The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-23

u.
In ali cases but one, wnere they retook
two Of their prisoners = hom the sherin
had rescued. open resistance OF the reg1-
lar authorities a. avoided. Even IN IBIS
case they ESCAPED an scsuai hgnt Win the
authorities By means OF rro.npt action anu
an overwhelming shos Oh force i1es
executed, in the course OF their acsisity.
four men. al notorious ana desperate
characters. banished TO foreign countries
under threat Of death upon return many
Others and terrified into fight or conceal
meDs vast number. ankee SULLIVAN.
the prixefi ghter, was among those impris-
oned by the vigilantes. He would proc
ably have been banished, but while await
ing trial the coxard.y thug killed himself.
When the vigiiantes' work Was done they
abandoned not their organization. bur their
active operations, and returned 10 private
life. Mr.. Coteman's services In connec-
ton. with the committee oil 1871 we're not
forgotten. and when in May, 1890. aitef
long period OF commercial depression,
popular discomfort aud too general social
corruption. public Indignation vas once
more aroused TO white heat by the murder
of the noted editor, James King. OF Will
lam, Mr.. Coleman was one OF the hrss
called upon 10 lead q new movement,
which resulted in the greatest oil all vigi-
lance committees. After some urging ne
accepted this call and became leader OF the
,zation. Fifteen hundred men were en-
rolled the first day. The work OF the great
committee cannot be described without
Mentioning Coleman's name IN every SEN
tence. Early in the history of the excite
ment he MAS visited at the rooms OF the
executive committee by the governor OF
California, Nicely Johnson, IN company
with prominent officials, among whom
vas Gen. William T. Sherman. then major
general OF the state militia. The officials
came TO use their personal influence with
Coleman himself and with the other men,
bers of the body 10 prevent any active
interference in the course OF law. The me-
gotIations eatire.y failed, and the COM
mitiee took tor the time almost COM
pete control of the administration OF
criminal justice in San Francisco. Both
city and state authorities were poweriess
TO hinder them; the committee were
strong in the consciousness OF the APP
proyal OF large majority OF good citizses,
and the respectable but not very skiiifuliy
conducted efforts OF the law and order"
party to organize public sentiment against
the whole movement proved unayailIng.
Mr.. Coleman throughout endeavored. and
generally with success, to keep the CON-
mittee from nasty and dangerous actions,
and to avoid collision with United States
authorities. He had charge of the trials.
and directed the final executions of the
hanged, the most noted Of whom was
Casey, the murderer of King. The most
serious complication in the movement was
the arrest and trial Of Judge David s.
Terry, of the supreme court OF the state,
for assault on one OF che vigilance police.
Terry was finally released without punish
ment. The committee tried TO avoid i'm
reference in matters of general partisan
politics. so far as related to national and
state affairs Mr.. Coleman evinced rare
powers of leadership. He was firm and
fearless. vet Just and iair in the discharge
of his weighty obligations TO the commu-
nifty. When the committee was no longer
needed it adjourned, after great
street parade. in August; but its members
still retained enough unity to
control municipal politics for many years.
Wnne Mr.. CoIemans firm continued its
San Francisco business, he himself lived
IN New York from 1857 until 1864, and he
was there unsuccessiuiiy sued by persons
who had suffered from the vigilance COM
mittee. In 1854 he returned to San Fran
cisco. and ever after made that city his
home Mr.. Coleman was called TO the
leadership Of the committee of pubic
safety which was organized during the
labor troubles of 1S77-1S TO prevent riots
and the destruction of property. In this
position he rendered good service. Mr..
Coleman never held any public Office. lie
took keen interest in politics, but did not
seek office. In 1884 the New York Sun
brought him into prominence by urging
his nomination Tor the presidency oil the
Democracy. Editor Dana was great adj
mirer of the popular leader. Mr.. Coleman
Was rated IS many times millionaire I'M
til seven or eight years ago. when the great
firm of William T. Coleman d Co. failed.
lie made an honorable settlement, giving
up all his property. SIX months ago,
while one of the leaders of the San Fran
cisco thugs lay sick and destitute. Co.e-
man visited~hIm and gave him $20