Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-10-12
a THIEVES, PARADISE.
Remarkable Condition of California After
tho Discovery of Gold.

lie discovery Oh BOlu. Inc nrSt hihpin
we're made up in great measure OF
men already there; they we're honest
zen, and had deserted the towns to
lig gold and not to defraud their
icighbors. Many were known to each
,ther, and few were wholly unknown.
'eaceably and in primitive way each
or himself picked tho precious metal
rom rivcr-beds and crevices, washed
B from the sands that lined the
trcams. or sou int a place Of his own
dig for it, with no desire to en-
roach on ground chosen by another.
Rights were respected; theft was un-
n lwn A pick or shove. thrown upon
he ground, sticks driven into tn earth,
+ written or posted notice that
crtaiR spot was claimed, was suili-
lent to secure it against all corners.
liners lived much in the open air. in
10th tenemenis or rude huls. leaving
heir gold dust in bags or bottles un-
.uar,lcd in tent or cabin. The mer-
handse of the trader was secured
nly by walls Of cloth. which could be
asiiy cut through with a pockct-knife.
foods stacked up by the roadside.
niles from any camp. remained undls-
ulbed for weeks and months. Horses
ind cattle were safe to roam at large
After the winter rains had ccascl and
alter for washing gold had disap~
,earcd. in certain localities piles Of rich
,irt were thrown up TO be washed out
When rain should come again. A.
bough these heaps were often the re-
ult of great Labor and contained
nuch wealth, they remained ind $
urbcd during the sun MGR, aud within
autumn came fell TO their rightful
,wncrs. Differences Of opinion wero
ctIlod by leaving it to, the crowd. "
And so it was the first corners found
css discord existing here than any
where else in Christendom.
Vessels arrived so fast in SIN
francisco that they could find no ac-
ommodations for their ci,;.ocs on
lhorc. Great quantities of merchan-
Ii5e of all kinds were discharged and
)iled up along the beach. All of it
vas wholly exposed. although much Of
t was valuable. Yet all this time
here was scarcely lock on the door If
my dwelling, store or warehouse in
ian Francisco During this truly gold
n age OF integrity it never seemed
o occur to those honest folks that
here were any persons in the werld
Who would wronefully take their
property from them. 1t is said that
here was but one ease Of theft in San
francisco prior to October, 1919, and
his was Mexican who stole some
blankets, for which he was publicly
whipped on the plaza.
During the autumn of 1913 there
ycro no such things along the
lopes of the Sierras Us government.
udgcs, tax collectors or other ofliccrs
II the law. All were absolutely free,
It'd were thrown upon their good be-
lavior. But in good time it seemed to
lawn upon the criminals of the world
hat gold-yielding Wilderness with
mt Jail or galows must be the very
paradise Of thieves An | with the null
itudos of honest and order-loving men
anne crowds from the pIrlieus of crime
-cor,vct colonies poured out their
| illains. and cities emptied their stu ms.
After landing at San Francisco they
lsually first made tour of the mines,
here f'l ming the acquaintance OF
dher gentlemen of their profession.
,hose projects they were quito ready
o join. In this new field of enterprise
very thing seemed to favor them; the
lbsenco Of strong government and the
ihysical condition of tho country were
I'll that the most ambitious could de-
re. The constantly moving from
,lace to place of miners and traders.
md the intermixture of rangers, all
ended TO discourage inquiry. to faeili-
ate the op rations OF outlaws, and to
How them to move quickly from place
. place without exciting suspicion.
II particular, the lonely and exposed
oudition of the roads. and the large
mount of treasure constantly passing
gcr them, of red alluring opportuni.
les for highway robbery. Stage-rob
ing, as practiced by the profes.
ion in California, was rather
4 chivalrous occupation. The
Gentlemen of the road risked theil
YES for whatever happened to be il
he express box, and, if no opposition
vas made, they generally contentet
themselves with this, aud neither
obbed or insulted the passengers.
The English convicts from Australia
we're the worst element infesting tn,
ommmiiy. They made their head
luarierS in San Francisco, at the basl
# Telegraph hill o. one side roi,
he hill, broken and rugged, throwins
Mt spurs In various directions, and il
races presenting to tho tide lofty
,,ull on whose summit even the squa.
er had not ventured to porch his eyry
BOUND the base aud up tho little ia
ines were huts and tents little larger
han kennels, and among them wer,
catered iudiscriminitely low dane,
md drinking houses. The rendezvous
( thieves was in the heart of the dis
riot, and was called Sidney Town
lerc, during the day, schemes wcr,
oucocted that were to be carried on
nder cover of night The meeting
,ad their orators. aud leaders wor,
laced in charge of pillagmg parties
Singly or in pairs they would perAm
+ ulate the unlighted and unwatehc,
f; reefs, robbing, demolishing. or muir
, lering. as passion dictated, They ha,