The news flew with lightning speed over the
City. The bell of the Vigilance Committee Rooms sounded; and instantly
the streets were swarming with members obedient at all times to its
summons. As the sound struck his ear, every man discontinued the work
upon which he was employed. Draymen passing with loads, unharnessed
their horses, mounted and rode off; engines in the great foundries
were stopped, and employers and men started off on the run; builders,
pressmen, shopmen, merchants, professional men, were alike hurrying to
the Committee Rooms. As they arrived, they took arms, were formed in
companies, and reported ready for duty. In a few minutes, a body of
cavalry were thundering through the streets and surrounding the block
in which was the Blues Armory. Then up every street poured companies of
infantry at double-quick time, and took possession of every important
point. So quickly was this done that only some thirty men of the so
called "law and order" party had been able to assemble in the Armory.
They were summoned to surrender, and alter some little parley, concluded
to do so. Terry, Ashe and Maloney were placed in carriages and conveyed
to the Committee Rooms. The other prisoners were then disarmed and they
were kept in the Armory until evening, when they likewise were marched
to the Committee Rooms.

While this was enacting, a strong force had surrounded the California
Exchange on the corner of Clay and Kearney Streets, where some seventy
or eighty of the "law and order" men had assembled, and where was a
depot of arms. In front of this building, a battery of artillery was in
position flanked by a detachment of infantry. The commander of the party
in the building was summoned to surrender in five minutes. When four
minutes and a half had expired, the cautionary order of "Artillery,
attention" was heard, and at the same instant the doors were thrown
open, and a surrender made. Every, man was made to present himself at
the door, deposit his musket, strip off his accoutrements, and go back
into the room. The arms were taken to the Committee Rooms, and the
building left under a strong guard. All the other Armories of the "law
and order" party were taken about the same time by other detachments. In
less than two hours after the sounding of the alarm bell, the "law and
order" party had surrendered; all their arms were secured; the leaders
of their troops dismissed on parole; and the rank and file placed in
safe keeping