The morning call., 1893-05-21

to-day. The old ST. Francis was a structure
of thin boards. and the partitions were |
also very thin. Ii the occupant of one |
room did not wish the occupant of the ad- |
joining one to Overhear a conversation he |
wished TO have with a visitor he had to |
carry IL on in whisper or else take mis- |
visitor on the public highway to hold his |
private talk. In this building was held the |
first election for State officers. The ST. |
Francis escaped all the early great con-
f1aEratlOns which swept the town, but on !
the morning of the 22d of October, 1858. it |
started a little fire, all of its own, which |
threatened to destroy ii. 1t would have |
been reduced to a pile of ashes |
but for the daring of the firemeD under the |
leadership OF their then chief, Charles P. |
Duane. Under the greatest of difficulties !
these brave men succeeded in getting their |
lines OF hose TO the upper story, in which |
the IRE broke out, anu confined it to the |
building in which it had It's origin |
Shortly after the fire il was discovered that |
j. e.. Coleman, one OF the guests, had been
burned to death. Before the smoke had
cleared away and while the fremen were
reeling up the hose, arrangements were en-
tered into to repair the structure and fit it
to the wants of advanced civi II ton. The
work OF reconstruction soon began and it
was not ling before the hotel was running
again. On July Z. 1865. the ST. Francis
Hotel, which by that time had fallen from
terrible tragedy. Billy Mulligan, motor
iOus rough. who in 1856 had been deported
by tie Vigilance Committee, but returned
in after years. became affected with
delirium tremens and labored under the
impression that his old enemies, the
Vigilanues, were after him. He went to
a shop, pawned his overcnat for a seven
shooter and went to his room in the ST.
Francis. The room had a window front
ing On Clay street and another fronting on
lran il hs. -
the door, then raised the Dui ont-street
window and fired shot at an imaginary
enemy, whom he thought he saw in CHI
nese washhOuse on the opposite side of the
street. The police was summoned, il being
then about 9 O'Clock in the forenoon, and
an effort was made to arrest Muligan, but
no one dared TO approach him. for he
swOre that he would bore hole" through
the first man who should attempt to pass a
certain line. All sorts of expedients were
tried, but Mulligan held the hotel against
all corners, and declared that he would
die rather than surrender. At . O'clock in
the afternoon Jack DcNabb. a personal
friend of Mulligan, said be would 20
upstairs and try to reason with the
madman, but he was not successful
Mulligan warned him to Keep away
or he would shoot him. AT that time Mui-
ligan had left his room and taken up po-
sition near the head of the stairs leading to
the upper floor. Finally McNabb thought
he would try his friend with glass of
whisky, and If he took it would jump upon
and dsarm him. Mulligan watched him
coming up the stairs with the liqnor, ana
when McNabb told him that drink would
do him good and would straighten him up
he oecame as wild as human being ever
became; he cursed his friend, said that he
wanted him 10 drink poison so that he
could turn him over co he Vigilantes and
again warned him TO go back. McNabb,
though tough. thinking that Mulligan
was dangerous anG might kill some inno-
cent person, risked his life to save
others. He advanced cautiously, in
tending to make sudden spring
crazy as he was. OWNED McNabb's OBJ |
leet and hred at him. The bullet struck |
MIN In the left side, producing a wound |
from which he died in half an hour
Alter the shot Mulligan went back to his |
room and opening one OF the windows |
rested his revolver on his arm and took |
aim at Jake Chappelle, detective. who |
stood on the east side of Dupont street. |
There was scattering of a crowd of |
people who bad assembled there since |
morning, but before all cot out of the line
of Mulligaa's aim. he fired. The bullet |
did not touch Chappele, but found lods
ment In the heart of John Hart, foreman |
of hose company 4 of the volunteer de-
partment. young man who was not on
terms of friendship with Muligan
for their muskets, for in those days
the officers of the law were instructed
in the manual OF arms. and 1t
was determined that Mulligan should be
taken. dead or alive. One of the officers
was placed on the roof of two-st0ry
house on the north side of Clay street,
just above Dupont, from which point he
commanded a view of Muligan's ROOM
Mulligan saw him and going to the Clay
street window got down on one knee and
placing his revolver on the wndOw-sill
drew bead on him. and as he did so
the officer fired and his bail went crash
ing through Muligan's brain. killing him
instantly. The officer at the Coroner's in
quest was fully justified in what he bad
done. After thateye the ST. Francis fell
lower and the Chinese who encroached
upon that portin OF the city took possess
sion of the building and have held it ever
since.
THE GOLDEN Roses. w. g.. City.
THO Golden rose is cluster of roses and