Page:The Tourist's California by Wood, Ruth Kedzie.djvu/150

120 THE TOURIST'S CALIFORNIA Dragoons, Blues and National Lancers. The Vigilance Committee, impelled to desperate action, organised and moved on the jail. The militia re- fused to oppose them and assumed civilian dress. The Governor arrived and found 2000 citizens in arms. " With glistening bayonets " they moved up Sacramento Street to the jail, and, loading an artillery piece, aimed it at the door. The sheriff had not thirty defenders. He brought out Casey, who, ironed and complacent, was taken to the rooms of the Vigilantes on Sacramento Street. A few hours later he was joined by Charles Cora, who had been confined after killing a United States Marshal. The power of the civil officers was usurped by the grim committee, who had confidence in their capacity to free the city from its mire of iniquity. They promised to give their prisoners a jury trial of Committee members, but all pro- cedure was secret. On May 20th, despite the skill of " a dozen tal- ented physicians," James King died. . . . Busi- ness was suspended. Bells tolled. Thousands from San Francisco and inland towns viewed the body, and two days later, tremendous crowds fol- lowed it to the cemetery on Lone Mountain, that desolate, tranquil summit which lifts high above the city a cross. During the funeral no time was lost at " Fort Gunny-bags." Under guard of "3000 stand of