USA > California > Tuolumne County > A history of Tuolumne County, California : compiled from the most authentic records > Part 13
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" Your petition states: ' That no objection was made to the price of water when extraordinary demands were made for repairs, etc.'
" In answer to which I am directed to say that there have never been more extraordinary demands for repairs and heavy outlays than at the present time, since the introduc- tion of water by the Company; and the Trustees are confi- dent that at the rates of water asked by your petition, the amount would very little exceed the cost of repairs and the expense of distributing the water and collecting the rents.
" That it is their intention to bring in a much larger supply of water during the present season; and also, as soon as practicable, to bring the water of the Stanislaus River into their ditch, so as to afford a full and constant supply of water throughout the year, when they confidently hope they can reduce the water rates, without an unreason- able sacrifice of the interests of the Company.
" The assumption set forth in your petition: 'That the aggregate sum received for water by your Company has been sufficient to liquidate the whole capital stock of the Company, besides giving a fair remuneration for the outlay of the money,' so far from being correct, the amount received for water has paid only about two per cent. per month on the actual cost of the work.
" All of which is most respectfully submitted. " R. A. ROBINSON, " Sec'y T. C. W. Co.
" Columbia, March 10, 1855."
Resolutions were then submitted to the Miners' meeting to the effect that as the T. C. W. Co. had refused to com- ply with their just demands, the claims of those miners
1
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who wished to stop work in order to avoid the consump- tion of the Company's water should have their claims pro- tected against jumpers, up to the 1st of January, 1856, and all deep or wet clay claims should be so protected up to May 1st, 1856, even though water should be given free; and that a Recorder should be appointed to record the claims of those wishing to suspend work, for which service he should receive one dollar. Also, that those wishing to avail themselves of this action should post up notices on their claims to that effect. These resolutions were unani- mously adopted, and J. A. Palmer was appointed Recorder. It was voted that a grand mass meeting should take place on the Tuesday following, and the meeting adjourned.
At noon, on Tuesday, miners from gulch and hill-side came flocking into town to attend the mass meeting to be held at one o'clock in front of the Methodist Church South. Long before the hour of meeting had arrived the booming of cannon and the merry music of church bells had called together nearly three thousand people. About thirteen hundred of those present then formed in procession, and marched through the streets of the young city, preceded by the Stars and Stripes and a band of music, and bearing mottoes and transparencies having appropriate devices dispersed throughout the line.
The procession returning, the meeting was organized by the choice of I. A. Stevens, President; Messrs. J. A. Pal- mer and Joseph Creasy as Secretaries. Resolutions were adopted, in substance, that the miners of the district pledged themselves to strike for af reduction of water to four dollars a day, and that they would never pay more, nor suffer more to be paid by others; that the officers of the new Company (the Columbia and Stanislaus River Water Company) be requested to recommence work forth- with upon their canal, to the south fork of the Stanislaus,
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so as to give immediate employment to the miners who mocid be thrown out of employment by the strike; and that a committee of Ere be appointed to confer with them, to procure information in relation to the prosecution of the
com, meanimously resolved to do so more
zil the then existing water rates were saisiumicrZy arranged
To the communication of the miners. addressed to the Columbia and Stanisiams Water Company, respecting the all important subject, the following reply was returned: OFiter De Columbia and Simisimus Water Company- " Grymaway: Your nose of this date has been received, and we basten to reply as follows:
" First-We have decided to beili the canal som Colum- bia to the south fork of the Sunislams River, distance
"" Second -- We are ready to commence the work at once. We have a competent corps of engineers ready to enter the ediately, and on Monday sert will bare work sui- Éciens to employ fre bandred men upon that day.
-If two hundred men or more »21 End provisions and tools for demselves, we will begin on Meziay, 19:2
" Fourth-The whole work will be under contract, and parties can take their choice of is, either by the rod, cubic Ecco, piri, mile or section, and te paid at the prevailing rate for labor, for dollars per day, in the stock of the
co FEL-As the means and provisions can be ocmamzed, cade, we will be prepared to receive Cose who canaos fsz provisions for themselves, dus cornice of which will be given at an early day.
c Sirth -- A book is now open at our office, wherein the
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
names of those who are willing to provision themselves may be registered, where we hope that those desirous of engaging in the enterprise will call, that we may speedily make up the number of 200 men.
" Seventh-Unless 200 persons, or more, are willing to provision themselves, and are ready to go to work on Monday next, we will not be able to commence at that period.
" Eighth-By an accurate calculation we have made, 500 men will commence the work, and continue thirty-five days, we can reasonably expect the completion of the canal down to the head of Wood's Creek, back of Yankee Hill, in that time.
" Ninth-A book is now open at our office for the regis- try of those who are willing to go to work, but are not able to provision themselves.
" We should be most happy, gentlemen, to co-operate with the miners of Columbia in obtaining a full supply of water, at a cost not exceeding $4 per day, and in all prob- ability at a less price.
" Hoping that the above propositions will meet with your approbation, we remain
" Respectfully yours, " JAMES W. COFFROTH, President, " For Trustees C. & S. W. Co.
" Office at Mr. Levy's fire-proof building, Main street, opposite American Hotel."
Upon receipt of the above communication, the miners immediately signified their acceptance of the conditions proposed, and crowding to the office, registered themselves in large numbers as laborers on the canal.
Such sudden action was a complete surprise to the old company, who had so long held the destinies of the whole section in their hands, and who had supposed their lease
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of power to be of indefinite duration. Suddenly deprived of their revenues-for every consumer of their water had ceased work, and consequently ceased using the valuable fluid-they were brought quickly to their senses. It would not do to attempt to hold out against the throng-some- thing must be done to pacify them. Accordingly, as a sort of feeler, or compromise measure, this letter was addressed to the officers of the associated miners:
" NOTICE TO THE MINERS .- Gentlemen, the Board of Trustees of the Tuolumne County Water Company, under present exigencies, beg leave to submit to your favorable consideration the following proposition: That if the miners will proceed to make the necessary enlargement to their ditch for the purpose of procuring a larger supply of water, that they will issue scrip at the rate of $4 per day for labor performed, which scrip shall be receivable for water at the rate of $4 per day, after the completion of such work; and from and after that time the regular charges for water shall be $4 per day. The distance of the enlargement and addition is about 12} miles. Should this proposition meet your approbation, they are ready to com- mence the work immediately.
" T. B. DRYER, President pro tem. "R. A. ROBINSON, Secretary."
On the following Tuesday this proposition was submitted to a miners' meeting, and also accepted. This was the end of the great strike which has borne an important place in the traditions of Tuolumne county. That the miners' action was provocative of good, there can be no doubt, as it was the immediate cause of lowering the price of water, and also of building up a great enterprise-the Columbia and Stanislaus Water Company-that very likely, but for the stimulus then and subsequently furnished, would never have resulted in anything of moment, but as it turned out,
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became one of the greatest and most important ditch en- terprises in the California mines.
Several hundred miners commenced immediately the ex- cavation of the new ditch, and more constantly joined them, swelling the laboring army to a size that promised the speedy completion of the work. Meanwhile those who had remained in Columbia made preparations for cele- brating the victory in progress in a manner at once unique and satisfactory.
On Monday, March 19th, large delegations of miners from Springfield, Jamestown, Shaw's Flat, Wood's Cross- ing, and other mining camps, paid the Columbia boys a visit, and they were well treated indeed. Their visit must have been exceedingly agreeable. On Washington street tables were set nearly the whole length of the street, which were loaded with eatables for the visitors' refreshment. A subscription had been carried around the day previous, to which nearly every business man of the town subscribed; the merchants, the butchers, the bakers, and all, furnish- ing such things as were in their line, which could be made useful in the matter. All saloons, restaurants and hotels were thrown open to the guests of the day, and to the in- habitants of Columbia, too, that all might enter and par- take " without money and without price." Toward even- ing a procession numbering three thousand marched to Yankee Hill to witness the ceremony of breaking ground upon the new ditch. Returning, the out-of-town boys were escorted to their several homes by the Columbians. Thus ended the celebration. The new ditch thus favorably in- augurated, kept up its labors until the promises set forth in their letter were partly realized. They had accom- plished the task of building the ditch to the South Fork, and at a less expense than was anticipated; but the supply of water was found insufficient. It was then resolved to
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continue onward to the North Fork, in order to secure an unlimited and unfailing supply. It was not, however, un- til the year 1858 that the work was finally completed. The completion was made a day of celebration, as befitted the occasion. From the Tuolumne Courier of December 4th, 1858, these particulars relating to the ditch and to the day, have been selected. The account was written by J. C. Durbrow, Esq., editor of the Courier, but now of the Tuolumne Independent:
GRAND WATER CELEBRATION!
THE COLUMBIA AND STANISLAUS WATER COMPANY'S DITCH 1 COMPLETED !
THE CELEBRATION OF ITS ADVENT!
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH, 1858.
A GREAT REJOICING !
THE DAY.
The eventful day had at length arrived-the 29th day of November, in the year of our Lord 1858, the day when the. water of the North Fork of Stanislaus river made its first advent into Columbia. The day when the laborers, one and all, on the Columbia and Stanislaus Water Company's canals, threw down their tools and threw up their hats, shouting from one end of the vast aqueduct to the other, " THE WORK IS DONE!"
Bright Phœbus and all the other gods and goddesses who claim affinity to Old Sol, ushered in the morn most gloriously. It was a bright and glorious day for all crea- tion generally, and a bright and glorious day for the sons and daughters of Columbia in particular. Scarce had Au- rora lit up the chambers of the East before hundreds of
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our population were awake, alive and a-doing. Thousands of the denizens of the neighboring towns soon came pour- ing in, dressed in their best 'go-to-meetings.' . Guns were firing and banners were flying; sweet and powerful tones of music, in harmonious minglings, filled the ears. Sonora and all the neighboring villages were soon depopulated, and everybody and everybody's relations and acquaintances, with their wives, their daughters and their daughters' daughters, were here. Fourth of July and all such com- mon demonstrations was no circumstance to the displays, the crowds, the jams and jollifications of the day. Our streets were full, our houses were full, our stores were full, and our saloons were full. Everybody was at home just where he happened to find himself when, for a moment, he awoke to a consciousness of his whereabouts amid the be- wildering maze all around him. Everybody was rejoicing and being glad to see everybody. Every one was treating and being treated. Everybody was · drinking, everybody was eating, everybody was smoking, and ' the rest of man- kind ' was looking on.
THE PROCESSION.
A grand procession was formed at ten o'clock in the morning, by the arrangement and under the orders of Col. J. D. Potterson, Grand Marshal of the Day, and proceeded in the following order:
FIRST DIVISION.
Captain James McLean, Aid to the Grand Marshal. Faxon's Sonora Band.
Saw Mill Flat Infantry, Captain Holland.
Orator and President of the Day, in a carriage.
Trustees and Officers of the Columbia and Stanislaus River. Water Company, in a carriage.
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
The Miners of Gold Springs, with appropriate banners and flags. (With this fine appearing body of miners walked Mr. Thomas Campbell, with his celebrated bag- pipes, discoursing the music of the " land o' cakes.)"
SECOND DIVISION.
R. Mullan, Aid to the Grand Marshal.
Columbia Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1.
Sonora Fire Department.
Columbia Hose Company, No. 1, with their beautiful banner, presented by the ladies of Columbia.
THIRD DIVISION.
I. J. Potter, Aid to the Grand Marshal.
Trustees of the City of Columbia.
Carriages containing distinguished visitors.
Mounted men.
FOURTH DIVISION.
R. Dornan, Aid to the Grand Marshal.
Columbia Brass Band.
Springfield Artillery Company, with their big gun.
The men who built the flumes and ditches, with banners and badges.
Miners' Union, one thousand strong, headed by Col. I. A. Stevens, their President.
Then followed a long column of miners, four abreast.
The procession marched up the Gold Springs road to the company's high flume, where the water of the north fork of Stanislaus River was falling in three beautiful cascades, within the corporate limits of the City of Columbia, com- ing from the extreme end of the works, sixty miles distant in the mountains !
The line of march was again taken up, and passed through the principal streets to the square in front of the
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
First Presbyterian Church, where were assembled a large number of ladies and gentlemen.
" ORDER OF EXERCISES.
Prayer by Rev. Mr. Baker.
Music by Columbia Brass Band."
The account then proceeds with a synopsis of the ad- dress of Hon. J. W. Coffroth, the Orator of the Day. The gentleman commenced his speech thus:
" In the name of the Great Jehovah, who made us, where did you all come from, and what did you all come for ? Why is this assembly of bright-eyed beauty here ?- and why this discoursing of sweet music? It is to recognize, and to do honor to feats of toil and perseverance carried out to their end, in the execution of a work that does honor, not only to our own locality, but to our county and the State. The completion of ditches and flumes, to supply the miners of this vicinity with water for mining uses. We are assembled here to-day to proclaim their completion ! And have we not just and good cause to be thus jubilant ?- for who can calculate the benefits to accrue to us by being thus supplied with an abundant and constant supply of that element, which is the primary cause of our pros- perity. I can well remember when this fair city of Colum- bia consisted of but a few log cabins. What do we see before us to-day? Dwellings and stores, of brick and stone, that would be no discredit to cities of much older date ! And permit me to ask to what are we indebted for this proud position ? To the enterprise and indomitable will of our citizens, who have expended their capital and exerted their skill to supply the miners with cheap water.
" It should not be out of place for the speaker to give a brief outline of the organization and the operators. Some four years ago, the miners of this place finding the supply
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
of water altogether inadequate to the demand, and the cost of that they did get more than they could pay, called a general meeting to devise a remedy. They resolved to try the effect of a petition to the officers of the Tuolumne County Water Company, stating their grievances, and ask- ing for a reduction in prices. For some cause best known to themselves, the Trustees of that Company refused to ac- cede to their wishes, and the evil being of such an oppres- sive character, the opposition to it soon became general. The consequence was the memorable ' Water Strike'-an event long to be remembered in Columbia-and we are here to celebrate the consequences of that strike.
" Well, some few of us had put our heads together to devise some plan to attain our object-cheap, abundant and constant water. We said to ourselves that if we could bring the water of the main river here, we should have all we could desire. At first we were almost afraid to let our project be known-merely whispering it to a few-fearing lest it should be considered the crude idea of some school- boy. To many, indeed, it would have seemed but an idle vaunt-the tale of an idiot-' full of sound and fury, sig- nifying nothing.' The propagators were jeered and taunted, and even he (the speaker) was told that his efforts were intended but for the foundation of political success, and the basis of political ambition-the wild dreamings of a wayward discontent. Notwithstanding these depressions, we toiled on-we consulted those whom we considered qualified to give advice about such an important subject; and found that it could be done-and we resolved to do it! In the year 1854 we elected our first officers, the speaker being the first president, and General T. N. Cazneau the first Secretary. We were but a handful, as it were, at first, but soon, when people saw that we were in earnest, our forces augmented not only by miners, but merchants and
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
store-keepers, and, in fact, every class of citizens aided us, either with labor or materials, until we were extemporized into a huge community of toilers. It will be four years on the 19th of next March since we struck the first blow and removed the first sod, since which time we have completed ditches and flumes to the extent of sixty miles, before they reach any locality in which mining is carried on, and twenty miles through the various mining districts, the cost of which has been over a MILLION OF DOLLARS!
" Talk about the Pacific Railroad costing so much that it will be impossible to construct it! Why, here are a few mountain towns expending over a million on a work of merely local importance! Here is an example to the world of what a small portion of the American people can do when they work in earnest! Nor could he forget to men- tion the tunnel of three thousand one hundred feet in length, through a huge mountain. * *
" Although we are to-day in such high spirits, and full of satisfaction at the completion of our task, it has not been so pleasant and agreeable to us at all times; for we can well remember when cold and hunger were our almost constant companions; when even food of the coarsest de- scription was impossible to get; when our supply of pro- visions was often exhausted before another arrived; when we were fearful of being unable to obtain provisions at all for those engaged in the work. X *
" It might be interesting to know what our bill of fare generally contained. First, we had beans-just plain beans; next came bean soup; then, boiled beans; then, by way of change, baked beans; for entremets, we had beans, also. Then we had beans 'a la mode.' For dessert we had cold beans! In fact, beans were the alpha and omega
* * * of our cuisine."
In conclusion, the speaker urged upon the miners the
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
necessity of jealously guarding their rights. They all had an important part to perform in the drama of life, and should follow the poet's injunction :
"In the world's wide field of battle, In the bivouac of life, Be not like dumb driven cattle; But all be heroes in the strife.' "
After the conclusion of Mr. Coffroth's remarks a bene- diction was pronounced by the Rev. Mr. Hamilton, and the procession formed again and proceeded to State street, at the upper end of which a public dinner, free to all comers, was spread.
The evening closed with a display of fireworks on a scale unprecedented in the mines, while the whole town was brilliantly illuminated with candles and appropriate trans- parencies, huge bonfires burning upon the surrounding hills. A ball was in progress at the theater, and the streets were thronged throughout the livelong night with thousands of citizens and visitors, in the best possible humor, and all was peaceful and harmonious rejoicing.
The Kittering-Worth Homicide.
One of the more noticeable events of 1855, was the murder of Kittering at Algerine Camp. Previous to the account of this case it will be essential to introduce the story of another affair, notorious at the time, and which is intimately connected with the above murder. This was the bold murder of Judge Brunton at Yorktown, which occurred in the night of June 30, when a band of bur- glars, four in number, entered the sleeping apartment of that gentleman and abstracted twelve thousand dollars from a safe in the room, where most of the family were
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
asleep, and accomplishing their object without awaking any one but the Judge. The account given by the latter was to the effect that upon his waking he saw a man standing over him with an axe in his hands, remarking to him to lie still, as money was all they wanted. Accordingly the Judge lay quiet until the burglars had left the room, when he arose, and taking a pistol, followed them into another room, where he had an encounter with the rearmost one, who knocked him senseless, besides inflicting a severe knife wound upon his neck. He was discovered the next morning by the family, who raised an alarm.
Connected with this affair, and with the subsequent assassination of the old gentleman, was a painful mystery that time has not yet cleared up. Many hypotheses have been advanced to account for these outrages, but no clue has ever been found that would lead to the discovery of the villains who, for years, as well known, made Judge Brun- ton's life a period of continual dread. And it is highly improbable that the secret of these daring and extraordi- nary outrages ever will be known. Several years elapsed between the first and last acts of this chain of events, the first, described above, being in June, 1855, while the final act, the death of the victim, took place in December, 1860. In the interim, a succession of lesser outrages against the gentleman's person and property took place, evidently in- stigated by the same herd of thieves and cut-throats, or political enemies, who inspired and executed the others.
Growing out of this robbery, and immediately following it, came the murder spoken of at the head of this section.
The trial of this case, being conducted by eminent law- yers on either side, has caused the affair to assume an im- portance and a notoriety perhaps greater than would right- fully attach to it if the standing of the principal actors alone was considered. William H. Worth was brought up
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
for his trial on the 6th of March, 1856, Judge Creaner pre- siding, with District Attorney Caleb Dorsey and H. P. Bar- ber appearing for the People, while Calhoun Benham, Colonel Della Torre, Colonel B. F. Moore and Charles M. Scott appeared for the defense. Certainly an imposing array of the best legal talent that the State could furnish. Nearly every one of these six men have left their mark as eminent lawyers, and their conduct on this occasion did their talents no disgrace. The peculiarities of each were impressed upon the minds of the spectators, and the foren- sic triumph gained by the defense against the high legal acumen displayed by the opposition was and is regarded as of the very first importance in the Court annals of this county.
The particulars of the shooting came out as follows Kittering, a blacksmith and gunsmith, who pursued his trades at Algerine Camp, indiscreetly charged W. H. Worth, Justice of the Peace at the same place, with being a party to the Brunton robbery, then the exciting topic of conversation throughout the county. These hasty words, perhaps with no foundation in fact, and probably uttered through the common impulse that some men have to appear wise in such matters, came to Worth's ears, and the latter, excusably enough, sought an explanation. Both parties retired to Kittering's house to discuss the matter, but what occurred between them could not be ascertained; as within a few minutes shots were heard within, and hasty words uttered, indicating that the two were in mortal com- bat. Cries of murder were heard from Kittering, and Worth immediately came out, leaving his antagonist dead upon the floor.
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