The record-union., 1891-09-26
THIRTY YEARS AGO.
The Sacramento Rangers Leave to
Join the Army.
Captain De Merritt's Prior Engage
ment-Hangtown's Historic Stump
-Sacramento's First Street-Car.

Sacramento was just about to send out
cavalry company to be known as the
Sacramento Rangers, Of which Captain
De Merritt was to have command. In
order to properly equip the company
meeting was held at the Courthouse one
evening to devise means for raising
money for that purpose.
At this meeting d. o. Mills was chair
man and j. r. Selden Secretary. 1t was
resolved to canvass the city for subscrip-
tions, and the Soliciting Committees
selected were: First Ward-T. S. Fiske,
George w. Chesley and George Rowland.
Second Ward-C. P. Huntington, John
81. Carroll and L. f. Reed. Third Ward
w. Shattuck, DIR. a. b. Nixon and r.
d. Ferguson. Fourth Ward-L. A.
Booth, Isaac Lohman and John Arnold.
They collected 50, ,324 rs.
But few of these men are now living.
George w. Chesley still resides here, and
Messrs. Huntington and Mills in New
York, both being in the front rank of the
wealthy men of the nation.
Two days afterward the Rangers
marched into the city from Camp Kibbe,
on the Yolo side, to take passage for San
Il
and were dismissed for few hours, Cap
tain De Merritt stating that he had "a
prior engagement to keep" He turned
the company over to Lieutenanta Ropes
for the remainder of the day.
The nature of the Captains prior en-
gagement was explained the next morn
| ing by the following publication: MAR
ried-In this city yesterday, by Rev. j.
p. Benton, Captain d. A. De Merritt Of
the Sacramento Rangers to Miss Dianthia
| L. Burnett Of this city,
| When ready to start for the steamer the
company was escorted by the City Guard,
| Captain Howell, and citizens ''fell inn be-
hInd, until the procession was several
blocks long.
The men were cheered all along the line
of march, and there were some affecting
scenes at the levee before the company
left on the steamer.
........Not many, except the old resi-
dents of Placerville, know that under the
floor of Sigwart's building on the corner
| of Main and Coloma streets, is still TO be
found the stump of the famous hang tree
! on which three murderers in the early
mining days expiated their bloody crimes
and by which the place received the sig
nltlcant title, "Hangtown"-an appella-
ton that is still preferred to 'Placerville'
by many old residents. The tree was cut
down and a building erected over the
stump early in the SOS.
1t is now nearly fifteen years since it
was exposed to view, the floor having
then been removed from its site for some
purpose. This week the floor was again
raised for repairs and the historic stump
again brought to light. 1t is about twelve
feet from the front wall of the building on
a line four feet from the east wall. 1t is
leveled to the ground, but is in fair
state of preservation. The bark and sap
wood are gone, but the heart-wood is still
solid, and a number of pieces were re-
moved as relics. The tree was white
oak about two feet in diameter, and at
one time it stood at the corner of Main
and Coloma streets, close to a frame
building, which it shaded. twas finally
removed, to give room for buildings after
the introduction of less primitive meth
DDS of execution.
What change few years bring about!
Within few feet of the hang trees stump
burns an electric light, and by electricity
several murderers have already been ex-
ecuted in New York.
.........Among those who fell on the bat
tle-field at Pyramid Lake, New, in the
fall OF 1850, while fighting the warriors of
Winnemucca, the Piute chief, was Abner
Elliott. He was resident of Lake
County, in this State, where he had left
his wife and three children to seek his
fortune in the Washoe diggings.
Elliott was given up as dead, but he
was taken prisoner and his life spared.
He became a favorite of old Winnemucca
and lived with the tribe until September
of the following year, when he set out for
his old home. by way of Placerville and
Sacramento.
On arriving here Elliott met some per-
son from Lake County who informed
him that his wife, supposing him to be
dead, had married again. Elliott at once
turned about and went back to spend the
remainder of his days among the Indi-
ans. This was about the most fitting
thing he could have done. A man who
would leave his family in ignorance of
his fate for whole year could not have
much affection for them, and they were
well rid of him.
1.-THE Hotel de France, on Second
street, near L, was opened in September,
1861, by Nine. Eugene Dumas. For some
fifteen years thereafter, especially during
bill" Hunts reign as landlord, it was
one of the institutions of the Capital CITY.
1t had sort of Jecky1-Hyde existence
while one portion of it was open TO guests
whose characters were SO well known as
to be above dispute, the table d'hotc was
patronlzed by the better class of citizens,
who felt themselves in no way compro-
missed by the fact that they were in the
midst of disreputable persons.
The hotel was great resort for politi-
clans and public men, and if it's old walls
could speak they might lell tales of mid
night Doodle meetings that would cast
into the shade all the newspaper legisla-
tive scandals of the present day.
The once gay Hotel de France has OF
late years been hive of dope fiends and
toughs Of both sexes.
......... Officer Burke had a lively time
one day on Second street with two des-
: perate characters, John Daily and James
Sears. They had knocked down, beaten
and cut three men, when Burke came
upon the scene. Daily and Sears both
showed fight, but Burke drew his pistol
} and forced Sears to surrender, leaving
Daily to officer Keyser.
Daily had q weapon, and refused te
allow Keyser to arrest him, on learning
which Burke turned his prisoner over tc
) Officer Deal and went back. He met
Daily, who was keeping the crowd at bay
} but walked up TO him and placed him
under arrest.
Daily was afterward lynched by vigi.
J lance committee at Genoa.
...... Edmund Randolph, who was 6
very prominent figure in public affairs
here, especially in politics, died in San
Francisco on September s, 1861. If we
mistake not, it was Randolph who, in 8
, speech delivered either in this city or San
l Francisco, in which President Lincoln
was bitterly scored, causeda sensation by
this infiammatory appeal:
: For Gods sake, speed the lead Lei
the bullet fly quick to the mark, and lei
our country be freed from this despot
usurper who now claims the name o.
: President of these United Statesp'