CJjaptu €tn. 
THE “ HOUNDS ”—VILLAINY—INDIGNATION MEETING—VIGILANCE COMMITTEE. 
San Francisco was, at this time, infested by a gang of des¬ 
perados disposed to repudiate all laws, and be governed only 
by their own fiendish propensities. They styled themselves 
“ hounds,” and neither life nor property were secure against their 
depredations. They felt so secure in their strength and numbers, 
that they did not seek the protection of night, but frequently 
committed the most revolting crimes at noon-day, and under the 
eye of the public authorities. They would enter public houses, 
demand whatever they wished, always forgetting to pay for the 
same, and, perhaps, before leaving, demolish every article of 
furniture on the premises. This would be a mere prelude or 
introductory to a night of fiendish revelry. They would plun¬ 
der houses, commit the most diabolical acts upon the inmates, 
murder in case of resistance, then commit the building to the 
flames to hide their infamy. 
On the first Sunday after my arrival, several of the leaders of 
the gang returned to town, after a few days’ absence. They 
crossed over from the opposite side of the bay, having with them 
a fife and drum, the music of which was accompanied by yells, 
groans and hisses, such as one would only expect to hear from 
demons. After landing they marched into the main plaza, and 
executing a few peculiar evolutions, dispensed with their music, 
at least the instrumental part of it, and commenced their foray. 
I was seated in a restaurant as the captain and five of his follow¬ 
ers entered. He drew up to a table upon which were several 
glasses, decanters, &c., together with sundry plates of refreshments. 
He raised his foot, kicked over the table, smashing the crockery 
into atoms, then taking his cigar from his mouth said, with the 
utmost nonchalance , u waiter, bring me a gin-cocktail, Gr—d d—n 
