The record-union., 1897-04-26
LBFFINGW ELLIS ARMY HERE.
Now EnCamped Down Near the Gas
Works.
Their Leaders Locked Up in the City
Jail-What the Off
Cials Say.

1t was thought on Saturday night
that Sacramento was to be spared a
visitation by the 800 unemployed"
San Franciscans who for the past few
days have been vacilating between
this city and Stockton, and our citizens
were happy.
Word was received that the Stockton
authorities had furnished river trans
portation for the gang back to San
Francisco and that the men with moth
ing to do but eat had departed for the
| metropolis.
But yesterday morning visions of Sc
curity were obscured by a telephone
message from Walnut Grove that in
stead of nearing San Francisco the mob
whom Stockton had fed, shipped, fed
and shipped again had passed that
point on a schooner towed by a tug,
and that they might be expected to
arrive in Sacramento by Z o'clock in
the evening.
Then the city broke into a mild ex-
element. and everybody asked his
neighbOr for all the particulars. The
Mayor, most of the City Trustees and
the Chief of Police were early notified
of the expected inroad, and though they
consulted they arrived at no conclusion
except that they would be obliged to
wait and see what the gang would do
on their arrival.
Sheriff Johnson was also in consulta-
ton with his deputies, but stated that
he could not legally do anything to
prevent an influx of the so-called In
dustrial Army" until it's members had
Ii,
advised the constables along the river
to take steps to prevent the band land
ing on their territory, as if they did
so the ranchers would be entirely at
their mercy
Trustees Tozer and Mckay had moth
ing to offer concerning the situation.
though they submitted that there
would be plenty of time to make ar
rangements when the crowd arrived.
Chief Of Police Drew said he would
he overstepping his authority if he re-
fused to allow the men ito land. Until
they committed some overt act he could
do nothing. He branded the entire gang
as hobos and freely expressed the opin-
ion that not a man among them would
do a days work if it were offered him.
"Of course" said Chief Drew, "the
citizens could collect with their Win
chesters and send the boats back
whence they came, but it is different
with my force"
Mayor Hubbard. when seen, had
heard that but ninety of the gang We're
aboard the schooner on the way to the
city He said if that report was true
the city would have no trouble what
ever. Indeed, he anticipated no trouble
of any kind, and said that it was the
duty of every citizen to close his doors
in the face of the invaders and starve
them out. If they were not fed they
would tarry but a short time and seek
other pastures at the earliest opportun-
ity.
1T would be a good joke" said Mayor
Hubbard, IF about twenty citizens
would meet the gang and send them
back to San Francisco
1t may have been unintentional but
Chief of Police Drew, who was present,
nodded and smiled, and it was evident
that both Mayor and Chief of Police
would not interfere with any lawful
action that might be taken by a citi-
zens committee.
Mayor Hubbard said there were pos
! SlDlN d lew IlHOCeiIl llicII etllIOI1S TIC
gang on the river but if so they were
keeping bad company. He had been
informed that among the rations fur
nished for the army" by the city gov
ernment of Stockton were 300 pounds
of beans. 1t took work to cook beans,
and the gang was opposed to work, so
the beans were Immediately traded for
cigarettes, and instead of eating, the
gang smoked.
At . o'clock p. m. Sheriff Johnson re
ceived a message that the tug and
schooner transporting the troops of the
hungry army were passing Courtland,
and might be expected in Sacramento
by o'clock at the latest. Under
Sheriff Reese was along the water
front two hours before the army was
expected, but what orders he had from
his chief, if any, he failed to dvulge
Sheriff Johnson said he understood
that it was the intention of the city
officers to arrest the leader LeffingwelI,
as soon as he made a wrong step, and
that the loss of the leader would mean
the disintegration of the organization.
Most of the officers on the police force
took the expected influx as a matter of
no consequence. They claimed that
over 200 of the genus hobo are in the
city every day, and that it would be
easy to take care Of any more visitors
of that kind who might arrive.
Throughout the day men stood on
street corners and talked of organizing
safety committees, but leader was
lacking, and nothing was done.
UP THE RIVER.
1t was after ; o'clock when the boat
carrying the army passed Freeport,
fourteen miles below the city, and it
was reported that at the rate it was
making it would not reach Sacramento
before 10 o'clock.
This statement did not deter great
many citizens from patroling the river
front, and near the gasworl1s Trustee
Devine was seen about sundown Mr..
Devine was inclined to believe that it
would be cheaper for the city to fur
nish the men with 5000 worth of pro-
visions than allow them to remain. He
figured that if thrown into jail it would
cost the city S15 per day. He had
sympathy, he said, for men who were
unable to find employment, and would
not hesitate, personally, to assist them.
Concerning the story that the men
traded provisions for cigarettes while
at Stockton, Trustee Devine said if that