The San Francisco call., 1898-01-23

Committee of this city was the
 action of its citizens, who in July. 1S4e, put in prison members of
 gang of rascals and robbers called the Hounds" This prompt ex- ample worked a good result, for for fully a year afterward robbery or mur- der was hardly known. To my know ledge valuable merchandise was left in front of stores and never disturbed.
 In the fall of 1850, with the return of disappointed gold seekers and the ad- vent of a rough element in vessels from foreign ports, robbery and murder, the knife and slung-shot became so com mon that it was found necessary to or ganize a committee of safety. We had our night patrols to guard our build ings and property against fire and rob- bery. All suspicious characters were stopped and examined.
 Nothing serious occurred until the ar rest of Jenkins, who was caught with a small safe concealed in a sack. He was given a fair trial, convicted and hanged from the rafters of the adobe building tust outside the northwest cor ner of Portsmouth Square. The rope was long, and many of the committee had hold of it. while the balance kept 
 back the opposing crowd.
 Finding that this committee, com posed mostly of merchants. was not strong enough in its organization to stop the fires, robberies and murders a new and larger body was enrolled and called the Committee of Vigilance. This was in June, 1851.
 Many suspicious characters were ar rested and taken to the committee rooms on Battery, near California street. Among the number was a man named Stuart, who, upon his trial, con- fesSed to more than one murder. For one of these murders a certain Berdeau in Marysville was under sentence to be hanged. Through our committee his life was saved. We hanged Stuart on a derrick for small boats at the foot of California-s street wharf, then near Da- wis street. He died game, refusing to have his black silg handkerchief put over his face.
 In August the same year, Whitaker and Mckenzie were sentenced to be hanged. The Sheriff and his deputies got into the committee rooms and took these prisoners to the County Jail on Broadway, but they were recaptured by breaking open the jail doors and ta- ken back to our rooms. In less than thirty minutes they were swinging from the windows.
 This vigorous action stopped crime to a great extent and this committee of vigilance adjourned sine die to meet at the call of three of the executive committee whenever necessary.
 Three taps of the bell of the Monu- mental engine house on Brenham place was to be the signal, and 1t was not given until Casey killed James King o1 William in 1856.
 The excitement was intense and fl the crowd we had trouble to get to- gether the three members of the exc cutive committee and the secretary When this was accomplished the bel was tapped and the old committee me in the rooms of the California Pioneer! on Washington street, opposite the Plaza A special room was set aside for the officers and soon William T Coleman arrived and was made chair man. Next morning headquarters were secured in buildings on Sacramento street, near Front, and the enrollmen was started of the famous Vigilanc, Committee of 1856.
 Hundreds of names were signed anC
  numbers issued for days, until tn membership reached nearly 4000. Afte the formation of an executive com mittee the following officers wer chosen: w T. Coleman, president Isaac BluXume, secretary; Charle Doane, marshall; Colonel Olney, assist ant marshal, and myself as chief aid
 Companies of 100 each, together witt an artillery and cavalry company, wer enrolled, and a police and detectiv force was appointed. The executiv committee of selected men and tn, different captains met and issued al orders of arrest and tried all cases appointing attorneys to defend thu prisoners.
 Numerous rooms were set aside fol the arrested, and password, new every day, was necessary to get in O. out of the building. At one time ther, must have been 100 prisoners. Among the number was Yankee Sullivan, whC committed suicide in his cell, and Judg