; without the shedding of a drop of blood. The people looked
on with astonishment to see with what precision and dispatch the
whole work had been accomplished. At eleven o'clock the next day,
the prisoners, with the exception of a few, who, had hitherto escaped
capture, were dismissed from the Rooms after having been cautioned
against being taken' again. Their appearance as they marched out of the
building and up the street, each man with his blanket strapped across
his shoulders, some with looks of dignified disgust, and others with a
most crestfallen or woebegone expression was ludicrous in the extreme,
and caused hearty laughter and many jokes at their expense. In addition
to the offenders those secured in the Rooms of the Committee, there were
many others at liberty for whom a quiet but unremitting search was kept
up. When any one was found, on the street or in any of his usual haunts,
he was very sure to surrender at the first summons of the officer,
probably for the reason humorously assigned by one of the most bitter
opponents of the Committee, who, after an envenomed tirade against it,
was asked, "Suppose, while talking on Montgomery Street, some one
should tap you on the shoulder, and say, you are wanted at the Vigilance
Committee Rooms, should you go?" "Of course I should," said he,
"Indeed," said the other, "I should not, from your talk, have expected
it." "Why," said he, "you don't think me such a consummate fool as to
attempt to buck up against two thousand men." Sometimes, however numbers
gave confidence to the rowdies, and they ventured, regardless of the
lessons of experience, to indulge in their old practices in public. A
public evening meeting was held in front of Montgomery Block to consider
what action should be taken in reference to certain Officials believed
to have been unfairly elected, and a part of whom at least were charged
with maladministration of the affairs of the City. A Committee had been
chosen to request these City officers to resign, and this Committee were
directed to report at an adjourned meeting in the same place. Before the
second meeting was held, it was understood that an attempt would be made
to break up the meeting. The intended disturbers stationed themselves
opposite the Montgomery Block, and by shouts, groans and noises of all
kinds, endeavoured to interrupt the proceedings. This was borne as long
as possible. At last a party of Vigilantes broke in from the extremity
of the