He kneeled, made a brief prayer, and was launched into eternity. Everything was conducted in the most orderly and solemn manner, the whole crowd seemed impressed with the solemnity of the scene. Next was the arrest of two notorious burglars who were tried fairly, having every advantage they could desire respecting evidence, in their favor. They were however condemned and sentenced to die. One night a possee of city officers came unawares upon the guard, at the committee rooms, rescued these prisoners, and removed them to the half-built city prison. But the gallows was not to be robbed, as the sequel will show. The city authorities seemed to exult over this, what they called triumph of law orer a mob.
The Vigilance Committee showed no signs of disaffection, expressing themselves perfectly satisfied if justice was done to the burglars. But it very soon became manifest that after a short imprisonment they would be set free. A deep, and what proved to be a successful plan, was laid by the committee to take these villains from their place of confinement, and put the sentence which had been justly passed upon them, into execution. Accordingly, on Sunday morning, which occurred only a few days after they were taken, every preparation was made at the rooms, the halters were rove through the blocks outside the door, a suitable number of persons on the spot ready for duty, a carriage with four resolute men well armed, and another containing six also well armed, proceeded to the prison, forced the doors, threatening instant death to any who should oppose, seized the prisoners, put them into the carriage and drove off.
At the same moment the committee's alarm bell was run <y and in less than ten minutes, over four thousand persons were at the place of execution. I arrived in time to get a position near to these unfortunate men. On the arrival of the carriage, they were harried out, the rope put on their necks, and they were immediately strung up. It certainly could not have been more than thirty minutes from the time they were taken from the city prison, before they were in eternity, or in a fair way for it. One of them died without a struggle, but the other, in consequence of the rope having slipped round, so as to bring the knot on the back of his neck, struggled very much, and after hanging nearly an hour, was lowered down, and a doctor with a lancet, ascertained that he was not dead; he was then strung up again.
While they were hanging, two Chinamen came along, one of them looking up with a smile, " hiyah, dat do em good" They were both cut down, and delivered over to the coroner. A few weeks after this last execution, San Francisco was visited with a dreadful conflagration, thought to be the work of an incendiary. This fire was the ruin of many, and in which many lives were lost; but by that indomitable energy and perseverance which was characteristic of the place, in a few weeks it was again rebuilt, and everything going on as before. Several incidents occurred during my first residence in San Francisco, some of which related to my own pecuniary affairs, which would not be interesting to the reader, so I pass them by.
The others only went to show the fickleness of fortune, which was fully demonstrated in many instances which came within my own notice. One gentleman became so rich, that it was a difficult matter for him to stand still. He was usually seen posted at a corner, with both thumbs in the armholes of his vest, occasionally raising himself on his toes, assuming such a look of importance, that no one could touch him with a ten foot pole. This man became so poor, only a few months from this zenith, that he had no place in which to lie his head, that he could call his own. Another millionnaire? died in an old long boat. There were others who were connected with a famous banking establishment, and cut a mighty great figure, burnt up, and no doubt twisted many an honest man out of his hard earnings; and if I should attempt to call these fellows by name, it would make a book as large as the London directory.