The Confederate Raider the Alabama takes the Commonwealth, a merchant ship sailing for SF – on board are the brass gas fittings for streetlights that the town paid for in taxes. This makes the fence sitters pro-Union.
Orion readies the troops
On the day the CA should back down, Orion writes to Major McDermit asking how many troops and rounds are available immediately. He knows that news will get back to the legislators. It does.
Sam gets visits at TE offices of angry people
An anecdote reprinted a few days later in SF tells of an irate citizen who stormed into the office threatening to boot the Local all over the Territory. “Well,” drawled Twain, if you think you’ve got money enough to put me over all these toll-roads, just start in!”
