The morning call., 1890-06-08
Some of These Who Fell Victims
of the Cholera in the
Fall of 1850.
MORTALITY ON RIVER CRAFT.
3ufus Lockwood, the Eccentric Law
yer, and His Tragic Death on
the Steamship Central America.
A Celebrated Case-Mary Gates
Suit Against Charley Buckingham
for Breach of Promise.
Written for THE SUNDAY CALI

EtN the fall of 1850, cholera ravaged Cali
fS fornia. 1t was most fearful and fatal in
kt Sacramento and in the northern divis-
ION of the State, The death roll was
rcckoned in hundreds. The travel up and
down the Sacramento was mainly by small
river craft, schOoners, sloops and sail-boats
of a few tons. Steamboats, had not reduced
the prices of passage below $40 deck and
$50 cabin, and in descending the river
and bay to San Francisco many pre-
ferred to come by tie cheaper manner
on the sailing vessels, which usually made
the trip in two or three days. The NOR
tality on these was frighIful. One schooner
left Sacramento with forty-two passengers
for San Francisco. On the third day she
arrived with only three of the number alive.
The others had been seized with cholera on
the passage and died. A printer named
Bugbee was one of the survivors. He was
attacked by the terrible malady, but with
stood it and was the only one of his COM
panions on the schooner who was able to
walk ashore on arrival The corpses we're
committed to the river and the bay as the
victims died, until there were no longer
men on board able to put the bodies over
board. Of the officers and crew, only one
mate survived, and Bugbee alone managed
TO sail the vessel from Red
Rock to San Francisco. Marysville
was sorely afflicted, as was every settle
ment and camp up the Sacramento, Amer
lean, Feather and Yuba rivers and in the
mines, but in no other place was the NOR
tality so great as in Sacramento City. In
the southern division the cholera was CONT
paTatively mild. Only two deaths occurred
in Stockton, both of persons of Spanish
blood and reckless in mode of life.
VICTIMS OF THE EPIDEMIC.
In San Francisco ii ragged with alarming
malignity, taking off several notable citi-
zens. County Treasurer George W. Endi-
eott, a leading merchant, Of high social
position and old Pilgrim stock, from BOs-
ton; Woodruff, the popular ieweler, DR..
johnson, noted humorist and wit,
Sam Maynard, g prominent business
by scores occurred in the hospi-
tails and in the poorly provided
houses, lodging-houses and tents in every
part of the city. Amidst all these deaths
Rufus Lockwood, the great lawyer, eccen-
trio and reckless as he was learned and pro-
found in the law, seotfer ana prone to eX-
cesses, INDUCED in wild dissipation and de-
family exclaimed against the destroyer. He
would lie prone ID most unhealthy spots,
reeking with moisture and filth, and in loud
ture, herculean frame, in the vigor of robust
manhood, man of massive brain and iron
constitution. of leOnine face and ponderOuS
step, with an habitual scOwl and angry
frOwn to forbid familiarity. He would
rail al the Almighty in his wild impreca-
tions, and dare the attack of cholera.
Why kill off the poor wretches
who wished to live, who sought to avoid the
deadly infection?" he would loudly solilO-
auiZe, land dare not attack me?" He re-
sisted the persuasion and beseechings OF
friends, the intercession of all, the efforts
blasphemous and shocking practices. Lock
WOOD was a law unto himself. He had
been soured in early manhood by domestic
troubles aud
BECAME AS AN IsHMAELITE
In his inviueible dislikes. Yet toward a
few he was firm and unehanging friend,
regardless of worldly position OF circum-
public sentiment, and had utter con-
tempt for money. He withdrew from a
lucrative practice in his profession,
from the association as law partner
with Edmund Randolph and W. Van
VUrhies, and took service in the law office
of Julius K Rose, a young attorney, to
sweep the floor and steps and do the
menial chores of the office. Afterward he
engaged rs counsel for the Sydney
thieves" in the suit against Felix Argent,
the banker, and the first Vigilance Com
inlttee, made his appearance in the Su-
preme Court TO argue the case on appeal
with a six-shocter on his person, and sub
sequeBtly on the decision of the court
against his client, he took passage on ship
for Australia, signifying his detestation of
gold by casting into the bay, at
the moment OF departure, the hand
full of gold coin he carried in
his pockets. In Australia, unable to gain
admission 10 the bar on account Of his nom
citizenship, be took employment as a sheep
berdeT, in which he continued until his
start OIL the return to California, two years
afteTward. Lockwood took passage ON the
ship Fanny Major Six days before the
vessel put into Honolulu for water and
fresh provisions he quarreed with the
Captain, for having mistreated lady pas
senger, and swore that he would never
again taste food aboard the vessel. He kept
his word. At Honolulu he left the ship
and took passage for San Francisco on
schooner which was condemned as unsea-
worthy. She reached San Francisco in
twenty-five days, February, 1854.
A CELEBRATED CASE.
He engaged as counsel in the celebrated
Supreme Court at Washington, gained il,
Was specially complimented by Chief
Justice Taney for his lofty ability in the
argument and returned to San Francisco
and the practice of the law as retained coun-
sci for Palmer, Cook & Co., noted bankers
OF that period. He compiled work Of in
calculable value for lawyers-the work of
his lifetime-and started for the States to
have it printed. He was a passenger on
tho steamship Central America, ON the At
lantic. in 1857. His demeanor in the face
of death was characteristic. He threw from
his state-room upon the deck over $40, 900
in gold coin, lighted a cigar, took his seat
on the forecastle deck. and without token
ofconcern went down with the vessel.
The cholera was brought to California by
steamers from Panama and by the emigra-
tion across the plains. On each route, o n
sea and on land, the mortality was very
large. Terrible suffering was ex-
perienced by the emigrants who came over
land. The infection prevailed throughout
the Union. In the South and West along
The Mississippi and Missouri. were its
most fatal rayages. The elder Booth, the
following his visit to California. Never
since has 1t spread with such destroying ef-
feet
TREASURER BUCKINGHAM.
The death Of County Treasurer EndicOtt
created the vacancy which was filled by the
appointment of Charles e. Buckingham as
Treasurer. Buckingham was from New
York, engaged III mercantile occupation.
He subsequently, became foreman of the
Knickerbocker Engine Company No. and
was prominent In the San Francisco Fire
Department Endicott had as Assistant
Treasurer William Graham, young man
from Philadelphia. handsome, 1.-THE, fond
OF fine clothes and prideful of his reputa-
ton as a game" man. Buckingham
retained him in office. But the assO-
citation was not congenial. Graham was
impatient of any control. He resigned the
position and bad feeling was engendered
on both sides. Buckingham and Graham
were much at San Jose during their asso-
citation. The second Legislature was hold
ing session. The Widow Gates had estab-
lished in San Jose select and fashionable
boarding-house, at which several members
Of the Legislature, State officers and nota-
bles made temporary home. 1t was favor
ite resort Mary Gates was daugh-
ter of the widow, a young lady of
some beauty, uncommon vivacity and en-
tertaining manners. Above medium height,
slender, graceful, with fine complexion, at
tractive in conversation, neat and tasteful
in her dress and personal adorument, and
of discreet behavior, Miss Mary Gates had
won upon all who met her, and her ad-
mirerS were numerous. She was not ar