1.11.05

F I R S TP R E V261NEXTLAST

Dawn, The Embarcadero
In 1856 San Francisco was a wide open and practically lawless town, so when newly-elected councilman, James Casey shot and killed a newspaper editor who had accused him of corruption and ballot-stuffing Casey had every reason to believe he'd never face justice. He was wrong. Within three days 2,500 fed-up San Francisco citizens created the Vigilance Committee and captured Casey and another man who had killed a U.S. Marshall. In an attempt to stop the vigilantes the Governor called out the state militia, led by future Civil War General, William T. Sherman. Despite the arrival of troops, the Vigilance Committee hanged both men here, near the site of the current Embarcadero, on the morning of May 22nd.

Sherman resigned from his militia command a week later, saying of the executions, "they were exceedingly beautiful and the whole proceeding was orderly in the extreme". Afterward the Vigilance Committee began patrolling the streets, punishing law-breakers, and establishing law and order. Two months later, their work done, the Vigilance Committee held a self-congratulatory parade, turned in their guns, and disbanded, leaving San Francisco a safer city.
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