Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-10-05
THE FRESNO SCARE.
Commendation and Advice Given by I
ASiufauf. Ganaral

Atjutant- General.
The formation of Vigilance Committee
in Fresno on the 18th of last August caused
the Adjutant General to issue orders re-
garding it. The moving cause of the or
ders, however, was "the part taken by
members of the National Guard in the un-
lawful assemblage," resulting in an investi-
cation, conducted by Major William NJ.
Gibson, A. A. G. of the Third Brigade, un-
der orders from Brigadier General Budd,
IN accordance with a suggestion from gen.
eral headquarters.
General Orton acknowledges the obliga-
tions of his Office to Major Gibson for the
able and complete report of the investiga-
ton made at his own expense, and ex-
presses appreciation Of the faithfulness of
Major S. S. Wright, of the Sixth Infantry,
who seemed TO at once have realized his
duty as an officer and to have fearlessly
performed it."
The result OF Major Gibson's investiga-
ton is summarized as follows in orders
The committee assembled at the Court
house, and, marching TO the armory of
| Companies G and T, Sixth Infantry, forci-
bly, broke the locks on the gun-racks and
took possession of the arms intrusted to
those companies, and, after parading the
streets with them for an hour, returned
| them to the armory. On one or two subSe-
quent evenings threats were made to take
| them again, but the threats were not carried
out. 1t appears from the evidence adduced
before Major Gibson, tha5 several mem bers
of the National Guard took part with the
committee III the unlawful seizure of the
State property, while on the other hand
| certain officers and enlisted men protested
| in the strongest manner against it, notably
| Majors S. S. Wright and B. r. Woodwork
| Sergeant Hart, Corporal Pressly, Privates
Snow and Walker. They are deserving OF
commendation for their faithfulness tC
duty, while those who took part with the
committee, all of whose names are not a
present known in this Office, are deserving
| of the severest censure. However much
their sympathy may have been with the
committee, they, as members of the Ma
! tional Guard, should have held themselves
aloof from all participation in the un
| lawful movement, for all officers and EN-
! listed men have subscribed to an oath t.
maintain and defend the laws, and al
officers employed in administering tht
same, and no member can take part il
such affairs without violation of his oath. ,
The Adjutant-General then proceeds il
orders to give lecture to commandin,
officers, cOncluQlng as IOilOWS:
Without going into the matter too
deeply the following simple rules SHOULD
be observed in cases of similar disturb
ance: AT the first intimation of trouble
enough officers and men should assemble
at the respective armories to protect th,
property and hold the premises; measure
should then be taken to assemble the bal
ance of the command. State forces s.
assembled have no authority to do NOR
than defend themselves or the publi
property, if attacked; therefore this otfic
should be promptly notified, by telegraph
of the state Of affairs in the fullest possibl
manner, that the Conmander-in-C Chic
may be informed and ready to act promptly
if necessary, for he alone has power /,
order an attack upon an unlawful or riot
GUS assemblage, or to place the State mill
tary force under the temporary direction 0
the civil authorities u