engrossing Clerk; Walter L. Hawkins,
Enrolling Clerk; and A. w. Perley and D.
S. Marston, Copying Clerks. Rev. J. S.
Mcdonald was appointed Chaplain R. G.
Harris, Night Watchman; George w. Whit
lock, Firemsn; and Evans C.. Clark, Mes