The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-15
CONSIDERATIONS FRUSTRATED.
Failure OF the Effort To Carry Cali
fornia Ont OF the Union.

Failure Of the Effort to Carry Cali
fornia Ont OF the Union.
Rev 6. II. Milley in the Pacific.
While the Southern states were. one by
one. seeding and the Confederacy was
forming, the eyes of loyal people in Cali
fornia were intently fixed on what was
going on at the East, and especially in
Washington City. not thinking that the
matter of rebellion against the government
here at home needed attention. But it did
need attention, as we have since learned,
and the ground of Jefferson Davis
confidence in the secession sentiment
here is plain enough now. An organiza-
ton of seven hundred Southern men of
secession proclivities was at that time Sc
cretly formed. with the object of taking
the state out of the Union. Some of them
visited Aicatraz, accompanied by ladies to
avoid suspicion, and so were allowed TO
examine the guns and see how they could
be brought to bear on San Francisco, on
the custom house. on the mint and the
banks. They visited Benicia in the same
way, and were shown through the arsenal
and were permitted To examine what arms
and ammunition the government had
there. All this Information was carefully
noted by them and made ready for use
C.
They selected their leader. Ii was Col.
Charles Doane, at that time sheriff of San
Francisco. He was one of their political
party, and coming here from New Orleans
they supposed him to be an out and out
Southern man. A delegation of than
waited on him. made known to him their
plans, showed him the list of 700 pledged
men, assured him of the responsible money
backing. pledged till they could take pos
session of that in the custom house and
mint, and everything was declared 20 be
ready for action ~ once II he would be the
leader. lie replied to them that the prop
osition was one of such gravity that he
must take time for consideration. and pre-
posed TO give them HIS answer at 2 80
O'Clock on the following day.
The delegation had. however, mistaken
their man. Col. Charles Doane could nos
be tempted into secession. lie had lived
in the South. but was Northern born.
and loyal TO the back lie took time
TO think how he could serve his country
in this critical matter.
lie LEFT the clty. he wandered alone
among the nils, thinking what course to
pursue 10 thwsrt the secession plans. In
has mind he went over the names Of oil
the men he knew who might be in a posi-
ton to rally loyal force sufficient 10 put
down these reasonable plans. At last he
fixed upon Col. Jonathan ID. Stevenson as
tAlAn O& Al0GAGte0 10Y dlk5s u
experience, holding q position Of in
ruence sufficiently strong to enable
him to lead in some plan. That
night. az midnight. he went to Col.
Stevsnson's house, and rang him up. He
made known TO him all the details of the
situation. He showed him the list of con-
spirators pledged 20 the secession work.
he asked hin. If he would undertake the
work OF preventing their success. This,
after some thought, Col Stevenson prom
Used TO 90, il possible. After Col. Doane
left be spent the remainder OF the night
determining what he would do. In the
morning he went 20 David Scannell, chief
OF the fire department, and made
known to him The facts as above
detailed. and then asked him II the
fire boys" could be depended on in an
emergency like this. Chiei Scannell en-
tered into the plan st once, and promised
20 ascertain what the hremen would do.
and report TO him at tae northwest corner
OF Commercial and Montgomery streets 81
III O'Clock in the forenoon.
At that hour. TO the minute, he re-
ported that he had made a.! necessary in
Qniriss, and that 81 any hour after o'clock
ei that day, upon the sound OF three taps
upon the IRE alarm bell. he could march
into the plaza with ]. 90 men. armed with
the best regulation mus ksts OF the United
States and otherwise faAy equipped for
instant service.
Ifit should be asked how Chief Seanneli
could, IN one forenoon, ascertain that he
couid bring !, coo armed men into the plaza
at sas tap OF the Ere alarm ball. Is naay Do