Anti-Chinese Riots at Seattte[sic], WN., February 8th, 1886
By Geo. Kinnear
Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of Riots, Seattle Washington, Feb. 8, 1911
My reason for writing this
article is to correct some erroneous statements which have been made by
different persons, several having found their way into books considered reliable
authority.
The agitation that culminated in the riots which commenced at
Seattle February 7th, 1886, and lasting several days, began in the fall of 1885.
A general unrest existed all over the country, business was
depressed, times were stringent, men were out of employment, the usual distress
that goes with such periods prevailed, making it easy for designing men to
organize discontented forces to attack some real or imaginary cause of their
troubles, and in this section of the country where there were many Chinese
employed, it was believed that if the Mongolians could be driven out of the
country, more employment would be given to white labor.
The lawless element in the country had succeeded in
organizing mobs and expelling the Chinese from a number of towns along the Coast
and in several instances drove out some of the prominent citizens who had
attempted to uphold the law. In the interior they were guilty of unsurpassed
brutality. At the Rock Springs Coal Mines of Wyoming, after harassing the
Chinese and driving them from one quarter to another, they shot them down in
cold bipod.
In the early fall of 1885, agitators began to hold meetings here. It was their
intention to drive out the Chinese of Seattle about the time a similar
occurrence had been planned to take place elsewhere. After the arrest of several
men accused of killing a number of Chinese hop pickers while they were asleep in
their tents in Wold's Hop Yard in Issaquah Valley, there was an assemblage in
Seattle called an Anti-Chinese Congress which promulgated a manifesto that all
Chinese inhabitants in the towns and localities represented should be compelled
to depart, and committees were appointed to personally give warning to the
Chinese inhabitants of Seattle, Tacoma and other places, to leave on or prior to
the first day of November.
The committees in Seattle and Tacoma each consisted of 15
members. The Seattle committee included Mrs. Kenworthy, McMillin, G. Venable
Smith, John Keane and a number of others, all of whom were indicted by the Grand
Jury under a United States statute commonly referred to as the Civil Rights
Bill.
As Assistant United States Attorney, Mr. C. H. Hanford had
charge of the prosecution. The trial of the case before Judge Green and a jury
consumed two weeks and ended in a verdict of acquittal. There was rejoicing and
some noisy demonstrations in the streets by the agitators over their victory
secured by the verdict, and it was during those demonstrations that a shot was
fired through one of the front windows of Mr. Hanford's house.
It was immediately after the action of the so-called
Anti-Chinese Congress that a meeting of citizens was held in C. H. Hanford's
office and it was there decided to hold a public meeting for the purpose of
demonstrating that the citizens of Seattle would not tolerate riotous violations
of the law. A meeting was held accordingly in Frye's Opera House and I think the
date was October 4th. It was addressed by Governor Squires, James McNaught and
C. H. Hanford. In Mr. Hanford's talk he outlined the plan of citizens to
preserve peace and order in Seattle, and stated that if necessary the
law-abiding citizens would form an organization to patrol the city day and
night. This statement was applauded by part of the audience and there was no
strong expression of disapproval, and the meeting would have ended happily for
all concerned if nothing more had been said, but Mr. Hanford's speech was
followed by one from J. T. Ronald, who was then Prosecuting Attorney. He made a
vigorous declaration of his purpose to secure conviction of the prisoners
accused of murdering the Chinese in Issaquah Valley. Some one carried
information of Ronald's speech to J. C. Haines, who had been retained to defend
the accused persons. He, a very ready and eloquent speaker, came striding into
the meeting and upon the platform, showing great excitement, and made a furious
harangue which was cheered by the audience, augmented by a large number of the
Anti-Chinese sympathizers who had followed Haines into the meeting, and the
affair ended with a noisy demonstration entirely sympathetic with the
Anti-Chinese agitators.
A few days later a meeting of citizens was held in Frye's
Opera House which was addressed by Governor Ferry, after which those present
enrolled themselves as volunteer aides to the Sheriff and they were appointed
and sworn as Deputy Sheriffs and an organization was so far completed that the
deputies were grouped in squads with a Captain to whom they were to report
immediately in case of an alarm.
The first day of November came, but the Chinese remained.
On the third of November, the Chinese in Tacoma were forcibly
expelled. They were driven out of their habitations in a pitiless storm and
remained unsheltered on the prairie south of Tacoma until in some manner they
were provided with transportation by railroad to Portland. The day after their
expulsion the buildings which they had occupied in Tacoma were burned. The fires
were started by citizens of Tacoma and there was a large gathering of people
watching while the flames were accomplishing destruction.
President Cleveland issued a proclamation commanding all
people to observe the treaty rights of the Chinese inhabitants, and he also sent
a part of the 14th U. S. Infantry under command of Col. de Russy to Seattle,
where they remained for a time.
At a meeting held in the Bijou Theatre a few nights before
the outbreak, one of the leaders disclosed their purpose and declared it to be
not only to drive out the Chinese, but to burn the City, take what goods they
wanted from the stores, break open the banks and take the money therein; that it
all belonged to them and that they would drive out all the white Chinese who
opposed them.
The following morning, ten or a dozen men met in some office
on the west side of Front St. I led off by making the first talk, saying that we
were going to have to face a vicious mob that I was not going to be run out,
that I was going to stay here and favored organizing a force of 25 men, arming
them with breech-loading guns and going out and standing off the mob. All
present agreed to this and adjourned with instructions to go out and gather in
men for the force.
Subsequently we assembled about 80 men at the fire engine
house, armed them with breech-loading guns and they organized by making me
Captain. All the men loaded their guns at that time, with the understanding that
they were to use them on the mob in self-defense and enforcement of the law.
This force was called the "Home Guards." It had been arranged to give signals
when the mob had begun the attack.
On Sunday morning (Feb. 7th), about 11 o'clock, the old
University and M. E. Church bells sounded the signals. At a meeting the previous
evening a committee had been appointed to take charge of the removal of the
Chinese. They proceeded to the Chinese quarters with wagons, ordered the
Orientals to pack up, then, with the aid of the rioters, placed them and their
baggage onto wagons and drove them to the dock at the foot of Main St., the
intention being to load them onto the Str. "Queen," which was expected from San
Francisco any hour. Upon the arrival of Capt. Alexander with the "Queen" at Port
Townsend, he first learned of the situation at Seattle, and when he arrived at
the Ocean Dock he ran out the hot-water hose, declaring he would scald all
persons attempting to force their way onto the ship. They willingly kept at a
distance.
But the City was completely in the hands of the mob. The
Acting Chief-of-Police Murphy and nearly all of the police force were aiding in
the lawless acts.
Early in the day Gov. Watson C. Squire, being in the city,
issued his proclamation ordering them to desist from violence, to disperse and
return to their homes. Their only answer was yells and howls of defiance. He
ordered out two military companies stationed in the City to report to the
Sheriff of the County for the purpose of enforcing the laws.
A squad of 18 men from the Home Guards escorted an officer to
the front of Dexter Horton's Bank, where the Governor's proclamation was read to
the howling mob. They were furious at the presence of the armed men and would
have attacked, had the Guards not promptly returned to their quarters at the
Engine House. The removal of the Chinese from their homes continued till there
were about 350 herded on Ocean Dock awaiting the transportation by rail or
steamer to carry them away. A strong guard of rioters was placed over them.
Only those who could pay their fare were permitted to board
the ship. The citizens subscribed a portion of the money to pay the fares of
100, being all that could be carried on the boat. In the meantime a writ of
Habeas Corpus was issued by Judge Roger S. Greene, detaining the vessel and
requiring Capt. Alexander to produce the Chinese then on his vessel at the Court
Room next morning at 8 o 'clock, that each Chinaman might be informed of his
legal rights and say if he desired to go or remain; that if he wanted to remain
he would be protected.
Early in the afternoon of the 7th, the Home Guards were
ordered placed where they could best guard the City. The entire force was posted
at the corner of Washington St. and Second Ave. and details sent out from there
to guard a portion of the City. That night a portion of the Guards and the
Seattle Rifles took up their quarters at the Court House, Company D remaining at
their armory. The authorities were active during the entire night in doing
everything they could to enforce the laws. Gov. Squire telegraphed the Secretary
of War, also Gen. Gibbon, commanding the Department of the Columbia, the
situation. About midnight an attempt was made to move the Chinese to a train and
send a part of them out of the City that way, but the Seattle Rifles and Company
D were sent to guard the train and succeeded in getting it out ahead of time.
While most of the mob that had not yet retired was down at
the train, a squad of the Home Guards was detailed to take possession of the
North and South wings of the Ocean Dock upon which were quartered the Chinese,
watched over by McMillin, Kidd and others, all of whom were prevented by the
Home Guards from leaving the dock.
By daylight the Seattle Rifles and University Cadets with a
squad from the Home Guards were lined up across the two wing approaches to the
main dock. In the early morning the mob was gathering again and soon the
adjoining wharves and streets were blocked with angry men who saw they were
defeated in keeping charge of the Chinese. As their numbers increased they
became bolder and declared their purpose to kill or drive out the Guards.
Early that morning after warrant was issued by Geo. G. Lyon,
Justice of the Peace, the leading agitators were arrested and locked in jail,
where they were confined at the time the Home Guards escorted the Chinese from
the dock to the Court House pursuant to the writ of Habeas Corpus issued by
Judge Greene. Of course there would have been a skirmish somewhere between the
dock and the Court House if the Anti-Chinese forces had not been deprived of
their leaders.
At the conclusion of court proceedings, the Home Guards
escorted all of the Chinese back to the dock so that those who were to leave on
the "Queen" might do so and the others went to the dock to reclaim their
personal effects which they carried from their houses or which were carted there
by the mob. At this time the leaders who had been arrested had been released
from jail on bail, at least some of them had, and they acted as a committee to
disburse money which had been raised to pay the passage of those Chinese who
wanted to go to San Francisco on the "Queen." The committee, or some members of
it, were permitted to go upon the dock, but the mass of Anti-Chinese forces were
held in cheek by the Home Guards, Seattle Rifles and University Cadets, who
maintained a line across the docks extending from Main Street to Washington
Street.
The numbers of the disorderly element were increasing: and
there was every indication of trouble ahead. President Powell of the University
had been mingling among the crowd and informed us that they were planning to
take our guns, away from us. The Guards had been expecting this and were
prepared all the time for trouble.
After the "Queen" left, the remaining Chinese were ordered
moved back to their quarters where they had been living: and the Chinese were
formed in column with baskets and bundles of all sizes which made them a clumsy
lot to handle. In front was placed the Home Guards,—the Seattle Rifles and the
University Cadets coming some 250 yards in the rear. The march began up Main
Street. The Home Guards were well closed up as they had been cautioned to march
that way.
Crowds of men were on the street, but they gave way. But on
our left, on the North side of the street, they now lined up in better order,
and as the head of the column reached Commercial St. and alongside the New
England Hotel, at a signal the rioters sprang at the Guards and seized a number
of their guns, which began to go off. The rioters instantly let go the guns and
crowded back. They were surprised that the guns were loaded. One man was killed
and four wounded. This seemed to have the desired effect on them. Immediately
the Guards were formed across Commercial St. looking North. The Seattle Rifles
and University Cadets formed on Main St. facing the docks, where there was a
large crowd, a few men were faced to the South and East, thus forming a square
at Commercial and Main Sts. The dense mobs were in the streets to the North and
West. To the North as far as Yesler Way the street was packed full of raving,
howling, angry men, threatening revenge on those who were interfering with their
lawlessness. I selected Mr. C. H. Hanford and Mr. F. H. Whitworth and directed
them to press the crowd back so as to keep an open space between our line and
the front of the mob. Many of the mob were seen with arms. At the time of
shooting, several shots were fired by the mob, one ball passing through the
Sheriff's coat, but none of our men were hurt. Back a distance a number of the
leaders mounted boxes and by their fierce harangues tried to stir the mob to
seek revenge. There was no order given to fire. The men understood their
business and knew when to shoot.
We remained in this position about half an hour, until Capt.
Haines, with Company D, appeared, coming down the street from the North, the mob
cheering with great delight and opening the way to give them free passage.
Shortly afterwards the mob called on John Keane for a speech. He mounted a box
in front of the New England Hotel and made a speech in the following words: "All
of ye's go to your homes. There has been trouble enough this day." Then the Home
Guards, Rifles and Cadets conducted the Chinese to their quarters and then
marched to the Court House, which from that time on with Company D, was their
Headquarters.
Immediately Guards were put out in different parts of the
city.
The mob had full confidence when they started out in their
lawless movement that they would succeed. When some of their men had been shot
down as they said in cold blood, they then became desperate and maddened and
were ready to attempt anything. After the shooting they lacked leadership and
organization, but other leaders sprang up. Immediately they attempted to arrest
five of the Guards. They attempted to serve a warrant, but Judge Greene would
not allow it served, claiming that the men were officers of his Court.
Along in the afternoon of that day, Governor Watson C. Squire
issued a proclamation reciting that on the 7th inst. he issued his proclamation
ordering all persons who were not disposed to aid the authorities in enforcing
the laws to disperse and return to their homes, which order was wholly
disregarded. He therefore declared the City under martial law. In pursuance
thereof a Provo Martial, Major Alden, was appointed and all necessary forms
compiled with to carry out martial law. The saloons were ordered closed, all
business houses were closed between 7 P. M. and 6 A. M. All persons found on the
streets after 7 P. M. and before 5 A. M. without written consent of the Provo
Marshal would be arrested. Volunteers were called for, large numbers of citizens
responded, were organized and furnished with guns and ammunition. They were
sworn in and did good service. Soldiers were posted throughout the city, one on
each corner, and allowed no person to pass without a written pass from the Provo
Marshal. By this means, with the aid of the numerous Volunteers who had promptly
come to our assistance, the Guards and Militia were able to keep complete
control of the city.
In the meantime the rioters were planning for desperate?
acts. The President of the United States having been notified of the situation
ordered General Gibbon, who was stationed at Vancouver, to move his troops to
our aid. On the morning: of Feb. 10th Col. deRussy came with the 14th Infantry.
General Gibbon immediately issued his order to all disorderly persons to
disperse, which had its effect. Their coming was a: great relief to the Guards
and militia, who had been on constant duty three days and nights without sleep
or rest.
As soon as relieved by the Regular Troops, the local force
assembled at the Court House, their Headquarters, It was apparent to us now that
our difficulties were about at an end. Speeches were called for from the
following named officers: and men: Capt. George Kinnear of the Home Guards, Rev.
L. A. Banks, Judge R. S. Greene, Judge Thomas Burke, Capt. J. C. Haines of
Company D, Capt. Joseph Greene, Lieut. L. R. Dawson and Sergt. James Hamilton
Lewis of Company Br Sheriff John H. McGraw, Lieut. Hatfield of the Home Guards,
Capt. Chas. A. Kinnear of the University Cadets, Mayor H. L. Yesler, Alfred
Holman and Gov. Squire, who responded, congratulating all on our success in
maintaining the law against the greatest effort made anywhere on the Coast.
During all this time the Fire Department performed valuable
service under command of Chief Gardner Kellogg. He kept his force continually on
duty, guarding the engine house equipment and patroling the part of the city in
most danger, ready at any moment to put out a fire if one should be started.
A few days later steps were taken to increase the local force
to better protect the city when the regular troops should leave. Recruiting
began and in a few days the Company of Home Guards, Seattle Rifles and Company D
were filled to 100 men each. Then another Company was raised of 100 men and E.
M. Carr made Captain. The entire force was armed, mainly with army rifles. These
men came from every walk and business in life,—lawyers, bankers, doctors,
business men and mechanics, old and young. We secured the site of the old
skating rink on Second Ave., where we drilled this force day and night until
they were all quite skillful and efficient in their movements.
The Regular troops remained in the City about a month. We
soon saw after the troops left we had made no mistake in perfecting our military
force and making it stronger. During all the time the troops were here the mob
kept its mutterings and threats of vengeance back until that force should be
withdrawn. Immediately after the troops left, the mob began to organize an armed
force to take possession of the City and shoot down any armed opposition. They
drilled their men in several secret places in the city and county and so
alarming was the situation, the constant drilling of our force of 400 men lasted
several months, and so intense did the feeling become that our men declared that
if they had to meet an armed mob they would shoot down every one they could
find. This intense feeling and purpose becoming known, their leaders succeeded
in persuading their followers to abandon armed resistance and prepare for the
fall election, at which they believed they could elect their men to every County
office, which they did, with the exception of one County Commissioner.
If their plan succeeded, they were to arrest a number of our
leading men, convict and hang them. They were bent on revenge. They were warned
by the Guards against any attempt on the lives of these loyal citizens.
Gradually the smothered feeling of opposition to good government subsided and
security was restored, business resumed its usual course and the City seemed on
a more substantial basis than ever before. The fact that the City had a spirit
of loyalty and patriotism that could and would enforce good government gave an
assurance of safety to those who saw fit to make their homes among us and invest
their- money and engage in business. It gave the City of Seattle credit with the
financial centers of the East, which was in great contrast with cities that
yielded to mob violence. Soon after the shooting occurred the infuriated
rioters, to vent their vengeance on the guards, swore out warrants for the
arrest of Judge Thos. Burke, Rev. L. A. Banks, E. M. Carr, Frank Hanford and
David Webster and they were taken before Police Justice Hill, who required them
to give bonds in the sum of $5000 each, which was an outrage. They were officers
of the law, performing their duty as Deputy Sheriffs. They had been picked out
for the fearless and conspicuous part they had taken.
Judge Burke had made several speeches during the agitation
that preceded the outbreak in which he denounced in the severest terms all
unlawful utterances and acts. Rev. Banks had done the same from his pulpit. At
the time the bells rang, Banks was preaching his Sunday morning sermon. Hearing
the signal he stopped short and said: "I know where my duty lies” then
pronounced the benediction, procured his rifle from a rear room and joined
the Home Guards at the fire engine house. The above named, Messrs. Burke, Banks,
Carr, Han-ford and Webster, were accused of having fired into the mob.
In a book called the “History of Washington” giving an
account of the day of the shooting, I find "As the column moved up Main St. and
approached 1st Avenue, the Home Guards were forced to halt because of the mob in
their front. The Guards were formed across the street.
"At the order given, their guns were loaded with ball
cartridges but no demonstration was made about using them.
"Some of the noisier members now urged the others to make a
rush on the Guards and disarm them. It was not until the Guards had held their
position some seconds—perhaps minutes—that a few of the bolder members of the
mob gained courage to make something like a rush. Even then it was not a united
effort, made all along the line, but furtive attacks made in only one or two
places.
"One of the first of these was directed at E. M. Carr,
afterwards Brigadier General of Militia, but then only a private in the Home
Guards. It was a most Unfortunate selection for those who made it, for Carr ,was
strongly built and as courageous as strong. He disposed of one or two of the
first who approached him with his fist, but when others joined in the attack he
clubbed his rifle and laid the nearest rioter at full length along the street.
This discouraged others in the neighborhood and for a time Carr was left alone.”
The fact is, the Guards to the number of about 80 men, with
loaded guns, moved from the dock to Commercial Street (First Ave.) in close
column, the men all in their places. A simultaneous attack was made to take from
us our guns from the front to the middle of the column. Our march was not
checked till attacked.
Carr was not alone. He was with the column and was not left
alone till the column was.
The Guards had loaded their guns before they left their
quarters.
Also in the work entitled "Memoirs of Orange Jacobs" he says:
"His Excellency Governor Watson C. Squire being in town ordered out the Militia,
which, under the command of the bold and fearless Col. J. C. Haines, who was
ably assisted by General E. M. Carr and others, did effective work." This
statement conveys the idea that Col. Haines deserves the principal credit for
putting down the riots, when in fact he did not appear on the scene until
three-quarters of an hour after the shooting. As stated before, he appeared with
his Company D, marching down through the mob, the rioters opening a way,
cheering with great delight. Several days later, in a speech (above referred to)
at the Court House, Col. Haines declared that he was proud that his company did
not have their guns loaded, and that they were cheered by the rioters. These
remarks called forth hisses and remarks of severe rebuke from the men who had
thus far borne the brunt in trying to enforce the laws. All the companies were
under the direction of the Sheriff. The above quotations are the kind of
reckless statements some books supposed to be reliable give to their readers.
All members of the Home Guards, Seattle Rifles arid
University Cadets acquitted themselves manfully and courageously. Sheriff John
H. McGraw was present during the whole affair and no officer ever performed his
duties more faithfully and efficiently.
Soon after the riots started there was a change made in the
Governorship of the Territory, Eugene Semple succeeding Governor Squire. When
Governor Semple arrived at Seattle, a committee, of which I was one, called on
the Governor and had a talk with him about the situation, when we were informed
that "as soon as he had 'decided' on his 'policy' he would inform us what it
was"—just as though there could be more than one policy used in dealing with
outlaws. The situation in Seattle was notorious. Everybody knew what the trouble
was and when the only thing to be done was to promptly enforce the laws, he had
to wait and decide on a policy.
When General Gibbon came with his troops, he at once issued
the following order:
"The President of the United States has issued a proclamation
commanding all disturbers of the peace in the City of Seattle to disperse by 6
o'clock on the 10th inst. All evil-disposed persons are therefore warned to obey
the legal command of the President at the peril of their lives.
"All true and loyal Americans will array themselves on thethe
[sic] side of law and order; all others are warned that they will incur the
penalty of law breakers.
"JOHN GIBBON, Brigadier General, U. S. Army."
The deplorable situation and the cause of all our trouble was—two few men were
willing to throw themselves into the breech to defend the right at any cost, and
too many were afraid to do anything to check the tide of lawlessness.
Professional men were afraid they would lose some of their clients. Merchants
were fearful they would be boycotted. The merchants in the building in which
Judge Burke had his office said he must vacate and leave the premises for fear
the building would be fired or blown up. But the Judge stayed. He was one of the
men who put down the mob.
The lawlessness here disclosed a situation not very
creditable to certain men in official position,—one the Head of the Territory
hesitated, about his policy; another, holding a command in the military, was
proud his men carried empty guns and were cheered by the mob; another in a court
of justice arrested men and put them under heavy bonds,—men who by their courage
and devotion to duty saved the City from the lawless. Each one of these men who
were arrested and put under bonds was at such a time worth a thousand such
officials.
After tranquility had been restored, it was recognized that
many of the Cadets attending the Territorial University were students whose
homes and interests were in other parts of the State than at Seattle, but that
when the supremacy of the law was threatened, they volunteered their services
and helped the citizen soldiery of Seattle put down the mob.
Accordingly, and acting on the initiative of Col. G.O.
Haller, a suitable flag, bearing on one side the inscription. "Tribute for
Merit, Feb. 8th, 1886," and on the reverse side, "Presented to the University
Cadets of Seattle, Washington Territory,'' was presented to the Cadets at Frye
's Opera House by General John Gibbon, U. S. A., and as that gentleman commanded
the United States force sent here by the President and under martial law was in
command of Seattle, had also been one of the big Generals of the Civil War and
signed as a witness the surrender of General Lee at Appomatox, and as his speech
presenting the flag contains some declarations of sound sense on loyalty on the
handling of law breakers, I herewith quote from it the following extracts:
"Young Gentlemen of the University Cadets: I address you as
Gentlemen, for, although the uniform you wear is not as significant of
gentleness as of force, the ideal soldier is always a gentleman, even when
exercising the brutal forces of war.
"It is a necessity in every society, in order to protect
itself against dishonesty, turbulence or vice, to organize force for use when
needed * * * but it sometimes happens that ordinary means fail to give that
protection absolutely necessary to the welfare of every well-organized
community. Then it is that the brutal force of armed men is called in; and the
dread arbitrament of the sword, the musket and the cannon is used to determine
which shall rule, the law or chaos. * * *
“More than a century ago, we Americans crowned as King
The Law made by ourselves. None but ourselves, through our duly chosen
representatives, can make this, Our King, The Law * * * and he who raises his
hand against Our King aims his blow not against a single life, which could be
readily replaced, but against the life of the Nation. Without the Law, Liberty,
Safety, All is lost. It is, or should be, our guiding star by night and day, the
rudder without which our Ship of State would inevitably be wrecked in the storms
through which every vessel has to struggle. To nothing else do we owe the same
allegiance as to our Sovereign King, The Law. If the life of the State is
threatened or turbulent violence raises its hand against the supremacy of the
Law, we are justified, nay, more than that, it is our bounden duty to sacrifice
human life, if necessary, in the defense of our Lord and King—The Law.
It is with peculiar satisfaction that I respond to the
request to present to you young soldiers this emblem of our great, free country,
and I am especially gratified to make the presentation in the presence of this
community, for I do not fail to recall the fact that only a little more than a
year ago your young hands eagerly seized your rifles, and your young feet
carried you to a distant part of the city to do—what ? Was it at the demand of
some arbitrary despot, to enforce his will perhaps in opposition to the welfare
of his people? Was it to enforce upon unwilling people some hateful law enacted
without their consent ? Was it to aid power in forcing to the earth weakness?
Was it anything calculated to work injustice towards the lowly and weak? No! It
was none of these things which guided your hurrying feet toward those rifle
shots which reveberated through the heretofore peaceful streets of your city.
"The patriotic fires which burned in your young hearts and
guided your quickened steps were inspired by the fact that the life of our
Sovereign Bang, The Law, was in peril, that help was far distant and your
presence an urgent necessity.
''The flag which I now with pride and satisfaction entrust to
your keeping bears upon its folds the date of this patriotic effort on your
part. It is committed to you with the firm faith that as an emblem of our
country, you will take pride in it, as a symbol of law and order you will defend
it, if need be, with your lives, and that in the future you will impress it upon
your children and your children's children, that it represents the only King who
shall ever rule over us, ' The Law.'
“In performing, then, any military duty which may be required
of you, remember that Americans who violate their own laws, or permit others to
violate them, aim a more fatal blow at human liberty than does the assassin of
the greatest crowned head on earth.”
The following were members of the Home Guard on duty at the time of the
shooting:
Kinnear, George, Capt.
Hatfield, J. Av Lieut.
Latimer, Wm. G., Lieut,
Carr, E. M., Sergt.
Abrams, Robt.
Albertson, R. B,
Burke, Thos.
Banks, Rev. L. A.
Bagley, Dr. H. B.
Bell, F. A.
Bigelow, David
Bates, Rev. H. L.
Baxter, Sutcliffe
Boardman, W. G,
Bryan, Al
Bracket, -----
Colman, Geo.
Colman, Lawrence J.
Caldwell, Dr. R, G.
Colkatt, W. J.
Cornwall, -----
Cox, R. S.
Carey, James A.
Craig, Charles
Davis, Rev. Clark
Davies, Griffith
Downing, E. B.
Denny, D. Thos.
Gleason, Wm. H.
Gilman, L. C.
Gilman, D. H.
Haller, G. Morris
Hanford, C. H.
Hanford, Frank
Hanford, A. E.
Hoyt, H. M.
Hopkins, R, M.
Hasbrouek, W. A.
Hunter, J. W.
Horton, Dexter
Jacobs, Orange
Hopkins, R.
Ingraham, E. S.
Jackling, W. B.
Jones, T. E.
Kellogg, David
Kaufman, Wm. M.
Kennard, T. C.
Kahaley, John L.
Keane, Frank
Lombard, R. R.
Lowman, J. D.
Lynch, Bart
Leary, John
Meany, E. S.
McNaught, J. F.
Maddocks, M. K
Osgood, F. H.
Osborne, Eben S.
Preston, Geo. Hyde
Preston, Harold
Preston, Wm. T.
Partridge, Reuben
Pumphrey, Wm. H.
Pumphrey, T. Ross
Peters, W. A.
Rasin, U. M.
Sparling, Fred
Sparling, Geo.
Sharp, Wm. T.
Smith, Horace
Scott, Col. S. W.
Short, S. P.
Seymore, W. B.
Thornell, W. R.
Turner, E. A.
Webster, David
Whitworth, F. H.
Wayland, W. L.
©Shauna Williams