The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-04


his heart was pierced by bullet.
Major Edward S. Riggs, another equally
conspicuous figure in San Francisco at
that time and always prominent In mill
tary matters, was another OF the party.
de was brave and honorable man, who
afterward gave his life in the service of the
United States.
There was no lack of another element
in the expedition. Joe Ruddick, we'll
known citizen of the time and afterward a
member of Walkers expedition, went
along. Chris Lilly, who had killed Mccoy
In New York prize-fght and who was
subsequently shot to death in the hold OF
vessel while on the Walker raid was OF
tie party Johnny Franklin, noted
sporting character of New Orleans; Harry
de Brot, another of the same guild, and a
number OF other prominent figures, max
ing thirty in all, Joined the expedition.
The Game Cock had been fitted up upon a
scale of luxury and convenience not ex-
celled by any modern methods. Her cab
ms had not only been reserved for the
members of the expedition, but "'tweer
decks" she was veritable San Francisco
street, with all the attractions" which
the term at that day implies. Faro, monte,
ouge-et-noir, roulette and other like at
fractions were ranged conspicuously and
conveniently upon tables extending the
whole length of the midship section of the
ship. with no lack of stacks of gold and
silver coin on them, all awaiting attack
and acquisition from such as desired an
encounte- with these formidable tigers"
Possersed D. an amplitude of coin the
Whole ships company found sufficient exc
element and attraction in these and other
amusements to enable them to ''while
away the time" and break the monotony
OF the sea voyage, which was Throughout
made in light, though not always tanning,
breezes until the ship dropped her anchor
in the harbor of Honolulu after a passage
OF thirteen days from San Francisco.
So far the expedition had been one of
mild and unrestrained pleasure: Possibly
there are those who would call it a pro-
longed saturnalia of dissipation. Be this
as it may, it was characteristic of the time
and the conditions of it's environment, and
must be accepted as having so far fairly
filed the bill in the estimation of those
who participated in it, who were out for "a
good time" and in their own way were
having it to their own satisfaction.
With their arrival at Honolulu their
troubles were about to begin and the "good
time" which they were all seeking was
about to be realized with variations. The
report that filibustering expedition was
being fitted out in San Francisco under
command of General Estill had preceded
their arrival at Honolulu. Small wonder
it is then that they were at once set down
in the estimation of the authorities as the
vanguard of this expedition and were i'm
mediately held under surveillance espe-
cially irritating in its character to men
such as these were, and who had come
solely for "a good time" Such I'M
deserved espionage was likely at any
moment to provoke serious and bloody
hostilities. Our heroes, who were out for
picnic upon an extensive scale, were not
seriously disturbed in mind at the aspect
of affairs. They quartered themselves for
the moment at the chief hotel of Homo
lulu, and some made themselves as free
and comfortable as they had been upon
their magnificent yacht. 1t was soon evil
dent, however, that the police surveillance
under which they were placed was chatting
and exasperating and might lead to con-
fict with the Hawaiian authorities. Both
sides were, perhaps, blameless in what
were clearly laboring under misappre-
hension of the real intentions of each
other.
The Hawaiians clearly had good cause
to assume that the "Game Cocks" were
but the advance guard OF an army of inva-
sion and conquest. On the other hand, the
free-hearted Californians that had come
out solely for recreation and "a good
time" with neither sympathy for nor lot
dition, could see no just cause for being
held and treated as suspects, and would
not be unjustly restrained in their move
ments and action.
The first difficulty occurred the first day
after their arrival. Swasey and Riggs
started out for horseback ride of explora-
ton and amusement. Others of the party
were of like mind and soon followed.
Although simply walking their horses,
for they could not well do other
wise owing to the crowd which al
most Immediately surrounded them on
all sides, they soon found themselves I'M
der arrest for 'fast riding" Native police
men, armed with long bamboo poles with
something between knifeblade and bayo-
net attached at the end, seized their bri-
dies, while the crowd, each moment grow
ing more and more dense, pressed in upon
them and were clamoring for their deten-
ton and imprisonment.
Such state of affairs could not long be
endured by such men as these. Swasey,
dressed in full native Californian costume,
with spurs as big as saucers at his heels,
quickly took off one of them and handed
it to Riggs, who deity fastened it to his
heel. Looking around them, backward,
they espied Johnny Franklin. who had
followed them, also on horseback, and who
was likewise surrounded by policemen and
a crowd of natives.
Are you liked, johnny said Swasey.
"You bet," replied Franklin ins the YER
nacular of San Francisco.
"Then follow US, for we are going to
make break"
Striking his spur into the tanks of his
Hawaiian steed with vigor that could not
have been excelled by the most daring
vaquero of Ca .ifornia he sent the surprised,
affrighted and panied animal with wild
plunge forward through a tangled mass of
Hawaiian legs, arms and torsos in wild
confusion mixed
Following close upon the heels of
Swasey's now wild and frantic steed came
laundering along the rest of the cavalry
represented by Riggs and Franklin, and
some of the enemy was flying in all direc-
lions. and the first battle of the Game
Cock expedition was won, the victors re-
turning in triumph to their hotel in good
condition, not having lost man in the
encounter.
Some of the mem bers had, however, not
Jared as we'll in their meanderings. Rud-
dick and one other. who had started out on
like voyage of discovery and who had
previous to their departure from the hotel,
i'm bibed too freely at the American bar" of
the hosiery, had been captured and taken
to the pit, where they were being held as
close prisoners under a charge of disturb
ing the Hawaiian peace. Smarting under
the indignity which had been put upon