The Hounds
Encyclopedia
The Hounds, west coast counterparts of New York
's Bowery Boys, were a nativist or anti-foreigner gang of San Francisco
which specifically targeted recently arrived immigrants, particularly Spanish Americans, during the California Gold Rush
of 1849.
Officially called the San Francisco Society of Regulators, the gang, mostly made up of thugs and criminals as well as former Mexican-American War veterans, would later become known as The Hounds. Controlled by the "Know Nothing
" political party, the gang used patriotism in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War to drive foreigners from the recently discovered gold fields. The Hounds had early popular support despite their brutal tactics, as many of the gang attacked unarmed Mexican and Chilean immigrants in Clark Point
and extorted money from those few who were successful. The Hounds soon began demanding protection money from the city residents, indiscriminately looting and burning stores and killing anyone who resisted.
On July 15, 1849 the Hounds attacked a Spanish "shantie town," robbing and killing several immigrants. While city officials were previously hesitant to take action against the Hounds, this attack finally turned the public against the Hounds, with money collected for the Spanish, Alcade Dr. T.M. Leavenworth along with Sam Brannan, Captain Beezer Simmons, and other citizens demanded the city take action and later 230 men were deputized to arrest the Hounds. However, most of the gang had fled the city by this time, although around 20 members, including a leader of the Hounds, Sam Roberts, were captured by troops led by merchant Isacc Bluxome Jr.. Roberts and another member called Saunders were sentenced to ten years imprisonment while the other members were given shorter sentences; however, the influence of "Know Nothing" politicians was able to overturn these convictions. The public resentment and hostility toward the gang, however, would prevent the Hounds from reorganizing. Most left the city shortly after their release.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Bowery Boys, were a nativist or anti-foreigner gang of San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
which specifically targeted recently arrived immigrants, particularly Spanish Americans, during the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
of 1849.
Officially called the San Francisco Society of Regulators, the gang, mostly made up of thugs and criminals as well as former Mexican-American War veterans, would later become known as The Hounds. Controlled by the "Know Nothing
Know Nothing
The Know Nothing was a movement by the nativist American political faction of the 1840s and 1850s. It was empowered by popular fears that the country was being overwhelmed by German and Irish Catholic immigrants, who were often regarded as hostile to Anglo-Saxon Protestant values and controlled by...
" political party, the gang used patriotism in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War to drive foreigners from the recently discovered gold fields. The Hounds had early popular support despite their brutal tactics, as many of the gang attacked unarmed Mexican and Chilean immigrants in Clark Point
Clark Point
Clark Point is an ice-covered headland at the east side of the entrance to Paulding Bay. It was delineated by G.D. Blodgett from aerial photographs taken by U.S. Navy Operation Highjump , and named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for George W...
and extorted money from those few who were successful. The Hounds soon began demanding protection money from the city residents, indiscriminately looting and burning stores and killing anyone who resisted.
On July 15, 1849 the Hounds attacked a Spanish "shantie town," robbing and killing several immigrants. While city officials were previously hesitant to take action against the Hounds, this attack finally turned the public against the Hounds, with money collected for the Spanish, Alcade Dr. T.M. Leavenworth along with Sam Brannan, Captain Beezer Simmons, and other citizens demanded the city take action and later 230 men were deputized to arrest the Hounds. However, most of the gang had fled the city by this time, although around 20 members, including a leader of the Hounds, Sam Roberts, were captured by troops led by merchant Isacc Bluxome Jr.. Roberts and another member called Saunders were sentenced to ten years imprisonment while the other members were given shorter sentences; however, the influence of "Know Nothing" politicians was able to overturn these convictions. The public resentment and hostility toward the gang, however, would prevent the Hounds from reorganizing. Most left the city shortly after their release.
Further reading
- Sifakis, Carl. The Encyclopedia of American Crime: Second Edition Vol. I (A-J). New York: Facts On File Inc., 2001.