The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-23
WILLIAM r. COLEMAN DEAD.
The Famous Aeader of the San Fran
cisco Vigflantes.

SAN Francisco, Nov. 22.-William T..
Coleman died at his residence in this city
at o'clock this morning. He had been
ailing for some time. but the indisposition
only assumed serious nature two days
ago. The funeral will be held from the
family residence next Saturday.
William Tell Coleman was born in
Cynthiana. KY, February %. 1924. His
father, \. b. Coleman, wa< prominent
lawyer and politician OF Kentucky. He
entered ST Louis university, where he
took IN two years a regular four years
course and graduated with the degree oil
he spent the winter in the South and had
charge of Plantation. The following
year he again engaged In numbering, going
10 W lsconsin, where he remained several
years. As early rs isi4-45 Mr.. Coleman
mad pianued an expedition across the
pains to California, but this enterprise
failed tor lack OF support on the part OF the
others who had agreed TO take part in il.
In the spring of is49 ne organized another
party, which came TO California
overland, arriving at Sacramento on
August IA. There Mr.. Coleman
traded some of his live stock for town
lots. tie set mp some tents and soon en-
gagged in building operations. constructing
fences. bridges, gold Rockers or anything
To which he and his assoc ates could turn
their hands. Mr.. Coleman engaged in
merchandise transactions. He bought a
stock of goods and had II hau Ct,
10 Placervil.e. In this he was successful.
During a temporary depression OF trade ne
tried mining. Among other occupations
at the mines he took ny law Practice. In
January, isSo, he came To san Francisco
and opened store OH Sansome street
near Jackson, dong a general mercnan-
d'Se business. In ISL he opened an
agency ia New York, and ia 1856 started
line 81 ships between that pars and San
Francisco. lie entered il 1860 into part
neTshIp glta f. NJ Robinson the firm be-
ing knoRn ~ ". +. Co.eman & Co. From
that time the Erm MAS known as one Of
the largest IN the two cities and did the
largest business OF any house on the Pa
CHE coast. During 1850 and the early part
OF 1871, iagirssaess. from which San
Francisco, even at the height
OF the gold excitement. OF Isi9, had been
surprisingly Tree. became tr, Quent and
aggressive. The rega ar courts mean
Sh-le proved 10 b~ ineffective. The result
ID February, ieoi, Was an ouibufst of
popular lnd gnetlon against crime. RoA-
hers bad assam ted and badly injured
Neai-kaoNn merchant IN his place ut bust
ness, aud tSo men we're arrested on n mis-
taken suspicion that taey we're the assaii-
ants. GA February - crowd OF
indignant citizens undertook 10 get these
men oat 81 The hands OF the iailer and
execute them, hu. the attempt vas for the
moment thwartci. Later in the day.
ncNever. an agreement with the author
lilies vas reached ia accurdaace with
which the prisoners were To be brought for
sT'sl before an improvlsed popular TT .nanai
on the next day. at this trial Mr.. Cole
man appeared a. prosecuting attorney.
regular aNyers declining the responsible
iiy. tie himself had before used all his
personal influence with the assembled
people 70 secure an orderly trial, and ahen
the popular Jury disagreed on the aaes-
uoh ot the personal IDENTIFY OF one OF the
accused, fae whole undertaking vas
qs'eIiy abandoned. the people restored
the prisoners 10 The regular authorities
ana iae excitement died away. The passi-
blA'y Of orderly popular justice ia san
Francisco had. however. been made plain
~ Thss affair, ana when "a Nav and
jane farther signs Of laeiessness became
noticeable. while the iuefllcleucy OF the
courts remained a. obvious IS ever the
lra3ers Of the movement of February
joined s.th many other citizens 70 organ
fxe vigilance committee Tor the purpose
% IsFTify snEs oanaSnlng, ami. IN very ssri-
ous cases, hanging the dangerous cr.faI-
rass Ia sAe executive body OF this CON-
n-s'ise NJ. coleman vas prominent The