Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-07-11
Tng ASTORIA VIGILANCE COMMIT
TEE AND Irs w0RK.
I From the Astorian. |

When the red glare OF Monday night
died away and those Who had lost all
they had came together in smoke and
ashes 10 find the very ground burned
from under their feet. they found a
crovd OF brutes in human form, drink
ing, plunderiuQ, robbing and carrying
avay. Few Of our citizens slept that
niQht. and on the following day gen.
Al sense OF insecurity existed which
prompted immediate action. Nobody
cas- .!paralyzsd" az was telegraphed TO
Portland papers; on the contrary every
ono vas exceedingly on the alert. The
saepestion WAS quietly made that an or
aanizstion be effected to take immediate
measures TO preserve the pesee Of the
city. About forty special policemen
we're appointed to patrol the town. to
watch ali suspicious characters. and to
arrest anyone whom IL was believed had
bsen guilty of stealing. BY Tuesday
night the Jail was full, and several thod-
sand dollars worth OF property had been
turned over. II was then decided to n ,
tify number TO leave towR. The old
question came up for rehearing; the
old sore that IL always In our body po.
litic opened up afresh, and Il was felt
"
from gang OF uuprincipled. character
isss yaoabonds who make Astoria their
headuuarters. Some Of them have beon
polioemen; others would like 70 be-;
moro live ON the earnings Of prostitutes,
and all are curse 10 any unfortunate
community that is afflicted with them.
They we're notified to leave. Among
them are Jack Sullivan, Wm. Murphy,
John Simpson, Charles Lewis, L. j.
Frazer. Charles Cook, Reilly, Geo. Saw
age, Fred Richardson, Ed johnson,
alias Buck Finn" James Forrest,
John Jones. bad man from Arizona,
James Kelley, John Kelley, NJ. Z. Green,
George Blyes and others. Some of them
went away ON Thursday mornings boat;
others started Of ON tho Wide West at
ono o'clock. Others "would like 10 see
the vigilantes make them CO." They
got their wish, some OF them little
moro. The citizens committee met on
Thursdav night, and about o'clock
yesterday morning took three Of the
most contumaoious Of the lot mp on the
Mill, triccd them up, ono by one, and
gave them as many lashes on the bare
back NJ the cxigsncics OF the c,se war
rantsd.
They promised TO 90, and were quietly
informed that the action Of the CON-
mittee was only q mild hint of what
would happen II they didn't. Thirteen
ieft on the morning boat; others didn't
Wait for any invitation but had imme-
diats business up the river. II showed
presence Of mind, ON their part, absence
Of body, however. ID still better. Nav
they continue on their way till their fate
overtskes them, az IL surely will. They
stand In no danger Of drowning.
One Of the "toughs." John Jones, "a
bad msn from Arizona" employed
aToond Billy Bakers saloon. refused to
20 when notified. The regular police
lorce arrested him Yesterday afternoon;
The committee met last night, and at
Jones has probably changed his mind
about Rsing. People don't stand much
nonsense In Arizona, and human nature
= Astoria averages about the same. In
Justice 10 Savage. IL should be said that
that when he was notified to leave, he
showed that he would lose some money
unlees given little time 10 straighten
% his affairs, which accounts for the
dalAy on his part.
Thursdsy night was the quietest night
~ 04Sc ocou III AutuktA kot many y 08y.
Citazsus who had not closed an eye for
tofty eight hours lay down 10 sleep in
eocurity. Tho thing Is all over now, and
\ b no harm TO speak Of facts as they
vofs. What the committee did is the
only thing that under the circumstances
could have been done. The committees
work u now done; bot it has not dis
banded. and any attempts at lawiessness
vii be swiftly dealt with. Il 10 no light
provocAtisu that calls for suoh action
On the part Of citizens. Our neighbors
b SeatSle had similar experience some
time ago. since they jezked the black
lie ont OF The three wretches, and their
meless bodies swung on hastily ,built
oAllows, lif0and property Are secure. In
oeAttle. Fortunately the citixens com
uitlee Of Astoria Was not pushed to the
eeadful alternative Of taking human
n bit self preservation IL the first Law
e nn&aze; il IL above and beyond al
leeal insricacies Of q complicated rEs1em
q lunsprudence. and when men deiib.
etately commit crime and excess In
emss Vt public tronble, they put them
sisss cutside the pale Of protection OF
gmpathy; thy invite reprisAlA md
nssa ABIDE by the decision OF the pub
= eoatiment they have 90 groaAly out
mesd. This may not bs good law. but
m the way the most Of us feel about II,