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n April 17； 1855。 Their passage down the coast was very pleasant till within a day's distance of Panama； when one bright moonlit night； April 29th； the ship； running at full speed； between the Islands Quibo and Quicara； struck on a sunken reef； tore out a streak in her bottom； and at once began to fill with water。 Fortunately she did not sink fast； but swung off into deep water； and Commodore Watkins happening to be on deck at the moment； walking with Mr。 Aspinwall； learning that the water was rushing in with great rapidity； gave orders for a full head of steam； and turned the vessel's bow straight for the Island Quicara。 The water rose rapidly in the hold； the passengers were all assembled； fearful of going down； the fires were out； and the last revolution of the wheels made； when her bow touched gently on the beach； and the vessel's stern sank in deep water。 Lines were got out； and the ship held in an upright position； so that the passengers were safe； and but little incommoded。 I have often heard Mrs。 Sherman tell of the boy Eagan； then about fourteen years old； coming to her state…room； and telling to her not to be afraid； as he was a good swimmer； but on coming out into the cabin； partially dressed； she felt more confidence in the cool manner； bearing； and greater strength of Mr。 Winters。 There must have been nearly a thousand souls on board at the time； few of whom could have been saved had the steamer gone down in mid…channel； which surely would have resulted； had not Commodore Watkins been on deck； or had he been less prompt in his determination to beach his ship。 A sailboat was dispatched toward Panama； which luckily met the steamer John T。 Stephens； just coming out of the bay； loaded with about a thousand passengers bound for San Francisco； and she at once proceeded to the relief of the Golden Age。 Her passengers were transferred in small boats to the Stephens； which vessel； with her two thousand people crowded together with hardly standing…room； returned to Panama； whence the passengers for the East proceeded to their destination without further delay。 Luckily for Mrs。 Sherman； Purser Goddard； an old Ohio friend of ours； was on the Stephens； and most kindly gave up his own room to her； and such lady friends as she included in her party。 The Golden Age was afterward partially repaired at Quicara； pumped out； and steamed to Panama； when； after further repairs； she resumed her place in the line。 I think she is still in existence； but Commodore Watkins afterward lost his life in China； by falling down a hatchway。
Mrs。 Sherman returned in the latter part of November of the same year； when Mr。 and Mrs。 Bowman； who meantime had bought a lot next to us and erected a house thereon； removed to it； and we thus continued close neighbors and friends until we left the country for good in 1857。
During the summer of 1856； in San Francisco； occurred one of those unhappy events； too common to new countries； in which I became involved in spite of myself。
William Neely Johnson was Governor of California； and resided at Sacramento City； General John E。 Wool commanded the Department of California； having succeeded General Hitcheock； and had his headquarters at Benicia； and a Mr。 Van Ness was mayor of the city。 Politics had become a regular and profitable business； and politicians were more than suspected of being corrupt。 It was reported and currently believed that the sheriff （Scannell） had been required to pay the Democratic Central Committee a hundred thousand dollars for his nomination； which was equivalent to an election； for an office of the nominal salary of twelve thousand dollars a year for four years。 In the election all sorts of dishonesty were charged and believed； especially of 〃ballot…box stuffing；〃 and too generally the better classes avoided the elections and dodged jury…duty； so that the affairs of the city government necessarily passed into the hands of a low set of professional politicians。 Among them was a man named James Casey； who edited a small paper； the printing office of which was in a room on the third floor of our banking。 office。 I hardly knew him by sight； and rarely if ever saw his paper； but one day Mr。 Sather； of the excellent banking firm of Drexel； Sather & Church； came to me； and called my attention to an article in Casey's paper so full of falsehood and malice； that we construed it as an effort to black…mail the banks generally。 At that time we were all laboring to restore confidence； which had been so rudely shaken by the panic； and I went up…stairs； found Casey； and pointed out to him the objectionable nature of his article； told him plainly that I could not tolerate his attempt to print and circulate slanders in our building； and； if he repeated it； I world cause him and his press to be thrown out of the windows。 He took the hint and moved to more friendly quarters。 I mention this fact； to show my estimate of the man； who became a figure in the drama I am about to describe。 James King of Wm。； as before explained； was in 1853 a banker on his own account； but some time in 1854 he had closed out his business； and engaged with Adams & Co。 as cashier。 When this firm failed； he； in common with all the employees； was thrown out of employment； and had to look around for something else。 He settled down to the publication of an evening paper； called the Bulletin； and； being a man of fine manners and address； he at once constituted himself the champion of society against the public and private characters whom he saw fit to arraign。
As might have been expected； this soon brought him into the usual newspaper war with other editors； and especially with Casey； and epithets a la 〃Eatanswill〃 were soon bandying back and forth between them。 One evening of May； 1856； King published； in the Bulletin； copies of papers procured from New York； to show that Casey had once been sentenced to the State penitentiary at Sing Sing。 Casey took mortal offense； and called at the Bulletin office； on the corner of Montgomery and Merchant Streets； where he found King； and violent words passed between them； resulting in Casey giving King notice that he would shoot him on sight。 King remained in his office till about 5 or 6 p。m。； when he started toward his home on Stockton Street； and； as he neared the corner of Washington； Casey approached him from the opposite direction； called to him； and began firing。 King had on a short cloak； and in his breast…pocket a small pistol； which he did not use。 One of Casey's shots struck him high up in the breast； from which he reeled； was caught by some passing friend； and carried into the express…office on the corner； where he was laid on the counter； and a surgeon sent for。 Casey escaped up Washington Street； went to the City Hall； and delivered himself to the sheriff （Scannell）； who conveyed him to jail and locked him in a cell。 Meantime； the news spread like wildfire； and all the city was in commotion； for grog was very popular。 Nisbet； who boarded with us on Harrison Street； had been delayed at the bank later than usual； so that he happened to be near at the time； and； when he came out to dinner； he brought me the news of this affair； and said that there was