An immense congregation of excited citizens assembled on the Plaza, closing upon and threatening to storm the jail in order to execute dire vengeance upon the murderer. This crowd grew to wonderful proportions.
In the mean time the authorities were not idle; the military were called upon to preserve order, and, in obedience to its sworn duty, the “City Guard,” within an hour thereafter, left the armory (corner Kearny and Clay) for the scene of trouble. Although the company had but a short distance to go, it was a march to be long remembered, for upon appearing on the street, the members met with a warm reception. The crowd jeered, they stormed, they threatened, they threw all sorts of missiles (no one was seriously injured however), did every thing possible to impede their progress toward the jail, but with no avail. These soldiers, putting all their personal feelings aside, were doing but their duty, and they did that duty well.
Lieutenant Watson, who was in command during the absence of Captain Clark in the East, had the muskets loaded with ball, and it became necessary, not only to use the bayonet occasionally, but two or three times was the command “aim” given, and the men silently and with determination waited for the word “fire,” so were their tempers worked upon by this time: it was a hot crowd. Fortunately for some one, however, the mob gave way under this pressure, and the “Guard” finally entered the jail, taking position best adapted for its proper protection. Here the company remained all night and until 10:30 o’clock the next day, when the excitement becoming somewhat abated, they returned to the armory and were dismissed, with orders to report again immediately upon hearing the alarm sounded.
This summons never came. But, on the other hand, notwithstanding the prompt response and constant readiness of the boys to perform their duty, Lieutenant Colonel West and Sheriff D. Scannell mistrusted them, and quietly removed the arms and accoutrements from the armory that day, thus leaving the organization without the means of effective service. This high-handed proceeding upon their part was resented by the “City Guard,” as will be shown by the following proceedings of a meeting held at the armory at 2 o’clock P. M. of the following day, the 16th (it being duly advertised in the papers of that time), to take into consideration the removal of arras and accoutrements from their armory on the 15th instant:
“Lieutenant Watson in the chair.
“Lieutenant Colonel West appeared to explain his action in relation to the removal of said arms and accoutrements, stating that said arms were removed by order of Major General Sherman,[7] and that he held himself personally responsible therefor.
[7] Commanding Second Division, C. S. M.
“After which the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:
“Resolved, that in the opinion of this corps we have been unjustly and improperly deprived of our arms without the consent or knowledge of our commandant.
“Resolved, therefore, that a committee be appointed to wait on Colonel J. R. West and request the return of the arms, and, in the event of said request not being complied with, the ‘City Guard’ do immediately disband.