The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24
The Gold Mining Exchange Calls
for a Mass Meeting
Tomorrow.
THE GENEROSITY OF CURTIS.
The Imprisoned Californian's Friends
Kept the Wires Hot Demand.
ing Fair Trial.

The Gold Mining Exchange of San Fran
cisco held special meeting in the assem-
bly-room of the Mills building yesterday
afternoon and took formal action looking
to the proper administration of Justice in
the case of John Hays Hammond and
other American citizens now in prison as
result of the Transvaal invasion.
The Curtis cablegram, published in THE
CALL yesterday, had much to do with
arousing the California friends of Mr..
Hammond to immediate and definite ac-
ton.
The meeting yesterday was largely at
tended, and the liveliest interest was dis
played in the proceedings. President
Walter Turnbull presided.
General Harris, who is an uncle of John
Hays Hammond, set forth the condition
OF affairs which surrounds the accused.
He said that it was impossible to get any
direct communication with Hammond, as
the Transvaal Government had doubtless
applied the censorship.
NJ. F. Tarpey offered the following reso-
lution
WHEREAS, A number of American citizens OF
California have been arrested and imprisoned
by the authorizes of the South African republic
charged with completely in the recent armed
whereas, from our knowledge OF the men
SO charged, their high character, their educa-
tlon ana standing, we do not believe that they
are guilty of the grave offense for which they
have been arrested, and for which they are to
be tried; therefore, be it
ResolUed, BY the Gold Mining Exchange of
San francisco at a called meeting at the City
OF San Francisco ON this 23d day of January,
1886, that our Senators and Representatives
In Congress be urged TO take immediate action
in behalf of our imperiled citizens and that if
tley to be tried in 81 foreign land nO6ar
such grave charges, it De urged upon the au-
thoritles at Washington that this Government
be represented at such trial or trials by rep
resentative learned in the law who will de-
mand D lair and impartial hearing for each of
the accused; and be it further
Rescued, That the secretary of this meeting
telegraph copies of the resolutions to each OF
our Senators and Representatives at Washing
ton.
The reso luton was unanimously
adopted, as was the following, offered by
Colonel Smedberg:
WHEREAS, the Gold Mining Exchange of San
francisco desires to express its sympathy in
behalf OF John Hays Hammond and other
American citizens. who, we are informed, are
detained in prison IN South Africa. Therefore
be it
RESOLVED, That the Gold Mining Exchange OF
san Francisco requests the Governor of our
State and the Mayor and all citizens of our
City to assemble in the rooms of the Chamber
of Commerce of San Francisco on Saturday,
January %, 1896, at 2 O'Clock p. NJ, to con-
slider the matter in question and to take such
steps as may be deemed wise and proper toward
ameltorating the condition of Mr.. Hammond
and other fellow-citizens who. are imprisoned
in the Transyaal.
The chair was empowered to appoint q
committee of three to take the subject
matter of these resolutions in hand, and
call the meeting if the necessity of the
case demanded such action.
The committee appointed consists of w.
R. Smedberg (chairman), P. T. Dickinson
and Louis Glass.
In addition to the cables already pub
lished in THE CALL from George T. Curtis,
one of the imprisoned Californians in
Africa, to his friends in this City, the fol-
lowing was received by eX-Judge Eugene
CARRIER:
NEWCASTLE Natal, January %, 1896.
Eugene CARRIER, San Francisco: Do what you
can to help Hammond. He has been shame
fully treated and is now confined in jail, with
no prospect OF being admitted TO bail.
CURTIS.
Curtis is one of those arrested and vet
in all his kilograms has said no word in
his own behalf, but spoken only for his
friend Hammond, who is in the greatest
danger.
Ex-Judge J. D. Thornton, who was a
warm friend of the late Major Hammond,
sent off the following telegram yesterday
to Senator Morgan of Alabama:
SAN FRANCISCO, January %, 1896.
John T. Morgan United States Senate, IVashing-
ton, d. c.: l hope you, with Senators Pugh,
Daniel and Bate, will do all in your power to
obtain prompt and vigorous action in favor of
Curtis and Hammond and other Americans in
prison in Pretoria. Private advices show
prompt action necessary. Urge fair trial.
Have written. JAMES d. THORNTON.