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Show 258 PERSONAL ADVENTURES ing exactions of every kind upon those whom they marked as their prey, and not at all particular as to the consequences. Their headquarters were at a tavern called the "Shades" ' the resort of the wildest characters in San Francisco. It was kept by a very civil, obliging individual named Patterson, formerly a volunteer, but who had quitted the service a considerable time before I entered it, and who, re· pairing to the mines, had been fortunate enough to dig a large amount of gold. With this he speculated in land, and succeeded be· yond his expectations; one of his lucky pro· jects being the establishment of the tavern in which he resided ; and which, in spite of its bad name, was one of the most rnoney-rrtaking in the town. Before I left, its reputation had • Improved ; and it is now as well regulated as any other. With such facilities for dissipation as San Francisco afforded at this time it was not to ' be wondered at that such a fraternity of ruffians should exist there, and be enabled to IN CALIFORNIA. 259 carry on their nefarious practises with impunity, or that it should have been a resort for a very large number of the most desperate adventurers, 'vho here founrl a wide .field open to their operations. Crow,.ds of these men paraded the streets at all hours, but especially at night-time, comn1itting acts of the most revolting nature, and daringly insulting the timid passers-by. Crimes of almost every hue were openly perpetrated with the most audacious recklessness ; for there existed no law to which the citizens could, with any degree of confidence, appeal ; and a general feeling of insecurity, in respect both of property and person, pervaded all classes. The numbers of these wild and lawless n1en who thus infested the public thoroughfares were perfectly astounding ; some of them would gallop headlong through the most frequented streets, and, alighting at any hotel, demand what they wanted, and often refuse to pay for it; involving peaceably-inclined persons in unexpected broils, which not unfrequently resulted in serious frays, and terminated in blood- |