Somepassengerondeckcalledtoamanofhisacquaintancestandingonthewharf，thatPage&BaconhadfailedinNewYork。Thenewsspreadlikewild—fire，butsoonitwasmetbythenewspaperaccountstotheeffectthatsomeparticularacceptancesofPage&
Bacon，ofSt。Louis，inthehandsofDuncan，Sherman&Co。，inNewYork，hadgonetoprotest。AllwhohadbalancesatPage，Bacon&
Co。’s，orheldcertificatesofdeposit，weremoreorlessalarmed，wantedtosecuretheirmoney，andageneralexcitementpervadedthewholecommunity。Wordwassoonpassedroundthatthematteradmittedofexplanation，viz。，thatthetwohousesweredistinctandseparateconcerns，thateverydraftoftheCaliforniahousehadbeenpaidinNewYork，andwouldcontinuetobepaid。ItwasexpectedthatthisassertionwouldquietthefearsoftheCaliforniacreditors，butforthenextthreedaystherewasasteady\"run\"onthatbank。Page，Bacon&Co。stoodthefirstday’srunverywell，and，asIafterwardlearned，paidoutaboutsixhundredthousanddollarsingoldcoin。Onthe20thofFebruaryHenryHeightcametoourbank，toseewhathelpwewerewillingtogivehim;butIwasout，andNisbetcouldnotanswerpositivelyforthefirm。Ourconditionwasthenverystrong。Thedepositaccountwasaboutsixhundredthousanddollars，andwehadinourvaultaboutfivehundredthousanddollarsincoinandbullion，besidesanequalamountofgoodbillsreceivable。StillIdidnotliketoweakenourselvestohelpothers;butinamostfriendlyspirit，thatnightafterbank—hours，IwentdowntoPage，Bacon&Co。，andenteredtheirofficefromtherear。Ifoundinthecashier’sroomFolsom，Parrott，DeweyandPayne，CaptainRitchie，Donohue，andothers，citizensandfriendsofthehouse，whohadbeencalledinforconsultation。Passingintothemainoffice，whereallthebook—keepers，tellers，etc。，withgas—lights，werebusywritinguptheday’swork，IfoundMr。Page，HenryHeight，andJudgeChambers。
IspoketoHeight，sayingthatIwassorryIhadbeenoutwhenhecalledatourbank，andhadnowcometoseehiminthemostfriendlyspirit。Heighthadevidentlybeendrinking，andsaidabruptlythat\"allthebankswouldbreak，\"that\"nobankcouldinstantlypayallitsobligations，\"etc。Iansweredhecouldspeakforhimself，butnotforme;thatIhadcometooffertobuywithcashafairproportionofhisbullion，notes，andbills;but，iftheyweregoingtofail，Iwouldnotbedrawnin。Height’smannerwasextremelyoffensive，butMr。Pagetriedtosmoothitover，sayingtheyhadhadabadday’srun，andcouldnotanswerfortheresulttilltheirbookswerewrittenup。
Ipassedbackagainintotheroomwherethebefore—namedgentlemenwerediscussingsomepaperwhichlaybeforethem，andwasgoingtopessout，whenCaptainFolsom，whowasanofficerofthearmy，aclass—mateandintimatefriendofmine，handedmethepaperthecontentsofwhichtheywerediscussing。Itwasveryshort，andinHenryHaight’shandwriting，prettymuchintheseterms:\"We，theundersignedproperty—holdersofSanFrancisco，havingpersonallyexaminedthebooks，papers，etc。，ofPage，Bacon&Co。，doherebycertifythatthehouseissolventandabletopayallitsdebts，\"
etc。Heighthaddrawnupandaskedthemtosignthispaper，withtheintentiontopublishitinthenextmorning’spapers，foreffect。WhileIwastalkingwithCaptainFolsom，Heightcameintotheroomtolisten。Iadmittedthattheeffectofsuchapublicationwouldsurelybegood，andwouldprobablystaveoffimmediatedemandtilltheirassetscouldbeinpartconvertedorrealized;butInaturallyinquiredofFolsom，\"Haveyoupersonallyexaminedtheaccounts，ashereinrecited，andtheassets，enoughtowarrantyoursignaturetothispaper？\"for，\"therebyyouineffectbecomeindorsers。\"Folsomsaidtheyhadnot，whenHeightturnedonmerudelyandsaid，\"DoyouthinktheaffairsofsuchahouseasPage，Bacon&Co。canbecriticallyexaminedinanhour？\"I
answered:\"Thesegentlemencandowhattheyplease，buttheyhavetwelvehoursbeforethebankwillopenonthemorrow，andiftheledgeriswrittenup\"（asIbelieveditwasorcouldbebymidnight），\"theycan（bycountingthecoin，bulliononhand，andnotesorstocksofimmediaterealization）approximatenearenoughforthemtoindorsefortheremainder。\"ButHeightpooh—poohedme，andIleft。Folsomfollowedmeout，toldmehecouldnotaffordtoimperilallhehad，andaskedmyadvice。IexplainedtohimthatmypartnerNisbethadbeeneducatedandtrainedinthatveryhouseofPage，Bacon&Co。;thatwekeptourbooksexactlyastheydid;
thateverydaytheledgerwaswrittenup，sothatfromitonecouldseeexactlyhowmuchactualmoneywasduethedepositorsandcertificates;andthenbycountingthemoneyinthevault，estimatingthebulliononhand，which，thoughnotactualmoney，couldeasilybeconvertedintocoin，andsupplementingtheseamountsby\"billsreceivable，\"theyoughttoarriveatanapproximate—result。AfterFolsomhadleftme，JohnParrottalsostoppedandtalkedwithmetothesameeffect。NextmorningI
lookedoutforthenotice，butnosuchnoticeappearedinthemorningpapers，andIafterwardlearnedthat，onParrottandFolsomdemandinganactualcountofthemoneyinthevault，Haightangrilyrefusedunlesstheywouldaccepthiswordforit，whenoneaftertheotherdeclinedtosignhispaper。
TherunonPage，Bacon&Co。thereforecontinuedthroughoutthe21st，andIexpectedalldaytogetaninvitationtocloseourbankforthenextday，February22，whichwecouldhavemadeaholidaybyconcertedaction;buteachbankerwaitedforPage，Bacon&Co。
toaskforit，and，nosuchcircularcoming，inthethenstateoffeelingnootherbankerwaswillingtotaketheinitiative。OnthemorningofFebruary22，1855，everybodywasstartledbyreceivingasmallslipofpaper，deliveredatallthehouses，onwhichwasprintedashortnoticethat，for\"wantofcoin，\"Page，Bacon&Co。
founditnecessarytoclosetheirbankforashorttime。Ofcourse，weallknewtheconsequences，andthateveryotherbankinSanFranciscowouldbetried。Duringthe22dweallkeptopen，andwatchedourdepositorsclosely;butthedaywasgenerallyobservedbythepeopleasaholiday，andthefiremenparadedthestreetsofSanFranciscoinunusualstrength。But，onwritingupourbooksthatnight，wefoundthatourdepositaccounthaddiminishedaboutsixty—fivethousanddollars。Still，therewasnorunonus，oranyotherofthebanks，thatday;yet，observinglittleknotsofmenonthestreet，discussingthestateofthebanksgenerally，andoverhearingHaight’sexpressionquoted，that，incaseofthefailureofPage，Bacon&Co。，\"alltheotherbankswouldbreak，\"I
deemeditprudenttomakeready。Forsomedayswehadrefusedallloansandrenewals，andwetried，without，success，someofourcall—loans;but，likeHotspur’sspirits，theywouldnotcome。
Ourfinancialconditiononthatday（February22，1855）was:Duedepositorsanddemandcertificates，fivehundredandtwentythousanddollars;tomeetwhich，wehadinthevault:coin，threehundredandeightythousanddollars;bullion，seventy—fivethousanddollars;andbillsreceivable，aboutsixhundredthousanddollars。
Ofthese，atleastonehundredthousanddollarswereondemand，withstockcollaterals。Therefore，fortheextentofourbusiness，wewerestrongerthantheBankofEngland，oranybankinNewYorkCity。
Beforedaylightnextmorning，ourdoor—bellwasrung，andIwascalleddown—stairsbyE。Casserly，Esq。（aneminentlawyeroftheday，sinceUnitedStatesSenator），whoinformedmehehadjustcomeupfromtheofficeofAdams&Co。，totellmethattheiraffairswereinsuchconditionthattheywouldnotopenthatmorningatall;andthatthis，addedtothesuspensionofPage，Bacon&Co。，announcedthedaybefore，wouldsurelycauseageneralrunonallthebanks。IinformedhimthatIexpectedasmuch，andwaspreparedforit。
Ingoingdowntothebankthatmorning，IfoundMontgomeryStreetfull;but，punctuallytotheminute，thebankopened，andinrushedthecrowd。Asusual，themostnoisyandclamorousweremenandwomenwhoheldsmallcertificates;still，otherswithlargeraccountswereinthecrowd，pushingforwardfortheirbalances。
Allwerepromptlymetandpaid。Severalgentlemenofmypersonalacquaintancemerelyaskedmywordofhonorthattheirmoneywassafe，andwentaway;others，whohadlargebalances，andnoimmediateuseforcoin，gladlyacceptedgold—bars，wherebywepaidouttheseventy—fivethousanddollarsofbullion，relievingthecointothatamount。
Meantime，rumorsfromthestreetcamepouringinthatWright&Co。
hadfailed;thenWells，Fargo&Co。;thenPalmer，Cook&Co。，andindeedall，ornearlyall，thebanksofthecity;andIwastoldthatpartiesonthestreetwerebettinghigh，first，thatwewouldcloseourdoorsateleveno’clock;thentwelve，andsoon;butwedidnot，tilltheusualhourthatnight。Wehadpaideverydemand，andstillhadarespectableamountleft。
Thisrunonthebank（theonlyoneIeverexperienced）presentedallthefeatures，seriousandcomical，usualtosuchoccasions。Atourcounterhappenedthatidenticalcase，narratedofothers，oftheFrenchman，whowasnearlysqueezedtodeathingettingtothecounter，and，whenhereceivedhismoney，didnotknowwhattodowithit。\"Ifyougotthemoney，Inowanthim;butifyounogothim，Iwantitlikethedevil！\"
Towardthecloseoftheday，someofourcustomersdeposited，ratherostentatiously，smallamounts，notaggregatingmorethaneightortenthousanddollars。Book—keepersandtellerswerekeptatworktowriteupthebooks;andtheseshowed:
Duedepositorsandcertificates，aboutonehundredandtwentythousanddollars，forwhichremainedofcoinaboutfiftythousanddollars。IresolvednottosleepuntilIhadcollectedfromthoseowingthebankapartoftheirdebts;forIwasangrywiththemthattheyhadstoodbackandallowedthepanictofallonthebanksalone。AmongthesewereCaptainFolsom，whoowedustwenty—fivethousanddollars，securedbyamortgageontheAmericanTheatreandTehamaHotel;JamesSmiley，contractorforbuildingtheCustom—
House，whoowedustwonotesoftwentythousandandsixteenthousanddollars，forwhichweheld，ascollateral，twoacceptancesofthecollectoroftheport，MajorR。P。Hammond，fortwentythousanddollarseach;besidesotherprivatepartiesthatIneednotname。TheacceptancesgiventoSmileywereforworkdoneontheCustom—House，butcouldnotbepaiduntiltheworkwasactuallylaidinthewalls，andcertifiedbyMajorTower，UnitedStatesEngineers;butSmileyhadanimmenseamountofgranite，brick，iron，etc。，ontheground，inadvanceofconstruction，andtheseacceptancesweregivenhimexpresslythathemightraisemoneythereonforthepaymentofsuchmaterials。
Therefore，assoonasIgotmydinner，Itookmysaddle—horse，androdetoCaptainFolsom’shouse，whereIfoundhimingreatpainanddistress，mentalandphysical。Hewassittinginachair，andbathinghisheadwithasponge。Iexplainedtohimtheobjectofmyvisit，andhesaidhehadexpectedit，andhadalreadysenthisagent，VanWinkle，down—town，withinstructionstoraisewhatmoneyhecouldatanycost;buthedidnotsucceedinraisingacent。Sogreatwastheshocktopublicconfidence，thatmensleptontheirmoney，andwouldnotloanitfortenpercent。aweek，onanysecuritywhatever——evenonmintcertificates，whichwereasgoodasgold，andonlyrequiredabouttendaystobepaidincoinbytheUnitedStatesMint。IthenrodeuptoHammond’shouse，onRinconHill，andfoundhimthere。IexplainedtohimexactlySmiley’saffairs，andonlyaskedhimtopayoneofhisacceptances。Heinquired，\"Whynotboth？\"Iansweredthatwassomuchthebetter;
itwouldputmeunderstillgreaterobligations。Hethenagreedtomeetmeatourbankat10P。M。IsentwordtoothersthatI
demandedthemtopaywhattheycouldontheirpaper，andthenreturnedtothebank，tomeetHammond。Induetime，hecamedownwithPalmer（ofPalmer，Cook&Co。），andtherehemetSmiley，whowas，ofcourse，veryanxioustoretirehisnotes。Wetherediscussedthematterfully，whenHammondsaid，\"Sherman，givemeupmytwoacceptances，andIwillsubstitutethereformycheckoffortythousanddollars，\"with\"thedistinctunderstandingthat，ifthemoneyisnotneededbyyou，itshallbereturnedtome，andthetransactionthentoremainstatuquo。\"Tothistherewasageneralassent。Nisbethandedhimhistwoacceptances，andhehandedmehischeck，signedascollectoroftheport，onMajorJ。R。Snyder，UnitedStatesTreasurer，forfortythousanddollars。Iafterwardrodeout，thatnight，toMajorSnyder’shouseonNorthBeach，sawhim，andheagreedtomeetmeat8a。m。nextday，attheUnitedStatesMint，andtopaythecheck，sothatIcouldhavethemoneybeforethebankopened。Thenextmorning，asagreedon，wemet，andhepaidmethecheckintwosealedbagsofgold—coin，eachmarkedtwentythousanddollars，whichIhadcarriedtothebank，butneveropenedthem，orevenbroketheseals。
Thatmorningourbankopenedasusual，buttherewasnoappearanceofacontinuationofthe\"run;\"onthecontrary，moneybegantocomebackondeposit，sothatbynightwehadaconsiderableincrease，andthiswentonfromdaytoday，tillnearlytheoldconditionofthingsreturned。Afteraboutthreedays，findingI
hadnouseforthemoneyobtainedonHammond’scheck，ItooktheidenticaltwobagsbacktothecashieroftheCustom—House，andrecoveredthetwoacceptanceswhichhadbeensurrenderedasdescribed;andSmiley’stwonoteswereafterwardpaidintheirduecourse，outofthecashreceivedonthoseidenticalacceptances。
But，yearsafterward，onsettlingwithHammondfortheCustom—Housecontractwhencompleted，therewasadifference，andSmileysuedLucas，Turner&Co。formoneyhadandreceivedforhisbenefit，beingtheidenticalfortythousanddollarshereinexplained，buthelosthiscase。Hammond，too，wasafterwardremovedfromoffice，andindictedinpartforthistransaction。HewastriedbeforetheUnitedStatesCircuitCourt，JudgeMcAlisterpresiding，foraviolationofthesub—TreasuryAct，butwasacquitted。Ourbank，havingthuspassedsowellthroughthecrisis，tookatonceafirstrank;butthesebankfailureshadcausedsomanymercantilelosses，andhadledtosuchanutterdownfallinthevalueofrealestate，thateverybodylostmoreorlessmoneybybaddebts，bydepreciationofstocksandcollaterals，thatbecameunsalable，ifnotworthless。
Aboutthistime（viz。，February，1855）IhadexchangedmyhouseonGreen，street，withMr。Sloat，forthehalfofafifty—varalotonHarrisonStreet，betweenFremontandFirst，onwhichtherewasasmallcottage，andIhadcontractedforthebuildingofanewframe—housethereon，atsixthousanddollars。Thishousewasfinishedonthe9thofApril，andmyfamilymovedintoitatonce。
ForsometimeMrs。ShermanhadbeenanxioustogohometoLancaster，Ohio，wherewehadleftourdaughterMinnie，withhergrandparents，andwearrangedthatS。M。Bowman，Esq。，andwife，shouldmoveintoournewhouseandboardus，viz。，Lizzie，WilliewiththenurseBiddy，andmyself，forafairconsideration。Itsohappenedthattwoofmypersonalfriends，Messrs。WintersandCunninghamofMarysville，andayoungfellownamedEagan，nowacaptainintheCommissaryDepartment，weregoingEastinthesteamerofthemiddleofApril，andthatMr……WilliamH。
Aspinwall，ofNewYork，andMr。Chauncey，ofPhiladelphia，werealsogoingback;andtheyallofferedtolooktothepersonalcomfortofMrs。Shermanonthevoyage。TheytookpassageinthesteamerGoldenAge（CommodoreWatkins），whichsailedonApril17，1855。Theirpassagedownthecoastwasverypleasanttillwithinaday’sdistanceofPanama，whenonebrightmoonlitnight，April29th，theship，runningatfullspeed，betweentheIslandsQuiboandQuicara，struckonasunkenreef，toreoutastreakinherbottom，andatoncebegantofillwithwater。Fortunatelyshedidnotsinkfast，butswungoffintodeepwater，andCommodoreWatkinshappeningtobeondeckatthemoment，walkingwithMr。Aspinwall，learningthatthewaterwasrushinginwithgreatrapidity，gaveordersforafullheadofsteam，andturnedthevessel’sbowstraightfortheIslandQuicara。Thewaterroserapidlyinthehold，thepassengerswereallassembled，fearfulofgoingdown，thefireswereout，andthelastrevolutionofthewheelsmade，whenherbowtouchedgentlyonthebeach，andthevessel’ssternsankindeepwater。Linesweregotout，andtheshipheldinanuprightposition，sothatthepassengersweresafe，andbutlittleincommoded。IhaveoftenheardMrs。ShermantelloftheboyEagan，thenaboutfourteenyearsold，comingtoherstate—room，andtellingtohernottobeafraid，ashewasagoodswimmer;butoncomingoutintothecabin，partiallydressed，shefeltmoreconfidenceinthecoolmanner，bearing，andgreaterstrengthofMr。
Winters。Theremusthavebeennearlyathousandsoulsonboardatthetime，fewofwhomcouldhavebeensavedhadthesteamergonedowninmid—channel，whichsurelywouldhaveresulted，hadnotCommodoreWatkinsbeenondeck，orhadhebeenlesspromptinhisdeterminationtobeachhisship。AsailboatwasdispatchedtowardPanama，whichluckilymetthesteamerJohnT。Stephens，justcomingoutofthebay，loadedwithaboutathousandpassengersboundforSanFrancisco，andsheatonceproceededtothereliefoftheGoldenAge。HerpassengersweretransferredinsmallboatstotheStephens，whichvessel，withhertwothousandpeoplecrowdedtogetherwithhardlystanding—room，returnedtoPanama，whencethepassengersfortheEastproceededtotheirdestinationwithoutfurtherdelay。LuckilyforMrs。Sherman，PurserGoddard，anoldOhiofriendofours，wasontheStephens，andmostkindlygaveuphisownroomtoher，andsuchladyfriendsassheincludedinherparty。TheGoldenAgewasafterwardpartiallyrepairedatQuicara，pumpedout，andsteamedtoPanama，when，afterfurtherrepairs，sheresumedherplaceintheline。Ithinksheisstillinexistence，butCommodoreWatkinsafterwardlosthislifeinChina，byfallingdownahatchway。
Mrs。ShermanreturnedinthelatterpartofNovemberofthesameyear，whenMr。andMrs。Bowman，whomeantimehadboughtalotnexttousanderectedahousethereon，removedtoit，andwethuscontinuedcloseneighborsandfriendsuntilweleftthecountryforgoodin1857。
Duringthesummerof1856，inSanFrancisco，occurredoneofthoseunhappyevents，toocommontonewcountries，inwhichIbecameinvolvedinspiteofmyself。
WilliamNeelyJohnsonwasGovernorofCalifornia，andresidedatSacramentoCity;GeneralJohnE。WoolcommandedtheDepartmentofCalifornia，havingsucceededGeneralHitcheock，andhadhisheadquartersatBenicia;andaMr。VanNesswasmayorofthecity。
Politicshadbecomearegularandprofitablebusiness，andpoliticiansweremorethansuspectedofbeingcorrupt。Itwasreportedandcurrentlybelievedthatthesheriff（Scannell）hadbeenrequiredtopaytheDemocraticCentralCommitteeahundredthousanddollarsforhisnomination，whichwasequivalenttoanelection，foranofficeofthenominalsalaryoftwelvethousanddollarsayearforfouryears。Intheelectionallsortsofdishonestywerechargedandbelieved，especiallyof\"ballot—boxstuffing，\"andtoogenerallythebetterclassesavoidedtheelectionsanddodgedjury—duty，sothattheaffairsofthecitygovernmentnecessarilypassedintothehandsofalowsetofprofessionalpoliticians。AmongthemwasamannamedJamesCasey，whoeditedasmallpaper，theprintingofficeofwhichwasinaroomonthethirdfloorofourbanking。office。Ihardlyknewhimbysight，andrarelyifeversawhispaper;butonedayMr。Sather，oftheexcellentbankingfirmofDrexel，Sather&Church，cametome，andcalledmyattentiontoanarticleinCasey’spapersofulloffalsehoodandmalice，thatweconstrueditasanefforttoblack—mailthebanksgenerally。Atthattimewewerealllaboringtorestoreconfidence，whichhadbeensorudelyshakenbythepanic，andIwentup—stairs，foundCasey，andpointedouttohimtheobjectionablenatureofhisarticle，toldhimplainlythatI
couldnottoleratehisattempttoprintandcirculateslandersinourbuilding，and，ifherepeatedit，Iworldcausehimandhispresstobethrownoutofthewindows。Hetookthehintandmovedtomorefriendlyquarters。Imentionthisfact，toshowmyestimateoftheman，whobecameafigureinthedramaIamabouttodescribe。JamesKingofWm。，asbeforeexplained，wasin1853abankeronhisownaccount，butsometimein1854hehadclosedouthisbusiness，andengagedwithAdams&Co。ascashier。Whenthisfirmfailed，he，incommonwithalltheemployees，wasthrownoutofemployment，andhadtolookaroundforsomethingelse。Hesettleddowntothepublicationofaneveningpaper，calledtheBulletin，and，beingamanoffinemannersandaddress，heatonceconstitutedhimselfthechampionofsocietyagainstthepublicandprivatecharacterswhomhesawfittoarraign。
Asmighthavebeenexpected，thissoonbroughthimintotheusualnewspaperwarwithothereditors，andespeciallywithCasey，andepithetsala\"Eatanswill\"weresoonbandyingbackandforthbetweenthem。OneeveningofMay，1856，Kingpublished，intheBulletin，copiesofpapersprocuredfromNewYork，toshowthatCaseyhadoncebeensentencedtotheStatepenitentiaryatSingSing。Caseytookmortaloffense，andcalledattheBulletinoffice，onthecornerofMontgomeryandMerchantStreets，wherehefoundKing，andviolentwordspassedbetweenthem，resultinginCaseygivingKingnoticethathewouldshoothimonsight。Kingremainedinhisofficetillabout5or6p。m。，whenhestartedtowardhishomeonStocktonStreet，and，ashenearedthecornerofWashington，Caseyapproachedhimfromtheoppositedirection，calledtohim，andbeganfiring。Kinghadonashortcloak，andinhisbreast—pocketasmallpistol，whichhedidnotuse。OneofCasey’sshotsstruckhimhighupinthebreast，fromwhichhereeled，wascaughtbysomepassingfriend，andcarriedintotheexpress—officeonthecorner，wherehewaslaidonthecounter;andasurgeonsentfor。CaseyescapedupWashingtonStreet，wenttotheCityHall，anddeliveredhimselftothesheriff（Scannell），whoconveyedhimtojailandlockedhiminacell。Meantime，thenewsspreadlikewildfire，andallthecitywasincommotion，forgrogwasverypopular。Nisbet，whoboardedwithusonHarrisonStreet，hadbeendelayedatthebanklaterthanusual，sothathehappenedtobenearatthetime，and，whenhecameouttodinner，hebroughtmethenewsofthisaffair，andsaidthattherewaseveryappearanceofariotdown—townthatnight。ThisoccurredtowardtheeveningofMay14，1856。
Itsohappenedthat，ontheurgentsolicitationofVanWinkleandofGovernorJohnson;Ihadonlyafewdaysbeforeagreedtoacceptthecommissionofmajor—generaloftheSecondDivisionofMilitia，embracingSanFrancisco。Ihadreceivedthecommission，buthadnotasyetformallyacceptedit，orevenputmyselfincommunicationwiththevolunteercompaniesofthecity。Ofthese，atthatmomentoftime，therewasacompanyofartillerywithfourguns，commandedbyaCaptainJohns，formerlyofthearmy，andtwoorthreeuniformedcompaniesofinfantry。AfterdinnerIwentdowntowntoseewhatwasgoingon;foundthatKinghadbeenremovedtoaroomintheMetropolitanBlock;thathislifewasingreatperil;
thatCaseywassafeinjail，andthesheriffhadcalledtohisassistanceaposseofthecitypolice，somecitizens，andoneofthemilitiacompanies。Thepeopleweregatheredingroupsonthestreets，andthewords\"VigilanceCommittee\"werefreelyspoken，butIsawnosignsofimmediateviolence。Thenextmorning，I
againwenttothejail，andfoundallthingsquiet，butthemilitiahadwithdrawn。IthenwenttotheCityHall，sawthemayor，VanNess，andsomeofthecityofficials，agreedtodowhatIcouldtomaintainorderwithsuchmilitiaaswereonhand，andthenformallyacceptedthecommission，andtookthe\"oath。\"
In1851（whenIwasnotinCalifornia）therehadbeenaVigilanceCommittee，anditwasunderstoodthatitsorganizationstillexisted。AllthenewspaperstookgroundinfavoroftheVigilanceCommittee，excepttheHerald（JohnNugent，editor），andnearlyallthebestpeoplefavoredthatmeansofredress。Icouldseetheywereorganizing，hiringrendezvous，collectingarms，etc。，withoutconcealment。Itwassoonmanifestthatthecompaniesofvolunteerswouldgowiththe\"committee，\"andthatthepublicauthoritiescouldnotrelyonthemforaidordefense。Still，therewereagoodmanycitizenswhocontendedthat，ifthecivilauthoritieswereproperlysustainedbythepeopleatlarge，theycouldandwouldexecutethelaw。Butthepapersinflamedthepublicmind，andthecontroversyspreadtothecountry。AboutthethirddayaftertheshootingofKing，GovernorJohnsontelegraphedmethathewouldbedownintheeveningboat，andaskedmetomeethimonarrivalforconsultation。IgotC。H。Garrisontogowithme，andwemettheGovernorandhisbrotheronthewharf，andwalkeduptotheInternationalHotelonJacksonStreet，aboveMontgomery。Wediscussedthestateofaffairsfully;andJohnson，onlearningthathisparticularfriend，WilliamT。Coleman，wasthepresidentoftheVigilanceCommittee，proposedtogoandseehim。EnroutewestoppedatKing’sroom，ascertainedthathewasslowlysinking，andcouldnotlivelong;andthennearmidnightwewalkedtotheTurnvereinHall，wherethecommitteewasknowntobesittinginconsultation。ThishallwasonBushStreet，atabouttheintersectionofStockton。Itwasalllightedupwithin，butthedoorwaslocked。TheGovernorknockedatthedoor，andoninquiryfrominside\"Who’sthere？\"——gavehisname。Aftersomedelaywewereadmittedintoasortofvestibule，beyondwhichwasalargehall，andwecouldhearthesuppressedvoicesofamultitude。Wewereshownintoabar—roomtotheright，whentheGovernoraskedtoseeColeman。Themanleftus，wentintothemainhall，andsoonreturnedwithColeman，whowaspaleandagitated。Aftershakinghandsallround，theGovernorsaid，\"Coleman，whatthedevilisthematterhere？\"Colemansaid，\"Governor，itistimethisshootingonourstreetsshouldstop。\"TheGovernorreplied，\"Iagreewithyouperfectly，andhavecomedown，fromSacramentotoassist。\"Colemanrejoinedthat\"thepeopleweretiredofit，andhadnofaithintheofficersofthelaw。\"Ageneralconversationthenfollowed，inwhichitwasadmittedthatKingwoulddie，andthatCaseymustbeexecuted;butthemannerofexecutionwasthethingtobesettled，Colemancontendingthatthepeoplewoulddoitwithouttrustingthecourtsorthesheriff。ItsohappenedthatatthattimeJudgeNortonwasonthebenchofthecourthavingjurisdiction，andhewasuniversallyrecognizedasanableanduprightman，whomnoonecouldordidmistrust;anditalsohappenedthatagrand—jurywastheninsession。JohnsonarguedthatthetimehadpassedinCaliforniaformobsandvigilancecommittees，andsaidifColemanandassociateswouldusetheirinfluencetosupportthelaw，he（theGovernor）wouldundertakethat，assoonasKingdied，thegrand—juryshouldindict，thatJudgeNortonwouldtrythemurderer，andthewholeproceedingshouldbeasspeedyasdecencywouldallow。ThenColemansaid\"thepeoplehadnoconfidenceinScannell，thesheriff，\"whowas，hesaid，incollusionwiththerowdyelementofSanFrancisco。JohnsonthenofferedtobepersonallyresponsiblethatCaseyshouldbesafelyguarded，andshouldbeforthcomingfortrialandexecutionatthepropertime。
IrememberverywellJohnson’sassertionthathehadnorighttomakethesestipulations，andmaybenopowertofulfillthem;buthedidittosavethecityandstatefromthedisgraceofamob。
Colemandisclaimedthatthevigilanceorganizationwasa\"mob，\"
admittedthatthepropositionoftheGovernorwasfair，andallheoranyoneshouldask;andadded，ifwewouldwaitawhile，hewouldsubmitittothecouncil，andbringbackananswer。
Wewaitednearlyanhour，andcouldhearthehumofvoicesinthehall，butnowords，whenColemancameback，accompaniedbyacommittee，ofwhichIthinkthetwobrothersArrington，ThomasSmileytheauctioneer，Seymour，Truett，andothers，weremembers。
Thewholeconversationwasgoneoveragain，，andtheGovernor’spropositionwaspositivelyagreedto，withthisfurthercondition，thattheVigilanceCommitteeshouldsendintothejailasmallforceoftheirownmen，tomakecertainthatCaseyshouldnotbecarriedofforallowedtoescape。
TheGovernor，hisbrotherWilliam，Garrison，andI，thenwentuptothejail，wherewefoundthesheriffandhispossecomitatusofpoliceandcitizens。Thesewerestyledthe\"Law—and—Orderparty，\"
andsomeofthemtookoffensethattheGovernorshouldhaveheldcommunicationwiththe\"damnedrebels，\"andseveralofthemleftthejail;butthesheriffseemedtoagreewiththeGovernorthatwhathehaddonewasrightandbest;and，whilewewerethere，someeightortenarmedmenarrivedfromtheVigilanceCommittee，andwerereceivedbythesheriff（Scannell）asapartofhisregularposse。
TheGovernorthen，neardaylight，wenttohishotel，andItomyhouseforashortsleep。NextdayIwasatthebank，asusual，when，aboutnoontheGovernorcalled，andaskedmetowalkwithhimdown—streetHesaidhehadjustreceivedamessagefromtheVigilanceCommitteetotheeffectthattheywerenotboundbyColeman’spromisenottodoanythingtilltheregulartrialbyjuryshouldbehad，etc。Hewaswithreasonfurious，andaskedmetogowithhimtoTruett’sstore，overwhichtheExecutiveCommitteewassaidtobeinsession。Wewereadmittedtoafront—roomup—stairs，andheardvoicesintheback—room。TheGovernorinquiredforColeman，buthewasnotforthcoming。Anotherofthecommittee，Seymour，metus，deniedintotothepromiseofthenightbefore，andtheGovernoropenlyaccusedhimoftreacheryandfalsehood。
Thequarrelbecamepublic，andthenewspaperstookitup，bothpartiesturningontheGovernor;one，theVigilantes，denyingthepromisemadebyColeman，theirpresident;andtheother，the\"Law—and—Orderparty，\"refusinganyfartherassistance，becauseJohnsonhadstoopedtomaketermswithrebels。Atallevents，hewaspowerless，andhadtoletmattersdrifttoaconclusion。
KingdiedaboutFriday，May20th，andthefuneralwasappointedforthenextSunday。EarlyonthatdaytheGovernorsentformeatmyhouse。IfoundhimontheroofoftheInternational，fromwhichwelookeddownonthewholecity，andmoreespeciallythefaceofTelegraphHill，whichwasalreadycoveredwithacrowdofpeople，whileothersweremovingtowardthejailonBroadway。Partiesofarmedmen，ingoodorder，weremarchingbyplatoonsinthesamedirection;andformedinlinealongBroadway，facingthejail—door。
Soonasmallpartywasseentoadvancetothisdoor，andknock;aparleyensued，thedoorswereopened，andCaseywasledout。Inafewminutesanotherprisonerwasbroughtout，who，provedtobeCora，amanwhohadoncebeentriedforkillingRichardson，theUnitedStatesMarshal，whenthejurydisagreed，andhewasawaitinganewtrial。Theseprisonerswereplacedincarriages，andescortedbythearmedforcedowntotheroomsoftheVigilanceCommittee，throughtheprincipalstreetsofthecity。Thedaywasexceedinglybeautiful，andthewholeproceedingwasorderlyintheextreme。IwasundertheimpressionthatCaseyandCorawerehangedthatsameSunday，butwasprobablyinerror;butinaveryfewdaystheywerehangedbytheneck——dead——suspendedfrombeamsprojectingfromthewindowsofthecommittee’srooms，withoutothertrialthancouldbegiveninsecret，andbynight。
Weallthoughtthematterhadendedthere，andaccordinglytheGovernorreturnedtoSacramentoindisgust，andIwentaboutmybusiness。ButitsoonbecamemanifestthattheVigilanceCommitteehadnointentiontosurrenderthepowerthususurped。TheytookabuildingonClayStreet，nearFront，fortifiedit，employedguardsandarmedsentinels，satinmidnightcouncil，issuedwritsofarrestandbanishment，andutterlyignoredallauthoritybuttheirown。Agoodmanymenwerebanishedandforcedtoleavethecountry，buttheywereofthatclasswecouldwellspare。YankeeSullivan，aprisonerintheircustody，committedsuicide，andafeelingofgeneralinsecuritypervadedthecity。Businesswasderanged;andtheBulletin，thenundercontrolofTomKing）abrotherofJames，pouredoutitsabuseonsomeofourbestmen，aswellastheworst。GovernorJohnson，beingagainappealedto，concludedtogotoworkregularly，andtelegraphedmeaboutthe1stofJunetomeethimatGeneralWool’sheadquartersatBeniciathatnight。Iwentup，andwemetatthehotelwhereGeneralWoolwasboarding。JohnsonhadwithhimhisSecretaryofState。Wediscussedthestateofthecountrygenerally，andIhadagreedthatifWoolwouldgiveusarmsandammunitionoutoftheUnitedStatesArsenalatBenicia，andifCommodoreFarragat，ofthenavy，commandingthenavy—yardonMareIsland，wouldgiveusaship，I
wouldcalloutvolunteers，and，whenasufficientnumberhadresponded，IwouldhavethearmscomedownfromBeniciaintheship，armmymen，takepossessionofathirty—two—pound—gunbatteryattheMarineHospitalonRinconPoint，thencecommandadispersionoftheunlawfully—armedforceoftheVigilanceCommittee，andarrestsomeoftheleaders。
Weplayedcardsthatnight，carryingonaconversation，inwhichWoolinsistedonaproclamationcommandingtheVigilanceCommitteetodisperse，etc。，andhetoldushowhehadonsomeoccasion，asfarbackas1814，suppressedamutinyontheNorthernfrontier。I
didnotunderstandhimtomakeanydistinctpromiseofassistancethatnight，butheinvitedustoaccompanyhimonaninspectionofthearsenalthenextday，whichwedid。Onhandlingsomerifledmusketsinthearsenalstorehouseheaskedmehowtheywouldanswerourpurpose。Isaidtheyweretheverythings，andthatwedidnotwantcartridgeboxesorbelts，butthatIwouldhavethecartridgescarriedinthebreeches—pockets，andthecapsinthevestpockets。
Iknewthattherewerestoredinthatarsenalfourthousandmuskets，forIrecognizedtheboxeswhichwehadcarriedoutintheLexingtonaroundCapeHornin1846。AfterwardweallmetatthequartersofCaptainD。R。Jonesofthearmy，andIsawtheSecretaryofState，D。F。Douglass，Esq。，walkoutwithGeneralWoolinearnestconversation，andthisSecretaryofStateafterwardassertedthatWoolthereandthenpromisedusthearmsandammunition，providedtheGovernorwouldmakehisproclamationforthecommitteetodisperse，andthatIshouldafterwardcalloutthemilitia，etc。OnthewaybacktothehotelatBenicia，GeneralWool，CaptainCallendarofthearsenal，andI，werewalkingsidebyside，andIwastellinghim（GeneralWool）thatIwouldalsoneedsomeammunitionforthethirty—two—poundgunstheninpositionatRineonPoint，whenWoolturnedtoCallendarandinquired，\"DidI
notorderthosegunstobebroughtaway？\"Callendarsaid\"Yes，general。Imadearequisitiononthequartermasterfortransportation，buthisschoonerhasbeensobusythatthegunsarestillthere。ThensaidWool:\"Letthemremain;wemayhaveuseforthem。\"Itherefrominferred，ofcourse，thatitwasallagreedtosofarashewasconcerned。