The record-union., 1891-10-17
THIRTY YEARS AGO.
A Week Whose Events Were Non
Sensational.
John Conness' Firm Stand for Union
Principles-where Canvas Shoes
Originated-The Old Hussars.

4ahu oIdnioro LOT Governor, was trying
to bring about a coalition between the
Douglas and Breckenridge wings of the
Democracy. George C. Gorham wrote
letter to Conness asking him if the re-
port was true.
Mr.. Conness, who then resided at
Georgetown, Ell Dorado County, replied
by published letter, in which he ex-
pressed great indignation. upon the
terms of Union," he said, ST can have
political association, and upon none
other. No party can now be useful ex
cept to the extent to which it contributes
10 this great cause. To the Democratic
party,sSas Buchanan made it, am bit
terly opposed. TO the Democratic party,
9s Douglas would redeem it, am firmly
attached and devoted; but my attachment
and devotion to 1t goes no further than
the extent to which it can be made useful
10 the universal cause of civil liberty"
MIR. Conness can now look back upon
his course of thirty years ago, when the
i3te of the nation hung in the balance,
with the proud satisfaction that he had
sacrificed political ambition for the good
OF his country.
1.-THE walls of the old Forrest The
;.ter, on j street, between Second and
Third, which had been burned few
nights before, fell in on the morning of
October 8th, crushing through a saloon
adjoining, kept by l.. Lehman, and the
cigar store of Nj. Marks. The latter and
his clerk escaped, but John Pendle, Leh-
mans barkeeper, was buried under the
debris.
Chief Engineer Graham and w. F.
Knox took charge Of the work of rescu-
Ing him, and willing hands set promptly
about it. In half an hour Pendle was
taken out, but it was found that no bones
Were broken.
A bootblack named George Barnes was
caught by the falling bricks and badly
bruised. Governor DoWney and family
occupied the building adjoining that of
Marks. The members all rushed into
the street in great alarm, but their build
ing remained uninjured.
The incoming county officials of
1861 appointed the following deputies:
Sheriff Bugbey appointed W. NJ. Hoag
as Under-Sheriff, and 3. b. Redding, O.
9. haswell, James Lansing, Edward
Christy and w. Griffith as deputies.
County Clerk and Recorder Jared Irwin
appointed II. C. kibbe and - Dixon in
the Recorders Office; b. Hereford and
Daniel Coffee in the Clerks office; r. NJ.
Clarken, Chief Clerk of the District
Court, and John Z. Madden Clerk Of the
County Court and Court of Sessions. Len
Harris, County Warden, named as his
deputies James Moore and Patrick Rice.
". w. Upton appointed NJ. Z. Iilden as
Prosecuting Attorney in the Police Court,
Supervisors, appointed w. 4. Knox as
his deputy.
There are only few of them left.
......... Very few persons are, perhaps
aware that the country is indebted to the
rebellion for the canvas shoes now so
generally worn in the summer months
Necessity is the mother OF invention, and
in the fall of 1861 the Southern troops
were running out of shoes, with dearth
OF leather and little money for its pur-
chase.
One day a sharp fellow, who had for
Inerly lived in the Yankee country, con-
ceived the idea of making the leather sup
ply go a great deal further by simply
using it for soles, and having shoe-uppers
made Of canvas. He laid the matter be-
tore the Confederate authorities at Rich
lnond, and in few weeks the Southern
soldiers were wearing canvas shoes.
........ The way the wool flew about
Whisky Hill, just south of the city, one
night in October, was caution. Two
men in the employ of Myron Smith, who
lived six miles down the Stockton road,
started for the city with two hundred and
thirty-eight head of sheep. They stopped
ct Musick's Tavern, on Whisky Hill, for
drink. Then they took another, and
another, and kept on taking drinks until
they became too drunk to look after the
sheep, which had been allowed to DRIFT
along the road.
In the meantime night came on, and
band OF dogs got among the sheep, kill
ing and manning more than One-half of
them. The slaughter is said to have been
fearful, the poor beasts being literally
torn to pieces.
THE Howard Benevolent Associa-
ton of this city, then in existence but
four years, had expended $1,000 in re-
Ileving distress among the poor. Its
mission has been noble one, for it
knows no creed and dispenses its bene-
factions among all classes alike.
The officers of the association that year
were: James l.. English, President; T.
". Lindley, Treasurer; James L. Perkins,
Secretary; George p. Warner, Steward.
Directors-John McNeill. George 1. Ly-
tie. p. II. Russell, John II. Carroll, Chas
Robin and n. A. II. Ball.
.........Seth Kinman, the noted hunter
Of Humboldt County, exhibited here in
October 1861 the elkhorn chair which he
had just constructed for Napoleon III.
Beneath the seat of the chair was q bears
head so arranged that, by a slight move
ncnt of the occupant, it would dart out
in front and the jaws snap viciously.
Three years before Kinman made
similar chair for Buchanan the First land
last.
......... Thirty years ago James and Jo-
seph DonGhoe were having plans pre-
pared for the Occidental Hotel in San
Francisco-the first really grand hostlery
in that city. The estimated cost was $780,
COO, but the building has been since en-
larged to thrice the original size.
The Russ House was also planned
about that time, and was to cost about
100000.
........ The Sacramento Hussars, Captain
Steudeman, went to San Francisco on the
18th of October, 1861, where grand recep-
ton was extended them. They were re-
ceived on their arrival by the FusiIliers,
the Black Hussars and First California
Guard, and were entertained in royal
manner.
There are some of the members yet on
the company's roll who participated in
that long ago excursion to the Bay.
........ David Scannell. the veteran Chief
Engineer of the San Francisco Fire De-
partment, was rendered a Colonel's COM
mission in the army, but the people
wanted him TO remain at his important
post of duty, and he did. ScanneL went
TO the Mexican war with Colonel Steven
sons regiment of New York lads in 1S442
......On the 4th of October. 1861, the
ladies of Folsom presented a guldon TO
Captain T.. ID. Shirland's cavalry COM
pany. 1t was made of red and white
silk, and inscribed, &C, First Regiment,
&. w The presentation address was
made by Miss Jennie O'Day, and Judge
q. G. w. French responded on behalf of
the company.