But at the foot of the stairs the guard made similar demand, and again the word had to be shouted from above, that I was to be allowed to pass out.  One of the guards then took my arm, escorted me through the file of outside guards, into the street, and I was, finally, “all right.”  But I felt curious in regard to Broderick and McKibben, The next day Dows told me we had all been wanted as witnesses on behalf of one of the prisoners in the custody of the Committee, but that he had got me excused.  From Broderick I subsequently learned that he had given his testimony and had then come away.  Also had McKibbon.

Rumors had been circulated that Broderick was to be arrested by the Committee.  Whether true or false, I never learned, At all events he soon left San Francisco and made a tour of the mountain counties, to promote his canvass for the Senatorship, which he achieved the following year.  His devoted friends were all violently opposed to the Committee, and any harm to him, by that body, would have been the occasion of very serious trouble.

Colonel E. D. Baker had defended Charles Cora, at his trial, as I have related.  He was positive and unreserved in his denunciation of the Committee.  Whether he was ever threatened with arrest I do not know; but he likewise left the city and went into the interior Northern Counties and there practiced his profession until September, when he entered into the Presidential campaign as chief orator of the Republican party, for Fremont, and in November returned to his practice in San Francisco.

The Vigilance Committee disbanded their military forces late in August.  The Executive Committee held to them for future emergencies, but ceased their meetings.  Fort Gunny Bags was dismantled.  The rooms were abandoned; but as a closing scene, a grand review of the military was held near South Park, and the rooms were thrown open to the public.  Thousands, ladies and gentlemen and children went there, and looked at the stuffed ballot-box, at the nooses and ropes used in the hanging of Casey and Cora, of Hetherington and Brace, at the shackles and gyves, at all the other instruments and paraphernalia of the gallows and the cells, into the narrow cells and their scant furniture, and at all the ghastly curios of these haunted rooms of life and death, of mental torture and bodily suffering, of forced suicide and the mocking of the crazed victim of his own despair and desperation.  It was a remarkable sight for women, an astounding treat to ladies, and such an example to children, boys and girls!  But comment is not required.

The city and county election was soon to follow.  The Committee men did not neglect the opportunity which their powerful organization had given them.  The Executive Committee became practically a self-constituted nominating convention.  Their rank and file were not forgotten.  General Doane was nominated for Sheriff.  For every other office Vigilance men were named the candidates.  None others had chance