Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-06
THIRTY YEARS ago.
AN INCIDENT CONNECTED WITH THE
BULKHEAD BILL.
A Sacramentan's Troubles at a Partisan
Restaurant-Starting of the
Pony Express.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of the
Pony Express.
1t was on the Sd of April, 1860, tha,
Henry Edgerton, the young and brillian,
Senator from Napa, delivered his speech in
favor of the passage of the famous bulk.
head (or sea-walD bill. 1t was the first
time during the session that he had occu-
pied the time of the Senate for more than
few minutes, and the eloquence and abil.
ity he then displayed brought him into
prominence as the most polished orator in
the State. During the deliberations of the
Senate upon this bill prominent journal
had roundly criticised Edgerton and others
who favored its passage, and in his speech
Edgerton delivered that stinging philippe
against the writer of the articles portion
of which was afterward quoted by Ben
Butler in Congress in reply ing to an attack
made upon him by another member. Un.
just as the reply of Edgerton may have
been, it still stands forth as one of the
bitterest ever made in any deliberative
body.
GuScItOu was tuCu Uub 20 y6dES Oh age,
and was young man of handsome but
strongly marked features. He had clear,
ringing, silver-toned voice, his manner
both forcible and polished, and his few
gestures while speaking were as eloquent
as his language. The words referred to,
uttered with all the fire and vigor of youth,
produced deep sensation on all present.
the Senate Chamber being crowded to its
fullest capacity. The outcome of that
speech, however, was productive of a very
odd, if not humorous incident, one the real
facts of which have been so often mis-
stated that correct version may not be
out of place in this connection
A few days after Edgerton had delivered
his Bulkhead speech he went to San Fran
cisco with large number of legislators,
to stay over Sunday, the custom then
being for the Legislature to take recess
every Friday until the following Monday
Wherever the young Napa Senator went
he was met with congratulations
on his recent speech, and his Dashaway
proclivities and VOWS went down in the
great maelstrom of fattery to which he
was subjected. On Saturday night he went
from late champagne dinner TO Maguire's
Opera House, with party of Senators to
witness the then dramatic sensation of the
day, The Octoroon," in which Kate Denim
was playing the title-role. Owing to the
prevailing murmurs of disunion at the
time, and the thrilling interest of the play,
as depicting one of the evils of slavery, the
theater was crowded. The Senatorial party
formed a conspicuous group in the parquet,
and many glass was raised to fair eyes in
the dress-circle that sought to get glimpse
OF the handsome, eloquent, roundly abused
but now famous young statesman from
Napa. But he was oblivious to
all about him, save what was trans
plring ON the stage. the beautiful,
persecuted Zoe had already won his SYM
pathy; he burned with indignation aroused
by the schemipg, heartless Legree, the
slave-driver, who was bent on securing her
for his slave and mistress. The young
Senator became. in fact, absolutely lost in
the thrilling incidents of the play, and
when the auction scene was reached, and
Zoe, the beautiful, accomplished octoroon,
was placed upon the block to be auctioned
off with the chattels of the estate that was
to be sold, he began to manifest his excite
ment, and several times attempted to rise
in his seat, but was restrained by his COM
panions. The bidding went on, from
5000 to $4,000, then to $4,000. Old
farmer Sunnyside and Legree were the
bidders-the former striving to save the
girl at the earnest solicitation of his
own daughter, and the latter fixed
in his purpose to secure her. Sunny
side raised the bid to $40 600, but Le-
gree showed his determination to
have the girl by bidding $4,000. The
theater was as still as chamber of death.
The audience held its breath, expecting to
hear the old farmer raise his offer to $780,
600. 1t was a moment of thrilling sus-
pense. The old man turned sorrowfullv to
his daughter and said: "It's no use, my
child That man (pointing to Legree, who
stood with folded arms and a sneer upon
his face), that man has the law on his
side" Only for an instant did the silence
that followed remain unbroken. There
was stir in the parquete; then silk hat
was seen to shoot upward toward the sky
light, and Edgerton, jumping upon his
chair, cried out in clear, ringing tones
while his handsome, expressive face glowed
with the excitement and earnestness that
thrilled his frame:
"D--n the law Thirty thousand dol
lars for her ~
Shocked as were the audience, there were
not probably a dozen men and women
present who did not feel like saying.
Thank you'll wanted 10 do it myselfi'
The excitement caused by this little epi-
sode soon passed off, the play was resumed
and the young Senator left the theater,
deeply mortified at what he had done. The
humorous feature of the incident was hight
ened by the well-known fact that the gen.
erous-hearted young Senator was too poor
in purse to have bought one of Zoe's fin
gers at the rate he offered for the girl her
self.
........,A A good story was published of a
Sacramentan who had made his pile" and
wanted to see the world. He went to
Paris, of course, and on visiting restaur-
ant to get his first dinner in the French
Capital, took I'D long and mysteriously
worded bill of fare. Knowing nothing
of the French Language, yet unwilling
to expose this ignorance, he pointed
to the first line on the bill of fare,
and the polite waiter brought him
a dish of fragrant beef soup. This
was very well, and when it was dispatched
the Sacramentan pointed to the second line
on the bill. The waiter understood him,
and brought him vegetable soup. Rather
more soup than want" though he, but
! suppose it is the Paris fashion" He duly
pointed to the third line, and plate of
tapiocs broth was brought him. Again to
the fourth, and he was furnished with a
bowl containing a preparation of arrow
root He tried the fifth line, and was sup
piled with some cruel kept for invalids.
He was getting nervous by this time, and
determined 10 get as Ihr from the soup as
possible, pointed frantically to the last line
on the bill. The waiter brought him bunch
of toothpicks. This was too much, and
the Sacramento man bolted from his chair,
paid for his soup and left the place in dis
gust.
.......The first pony express left San
Francisco at 5:45 o'clock on Tuesday, April
S, 1860, with a large load of mail matter
On the arrival of the boat in this city the
next morning the pony and its rider lef,
here for Placerville, Salt Lake and st. Joseph
Mo. The schedule time to New Yors
for telegraphlc dispatches was to be nine
DAYS, and for letters thirteen days. The frs
messenger rode to Sportsmans Hall. twelve
miles beyond Placerville, and fifty. seven
miles from here, in little over six hours
The next messengers run was to Genoa. al
which place he was due ut 8 o'clock al
night. The messenger who left this city
was sent off in great style, salute OF thir-
teen guns being tred.
.........0n the Sd of April duel was
fought about ten miles from Stockton, or
the Sacramento road, between Captain
Frost and DR.. Simpson. The weapon:
were duelling pistols, and the distanct
twelve PAGES. The misunderstanding grew
out of a business transaction, and Simpson
was the challenging party. Msior Ham
mond acted as second for Frost, and Will
lam Connnr for SimpsOn. Two shot