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 Fransisco 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 Chilian 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, yet 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 10 years inprisonment while the other members were given shorter sentences; however, the influence of "Know Nothing" politicians were able to overturn these convictions. The public resentment and hostility toward the gang however would prevent the Hounds from reorganizing and most of them later left the city shortly after their release.

Further reading

Carl Sifakis, The Encyclopedia of American Crime: Second Edition Vol. I (A-J), Facts On File Inc., New York, 2001

External links

• San Francisco History: Part Three - The Hounds