Gold Rush Chronology 1855

Auction at the Music Hall of Capt. Folsom's properties in San Francisco conducted by Selover, Sinton & Co. Included were lots in the city of San Francisco and in the town of Folsom, also, the Leidestorff Rancho de los Americanos, embracing about 36,000 acres [14,500 hectares] of some of the finest land in California.

January 11, 1856
Some dastardly scoundrel destroyed several hundred feet of new hose belonging to the Monumental Engine Co. that had been spread out upon the Plaza railings to dry. A knife or hatchet was used to hack the hose in many places.
January 14, 1856
At least 5,000 people attended the trial of skill between the Monumental and Vigilant fire companies today at 2 o'clock.
January 15, 1856
R. N. Morrison, formerly a judge of this county and Recorder of San Francisco, died in the State Lunatic Asylum at Stockton, aged 60 years.
January 17, 1856
Trial of Charles Cora ended with hung jury. Rumors were that jurors were bribed. A new trial was to begin soon.
January 19, 1856
Death of William Davis Merry Howard at 9 o'clock this morning. Mr. Howard was one of the oldest settlers.
January 21, 1856
Smart shock of earthquake today.
January 22, 1856
M. Derbec began publication of the "Eco del Pacifico," a daily Spanish paper.
January 23, 1856
A hand cart man named John Little, while passing over the gangplank of the steamer New World, missed his footing and fell overboard and drowned. He left a wife and child in the city. He was a native of County Meather Ireland.
January 24, 1856
Fire at the house at the corner of Union and Mason streets belonging to Mr. Uber, and the adjoining building of Mr. Bradford's. Loss estimated at $600 or $800. The fire was the work of an incendiary.
January 28, 1856
Mayor Van Ness signed an ordinance for suppression of houses of ill-fame in this city. The law will go into effect on the 15th of February.
January 29, 1856
Light earthquake felt at the Mission Dolores.
January 31, 1856
Another earthquake was felt.

Capt. Charles A. Falkinburg, of the bark "Jane A. Falkinburg," and his lady, were riding in a carriage near Folsom street on Fulton. The horse became unruly and backed the carriage off the wharf. The Captain died of severe injuries in a few minutes. Fortunately the injuries to the lady were very slight.

On Thursday morning about 2 o'clock, Police Officer James Lang fell through a cellar way of A. Guy's store on Merchant Street. He suffered injuries to his left side and arm. There are no lamps in the neighborhood. There are several other cellarways which should be covered over at night.

February 1, 1856
Most of the respectable boot and shoe dealers signed a document pledging not to open for transaction of business on Sundays.
February 2, 1856
Last night the barn of Mr. Joy's milk ranch on the Presidio road, two miles [3 km] from the Plaza, was entered and two valuable horses with saddles and bridles were stolen. In the morning two men belonging to the ranch, started in pursuit of the thieves and found them at "Uncle Tom's Cabin," about 15 miles this side of San Jose.
February 5, 1856
Chinese New Year began today. New Year's Eve was celebrated by the Celestials last night with the explosion of millions of firecrackers.

Orphan Asylum Society of San Francisco celebrated its fifth anniversary.

The City Assessor gave the amount of taxable property within the city at $33,226,215.

February 9, 1856
Branch Mint could furnish any amount of small change desired, having recently coined large amounts to serve the demand.
February 11, 1856
A lady residing near the Presidio, had a large and elegant carpet stolen last week from a clothes line in front of her house. The theft was committed just at dusk.
February 13, 1856
Sen. McCoun introduced bill in U.S. Senate to build a bridge across the bay for railroad and wagon use from Rincon Point to Oakland.
February 15, 1856
At 5:23 a.m., the most severe shock of an earthquake ever felt by the oldest inhabitant, occurred in this city. There was no serious injury to any building except that of Messrs. Goodwin & Co., corner of Oregon and Front streets, where about five-thousand bricks were thrown from the north wall into Oregon Street. The water in the Bay rose, maintained its level for five minutes, and then sank two feet below its ordinary stage. The shock was preceded by a heavy rumbling noise and the motion was from the northwest to southeast.
February 18, 1856
Marshal North suspended five of the leading officers of the Police Department. The causes of the suspensions were that in some cases they neglected, and in others refused, to attend the duties assigned to them.

On Sunday morning, at a little after two o'clock, a fire broke out in the building known as the Old Garret House, on Pike Street, second door of the corner of Clay. It was one of the oldest frame buildings in the city and stood adjoining the Old Post Office at the corner. The house was the property of Mons. Ritter whose loss is estimated at $1,600. The adjoining building owned by Mrs. Miller, was also much injured, her loss being about $900. Until 3 days earlier the building had been occupied by prostitutes, fire believed to be of incendiary origin.

February 20, 1856
About two o'clock a.m., during a strong gale, a new two-story frame building on First street, opposite the gas works, was blown down.

This morning Mrs. Borland and her three children were thrown into the street, by reason of the house in which they resided, on Market street, being torn down over their heads. Mr. Woodward, who held the title took this means to obtain possession of the lot.

February 21, 1856
Capt. Giovana B. Caraffa, of the Sardinian bark "Alessandro," has been missing since the night of Feb. 12. It was feared that he fell though one of the traps at the wharf.
March 13, 1856
Moody & Co. began publication of the Daily Globe.
March 15, 1856
Earthquake felt in San Francisco.
March 26, 1856
Ladies' Seamen's Friend Society founded.
March 29, 1856
Clipper ship "Nightingale" sailed from London to San Francisco in 121 days, a world record.
March 30, 1856
Earthquake felt in San Francisco.
March 31, 1856
Another light shock of earthquake early this morning.
April 18, 1856
Senator J.B. Weller of California urged passage of a bill to authorize and facilitate the construction of a railroad and magnetic telegraph to the West.
April 19, 1856
San Francisco City and County were consolidated by an act of the Legislature. San Mateo County was created from the southern part of San Francisco County. The Act to take effect July 1.
April 20, 1856
One of the first settlers, William Richardson, died in Sausalito. He was born in London in 1795.
May 4, 1856
Notre Dame des Victoires Church dedicated.
May 10, 1856
Earthquake felt in San Francisco.
May 11, 1856
Rev. Edward Silas Lacey preached in the First Congregational Church about the schools demanded by the present age.
May 14, 1856
Newspaper publisher James P. Casey shot James King of William near the corner of Montgomery and Washington streets. In today's edition the editor accused David C. Broderick of importing Casey from New York, where he had been a ballot stuffer, and revealed that Casey had once been in Sing Sing Prison. Casey was also foreman of Crescent Engine Co. No. 10. King of William cried "I've been shot," and was carried to the Montgomery Block where he was treated by Dr. R. Beverly Cole. Casey was spirited to jail by his friends who feared a lynching. Mayor Van Ness soon appeared and urged calm and asked the crowd to disperse. Later, the Monumental fire bell was rung and members of the 1851 Committee of Vigilance responded and began to form a new committee. William T. Coleman was asked to be president of the new group.
May 15, 1856
Second Committee of Vigilance formally organized.
May 16, 1856
Gov. J. Neely Johnson met with William Tell Coleman of the Committee of Vigilance in an attempt to keep the committee from hanging Cora and Casey. The committee was also officially reorganized today.
May 17, 1856
Committee of Vigilance was storing arms and conducting drills for new members. There were 2500 members, many of whom were also members of the California Militia. New committee was headquartered at 41 Sacramento St.
May 18, 1856
3000 armed members of the Committee of Vigilance marched on the county jail, removed Cora and Casey and placed them under guard in the committee's rooms on Sacramento St.

William T. Sherman was appointed by the Governor as the Major-General commanding the San Francisco division of the California Militia.

May 20, 1856
Charles Doane, Grand Marshal, swore in Robert S. Lamotte of Pennsylvania as captain of the Citizens Guard, Company "B" First Regiment of infantry in the military organization of the Committee of Vigilance. Lamotte had been a founder of the California Engine Co. No. 4.

James King of William died at 1:30 p.m. while Charles Cora was being tried before Committee of Vigilance.

May 22, 1856
Funeral services for James King of William at the Unitarian Church on Stockton St. and burial took place at Lone Mountain Cemetery. 20,000 people gathered at the Committee of Vigilance rooms on Sacramento St. to watch the hanging of Cora and Casey. Archbishop Alemany visited both men just before they were hanged at 1:20 p.m.
May 25, 1856
Rev. Benjamin B. Brierly spoke on Thoughts for the Crisis: a discourse delivered in the Washington St. Baptist church, on the Sabbath following the assassination of James King of William.
May 28, 1856
Thomas Sim King, brother of James King of William, became editor of the "Bulletin."
May 30, 1856
Gov. Johnson wired Gen. William T. Sherman to meet him in Benecia. The governor said he might have to call up the militia to restore law and order in San Francisco.
May 31, 1856
Ex-fighter Francis Murray, known as "Yankee Sullivan" committed suicide in his cell at the Committee of Vigilance headquarters. He was an accused ballot-stuffer who was to be deported to Sydney by the Committee. Sullivan was buried at Mission Dolores.
June 2, 1856
Gov. Johnson ordered newly-appointed Maj.-Gen. Sherman of the California Militia to call up its members because of the crisis in San Francisco.
June 3, 1856
Gov. Johnson proclaimed San Francisco in a state of insurrection because of Committee of Vigilance activities, and ordered all persons subject to military duty to report to Maj.-Gen. William T. Sherman to quell the insurrection.
June 5, 1856
Gov. Johnson asked Gen. John E. Wool, commandant of the Army at Benecia, for arms to help put down the San Francisco rebellion. The general refused.
June 9, 1856
Committee of Vigilance of San Francisco issued a proclamation which read in part: "All political, religious, and sectional differences and issues have given way to the paramount necessity of a thorough and fundamental reform and purification of the social and political body."
June 17, 1856
John C. Frémont was nominated for President by the new Republican Party. William Dayton was nominated for Vice-President.
June 20, 1856
Committee of Vigilance headquarters was fortified with sandbags to stop any attacks by troops sent by the Governor to quell the insurrection. Cannons are mounted on the roof to forestall bombardment.
June 21, 1856
John Durkee of the Committee of Vigilance led a raid on the schooner "Julia" and hijacked the muskets aboard that were destined for the militia at San Francisco. He took the arms to the Committee's headquarters on Sacramento St.

State Supreme Court Justice David Smith Terry was arrested by the Committee of Vigilance for stabbing vigilante policeman Sterling A. Hopkins on Jackson St. between Dupont and Kearny. Hopkins, who was the hangman for Cora and Casey, was in serious condition. Hopkins was stabbed when he attempted to arrest a member of the militia who was testifying in court about John Durkee's seizure of arms destined for the militia.

June 24, 1856
A Chinese shanty on Rincon Point near the Hospital, and standing partly over the water, was entered by three or four persons. There were three Chinamen in it who were in bed at the time. The burglars presented drawn knives to their throats and threatened to cut their heads off if they made the least noise. The frightened Chinamen made no resistance; the burglars throw a blanket over the head of each and tied them up to a post in the middle of the room. They then struck a light and commenced ransacking the house. One of the owners of the house returned later and found his companions tied up like victims to a stake.

At 11 o'clock this morning the U.S. Circuit Court room was again crowded by an expectant crowd. The case of former policeman John L. Durkee, charged with piracy upon the high seas came up. Durkee was Deputy Director of the Committee of Vigilance who led the boarding party that seized arms sent by the Governor to quell the insurrection in San Francisco. He was acquitted.

June 25, 1856
Organization called Independent City Guard adopted bylaws.
June 27, 1856
At a meeting of the Board of Aldermen this evening, an ordinance was passed for the payment of $46,000 for gas furnished the city for street lighting during the last eleven months.
June 30, 1856
A small one-story brick building containing a Coffee House has sprung up on a vacant lot on Sacramento Street, opposite the Vigilante Committee Rooms. It commenced business on Saturday evening, and as there are always a lot of loafers hanging about watching the movements of the Committee, it expects to do a big business.

An accident occurred today at a small frame building on Tremont, between Howard and Folsom streets. Two men, one the proprietor, C. Stoes, and an assistant named Charles Neff, were endeavoring to raise the house to a level with the street. While they were underneath, the building fell, having completely broken to pieces, and covered them in ruins. Mr. Neff's collarbone was broken, and Mr. Stoas badly bruised about the head and the upper part of the body.

Directors of the Mechanics' Institute on California St., near Leidesdorff, have issued an address to the mechanics of the city; it was called into existence for the purpose of elevating the dignity of the class of the community for whom it was designed. The Institute was organized on March 29, 1855, and now numbers 290 members.

The large flag waving from the roof of the St. Nicholas Hotel, on the corner of Sansome and Commercial streets, is Norwegian. The consul of that nation has taken rooms at the house.

The Saturnia Ceanothi, the California Silk-worm, can now be seen to advantage, in all its metamorphoses, from cocoon, its first, to the full- grown caterpillar, its last state, in the grounds of the San Francisco College, in Bush Street, between Mason and Taylor streets. There are upwards of one-thousand caterpillars, that will shortly be transformed into cocoons and chrysalides.

Mayor Van Ness' term ended.

July 1, 1856
Consolidation Act took effect today and discontinued the office of City Sexton. No provision was made by it for the performance of the duties heretofore devolving upon that office. Under the operation of the Consolidation Act, there was no longer a Recorder's Court. That tribunal was replaced by the "Police Court," the same in substance but different in title. The city and county were also merged into a single political entity, and remaining justices of the peace were to sit as a board of supervisors

Dr. W. O. Ayers lectured this evening before the Young Men's Christian Association, at the First Congregational Church, corner of California and Dupont streets on the subject of earthquakes.

The alarm of fire this afternoon was caused by an ignition from a stovepipe, in a house on Clay Street Wharf. The fire was extinguished before any of the Fire Department engines arrived. There was no damage done.

July 4, 1856
A gentleman from Columbia, by the name of White, was badly wounded in the foot by a wad discharged from a cannon on board the ship "Sirocco" while firing a salute at 12 o'clock today. It appears that the gun was pointed across Pacific street wharf, and had been discharged several times in that direction, previous to Mr. White's coming within range. The wads used by the gun were made of tarred rope gum, wound into hard balls to suit the calibre of the gun. There was evidently great carelessness in thus firing across the wharf.

About 6 o'clock this evening the sidewalk on Broadway, between Stockton and Dupont streets, took fire and raised quite an alarm. The Vigilants No. 9, were soon on the spot and put it out.

James McDonald, late Captain of Police, and ex-officio City Marshal, died at a quarter of 10 o'clock this morning, at his residence, on the corner of Broadway and Powell. He had been sick a long time. James McDonald was born in Covington, Ky., about the year 1822. He was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and afterwards went to New Orleans, from which place he came to this country in 1850.

Samuel P. Middleton, a young son of John Middleton, Esq., the auctioneer, was seriously injured by the accidental ignition of a quantity of gunpowder today, injuring him so severely that it is feared that he will lose his sight.

July 5, 1856
The neighborhood of the Washerwomen's Lagoon was thrown into a state of consternation at an early hour this morning by the discovery that two Chinamen had been robbed and brutally murdered in their houses sometime during the night. The dead men were Sum Kow and Yu Lee who were washermen and occupied two separate shanties.
July 6, 1856
Horace Bushnell, D.D. delivered the sermon, "Society and Religion--A Sermon for California," at the installation of Rev. Edward Silas Lacy as pastor of the First Congregational Church.

James McElroy was appointed City Marshal and served until the office was abolished in November.

July 7, 1856
A young man by the name of Anthony D. Gardiner, attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself this afternoon. He went to the Natchez Shooting Gallery on Clay street and asked for five shots. A long dueling pistol was loaded and handed to him by an attendant. He cocked it and immediately attempted to shoot himself through the heart. Bardiner was conducted to the station house and properly cared for. He is unfortunately dissipated, and when excited by drink as he was upon this occasion, labors under derangement.
July 8, 1856
George J. Whelan was elected president of the Board of Supervisors to serve as mayor.
July 13, 1856
The third Anniversary meeting of the Ladies' Protection and Relief Society took place this evening at the Washington Street Baptist Church.
July 20, 1856
"San Francisco News Letter" published its first edition.
July 24, 1856
Dr. Andrew Randall, chairman of the Academy of Sciences, was shot and killed by the gambler Joseph Hetherington. Dr. Randall came to California with Montgomery on the "U.S.S. Portsmouth" and lived at the Niantic Hotel. His office was at 134 Clay St.
July 29, 1856
Committee of Vigilance hanged Joseph Hetherington and Philander Brace at the committee's headquarters.
August 2, 1856
Light shock of earthquake was felt.
August 4, 1856
Largest and most important sale of real estate ever made in the city of San Francisco! Sale of the entire tract of land known as the Potrero Nuevo was held at the auction rooms of John Middleton.
August 7, 1856
Justice Terry was released by the Committee of Vigilance and immediately took refuge aboard the Navy vessel "John Adams" in San Francisco Bay.
August 18, 1856
Committee of Vigilance voluntarily disbanded after a parade of 6000 armed men. The committee's headquarters became a temporary museum.
September 2, 1856
Ladies' Aid & Protective Society to assist destitute seamen.
September 6, 1856
New Grand Jury sworn in by the Court of Sessions. William T. Sherman was the foreman.
September 30, 1856
"Sun" editor Francis A. Bonnard was indicted by the Grand Jury for libelling Augustus H. Heslep.
October 12, 1856
Conrad Wiegand under the pseudonym "William Carroll" discussed Dr. William Andrew Scott, the Committee of Vigilance and the Church; a lecture delivered in Musical Hall. Dr. Scott was opposed to the vigilantes and was hanged in effigy for his views.
October 18, 1856
Slight shock of earthquake felt.
November 4, 1856
Office of Chief of Police created with the election of James F. Curtis to the office.
November 13, 1856
More of the Folsom estate was sold, consisting of lots in the city of San Francisco. Sale the at Platt's Music Hall.
November 16, 1856
"The Herald" wrote that a Professor Wilson flew in a balloon over a distance of one mile and landed uninjured.
November 17, 1856
Two buildings in the block bounded by Clay, Commercial, Drumm and East streets fell into the bay when the pilings gave way. Fireman George Lencher of Engine Co. 5 was thrown into the water and injured when the buildings collapsed.

William T. Sherman wrote Dr. William Andrew Scott to praise him for his courage in opposing the Committee of Vigilance.

November 18, 1856
Board of Education met to adopt portions of the Consolidation Act, relating to the Department of Public Instruction.
November 23, 1856
Rev. Rufus Putnam Cutler delivered a Thanksgiving sermon at the First Unitarian Church, Stockton Street.
November 29, 1856
Tom Maguire opened the San Francisco Theatre on Washington St. with proceeds from the sale of the Jenny Lind Theatre. He later changed the name to Maguire's Opera House.
December 1, 1856
"Morning Call" established. It was owned by James J. Ayres, David W. Higgins, Lew Zublin, Charles F. Jobson and W. L. Carpenter.

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