The Wasp — 1887 — page 308: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily text—specifically a literature review of "The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft" and discussion of the Vigilance Committee of 1851. The content focuses on San Francisco's historical vigilante justice system, detailing how the Committee operated, who its members were, and their actions against criminals and corrupt officials. The text references real historical figures like James King of William (a newspaper editor), Casey (a ballot-box stuffer), and various Committee members. It discusses their trials, executions, and the Committee's broader anti-corruption efforts during a period when San Francisco's regular government was deemed inadequate. No political cartoon appears on this page—it's an informational article about 19th-century San Francisco history and civic justice.