alternatehistory.com
1. The Steps To Majesty
17th of September, 1859. It was a normal day at the San Francisco Bulletin, as the beginnings of Autumn was in the air. The editor was in his office, working to spruce up something interesting. He leaned back. San Francisco was known for its interesting populace. Hell, the editor could write about a sacred order of his uncles-in-law and the readers would buy it. However, nobody had really gone there. To the point of being completely loony. Then, the door of his office swung open, and a man, in strange garment, would boom a voice of grandeur, demanding my services to publish his proclamation, which he held in his hands. One of the writers explained that he tried to stop him, but the editor ushered his friend away and asked the strange man to see his proclamation. Instead, the man went on to read his proclamation, as he filled his voice with compassion and presented himself in a royal manner.
Photograph of Joshua A. Norton, “Emperor of the United States”
This proclamation thrown out to the public was to be a one-off laugh to the public, but it would define a new character for Joshua Norton. Before he was Emperor of the U.S, Joshua Norton was an eccentric, wealthy businessman originally raised in South Africa, later moving to San Francisco. He began his career selling mining supplies during the California Gold Rush and later gained his wealth in real estate. However, bad investing and a flopped court case would bring the high living of Mr. Norton down to nothing, filing for bankruptcy and disappearing for some time.
With this new Joshua Norton, "Emperor of the United States", he was the talk of the city. Emperor Norton would often go around strolling, inspecting the sidewalks and cable cars to see their condition, even making sure policemen made their needed patrols to keep San Francisco safe. He would gather people in small crowds and discuss things like the state of American politics. Emperor Norton often discredited American elections, calling the title of President "an item to be auctioned". Although having personal beliefs, the imperial decrees he declared, which told to remove the current officials of the U.S government early on, would strengthen the character that was Emperor Norton I. Emperor Norton became so popular that young men often joined in on his strolls to talk to him, leading to newspapers justifying this patterning occurrence by calling them the "Royal Guard".
And so, the idea of the Royal Guard was born. Emperor Norton made an imperial decree to ask for volunteers for the Royal Guard. At first, these were just young boys, looking up to this charismatic character, to look out for trouble on the streets, but it soon grew into something more. It became apparent that Norton's Royal Guard became useful in spotting possible criminal activity and tipping Police of dangerous situations. Young men soon began bringing their pa's rifle or newly-bought revolvers to protect themselves, but that caused issues with the local police. To keep his Royal Guard out of police issues, Emperor Norton would make most of them up into a militia, or at the very least claim, they were a militia. Emperor Norton looked to work with the police, as well as better organize the Royal Guard. This sort of serious action taken to make the Royal Guard an integrated part of helping the police led to even grown men to join in part-time. Businesses, who loved using Norton as advertising, would even help fund for equipment like bikes and coats.
Norton's Royal Guard soon began dressing in similar attire to Emperor Norton
The Three Bummers, By Edward Jump
However, another person was trying to take the thunder away from Emperor Norton. Spoiler, they were actually two of them. Spoiler again, they were stray dogs. Bummer and Lazarus were two stray dogs that became known for their skill in rat-killing, once killing 85 rats in 20 minutes. However, they gained their fame on how they met. Bummer had saved Lazarus from another dog. Lazarus was deeply injured in the leg, not expected to survive, but Bummer did not give up, urging his new friend to eat the scraps he brought him. Lazarus recovered within days, and the two dogs became a rat-killing pair. The two would sometimes accompany Emperor Norton in his walks, which had newspapers presume he adopted them. Although he debunked that statement, it was obvious that Norton had empathy for the pair, even calling them his "war hounds" from time to time. The trio that was Norton, Bummer, & Lazarus became a staple story for anyone visiting the Golden City.
George Washington Coombs on a Newspaper article
Ambling along Montgomery Street, by Edward Jump
However, dogs would not be the only celebrities in San Francisco. It seemed the popularity of Emperor Norton drew in a few other eccentrics, but none more that could match being as preposterous as Emperor Norton, then George Washington. In reality, a man named Frederick Coombs, he was born in New York, being an accomplished photographer working in the West Coast. The story went that his friends said he looked like George Washington so much that he convinced himself he was, believing he returned from the grave. He soon found himself in San Francisco, and met the character that was Emperor Norton. Although not having that connection with Bummer and Lazarus that Norton had, which made him more popular, he still was a well-known San Francisco eccentric.
He soon declared Emperor Norton his rival, working on his Campaign in the American Revolutionary War, and also having proclamations. Some of Norton's Royal Guard had torn some posters Washington put up, but the police did nothing, saying nothing done was illegal. George Washington Coombs would tell a newspaper that Norton was "jealous of my reputation with the fairer sex" [1]. The newspaper dismissed George Washington Coombs, actually going against him, calling George Washington Coombs, an attention-seeker. However, Norton discredited the article, and made the boys responsible write a formal apology to George Washington Coombs. Ashamed of his actions against Norton, he wrote a formal apology to Norton, and on one day at Montgomery Street, George Washington Coombs would talk to Emperor Norton while on his daily stroll. George Washington Coombs would get involved with the Royal Guard to an extent, even giving them their motto: "And Still They Are Marching On".
Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the U.S
After the Election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected President, and soon after, Norton made a public statement congratulating Abraham Lincoln in being elected "leader of the government-in-exile". While some celebrated the first Republican being elected President, many sensed tension in the air. Then, South Carolina seceded, as well as other states, and on the 4th of February, 1861, these states would form into the Confederate States of America. However, way before the unification of the south, Norton urged military action before any real threat would emerge, rather than any political action taken, but nothing would be done immediately. Abraham Lincoln would be sworn in as President on the 4th of March, and soon, a conflict began at the Battle of Fort Sumter. The American Civil War had begun.
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[1] This feud did occur later on in OTL but was not sparked by Royal Guard’s tearing posters, but Norton doing it himself. In OTL, the newspaper disregarded both men, calling them insane. However, this timeline shows a much earlier conflict, which would have Norton not have much bad blood with Coombs, and so the two have forgiven one another and became allies. In OTL, Norton had Coombs practically ran out of the city.
1. The Steps To Majesty
17th of September, 1859. It was a normal day at the San Francisco Bulletin, as the beginnings of Autumn was in the air. The editor was in his office, working to spruce up something interesting. He leaned back. San Francisco was known for its interesting populace. Hell, the editor could write about a sacred order of his uncles-in-law and the readers would buy it. However, nobody had really gone there. To the point of being completely loony. Then, the door of his office swung open, and a man, in strange garment, would boom a voice of grandeur, demanding my services to publish his proclamation, which he held in his hands. One of the writers explained that he tried to stop him, but the editor ushered his friend away and asked the strange man to see his proclamation. Instead, the man went on to read his proclamation, as he filled his voice with compassion and presented himself in a royal manner.
"At the peremptory request of a large majority of the citizens of these United States, I, Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the past nine years and ten months of San Francisco, California, declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these United States..." - Proclamation on San Francisco Daily Evening Bulletin, Emperor Norton I
Photograph of Joshua A. Norton, “Emperor of the United States”
This proclamation thrown out to the public was to be a one-off laugh to the public, but it would define a new character for Joshua Norton. Before he was Emperor of the U.S, Joshua Norton was an eccentric, wealthy businessman originally raised in South Africa, later moving to San Francisco. He began his career selling mining supplies during the California Gold Rush and later gained his wealth in real estate. However, bad investing and a flopped court case would bring the high living of Mr. Norton down to nothing, filing for bankruptcy and disappearing for some time.
With this new Joshua Norton, "Emperor of the United States", he was the talk of the city. Emperor Norton would often go around strolling, inspecting the sidewalks and cable cars to see their condition, even making sure policemen made their needed patrols to keep San Francisco safe. He would gather people in small crowds and discuss things like the state of American politics. Emperor Norton often discredited American elections, calling the title of President "an item to be auctioned". Although having personal beliefs, the imperial decrees he declared, which told to remove the current officials of the U.S government early on, would strengthen the character that was Emperor Norton I. Emperor Norton became so popular that young men often joined in on his strolls to talk to him, leading to newspapers justifying this patterning occurrence by calling them the "Royal Guard".
And so, the idea of the Royal Guard was born. Emperor Norton made an imperial decree to ask for volunteers for the Royal Guard. At first, these were just young boys, looking up to this charismatic character, to look out for trouble on the streets, but it soon grew into something more. It became apparent that Norton's Royal Guard became useful in spotting possible criminal activity and tipping Police of dangerous situations. Young men soon began bringing their pa's rifle or newly-bought revolvers to protect themselves, but that caused issues with the local police. To keep his Royal Guard out of police issues, Emperor Norton would make most of them up into a militia, or at the very least claim, they were a militia. Emperor Norton looked to work with the police, as well as better organize the Royal Guard. This sort of serious action taken to make the Royal Guard an integrated part of helping the police led to even grown men to join in part-time. Businesses, who loved using Norton as advertising, would even help fund for equipment like bikes and coats.
Norton's Royal Guard soon began dressing in similar attire to Emperor Norton
The Three Bummers, By Edward Jump
However, another person was trying to take the thunder away from Emperor Norton. Spoiler, they were actually two of them. Spoiler again, they were stray dogs. Bummer and Lazarus were two stray dogs that became known for their skill in rat-killing, once killing 85 rats in 20 minutes. However, they gained their fame on how they met. Bummer had saved Lazarus from another dog. Lazarus was deeply injured in the leg, not expected to survive, but Bummer did not give up, urging his new friend to eat the scraps he brought him. Lazarus recovered within days, and the two dogs became a rat-killing pair. The two would sometimes accompany Emperor Norton in his walks, which had newspapers presume he adopted them. Although he debunked that statement, it was obvious that Norton had empathy for the pair, even calling them his "war hounds" from time to time. The trio that was Norton, Bummer, & Lazarus became a staple story for anyone visiting the Golden City.
George Washington Coombs on a Newspaper article
Ambling along Montgomery Street, by Edward Jump
However, dogs would not be the only celebrities in San Francisco. It seemed the popularity of Emperor Norton drew in a few other eccentrics, but none more that could match being as preposterous as Emperor Norton, then George Washington. In reality, a man named Frederick Coombs, he was born in New York, being an accomplished photographer working in the West Coast. The story went that his friends said he looked like George Washington so much that he convinced himself he was, believing he returned from the grave. He soon found himself in San Francisco, and met the character that was Emperor Norton. Although not having that connection with Bummer and Lazarus that Norton had, which made him more popular, he still was a well-known San Francisco eccentric.
He soon declared Emperor Norton his rival, working on his Campaign in the American Revolutionary War, and also having proclamations. Some of Norton's Royal Guard had torn some posters Washington put up, but the police did nothing, saying nothing done was illegal. George Washington Coombs would tell a newspaper that Norton was "jealous of my reputation with the fairer sex" [1]. The newspaper dismissed George Washington Coombs, actually going against him, calling George Washington Coombs, an attention-seeker. However, Norton discredited the article, and made the boys responsible write a formal apology to George Washington Coombs. Ashamed of his actions against Norton, he wrote a formal apology to Norton, and on one day at Montgomery Street, George Washington Coombs would talk to Emperor Norton while on his daily stroll. George Washington Coombs would get involved with the Royal Guard to an extent, even giving them their motto: "And Still They Are Marching On".
Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the U.S
After the Election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected President, and soon after, Norton made a public statement congratulating Abraham Lincoln in being elected "leader of the government-in-exile". While some celebrated the first Republican being elected President, many sensed tension in the air. Then, South Carolina seceded, as well as other states, and on the 4th of February, 1861, these states would form into the Confederate States of America. However, way before the unification of the south, Norton urged military action before any real threat would emerge, rather than any political action taken, but nothing would be done immediately. Abraham Lincoln would be sworn in as President on the 4th of March, and soon, a conflict began at the Battle of Fort Sumter. The American Civil War had begun.
----------
[1] This feud did occur later on in OTL but was not sparked by Royal Guard’s tearing posters, but Norton doing it himself. In OTL, the newspaper disregarded both men, calling them insane. However, this timeline shows a much earlier conflict, which would have Norton not have much bad blood with Coombs, and so the two have forgiven one another and became allies. In OTL, Norton had Coombs practically ran out of the city.
- Alpha_North
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