September 9, 2005
Charles Cora must have been a happy man as he arrived in San Francisco in 1852 with Arabella Ryan on his arm. And why not? He was a professional gambler of the highest reputation, and would have been delighted by the wide open nature of the town in the gold rush years — a perfect hunting ground for a man of his special talents.
Just a few years later, however, his luck would finally end, as he ran into San Francisco’s controversial “Second Committee of Vigilance“… and a noose.
Thanks to Qui Custodientes Custodient for the use of the track “A Bug’s Life March”, courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network.
Sparkletack was the blog and podcast of a guy obsessed with diggin' up San Francisco history. The site is on permanent hiatus.
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January 24, 2008 at 10:12 pm
“Arabella Ryan” .. “Belle Cora” .. she had some sexy names lol
February 24, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Good day, Richard,
Oh, what a sad story! I hate to think of the many men and women who died at the hands of vigilant justice in a time when justice was raw. It’s a shame that so many, even today, react without thinking of the deeds they may do and what harm they may cause to others. Sometimes to innocents.
I do like the idea of a gambler and an owner of “a house of ill repute” making it into high society, someplace where the upper-class rarely let anyone not born to it enter.
Chloe
November 12, 2009 at 11:31 pm
I am a native San Franciscan born and raised in the Mission, and am always intrigued with the stories of the Barbary Coast. I look at this one as a very sad love story, but one with a somewhat happy ending. Its my understanding that Bella Cora was denied burial with her husband for quite sometime after she died at the ripe old age of 35. Ultimately she was exhumed and reburied alongside the love of her life.
I went to school at Mission Dolores and it continues to be my parish church (half century) and have been in the old cemetary 100s of times. I feel compelled to go by and pay my respects to them, and hope they are happy together.
Ugly times in my hometown, and glad we have grown somewhat.
Jim S
December 14, 2009 at 9:45 am
@ Jim Salinas Sr: A sad love story, that’s exactly how I see it … and I’ve also paid my respects to the pair at Mission Dolores on more than one occasion.
Don’t know if they can feel a thing, but I hope they’re happy too.
February 14, 2010 at 3:36 pm
@Richard. Went by today on Valentines Day after mass, and I assure you they knew. I know they knew. Love still exists today, just not the way we know it.
February 14, 2010 at 3:46 pm
I love that, Jim — I just love it. Thank you.
November 26, 2011 at 9:55 pm
I have been trying to find pics of these two, do you have any by chance? I have been going to engineering school for music and have been writing my country music album “Running with the Gambler” and I am fascinated by their story and want to incorporate it in the theme of my album…I am very inspired by the whole 49er era and feel that people from the South need a good taste of the California Gold Rush era~
Thank You
~Madalyn
November 27, 2011 at 12:03 pm
@ Madalyn I’m afraid I don’t. I’d suggest contacting the folks in the San Francisco History Center at the San Francisco Public Library.
November 27, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Thanks Richard…I will definitely start there!Something is bound to come up…