Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-27

in the front pews. Commanding the high
est rows of the side seats to the right of the
| platform, as Mr.. Broderick stood facing the
assemblage, was Sam Asten, Sheriff of
Placer, tall, sinewy, courageous, and ready
for whatever should come. Fearless Jack
| AcDougall of Coloma, likewise devoted to
Broderick, had resolutely planted himself
in one of the aisles near the space in front
of the platform. Mike Gray and Captain
Lyman Ashley of Yuba had pushed their
way well to the front. Tall Bob Woods
of San Francisco, Kentucklan, who ad-
mired Broderick, forced his way, with
Fred Kohler, Chief Engineer of the San
Francisco Fire Department and lifetime
comrade of Broderick, to good position.
( Kohler had been selected to put Judge Ed
MCGOWAN, the choice of the Broderick men,
in nomination for Chairman of the Con-
vention. He failed at the critical moment
To the fore front of all, and up to the
tables and chairs for the press reporters,
Billy Mulligan, Jimmy Casey. Mortimer J
Smith, and two or three others of the like
nature, reckless of consequences in Broder-
ick's cause, had taken defiant stand. BacI,
IN the aisles, and all the way to the front
entrance, the eager crowd, excited and
turbulent, struggled and jostled for places
nearer the platform. The whole scene was
as Pandemonium and Babel. Mr.. Brod-
erick had no difficulty in mounting the
platform-all made way for him.
He called the assemblage to order.
The confusion ceased; silence ensued.
Broderick made brief address. This
concluded, he looked about the church,
and announced that he was ready to re-
ceive motions. Quick as flash, O'Meara
sprang to his feet, and in loud voice made
the motion that John McDougal be tenn
porary Chairman of the Convention. He
stood within ten feet of Broderick Mr..
Broderick looked at him for a moment
and said: al do not recognize the gentle
man from San Francisco" In another
moment Tom Vermeule, of Santa Clara
made the motion to make Judge MCGOWAN
temporary Chairman. Fred. Kohler had
been given prominent place, facing Brod-
erick to make this motion; but in the
wild excitement he became dazed and
could not collect his thoughts. Vermeule
was out near the front door when he made
the motion. Broderick recognized him
and put the motion. But in louder tone
and quicker action, O'Meara put his mo.
ton for Governor McDougal, and upon the
tumultuous "ayes" declared the motion
carried. Broderick received the wild re-
sponsive "ayes" in favor of MCGOWAN, and
declared him the temporary Chairman
McDougal and MCGOWAN at once started
to ascend the platform and take the single
chair upon it. Each had band of friends
to his aid. George Doherty, San Fran
cisco reporter, friendly to Broderick, at
tempted to obstruct McDougaFs way to
the steps of the platform. Stout old Major
Hook and Charley Fairfax pushed Doherty
PROSTATE and he fell in the way of Nc.
Gowan. McDougal was first upon the
platform and occupied the sole
chair. In few moments MCGOWAN
assembled. Bob Woods passed up to him a
chair from the reporters tables, and the
two-personally good frfends-took seats
close side by side. McDougal had the
louder voice. He called the body to or,
der. Uproarous shouting and bowling fol
lowed MCGOWAN called "Orderw Greater
disorder succeeded. Each discovered that
orders.
Mr.. Broderick stepped from the plat
form Just after he had declared MCGOWAN
temporary Chairman, and soon afterward:
went to his room. Immediately the band
of thirty appointed at the Gwin and Nc
Dougall caucus took possession of the plat
form. They held it to the close. The
fatigue and exhaustion of the violent and
tumultuous struggle, and the incident ex-
element, at length brought that peace
which passeth mans understanding
Amidst this silence, the discharge of a
pistol near the platform, to the left
startled the opposing parties. Instantly
revolvers were drawn on every side. II
appeared as though every man in the
church had ready his Colt, intent upon
| attack and defense. The clicking of trig-
gers was the only sound heard, until the
loud, coarse voice of Rube Maloney, of the
McDougall faction, broke upon the silence.
Great God, gentlemen, Pm shotw he
shrieked, in strident anguished tone,
which dwindied to the plsintive moan.
"For Gods sake, bring surgeon am
dyingw O'Meara had the key to the
small room of the pastor. He leaped from
the platform to Rube's aid. The fright
| ened man was sinking. The door was I'M
locked few strong men bore in the faint
Ing Maloney. 1t was an intensely warm
day. The upper sash of every window to
the church was lowered, yet the
heat was oppressive, and all inside
were sweltering Maloney wore only
thin summer short coat and light trou-
sers, no vest. He was of portly form and
abdominal protrusion. He was without
suspenders. In his waistband, drawn
taught by frequent libations, he carried a
derringer, at half-cock. In his nervous
| fumbling with the weapon he had ex-
ploded it. He groaned that the ball had
plowed his belly; he felt the blood trick
| ling down into his boots. His attendants
were trying to unbutton the waistband.
| "For Gods sake, cut it; Pm bleeding to
deathw groaned the hapless Rube.
Cut it was; away parted the skin
tight waistband. The hurried ex-
animation developed that his "biled" out
side shirt was powder blackened below the
waist His undershlrt and drawers were
without stain of the kind. The bullet had
not harmed him-there was no abrasion of
the skin. The fluid loss which Rube had
betokened was not Of blood. He had not
imagined, but he mistook the real situation.
Hs impiored silence and secrecy, as he
was left to himself; but it was too much to
keep, and after the Convention wrangle
was over, at the close of the week, some
body blabbed, TO Rube's disgust and dis
comfture, for he was prone to proclaiming
his Bob Acres quality of desperate Draw
ery-to any who did not know him. The
bullet hole was in little while found in
the floor, where he had stood.
That accidental pistol shot had magi-
cal effect upon the assemblage. Weapons
were restored to their places of conceal
ment, and not again drawn. Outside
parties of influence sought to effect ar
rangement, reconciliation and harmony.
Governor Bigler addressed the Conven-
ton; William Walker, subsequently Of
Nicaragua fame, harangued; one or two
others made brief, persuasive appeals
all to no avail. The opposing
delegates and factions were stub
born and irreconcilable. The two Chair
men held their respective chairs. The
Gwin and McDougall thirty maintained
their stand upon the platform; few left
their seats. Late in the afternoon the
| pastor OF the church appeared upon the
platform and beseechingly exhorted the