crawled to Mr. Lemm's house and told him of the fearful crime that had been committed. In the morning a sickening sight presented itself to the spectators. One body lay almost across the doorway, face downward, with his brain oozing out of a bullet-hole in the head. The second body was stretched out like the first; another was huddled up in a heap; a fourth was on the bed, groaning with pain; a fifth was across the creek under some brush, while the sixth was the one that gave the information. The names of the victims were Ah Lee, Ah Gow, Shu In, Ah Yuen-the last dying while the coroner's jury was present. H. T. A. Smizer was foreman of the jury. A reign of terror was instituted in Chico, no man knowing who the perpetrators of the foul crime could be. Charges were made against the Order of Caucasians and the Labor Union with having sanctioned the outrage, and both these associations hastened to denounce the diabolical act, and to deny having had knowledge of or complicity with it. The fears of the people were not allayed by sundry threatening letters received at the time by prominent citizens. We give a few of them to indicate the pressure that was brought to bear upon the minds and imaginations of the citizens. consequences. TO GEN. BIDWELL-Sir: Get rid of your Chinese help within the next two months, or suffer the Let this be enough. COMMITTEE. CHAS. BALL-Sir: Get rid of your Chinese help within fifteen days from this date, or meet the consequences. COMMITTEE. CHICO HOTEL-Sir: Get rid of your Chinese help within the next two months, or you'll meet the You'll find out in time which is the best course for you to take; fair warning. consequences. COMMITTEE. MRS. JONES-Madam: Have the kindness to discharge your Chinese help within two weeks and save trouble. COMMITTEE. UNION HOTEL-Sirs: If you would consult your interests, get rid of your Chinese help—all of them -inside of twenty days from this, and save your property from the red glare of night. Let this be your warning. COMMITTEE. To J. M. DECKER-Sir: You will discharge all the Chinese in your employ at present on or before the first of next month, and save yourself trouble. You will not be told again. COMMITTEE. The board of trustees organized a citizens' committee of seventeen persons to seek out the murderers; detectives were hired, and for several days the town was on the qui vive of excitement. Forty-eight hours after, Eugene Roberts, John Slaughter, Charles Slaughter, F. E. Conway, J. Mahoney, H. T. Jones, Adam Holderbaum, H. C. Wright and Thomas Steinbrook were arrested. On the thirtieth, at a citizens' meeting, it was resolved" that the further discussion of the Chinese question should be at once and forever withdrawn from the dark corners of secret societies and referred to open and fair debate before the people." Confessions were elicited from F. E. Conway, Thomas Stainbrook, H. C. Wright, Charles Slaughter and Eugene Roberts. S. L. Daniels received the confession from Conway after he had been in jail two days. The examinations were held before Judge Hallett. Five persons were held for arson, and four for murder and arson. From the county court they received sentences varying from five to twenty-five years respectively. So ended the "reign of terror" in Chico by a complete triumph of justice and law. In 1875, the Chico Stock Association was formed, which had a wide reputation in sporting circles. Mr. S. L. Daniels was the principal manager, and devoted much time and attention to bringing this track and location into general public notice. A large amount was expended in building the track, which is one of the finest in the state. On the twenty-first of May, 1877, occurred the celebrated race between Goldsmith Maid and Rarus, which was trotted on this track. Three thousand people were present to witness the affair. The Maid was driven by Budd Doble, and Rarus by John Splan. Goldsmith Maid won the first heat in 2:191, having made the first half mile in 1:08. In the second heat the quarter was made in 36 seconds, the half-mile in 1:07, and the Maid won the heat by half a neck in 2:14, the fastest time ever made prior to that period. The third heat resulted the same as the second, save that the time was 2:17. On the twenty-fifth of May, 1877, Occident and Bodine trotted four heats on the Chico track. Occident won the first heat, but the three others were gained by Bodine. The best time made was 2:15. The association was succeeded in 1880 by the present society of the same name. The first military organization of Chico was the Chico Light Infantry, mustered into service of the state in January, 1864. The roster of December shows that Joseph Eddy was captain; Edward Hallett, Charles L. Stillson and Israel Hull were lieutenants. The organization at first numbered sixty, and afterwards increased somewhat. In 1868 the company disbanded. The Chico Guard were mustered into the service of the state on the twenty-ninth of April, 1875. The first muster-roll of the company shows that there were fifty-eight privates and seventeen officers, together with a drummer, marker and fifer. The original officers of the company were as follows: captain, William T. Turner; lieutenants, H. F. Batchelder and Samuel T. Black. Meetings were held for two years in the old pavilion building, now torn down. Then a room was rented by the Guards in the present armory building, and with the addition of another large room for business meetings, the same place has been occupied by them to the present time. At the organization of the company General Bidwell donated the Guards one hundred dollars, and since that time has on several occasions received them in a body at his palatial residence. For some time the Guards had to parade without uniforms. When the demand for them became urgent, General Bidwell again came to the rescue and put his signature to a document to the extent of one thousand dollars in aid of such improvement. In the month of June, 1876, the Guards appeared on dress parade with the elegant suits now used by them. In the spring of 1877, seven hundred and fifty dollars were expended in fitting up the armory with racks, tables, carpets and other paraphernalia. No more perfect state military organization than the Chico Guards can be found in northern California. Among the various associations of Chico the company stands the very highest in the esteem of the citizens. The present officers are: captain, H. T. Batchelder; lieutenants, W. R. Williams and C. N. Johnson. The ladies of the town have presented the company with an elegant silk flag, used only on state occasions. tion. Of secret orders Chico has had a large number; those now in existence are in a flourishing condi CHICO LODGE, No. 111, F. & A. M., was organized under dispensation January 10, 1857, with Allen Wood, W.M.; John B. Smith, S.W.; John Bidwell, J.W. It was chartered June 20, 1857, with John Bidwell, W.M.; J. B. Smith, S.W.; A. M. Sadorus, J.W.; E. B. Kinson, Treas.; C. Wheeler, Sec.; W. A. Middleton, S.D.; H. M. Jennings, J.D.; W. V. Polk, Tyler. The lodge is a large and flourishing one. CHICO CHAPTER, No. 42, R. A. M., was chartered April 12, 1871, with the following officers: C. L. Pond, H.P.; R. M. Cochran, K.; W. P. Tilden, S.; Ed. Hoole, C. of H.; Ira Wetherbee, R.A.C.; C. C. Mason, M. 3d V.; O. H. P. Tanquary, M. 2d V.; John Bidwell, M. 1st V.; G. F. Jones, Treas.; J. F. Wayland, Sec., J. R. Robinson, Guard. CHICO COMMANDERY, No. 12, was organized under dispensation January 19, 1876, and chartered April 16, 1876. Thirty-six members were knighted before the charter was obtained. The first officers under the charter were: C. C. Mason, E.C.; J. A. Turner, Gen.; C. Faulkner, C.G.; R. E. Warren, P.; W. T. Turner, S.W.; C. Nichols, J.W.; Ira Wetherbee, Treas.; G. H. Crossette, R.; J. W. B. Montgomery, St.B.; C. L. Pond, S.B.; J. M. Jackson, W.; L. Hanson, Sentinel. The Masonic hall was built in 1871, and is a very commodious and handsomely-furnished building. CHICO LODGE, No. 113, I. O. O. F., was instituted January 5, 1863. The first meetings of the lodge were held in the Masonic hall, and continued so for two years; then a lodge-room was fitted up on the corner of Main and Second streets, which burned in the fire of 1873. Their present building was then erected. CHICO ENCAMPMENT, No. 33, was instituted December 21, 1869. The Odd Fellows hall was built in conjunction with the Masons, each order occupying a lodge-room of its own. VICTORY LODGE, No. 1675, Knights of Honor, was organized June 27, 1879, with twenty-two charter members. George H. Crossette was the first Dictator, and J. M. Ormsby is the present presiding officer. The membership of the order is fifty-six. CHICO COUNCIL, No. 55, American Legion of Honor, was instituted December 7, 1879, with ten charter members. C. A. Beesley was the first Commander. The office is now held by George H. Crossette. The other orders in Chico are the Improved Order of Red Men, established in 1869, and the Order of Chosen Friends, chartered in 1881. WASHINGTON CAMP, No. 18, Patriotic Order Sons of America, was organized October 29, 1881, with thirty-five members; there are now seventy. The first meetings were held at Armory hall, but the lodge now convenes at Henerie hall. HALLECK POST, No. 19, G. A. R., was organized April 2, 1881, with George S. Snook as commander. The charter members are John McCullough, George A. Lowell, A. L. Knowlton, H. T. Batchelder, E. B. Stuckey, Geo. S. Snook, George Miller, J. M. Abrams, John H. Allen, H. L. Slater, M. W. Green, Jack Terill, James Davison, J. W. Cook. OROVILLE AND VICINITY. The first discoveries of gold in this vicinity were made in the fall of 1849. The precious metal was almost simultaneously found to exist at Ophir, White Rock, Long's bar and many other places along this part of the river. The earliest settlements were made in this region in the beginning of the month of October, 1849. Great numbers of miners flocked hither. For several miles along the river they staked off their claims, and but a few days sufficed to change the silent wilderness into a peopled tract of bustle and industry. Active, energetic life was found everywhere. store at the bar two miles This was a general establuxuries; being grocery, sa Some time during the month of October, the Long brothers opened a above the present site of Oroville, and from them the place took its name. lishment to supply the people with the necessities of life, and some of its loon, hotel and bakery all in one. Long's bar was for some time the most important of the mining camps in this region, and had a considerable population. The diggings were very rich, and the country around was dotted with hundreds of white tents and rude cabins. On the first of November, 1849, J. M. Burt arrived from below with several loads of provisions and opened another store. Both of the mercantile concerns did a heavy business-principally in prices. Flour and provisions were sold at the uniform price of $1.25 per pound, a drink of whisky was valued at a pinch of gold-dust—quite a precious pinch, by the way, which rarely fell below a dollar and a half. A barrel of whisky in those days was no inconsiderable piece of property, for it usually brought to the vendor thereof a good four thou sand dollars. Gold-dust soon became far more plentiful in proportion than the things it would buy. Molasses and sugar were in great demand, but as the winter came on the supply grew very limited, in |