The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-19
HANGED AT NIGHT
Whitecaps at Point Reyes
Cause Terror.
WHAT DAYLIGHT DISCLOSED
The Lynching Party Was From
San Francisco.
WHAT DAYLIGHT DISCLOSED
CHASTITY SCENE IN THE STREETS
Gunshots Disturb the Quiet Town
and People View a Dreadful
Sight Near Morning.


presence of whitecaps and a lynching
scene, which the good people witnessed
through half-closed window blinds at an
hour before the dawn.
So absolute was the reign of terror that
followed this truly terrible sight not one
of the townspeo PIE would dare 20 venture
outside until daylight came. Even then.
with the sun shining brightly above them,
only few fearless ones walked out into
the streets. In their faces could be seen
the reflex of desperate resolve to main
tain law and order, although these men felt
a chilly. creeping sensation as they bravely
faced danger. AS for the women folk and
children they had not the temerity to open
front doors. imagining, no doubt. after the
CHASTITY and realistic nightmare of few
hours before that every other man but the
man at home was a whitecap, a lyncher
and murderer.
The startling occurrence. however, sup
piled a superabundance of food for CONVEX
sation before breakfast was thought of,
and so the gentler sex were doubly COM
pensa ted for their dread of going out of
doors.
At A. NJ. the slumbering village was
rudely awakened bv reports of firearms
an iDeXplicable and most singular incident
there. The sharp crack of the rifle was
easily distinguished from the shOtgun's
boom and the short, spiteful pistol crack
was recognized among the fuslliades. To
the unsuspecting people this variety of re-
ports as well as the continuous firing was
cause of terror. 1t aroused them from
their slumbers in a great fright. and pres
emily lights appeared in every dwelling.
In the dim light could be seen troop of
men dressed in white sheets, their faces
hidden by masks and every man was
heavily armed. Between them they dragged
victim, who more dead than alive as it
then seemed from the awful ordeal he was
undergoing could neither hold his bead
erect nor walk of his own volition. The
whtecaps carried rope. They moved in
the direction OF telegraph pole in solemn
procession. discharging weapons OCCASION
ally TO prevent possible interference in the
execution and add additional ghastiiness
to the scene.
Their procession ended at pole which
suited the purpose and people watched their
movements with bated breath. white
cap elm bed the pole and drew rope over
the crOssbar. Beneath dangled a moose.
Into this loop the lynching party thrust
their victims head. 1t was noticed that
the crowd stood back and entered into
conversation with the doomed wretch who
however. made n reply.
Then the murderous-loOkiDg whitecaps
pulled together Cd the rope and finished
their work of hanging.
Lights went out in their houses as il in
dicatng that those inside were afraid it
should be suspected they witnessed the
)yncbing, which might possibly bring the
whliecaps' wrath upon them. But from
many darkeDed windows the last act was
watched, when every masked man in the
crowd raised gun and with deliberate
aim fired at the hanging body.
After the execution people would not
venture out and so the lynchers disap-
peared.
Sunday morning saw the figure of man
at the end of rope, but who he was no.
body could imagine. He was cut down
| and then the truth was known, for he was
dummy with painted face and a well
prOportioned figure.
The startled citizens learned that the
hanging was farce. part of a high links
by the Never Sweats," a coterie of sports
men from San Francisco who were in
Point Reyes for pleasure as we'll as a
shoot over the hills next day. Such
grim practical joke as this was not
Point Reyes, as much Indignation was felt
at the fright it had caused. However as
the perpetrators are frequent visitors and
were acquainted we'll enough in the town
to laugh over it all they escaped with
caution. Among those who participated in
the dark deed were: James MARYLAND.
Lloyd Eaton, William Robertson, Thomas
irvine, Emil thinner. Charles DeitZ, Will
lam Durant. Charles WoodmaD, Edward
Booth and Professor Sugarhouse
Previous TO the wild midnight lynching
the sportsmen held a funeral service on
John Sammi, one OF their number, who
had gone to bed early in the evening in
cottage at the hotel MARYLAND was high
priest and the remainder of the company
was variously made up of mourners.
choristers and spectators. They appeared
before the horror-stricken Sammi i'm their
white-cap garb with masks white GOWNS
burning candles and firearms. One of their
number carried coil Of rope. with loop
at one end. which added still further 70
his fear, until one indiscreet laugh dis