GOVERNOR JOHNSON MEDIATES
On the second day after the shooting, Governor J. Neely Johnson arrived
on the evening boat. Mayor Van Ness had sent him a panicky message,
imploring him to drop all else and hasten to San Francisco. The Mayor
and William K. Garrison met him at the dock. They almost pushed the
Governor into a carriage which was driven hastily to the
International Hotel.
In his room, behind closed doors, the Governor spoke a trifle irritably:
"What the devil's all this row about, Van Ness? The town seems quiet
enough. You spoke of civil war."
"Coleman's organized another Vigilance Committee," Garrison took it upon
himself to answer. "You know how impulsive San Franciscans are. They're
in for anything. Two thousand have already joined. They've bought all
the arms in town except a few that Sheriff Scannell seized in the
militia armories. Scannell's sent out a hurry call for deputies--"
"But," broke in the Governor, incredulously, "you say Coleman's doing
this. I can't believe it. Coleman's a good man, a quiet fellow. He's my
friend. I'll go to him at once."
He rose, but Garrison, the politic, raised his hand. "Let him come to
you. Summon him. The effect is much better."
"As you say," acceded Johnson with a smile. "Send for Coleman, with my
compliments." He resumed his seat and picked up an Evening Bulletin,
shaking his head. "Poor King, I hear he's dying."
"A dangerous man," remarked Garrison as he left the room.
"He is a lot less dangerous alive--than dead," the Mayor shivered. "As a
reformer he'd soon have ceased to interest the public. Nobody interests
them long. But as a martyr!" he threw up his hands. "God help San
Francisco!"
They discussed the dangers of a public outbreak till a knock at the door
interrupted them.
It proved to be Garrison, accompanied by the Vigilante chief. "Hello,
Coleman," the Governor greeted, cordially. The two shook hands. "What's
this I hear about your Vigilante recrudescence?" He smote his hands
together with a catechising manner. "What do you people want?"
"We want peace," responded Coleman.
"And, to get it, you prepare for war. What do you expect to accomplish?"
"What the Vigilantes did in '51--"
Briefly and concisely he outlined the frightful condition of affairs in
San Francisco; the straining of public patience to its present
breaking point.
"Now, Governor," he said, impressively, "you've been called on by the
Mayor and a certain class to bring out the militia and put down this
movement. I assure you it cannot be done. It's not the way to treat the
question...."
"What is the way, then?" Johnson asked, aggressively.
"Allow us to clean our Augean stables without more than a formal
opposition from the State. Issue your necessary proclamations to
maintain the dignity of the law. But don't interfere with our work. We
shall get through with it quickly--and be glad to quit, I promise you."
He rose and Johnson with him. Suddenly the Governor slapped the
Vigilante chief a rousing whack upon the shoulder. "Go ahead, old boy!
But hurry up. There is terrible opposition. Terrific pressure."
* * * * *
Turn Verein Hall that evening was a busy place. A dozen companies were
drilling on the big gymnasium floor. Men who had never shouldered guns
were executing orders with an ardor and a concentration which concealed
much awkwardness of unfamiliarity.
The garb and condition of recruits were vividly diversified. Doctor,
teamster, lawyer, stevedore and banker, they were actuated by a common
spirit, working through the manual of arms together, conscious of
no caste.
Benito and Adrian, who had come in late, surveyed the drilling. Warren
Olney, big and forceful, gave them cordial welcome. "You're both in my
company," he informed them. "We've graded all the signers of the roll
according to their numbers. That is, the first hundred signers make the
first company, the second hundred another. And so on."
"How about cavalry and artillery?" Benito questioned.
"Oh, we'll have both, don't worry," Charles Doane answered them. "Two
vessels in the harbor have contributed cannon; we'll mount them on the
foreparts of wagons. That's where Olney and his men will come in. And
we've splendid riders, though the troops are still to be rounded into
shape." He passed on hurriedly to execute some commission. "There's a
splendid fellow," Olney said. "He's to be grand marshal of our forces."
He took Benito and Adrian by the arm and led them toward a group of
waiting men. "We must get our battery organized."
A messenger strode hastily across the room seeking Coleman, who
conferred with Doane in a distant corner. "The Governor's outside," he
whispered as he passed.
* * * * *
Coleman, entering the ante-room in answer to a summons, found Governor
Johnson; his brother; W. K. Garrison and William Sherman, head of the
somewhat depleted militia. A subtle change was noticeable in Johnson's
manner. He spoke with brusque official authority, as if no previous
interview had taken place:
"Mr. Coleman, what are you and your committee plotting? Can't this
trouble be adjusted here and now?"
Coleman accepted the situation. He saw that opposition forces had been
active.
"We are tired of outlawry and assassination, Governor," he answered.
"We've determined to endure them no longer. Street shooting's got
to stop!"
"I agree with you," the Governor admitted. "I've come down from
Sacramento to aid. But this is a matter for the courts, and not for you
to adjust. Our judges are honest. You can't impugn a man like Norton."
He lowered his voice. "I'll see that Norton tries the case; that a grand
jury indicts Casey. I'll do everything I can to force a trial, a
conviction--and a speedy execution.... I've no right to make such
promises. But I'll do it--to save this city the disgrace of a mob."
Coleman raised his head. "This is no mob. You know it, Governor," he
answered. "We've no faith in Sheriff Scannell nor his juries." He turned
to Sherman. "This committee is a deliberative body, sir; regularly
organized with officers and men, an executive council. The best men in
the city are its members...."
"And you are its Czar," remarked Garrison, tauntingly.
"I am chairman by their choice--not mine," said Coleman, tartly. "To
show you that I make no personal decisions, I will call other members of
the council." He bowed and withdrew, returning in a few moments with the
brothers Arrington, Thomas Smiley, Seymour and Truitt. The two sides
went over the ground a second time. Smiley insisted that Casey be
delivered to the Vigilantes. Johnson suggested that the committee
continue its labors, but permit the court to try Casey, even in the
event of King's death. An impasse loomed. Finally came Coleman's
ultimatum: "If Sheriff Scannell will permit ten of our members to join
the guard over Casey, this committee will agree to make no overt
move--until our guards are withdrawn and you are notified."
"Done," agreed the Governor, hastily.