Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-06-22
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SLIPPERY DICK.
The intense excitement of 1S47 and '4S,
caused by the discovery Of gold in California,
will be remembered by many of our older
readers. The excitement was at fever heat
in '4S. Mechanics dropped their tools in the
worshop, farmers left the plough in the fur
row, clerks left the counting-room, and cler-
gymen deserted their Aocks. Adventures
Of all classes swarmed like bees upon the
deck of each departing vessel. An equal
conglomeration of thieves, gamblers and cut.
throats mingled with preachers of the gos-
pei, doctors of medicine, learned professors,
efeminate clerks, etc., all bent upon the same
errand, never before or since mingled upon q
ships deck. A trip around the Horn was
the popular route at that time, and four to
six months were usually occupied in reaching
the land of gold.
Among the number who caught the infec-
ton was Charles c., clerk in large whole
sale dry.goods house in New York. He was
but twenty years of age, had good situa-
ton, was trusted by his employers, and had .
fair prospect of advancement. He was of an
adventurous nature, and hated the slow and
dry details of commercial life. The glamour
of adventure and riches shadowed his reason,
and he gave up his situation, and in spite Of
the entreaties of parents and sisters, he bade
them farewell, and set sail for San Francisco
We will pass over two years of his life.
The bitter disappointment of many aspirants
for wealth who left New York, with high
hopes and expectations, is we'll known now.
Disaster, disappointment, and poverty were
followed by reckless dissipation, crime, and
murder. Persons detected in the crime Of
murder or theft were tried by the Vigilance
Committee, and hung to the nearest tree. No
testimony was written down in trial, but
quick and sharp work was the "order of the
court" And yet it is safe to assert that the
innocent were as safe from punishment as in
the States, where trials are prolonged by to-
dious ceremony and labored summing up.
The testimony against miner to convict him
of crime had to be positive and conclusive.
He was permitted to testify in bis own be-
half, and if he failed to satisfy bis judges of
his innocence, bis punishment was swift and
sure.
Charles G. had met with nothing but dis
appointment since reaching the shores Of Cal
ifornia. Claim after claim had been worked
and abandoned, and his dream of sudden
wealth had fled from his brain. In the train
of disappointment came dissipation and
reckless spirit, but crime he seorned.
San Francisco, in the year 1850, contained
but small population. 1t was the resort for
the lucky miner with his gold dust, and the
home for the gambler and desperate charac.
ters in general, who always managed to strip
the toilers of the gulch of their earnings.
One of the most noted gambling bells at
the time was kept in 8. street, kept by a
gambler named Dick p, notoriously known
BY the cognomen Of "slippery Dick" He
was an expert gambler and villain of the
first water. One night in December table
in his den was surrounded by four men, and
one of the four was Charles G. He had
made lucky strike at the mines, and, hav-
ing learned card-playing among bis asso-
ciates, had returned to San Francisco to en-
Joy it: Midnight had passed, and they were
evidently playing for "high stakes" The
gold dust lay heaped high upon the table.
Slippery Dick had lost heavily during the
night, and he had staked bis last pile upon
the turn of single hand. He had lost, and
with blanched cheeks and in q fury of rage,
he accused Charles G. of cheating at the
game.
"You are liar p was the firm and quick
RESPONSE ..,e:g.-..: > r. - -. - M q,
Slippery Dicks eyes glared and burned
with rage. His losses, coupled with the In
dignity offered him, were too great to be borne.
He drew his pistol, cooked it, and was ready
to fire at the breast of his antagonist. ~
Quick as thought Charles c. drew his knife
from his belt, and striking the arm of the
gambler, cast it aside and plunged the knife
to the hilt in his bosom. He reeled and fell
a corpse at the table. The lights we're extin-
guished in the melee, and Charles escaped in
the darkness. ,. ......
The news Of the murder Of Slippery Dick
spread with the morning sun, and the gam
blers of San Francisco were frantic with rage
His death was declared to be murder of the
most cowardly nature. .".' ~.
His companions in the game had fled, and
the knife which had executed the work bore
the name of the murderer, for whom mob OF
desperate men we're hunting.
Charles G. was found, and rope fastened
to his neck, and with yells the infuriated mob
cried OUT ~. nat..'' . 90,
"Hang him to the nearest lamp-postl
Fright had paralyzed the tongue OF the
poor fellow and rendered him speechless.
Nearing.a tree, the rope was thrown over
one of its branches, and he was asked what
he "had to say before being swung up" He
uttered not word in reply, for he seemed
tongueless and speechless. :. !.
"Swing him I" came from fully hundred
throats and the mob pulled at the rope, and
the poor fellows feet had almost left the
ground.
"Hold p cried voice. "Hold!' ' +"
A man With one plunge parted the crowd,
and with spring, grasped the rope with one
hand, while sheath-knife cut its strands with
the other. The poor fellow fell to the earth
as if dead. ......,...
"Kill him |" "Knife himp' Hang him !"
yelled the maddened crowd.
"Stand back r. was the calm reply. "The
first man that approaches me dies ]" o..
One hand held cooked pistol, the other
the knife that had cut the rope. He was cool.
but there was determination in his eyes and
face. .., -. ....,.,- = :.
"Listen to reason, gentlemen" he said.
"This man is no murderer. he took the life
of another to save his own. What man in
this crowd but would do ths same? Twas at
the table when Slippery Dick was killed. He
drew his pistol in rage, and was about to fire
at the heart of that young man, who killed
him to save bis own life. appeal for justice
only. have proofof what lsay. Jim, walk
forward, coward that you are. You were at
the same table with US. Speak the truth, or