Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-26

tie valley one could easily have imagined
himself as sojourning in community pass
ing through mild epidemic of cholera.
THE MANIA FOR GAMBLING.
The immigration of 1850 rapidly filled
up Hangtown with both sexes, and it be-
came very lively camp. Sporting
houses of large dimensions were erected
there were the Round Tent, the Ell Dorado
and the Empire. These were all filled TO
repletion at night with the votaries of
every conceivable and seductive game of
chance. The banking games of monte and
faro in 1S49 and 80 in Hangtown would
give as high as an ounce of gold dust for
ten Mexican dollars to make their bank on
the table attractive, though the bets were
generally made in gold dust. In these
sporting houses there were vocal and in
strnmentaI musicians to enliven the scene
and exhilarate the multitude of visitors.
the majority of whom would tempt the
goddess. French women presided at the
tables OF lansquenet, vingr ct un, rouge ct
nor, roulette, etc, 10 allure the players
The largest of these establishments was
the Empire, which stood on the south side
OF Main street nearly fronting the plaza.
The building was large one, two stories
IN hight, probably 100 feet frontage and
$50 feet in depth. The second story was
divided into sleeping rooms They rear of
the building was divided into a bowling
alley, billiard room and theater. The
FL Dorado stood were now stands the Carey
House, and the Round Tent where now
stands the brick building fronting the
plaza on the west.
THE FIRST HOTEL
The first well-organized and equipped
caravansary in Hangtown was the Placer
Hotel, located on the site of the oak tree
where were hanged the men who gave
Hangtown its name, and was kept and run
by Charles D. Bonestel, now of Sar Bueua-
ventura.
In September, 1850, there was organized
the second Vigilance Committee in this
valley TO hang Richard Crone, known as
1Tlsh DICK, q sporting man, who had
stabbed miner to death in the Ell Dorado
over dispute about bet at a monte game.
The tragedy occurred about 2 A. NJ, and
Dick was not arrested until s A. M, and
thus might have made his escape. as his
trends desired him to. The news of the
murder spread like wildfre in the neigh
boring canyons, ravines and flats, and by
P. M there were in Hangtown fully 1000
angry men, every one armed with some
thlng that would hurt, from pick handle
10 a rifle. The farce of preliminary ex-
animation was allowed to be gone through
with before Justice of the Peace Hum
phreys in the middle of the street in front
OF where now stands Mierson & JEWELS
store. The evidence was brief, and the
Judge ordered Dick committed to the Gus
tody OF the Sheriff tUncle Billy Rogers).
and Alexander Hunter and John Clark.
Constables, to be placed into County Jail at
Colonai the then county seat of El Dorado
county. The Judge had scarcely made the
order when lariat was thrown over Dick 3
head, and he was literally dragged
along Main street and uD Coloma
streets to an oak tree that stood about fiftv
steps northeast from the rear of the present
Episcopal Church. The loose end of the
larlat was thrown over limb of tree and
Dick was pulled up and strangled to death.
One of the principal leaders of the mob
was a large, powerful man, who bore the
sobrlquet of Dutch Ben" About twi
light of that exciting day Ben was saunter-
ing along the middle of Main street. and
when he came opposite the Empire, Buck
Harrigan,"
NOTED SPORT,
And "Wooley Kearny" were standing
in one of the doors of the establishment.
Buck suddenly slipped up behind Dutch
Ben" dealing him q blow under the ear
which felled him to the earth as if he had
been struck with a sledge-hammer. In
stantly there was cry of Hang him
Hang him !" and the speed with which
=" Buck fled over Hangtown bill would
have been creditable to a mountain goat.
About that time man named Jack Wat
son was publicly whipped by the Vigi-
!antes, Ben X. Nickerson leader, for rob-
berry.
A Vigilante movement, however. took
place in June or July, 1858, to lynch one
Hughes, who had killed a man in Coon
Hollow but the alertness and strategy of
the law officers and a few bold citizens.
headed by Captain Norton, succeeded in
thwarlng the mob and safely lodging him
in the County Jail at Coloma. The law. at
a later date, performed the act which the
mob at Hangtown had wished to carry out.
Since that time Judge Lynch has been de-
posed, and none have suffered the death
penalty since, except two Indians in 1861,
and Poole, the stage robber, some years
later.
THE NEXT VIGILANCE COMMITTEE
Was in 1854, organized for the purpose
more particularly of driving all the mem
bers of the demi-monde out of town. 1t
was a ludicrious scene. On the top of
Hangtown Hill, to which they had been
escorted by band of music, they were
warned never to return, but return most of
them did while after. This very element
of the community thus expelled, two wears
prior, during the prevalence of smallpox
In HangtoYn, were the most devoted, uu-
firing and generous of nurses to those re-
quiring such attention. In 1855 an attempt
was made by a mob to seize Dr. Crane, who
had killed girl at Ringgold, from the
custody of Sheriff Buel and his deputies.
). b. Wallace, Charles W. Trueman and
George Loney and q posse of citizens, but
the mob failed in its endeavors. Crane was
afterwards executed in company with a
noted Chinese Camp robber and murderer,
Mickey Free. 0n the scaffoId DR.. Crane
sang song in firm and distinct voice, to
the air of The Kentucky Hunter" the
first verse of which ran thus:
Come, friends and relations, bid You adieu.
The grave is now open to welcome me through.
No valleys of shadows / see on the road
But angels are waiting 20 take me to God.
1t might be added, that not wishing to
be outdone in celebrating the event, Mickey
Free followed the doctor by dancing Jig.
A military company, composed principally
of members of the Placerville fire depart
ment, went to Coloma the day of the exc
cution and acted as military guard and
escort. Not one of their guns were loaded,
there being no ammunition in town. They
had them half-cocked, with caps on, and
looked very desperate.
The first military company by the way,
was called the Placerville Blues. Alex.
Hunter was Captain, Al. Dorsey, First
Lieutenant, DR.. |. S. Titus, Second Lieu
tenant. 1t had over 100 members, but died
before ii was uniformed.
In connection with early theatrical davs
of Hangtown, it is proper to mention that
the pioneer expressman, Alex. Hunter.
played Sikesey to f. S. Chanfrau's Nose.
in the Streets of New York" Alex. Hun
ter had served as fireman in New York,
and enacted the part to the entire satisfac-
tion of the audience.
EARLY sPRINTERs.
No old resident of Hangtown but will re-
member Bill Sheppard, who, in the early
hfhes, was recognized as being pretty fleet
on foot for fifty yards. Old timers of about
thirty years ago will also recollect the con-
test between Bill Sheppard and Soda Bill,
IN which the latter gave the former three
feet the start and was beaten by SHEPPARD.
This was really a sporting contest between
Coloma and Piacerville. The Coloma bows
lost considerable on the race, and were yerv
bitter on Soda Bill who left town immedi-
ately after event.
The original Chapman family'' were
always great favorites in Hangtown in
early days, as were also the late Ned Barry
and David G. Anderson, comedians. Dave
was very fond of practical Joking. On one
occasion he deliberately walked into the