Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-12-02

"a =. Anal

6A& 49, 49, - - : 4 q :
on the DeEs Of the discovery Of Eola
there were : great many desperate
charncfers from al paris Of our Own
country and from every quarter OF
the globe. There were Also con-
siderable number OF the same class
already here-men who had come
with the naval and military forces
sent here from the East, and nom
Mexico after the peace. and . few OF
The native population. These cesper-
ADDE'S terrorized every community
which they infested, - the Hounds
had done ia san Francisco. They
generally kept clear Of the mines and
frequenied the cities and towns where
the miners gathered with their sacks
OF gold dust. and Ia places where the
CaIifornians were least protected Los
Angeles, Monterey, Santa Cruz. csn
lose and Stockton were their txyorite
hsunts Ia the southern district Upon
the acquisition Of California 10 the
United States, II was organized -
A MILITARY rEKRnoRr,
With General Bennett Riley as Mill
tary Governor and Captain Henry
Wager HalIeck rs Secretary Of the
Territory. The Federal Constitution
was extended over the Territory, but
the Spanish laws. or the laws Of Mex
leo as they were administered. were
adhered 70 In general form, with pre-
fects, sub.prefects. alcaldes, etc Gene
raj Riley was brave solaier and an ac-
compIished officer. an intrepid com
mander, and had won the yellow
sash Of the Major eneralship by his
gallantry and skill a. warrior. Cap
tain HalIeck. you know, resigned
from the army early, became the head
of the great Law firm Of Halleck,
Peachy Il Billings, entered the Union
service during the civil war. was pro-
NOTED 10 the virtual direction OF the
army and died a major general. Mon
terey was the Territorial capital. and
there during 1S49 until the adoption
Of the State Constitution. passed BY
the convention which was held 81
that place, MANY Of the desperadoes
congregated. Philip A. Roach. just
re-elected public administrator, ! am
reioiced to say, was the alcade, and
all the civil and criminal cases were
tried by him. The most desperate OF
these terrors 10 the community from
the States were not thieves; Il was OF
human life they were most reckless.
and they often added violence and
outrage to their bloody deeds. But
there were also
GANGS OF SYDNEY THIEVES,
And robbery was their order OF crime.
They finally managed TO rob the Gus
tom house at Monterey of nearly
$50 600. but that was in 1850, and 1t
was afterwards learned that the rob-
berry had been planned by Belcher
Kay, at that time 10 the harbor mas
ter's Office In this city, by appoint
ment of the Governor. Kay was an
Englishman, and had been transport
ed for crime. He escaped from Sgd
ney. made bis way TO Boston. where
he figured as pugilistic professor.
and had for pupils and friends the
young bloods Of the Hub. From
there he came to California, .and was
q sort OF general favorite with many
of the good citizens, who regarded
him as an honest man, somewhat
fast. but that was not so much IN OBJ
lection then. He was o splendidly
formed fellow. and very jovial and
companionable. He aid his pals In
the custom house got away with the
swag, and Kay soon aiterward left the
State. DIR. Randall was collector at
the time. He was killed In the old
81. Nicholas Hotel on Sansomc street
in 1856 by Hethrington, who was
hanged by the vigilance committee
Among the most dreaded and most
reckless Of the desperadoes who In.
tested Monterey In 1S49. occasionally
making visits to other places, were
F" OREGON NED." JACK POWERS AND
"YANK" RILEY.
Oregon Ned" was q remarkably
handsome fellow OF about 90 years,
fine figure, 1.-THE. active, fearless,
with piercing black eyes and black
curly hair. who had come from Ore
gon. His right name | never learned
Jack Powers had eeme with Colonel
Stevenson's regiment. He stood
about five feet ten inches, was of
strong, well-built. wiry frame. His
desperate courage was bctokened In
his face. which was not unprepos-
sessing. sbut cast In one of his eyes
gave him rouglsh look. Gambling
and deviltry were passions with him
but he was as generous as he was
reckless Of life, and this caused him
To be favored and liked by many IA.
tive Californians. by his old comrades
of the regiment aud others, while
among the women he was a great ia
yorite. He excelled in horscman.
ship; no vaquero could surpass him,
and as class they honored him. On
one occasion he rode from Monte.
rey to Stockton without pause or
rest, except TO eat a hasty meal. lie
delighted in monte, and he lost heav.
lily TO break the bank. which he oiten
did. Then he scattered the silver
coins below half dollar among the
crowd TO enjoy the scramble for
chicken feed, rs be called 1t. II was
Jack Powers that concealed and
sheltered Judge Ned McGowan at
Santa barbara in 1856. when Chief OF
Police Curtis and force ofvigilantes
went there In schooner TO capture
him. McGowan was hidden In roll
of mating out In yard while the
pursuers were searching the town for
him, aud had he been taken he would
have PROFESSIONALLY been hanged on
his return here. Powers was al last
murdered In his bed by . party of
Mexicans who feared him. Yank"