The morning call., 1893-12-09
simply didn't want him to remain in this

country"
But MCGOWAN did remain in spite of a
concerted uprising of the vigilantes
against him, For a month he kept in hid
ing among friends in this city. and on june
4, 1856 walked to a house on the Mission
road in disguise. With face BACKED 10 ap-
pear like colored man, and with a sup
ply of derringers, revolvers, cartridges AID
daggers in his belt and pockets he passed
along the principal streets and on the way
looked into the faces of many vigilantes
who were then searching for him. In he
guise of priest he rode out OF town to-
ward Halfmoon Bay the day the trial of
Judge Terry began. After few adven-
lures he reached Santa Barbara. where a
mob gathered with a rone Co hang him.
Bur again the fates were kind to him, this
time in the person of Jack Powers, the rob-
Der chief. MCGOWAN placed his confidence
In Powers and escaped through clever
stratagem.
His friends rolled him up in carpet.
and while searching posse ransacked the
house where McGowan found shelter the
bulky roll escaped notice. Getting away
from this dangerous place he found safe
asylum on the ranch OF DIR. Nicholas a.
DeD. and eventually returned to hight his
case In the courts. A change OF venue
was granted by a special bill in the Legis-
laiure. MCGOWAN was taken to Napa.
tried and acquitted of the charges found
against him by the Grand Jury.
Once free, McGowan published book
OF his adventures with the Vigilance Com
mittee. entitled Narrative OF Edward Nc
Gowan. Including Full Account of the
Authors Adventures and Perils While
Prosecuted by the San Francisco Vigilance
Committee in 1856" This volume is
rare article now. 1t was dedicated to DR..
Den If Santa Barbara County.
After the trial MCGOWAN dabbled in
journalism, publishing weekly called the
Ubiquitous, then left San Francisco very
quietly for the South. He settled In New
Orleans, and from the date OF his advent
there until the beginning of the Civil War
1t IS told that be was vaTlouSly engaged In
politics. writing and law.
He went into active service under the
Southern banner, and next appeared as an
officer on Mississippi gunboat. The Civil
War over. MCGOWAN began again In poll
tics. He was assistant doorkeeper OF the
House of Representatives for six years.
and held other offices under the Federal
Government. Later on he removed to Ari-
ZoDa Territory and there followed law for
living. He was elected Judge, and. after
some time. delegate TO Congress from the
new Territory.
ln his declining years MCGOWAN re-
turned to the scenes of his escapades.
San Francisco was changed city, but
then the times were changed, and even
McGowan was another man. The once
turbulent character was softened by the
years, and so MCGOWAN went into retire
meDt among some Old-iime acQuaintances
who have long since been forgotten.
At last he found himself penDiless and
infirm, though not altogether triendless,
for aid came from the least expected quar-
ter when the late William t. Coleman,
president OF the historic vigilantes, left
$50 for him with a botel-keeper.
McGowan's friends placed him in St.
Mary's Hospital. where he fingered be-
tween life nnd death until the natural
forces of his body succumbed.
In the sober reflection of the present
divergent views are taken of McGowan's
character by his old acquaintances. To
find the truth is not easy under these cir
cumstances. And yet it is safe to say that
McG0wan was man not designedly or
stubbornly bad, but rather a loud-moutbed
politician, fond of boasting and posing as
a daring fellow, not in the least afraid of
facing danger or death in any form. He
was generous to a fault and a friend to
men of his own type. a..