The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-05-23
THIRTY YEARS AGO.
How the Cornerstone of the State
Capitol Was Laid.
List of Articles Entombed Therein-A
Sacramento Female Abroad-P.
w. Cafrerty's Close Call.

1861. 1t was the occasion of a great dem
onstration in this city, in which not only
the citizens of the place participated, but
visitors from all parts ofthe State.
The honor of laying the stone was as
signed to the Masonic Order, of which n.
Greene Curtis of this city was the Grand
Master. The city was beautifully dec
GRATED, especially along the route which
the procession marched. About l o'clock
the procession moved from Second street,
up j, in the following order: Knights
Templar, thirty-seven in number,
mounted, and marshaled by J. III. Gull
yer; Sacramento Hussars, twenty-nine
strong, commanded by 7. Studeman;
City Guard, J. Howell, Captain, with
thirty-eight muskets; Sacramento Pho
neers, twenty-six in line, John III. Car
roll, Marshal, carriage containing Gov
ernor Downey, Senator Latham, Chief
Justice Stephen J. Field and S. NJ. Will
son (oratOr Of the day.; other members
Of the Supreme Court in carriages; mem
bers of the Board of Capitol Commission
ers, with the Casket to be deposited be-
meath the cornerstone; members of the
Senate and Assembly on foot; President
and members of the Board OF supervisors;
Odd Fellows lodges, marshaled by Geo.
g. HaSwell and j. Fisher; Grand En-
campment of odd Fellows, Barney
Woolf, Marshal; Union Brass Band; sub
ordinate lodges of Masons, 25S members;
Royal Arch Chapter, with ark, fifty
eight members; Grand Lodge, with ban
ner, siXty-two in number.
The procession was marshaled by Isaac
Davis of YolO, and the Union Guard'
brought up the rear with its cannon.
The ceremony of laying the stone was
3 very impressive one. In accepting the
duty assigned by the Governor, Grand
Master Curtis said:
1.-The fraternity of Free and Accepted
Masons have assembled here to-day, by
your invitation, for the purpose of lay
ing the foundation stone of the Capitol
building of this young, free and happy
commonwealth. The Free Masons of
California, in company with their fellow
citizens, rejoice at this evidence of pros
perity and progress, and l here to-day
bid you, Sirs, a goOd-speed in the noble
undertaking of erecting a stately edifice
here upon the western confines of the
continent, dedicated to the purposes of
civil and enlightened government. The
representatives of a free and happy peo-
pie have done well in inauguraUing this
noble work. 1t will remain monument
to their patriotism and enlightened states
manship. In its spacious halls will assem-
BILE the Iaw-givers of free and enlight-
ened people. May they be patriots and
statesmen, wise in counsel, powerful in
debate, and fearless in action. May this
building be speedily completed; may
symmetry and order rest upon each line
and curve; may strength and beauty
characterize each arch and pillar; and
may the grandeur of it's proportions at
tract the admiration and gladden. the
heart of every lover of order and pro-
gress; and from its lofty dome may the
glorious ensign OF our country, without
one single star dlmmed or blOtted out,
wave proudly and triumphantly forever
and forever" Great appause.l
Grand Master Curtis then called upon
the several Grand Officers of the order
each in his turn, TO perform their respec-
tive duties. Grand Secretary a. G. Abel
deposited the metal casket in the recepta-
Gle prepared for it, and then read list of
its contents, which may be of interest TO
our readers at this time:
Names of the President and Vice
President Lincoln and Hamlin), and
the Cabinet officers, Supreme and
United States Court Judges. California
United States Senators and Representa-
tiveS, State officers, State Supreme Jus
tees, members of the Legislature, Sacra-
mento city and county officials, Declara-
ton of Independence, Federal and State
Constitution, laws of California, State
Agricultural Society's report for 1859,
constitution of the Fire Department and
Engine Companies 2 and 3, Sacramento
Directory for 1861. California Register
for 1859, copies of all the daily papers of
California Seal of the State, message of
Governor Downey, lithograph of the Cap
itol, bylaws of Union Lodge, +. and A.
NJ, various documents presented by the
odd Fellows, and containing names of
members Of the several lodges, Grand
Lodge. +. and \. NJ. proceedings of 1852
90, proceedings ofthe Grand Commandery
OF Knights Templar, reports of State De-
partments, a three dollar bill issued by
the Continental Congress, and dated
February II, 1916, various other coins,
Protestant and Catholic prayer-books,
and a silver plate bearing this inscrip-
ton: This cornerstone was laid by
y. Greene Curtis, G. NJ. of Masons, A. L..
5S61."
After the stone had been laid, Samuel
NJ. Wilson of San Francisco was intro
duced as the orator of the day, and he de-
Hvered an eloquent address, concluding
as follows: And when, in the far-off
future, millions of freemen shall throng
this wide coast, and, looking over these
broad stones, shall curiously inquire who
and what were the founders, may they
learn of men who loved and followed the
flag their fathers loved and followed:
men who sought peace for the sake of the
union, but who loved the union better
than peace. Applause. And above all,
may they find that we had some share
little though it be-in restoring harmony
and fraternity TO our distracted country.
anu III AallulIlS QON IL 70 succeeding gen.
erations that flag unsulied, and that
union unbroken."
In the evening a grand Masonic ban
quet was given III Agricultural Hall in
honor Of the event, at which Rev. O. G.
Wheeler now deceased was POSTMASTER.
a. c. MonsOn responded to THE Labors
of the Day. Grand Master Curtis to 1.-The
Grand Lodge of California" Grand High
Priest u. ii. Hartley to 1.-THE Grand
Chapter of California" Grand Command
er J. L. English to The Grand Com
mandery,u j. II. Mcconnell to "Our
Fraternity" Milton S. Latham TO "OuI
Country, Our Whole Country and Moth
ing but Our Country" Governor John
@. Downey 10 Our State" Impromptu
addresses were delivered by General
Alfred Redington, Judge Baldwin and
others.
....... The arrest one day, on a charge OF
petit larceny, of a Second-street woman
named Anna Med, and who was
known as the Queen of the Demi-
monde" recalls a little incident of hel
life. She was q very handsome and
stylish woman, but was a terror among
her class, and was known to have stabbed
moro than one man who had incurred heI
anger. She created quite a sensation 3
few years afterward by showing up in
Napa as society lady. There was then
residing there family of good standing
TO which she was related-in fact the
lady OF the family was her sister.
The Sacramento woman was unknown
there, ana readily gained admission into
the best society. Indeed her company
was specially sought by the leading society
families, and no social gathering was con
sidered complete without her presence
once certain society young lady was
about to be married to prominent pro.
{acsiopal pontleman of Soy Err,,, -.