The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-17
CLIMATE AND FRUIT.

1t rests on the testimony of her local
press that the allurements of CALIFORNIA;
climate and fruits are fully or largely coun
terbalanced by an unbridled reign of hood
lumism in that state. Leading newspapers
devote large share of their space TO mar
rations of the fendish exploits of these
lawless creatures, who respect neither
decency, property nor life. There seems
to be no limit to their audacity or their
brutality.
The San Francisco Alta, of May II, draws
a frightful picture of the doings of these
desperadoes. This being the season Of
picnics and other excursions to suburban
and rural resorts, is the time when deeds
Of outlawry and violence are most public
and noticeable, but in one shape or another
they are confined to no season or locality.
ALI the excursions this season, the Alta de-
clares, fare accompanied by gangs of
hoodlums of both sexes, who rival the
Sioux and Apaches in unbridled barbar-
ISM"
One recent instance is mentioned, relat-
ing to a citizen of Glen Ellen, in Sonoma
county, who was beset by San Francisco
hoodlum excursionists and shis face
literally smashed fiat, breaking in his nose
and crushing in his cheek bones" This
was peaceable citizen, who was not in
any manner interfering with the gang,
who were committing some minor outrages
on decency, and who merely attacked and
belabored him for diversion and in sheer
wantonness.
At San Rafael. in Marin county. citi-
zen sitting on his porch who ventured to
protest against the vandal destruction ofhis
lawn, shrubs and flowers, was set upon as
If by wild beasts and beaten nearly to death.
women and children dare not show
themselves where these bloody wretches
CO." says the Alta, land the spring and
summer are seasons of dread around every
pleasant resort within forty miles of San
Francisco" Ladies in their own homes,
on the lawns or at the windows, are sub
jected to the vilest forms of insult and If
gentleman ventures to protest he is set
upon by dozen or more of cowardly
ruffians and beaten into insensibility.
From these and other accounts it is clear
that our "hobos," though miserable and
unprincipled creatures and veritable nui-
sances, are dove-like in comparison with
these cruel and cowardly barbarians of the
Golden state One had better submit to
an occasional cloud, forego perpetual
sunshine" and buy his fruit from safe
distance than be subject, he and his family,
| to the continual torment of insult, outrage
| and battery for the sake of such blessings
| as California has to offer in the shape of
| climate.
The remedy suggested by the local press
would be scarcely less repugnant than
scarcely care to live where he would be
compelled to go upon o pleasure excursion
armed to the teeth, prepared and de-
| termined to shoot down those who might
| modest. But this is the course recon-
mended. To people who love law, order
aud peace, the pleasures of an outing
| would be seriously marred by a knowledge
that they could only be enjoyed at the
expense or risk of human life.
II is folly TO say that such demonstra-
! tons cannot be suppressed by law. In
such cases the will can find a way. 1t is
| conceded, and is certainly true, that
all such brutes are towards. With the
opportunities that have surrounded them,
in the shape of refining influences, their
insults to women and assaults upon the
defenseless demonstrate their cowardice.
Then it goes without saying that their
increasing audacity is due to failure of
vigilance, interest and determination at
the start It would require but few ex-
hibitions of these qualities to put a stop to
these practices. Until the California
authorities can summon these qualities,
and resolve at all hazards to suppress her
hoodlums, it would be well to call back her
travelling adyertisement-"Calif on
Wheels from its perambulations of
order-loving communities.
In the meantime the authorities of
Washington can guarantee that attend
ants at picnics within her borders need
not ''carry gun" and be prepared for
homicide in order 20 insure immunity
from pummelings or insults.
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