The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-05
AFTER HIM AGAIN.
Hubert Howe Bancroft
and the Pioneers.
A Committee Has Investigated His
Historical Works and Bring in
Verdict Against Him.

The Pioneers are going to take another
turn with Hubert Howe Bancroft, the
author of history of California.
The '49erS have tOyed with Mr.. Bancroft
before. Some months ago it was brought
to their attention that member of the
society had performed the unheard-of tas
of reading one of Mr.. Bancroft's many
volumes and had discovered therein some
statements and estimates of character
which might make good history but fol-
the fact that the Pioneers did not remem-
Der them just that way, and the wrath OF
the argonauts was poured out on the un.
fortunate historian when it was learned
how he had maligned the memory of some
of the men who helped in the development
of the State.
When the matter was first brought to the
atten ton of the Pioneers Society the vet
erans of 40 were 81 IMPLY beside themselves.
and when extracts of the historians W ork
were furnished them in which John &.
Fremont was accused OF fllibustering an d
1t was stated that Suffers fort was the
rendezvous for vagabond population,
they took it into their own hands to re-
write some parts of the history and Incl
dentally 10 express their opinion of Mr..
Bancroft by firing him out of the society,
to which he had been elected as an homo
rary mem Der.
But after thinking il over they concluded
that they had not acted either wisely OF
legally, and more, that they were liable for
damages from the fact that they had q OF
given the historian a chance to defend
himself. and they made haste to "sponge
Ii OUT by reconsidering their action and
proceeding In legal way.
A committee was then appointed to take
up the charges specifically and take evil
dence on the case, meanwhile notifying
Mr.. Bancroft that the charges had been
flied and that an investigation was in
progress, at which anything he might hi ave
to submit would be received and duly con-
sidered.
The committee went to work, after writ
ing to the historian and informing him of
what was in progress, and then continued
at 1t, hoping that the author would make
some reply and attempt to defend the way
in which he had written up some of the
pioneers.
But no. The first lstter brought no re-
ply. A second one may never have
reached Its destination, for the COM
mlttee is still waiting to hear of
1t being ackno wledged, while a
third epistle has been treated with
the same silent contempt, and the
members of the committee have concluded
that they have waited long enough, and
have closed up their report. and the same
will be presented at the meeting of the
society tonight.
The committee went through the volume
of Bancrofts history which deals with
pioneer days, and has carefully taken out
extracts which refer to Fremont, Sloat,
Stockton and Suffer, all of whom are mis-
represented, according to the report, and
the statements have been corrected, and
there is no doubt but that the society will
put the stamp of its approval on the report
when the opportunity is offered.
The re port will also recommend, in view
of the unjust way in which these char
acters have been treated, that the his
t0rian be expelled from the society, and
so Mr.. Bancroft will have the experience
of being twice voted out of the same
society. and that, too. with uuanimity
which leaves no uncertainty as to what
the Pioneers mean.