The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-11-28

street in front of the bank became
dense mass of people. through whom
depositors forced their
way. By sympathy the run extended
TO the smaller banks, and one oy one
they closed theig doors.
Latham, the manager OF the Bank
of London and San Francisco, tried 70
save Ralston. All the spare coin IN MS
bank was carted up to the side entrance
of the Bank OF California, ana almost
as fast as il came in at the side door IL
went ont at the front. The paying teller
mad orders 20 continue while there was
any thing to nay with. When half past
, O'Clock came, and payments were still
being made, the excitement was intense,
and bets were freely made that the
bank would stand the pressure. The
having tellers were nervous with excite
ment as the long hand of the clock
slowly climbed around. Five minutes,
ten minutes, fifteen minutes. 1t only
wanted a quarter to 3 when the ponder
ous doors uf the bank were seen TO
swing outward and close with a mighty
claug in the face of the vast crowd that
throneed the street. The Bank OF
California, the greatest financial institu-
ton on the Pacific Coast, had ceased to
exist.
The people went Wild. All the eve
ming papers got out extras. In the
bank parlor Ralston received the re-
porters and correspondents, OF whom
there was q perfect mob. DE was
chastity pale, and leaned with his elbow
on the mantelpiece. The Bank OF Cal
ifornia, gentlemen, he said, docs not
owe a single dollar il cannot pay. An
attempt has been made to crush me,
bet il will not succeed. The bank will
resume in day or two"
This was about D. m. A little after
3 p. m. his hfeless body was taken out
/ of North Beach, and il was known that
he had committed suicide. He had
ostensibly gone in TO take swim, and
although there never was doubt IN the
public mind that he had taken his own
life. the coroner's jury found an open
verdict.
The public excitement now grew to
fever heat. The friends of Ralston
were loud in their denunciations OF the
/ Bonanza people and of the Call and
BhHetin. The editorial rooms OF both
papers were barricaded with piles OF
paper. behind which were hidden some
armed police officers. Tho militia were
called out and held in readiness at their
armories. The police charged several
Reporters for these papers held their
lives in their hands. A mass-meeting
was held at Union Hall, to sympathize
with the family of the murdered
Ralston." It was attended by thous-
ands, and addressed by leading men OF
parties. Colonel w. II. l.. Barnes, the
attorney TO the bank, and personal
friend of the dead man, begged the
people for his sake to be quiet and not
10 disgrace his name by riot. Things
simmered down 4 little, and better
counsel began to prevail.
Those who witnessed the funeral OF
Ralston will hardly forget 1t. Never
had such an imposing sight been seen
II California. The cortege was pre-
ceded by a battalion OF cavalry and
three regiments of infantry, with arms
reversed. Then came the order OF
Odd Fellows, then the clergy Of various
denomif atoms, then the hearse and
! pall-bearers, among whom were
Senator Sharon, -. o. Mills, Peter
Douahue. the banker; ID. ~.
/ Cotton, the railroad magnate; Judge
/ Hoffman, of the United States
Court, and some twenty other
EQUALLY prominent citizens. Behind
| the hearses walked the clerks Of the
| Bank OF California, the regents and
| faculty of the University. the members
/ of the Chamber of Commerce, the men,
| BEES of the Stock Exchange, and OF the
! Pacific Stock Exchange. representative
| of the press. trade organizations and
/ citizens in thousands on foot and in
! carriages. Was there ever seen IN the
/ world such a Slght?--COmIdcist and Drd-
matte Times.