Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-08-25
DENIS KEARNEY.
W. T. COLEMAN'S HAND.

How the Sand-Lot Agitation
was Brought to an
Abrupt End.
"Although the fact that Denis Kear-
new lost his influence with the mob ele-
ment of San Francisco is well known"
said George H. Pearson, OF Oakland,
Cal. to a Post Dispatch reporter, few
know the reason that his power so sud-
denly collapsed. The inside history of it
is as follows: A number of leading men
of San Francisco had been making use
of Kearney for political effect, and as Of
ten happens, they could not control the
power they had called into existence.
Kearney and his sand-lot gang grew
more and more violent; outrage followed
outrage, and there seemed to be no way
of checking the evil. At last mass
meeting of sand-lotters was called with
the avowed intention Of marching
on Chinatown and utterly destroy
ing that quarter. Universal con-
sternation pervaded the city,
not on account of the danger that
threatened the Chinese, but because the
mansions of the railroad and bonanza
magnates upon Mob Hill were but two
or three squares from the point where the
mob would make the attack. If once
the mob got possession of Chinatown
every refecting man knew that it's
violence would lead it to attack the
houses of the wealthy men on California
street, and no one could tell where the
trouble would stop. Recognizing the i'm
minence of the danger, deputation of
citizens called upon William 7. Coleman
and asked him to do what he could to
stop the mob. 1t was suspected by many
that in the early days of the sand-lot ex-
element Coleman had been secret ally
of Kearney's, but it was known that he
had severed all connection with him. Mr..
Coleman had been chairman of the IA
nous vigilance committee of 1866 ,ahd his
name was dreaded by all evil.doers.
Ever since his emigration from st. Louis
he had occupied a leading position in
California, and to him the people looked
for aid in the peril that threatened.
Coleman instantly called half dozen
of the old vigilance committee around
him and held brief consultation. Time
pressed as news was brought that Kear-
ney was haranguing the sand lotters,
and would within an hour lead them to
Chinatown. A trusty messenger was
sent, who, as soon as the great agitator
stepped from the platform to give way
to another speaker, called him aside, told
him that Mr.. Coleman had reorganized
the old vigilantes, and warned him that
if any outbreak occurred they would not
trouble themselves with the accessories,
but would a. once capture him and
hang him to the first lamp-post. Kear-
ney began to argue about the in
justice of this, but was at once
checked, and told that no argument
would be listened to. If the mob ap-
preached Chinatown, the rope, which
was already prepared, would be around
his neck within an hour. This warning
Kearney knew was no idle boast, but
grim reality. His nerve failed. He as
cended the platform, said that the time
was not ripe for the attack, and adjourned
the meeting for week. This was the
death blow to his power. It leaked out
that Kearney had been frightened out Of
the attack. The more desperate spirits
lost confidence in him, rivalry and dis
sensions sprung up, and to-day he lives
in that city that he once ruled, obscure
and homeless. Had it not been for the
stand taken by Mr.. Coleman and the
terror his name inspired, riot would
have broken out in San Francisco COM
pared with which the Haymarket riot
would have been insigniicant.-[S st. Louis
Post-Dispatch.
The above interesting account is in the
main correct. There is, however, one
point on which it is in error. 1t never
came so near a riot as is here stated.
The meeting to organize for an advance
ON Chinatown never took place. 1t was
we'll known that the agitation which had
been so hot in 1873, 1879 had almost
culiminated in such an overt act, and it
was feared that it actually would come to
this. Kearney and his aids had given
out that at near day they
would march their cohorts through
the streets and do this work. The
Republican politicians at whose
instance Kearney and his crowd had
been keeping up their agitation for pure
ly political ends, got frightened. Some
of the more conservative and wealthy OF
them became nervous. They went to
Coleman and set forth that the thing must
be stopped at once or the city might be
laid in ashes.
every well," said Mr.. Coleman, "if it
is you have yourselves to thank for it.
But if you give me your word as men
not as politicians-that you will quit,
and Withdraw your backing from Kear-
ney and his gang, will undertake tc
stop this in twenty-four hours. Have
your word?"
The visitors gave their word to the
above effect, and thereupon Mr.. Coleman
excused himself on the ground of pres
sing engagement. He took his hat anc
went of, even before the delegation hat
left his office. The leader Of the old
time Vigilantes went straight to the city
hall and obtained an interview with Rev
I. 8. Kalloch, who was then Mayor. HI
set forth that the city was OF
the verge of a serious riot
that Kearney's agitation had already
prostrated all business, and that there
was serious danger of the whole thinf
ending in the destruction of the city.
Kalloch "backed and filled' and woult
not give any assurance. Coleman go
tired of the barren conference and rising
up, he glowered across the table at tht
sand-lot mayor, he roared-
''The only thing am sure of about tbi
interview, Mayor, is that you perfectl,
understand what ] want. Ihave mad'
that clear to you. Now my ultimatum il
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