USA > California > Tuolumne County > A history of Tuolumne County, California : compiled from the most authentic records > Part 3
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
which the placers were first known, was almost unprece- dented at that day. The immigration poured in from Sonora, Jamestown, Wood's Crossing, Jacksonville and other mining camps, as well as from Calaveras and Mokelumne Hill, all centering at Columbia. Wonderful stories were circulated, which spread into the remotest mining regions, causing a new impetus to be given to prospecting, with the result of abundant new discoveries. The trails were now crowded with men, in numbers before unknown, all traveling to the great centers of attraction, with their blankets on their backs, and if any diverged into side gulches or streams, they encountered the smoke of the pioneer or heard the rattle of the worker; or, below on the stream, they were surprised to behold the water muddied from the operations of some one who was before them, in a place where they thought no white man's foot had ever trod.
First of all who came to Columbia stands the name of Captain Avent. This gentleman had the good fortune to take out two and a half pounds of gold in his first day's work, and the second day secured to him one and a half pounds more. After this his average was twelve or fif- teen ounces daily, until the failure of the water in July.
In the course of a few days, some thirty or forty remadas and cloth tents were erected in the immediate vicinity of the spot where the first strike was made, and lying along the south side of the creek. Among these occupants were Rochette, previously mentioned as having been at Yankee Hill, and then at Yorktown; James Letford, afterwards a resident of Sonora, and for many years Justice of the Peace; Major Farnsworth; Bonillos, a Peruvian butcher. Charles Bassett came from Sonora and located on the north side of the creek, building there corrals for cows and sheep. He also opened a store, combining with it a
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
restaurant, butcher shop and dairy. A part of his multi- farious business was to peddle milk through the camp, it meeting a ready sale at one dollar per whisky bottle full. At such a price, he doubtless could afford to give the un- watered article.
By the middle of April following the discovery, not less than six thousand persous had located in the vicinity of Kennebec Hill-not all of whom were engaged in mining, but many in the dependent callings, as providers for those so engaged. A vast influx of gamblers had also ar- rived, and in a short time the number of faro banks in operation was reckoned at one hundred and forty-three, with capitals aggregating from one million to one and a
half million of dollars! Gambling was the only_amuse- ment of the day, and was patronized accordingly. It was common to see sums reaching into the thousands staked on the turn of a card. As might be expected, with this sudden and great accession of population, with its great attendant twin evils of gambling and prostitution, much lawlessness was rife, and a state of society existed which it was found necessary in some way to mitigate. Accord- ingly, as the most reasonable means of doing so, a public election was called for April 29th, or thereabouts, result- ing in the election of Major Sullivan, of Sonora, as Alcalde, and one Gresby as Constable, in the same in- formal way as the previous Alcaldes of Sonora had been chosen-without governmental authority, and solely to meet an immediate exigency.
The first case to come before Alcalde Sullivan was that of a Mexican, Juan Santa Anna, who was arrested on the complaint of William Smith, who charged the former with the theft of a pair of leggings. The testimony sufficed to convict the defendant, who was fined three ounces for stealing, while Smith was mulcted one ounce for having complained of him!
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
George Hildreth brought suit for the recovery of a pick which had been stolen from him, and which was found in the store of a Frenchman. The Court's decision was that the store-keeper pay one ounce fine and three ounces costs.
The next case was for the recovery of a mule. The property was proved beyond dispute, and the accused party ordered to restore the animal to its owner, and to pay a fine of one ounce, and three ounces costs. The ac- cused not having the wherewith, the Court decreed that the accuser, who was known to be in good circumstances, should pay the fine and costs, as the Court could not be expected to sit without remuneration.
Much has been written to the detriment of Major Sul- livan's character-as that he had a regularly organized system of bullying and swindling all those with whom he had dealings-but as it cannot be ascertained that there was any foundation for these charges except private malice, it would be manifestly unjust to give placc to what has been said. The irregularities in the cases cited above only show an amount of eccentricity which can be ex- cused on the consideration of the prevailing habits and manners.
The honor of bestowing upon the new camp its present name, Columbia, is due to Majors Farnsworth and Sulli- van and Mr. D. G. Alexander, who formally named the place on the 29th of April. The first tent put up on the present site of the town was occupied as a drinking and gambling saloon.
O'n the 1st of June the Foreign Miners' Tax of twenty dollars per month, went into effect, and its results upon the growth and prosperity surpassed even the most un- favorable predictions. Multitudes of foreigners-who, by the way, formed the majority of the settlers at Columbia-
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
left immediately, and the tax, coupled with the scarcity of water for mining purposes, acted to almost extinguish the new place. Rapid as had been her rise, her decadence was more sudden. The only water in the camp was two "tom-heads," running from Matelot, or Sailor Gulch, so that few of the miners could prosecute their labors, and the yield of gold was very much curtailed. Gambling and saloon-keeping still held their own, and traveling musicians, a newly-found source of amusement, prospered beyond belief.
In the meantime, other camps, in various parts of the district, had been settled. In the latter part of April, Mr. Hatch, with several others, discovered Gold Springs, in the sands of which gold was found. Charles M. Rad- cliffe was the first trader at the camp which sprang up, and he was the sponsor of the place, naming it Gold Spring, it having since acquired another letter. Radcliffe, who was a very prominent man in the early days, at that time was a partner with Major Farnsworth in merchandising, they having stores at Gold Spring, Pine Log and at Columbia. Mrs. Maley was the first white woman to settle at Gold Spring, and Mrs. Williams, on the 17th of July, 1852, gave birth to the first child born there. The first butcher was Mr. Wilson, who also dealt with the inhabitants of Columbia, Pine Log and other camps in the neighborhood.
In the same month that witnessed the finding of Colum- bia, Springfield also took its rise. Its history is interest- ing, as evincing the energy and business talent that a woman displayed. In the latter part of March, Donna Josefa Valmaseda arrived from San Francisco. Previously she had been an influential resident of Guaymas, and in the war against the United States she had been a strong partisan of the latter country, giving aid and countenance to her country's enemies. Acting upon information fur-
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
nished by her, the town of Guaymas was taken by the United States ships "Cyane" and "Warren." This course brought down upon her the vengeance of the Mexican Government, and she was compelled to fly to the pro- tection of the American men-of-war, abandoning ber prop- erty, which, according to usage, was confiscated. After the breaking out of the mining excitement she came to the mines, where she collected a number of her country- men, whom she hired to mine at the place now known as Springfield-so called because of the remarkable spring which breaks out of the limestone at this place.
In a like manner, Donna Martinez settled at the camp which bore her name. Her location was in the midst of very rich deposits, and the camp increased rapidly, soon containing over a thousand miners. Its downfall soon commenced, however, owing, in great part, to the Foreign Miners' Tax. This place was settled in May or June, 1350.
Effect of the Miners' Tax.
The Foreign Miners' Tax of twenty dollars per month went into operation on the 1st of June, 1850, by formal act of the Legislature. Its principal result was the almost immediate depopulation of certain camps, and the great injury of all. Sonora and Columbia suffered enormous losses, estimated, in the case of the former town, at four- fifths of the entire population; while the latter, whose growth had been so rapid, was reduced, through the Tax Law and the scarcity of water, to a community of only nine or ten persons. So it is credibly told. Of the se- ceding miners, some went to their homes in foreign lands, while others sought diggings in secluded places, where the
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
obnoxious law would probably not be enforced. Others there were who resisted the collection of the tax by the officers appointed to collect it. The impression got about in Columbia that the foreigners meditated forcible re- prisals on the Americans of that camp, resulting in a stam- pede from that town to Sonora of the whole American population, with the exception of Charles Bassett and a few others. A rumor having reached Sonora that Bassett was murdered, a band of armed men marched upon Columbia, headed by "Frenchy" Rochette, carrying the American flag. This statement is given upon the authority of Cap- tain Stoddart, who further adds that the only destruction effected by this warlike band was upon the liquors and eatables of the said Bassett, who was nearly eaten out of house and home by his zealous friends.
Walter Murray, who subsequently,became editor of the Sonora Herald, related graphically his impressions of the scenes consequent upon the first attempt to enforce the tax, and as a vivid picture of affairs at that time, it may be well to give it place in this work. He says:
"It was a hot summer's day in June, when a man on horseback came tearing into the little encampment at Mor- mon Gulch, at full speed, evidently big with exciting in- telligence. The miners, who happened to be scattered in groups, talking over the events of the past week, eagerly rushed forward and gathered around the messenger, from whose broken exclamations they at length learned that there was something very like war approaching. It ap- peared that the Collector appointed by the State Govern- ment to receive the Foreign Miners' Tax had arrived at the county seat and issued his notice, calling upon all foreign- ers to come forward and pay their first month's assessment of twenty dollars. The attempt to collect this exorbitant impost put the immense foreign population, with whom the
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
country was literally overrun, into a state of intense fer- ment. Meetings had been held upon the subject, inflam- matory speeches had been made by Spanish and French orators, and at length it appeared that some great demon- stration had been made against the odious tax. The mes- senger averred that the county seat was iu the hands of the excited foreign mob, numbering two or three thousand, all armed; that the safety of the place was menaced, and that the American citizens were fleeing from it. Furthermore, that the principal citizens had sent couriers to the sur- rounding camps asking for assistance.
"There had previously been so many rumors afloat of the expected insurrection of the Spanish-American popu- lation against the 'proprietors' of the country, and the 'boys' had in this way been kept in such a continual state of excitement, that the arrival of this intelligence operated at once like dropping a spark of fire in a tinder-box. Mes- sengers were immediately dispatched hither and thither, calling upon the miners to assemble within an hour, at a given spot, on the way to the county seat, and the 'Gulch' was in a moment alive with busy, bustling men, getting out their rifles and pistols and preparing for the expected con- flict.
"Being unarmed, and therefore forming no part of the expedition, I started, with a few others, ahead of the main body, which consisted of about one hundred and fifty men; but all were so eager to get on, that it was with the utmost difficulty we could keep the smallest distance in advance. We met several persons on the way with later intelligence from the seat of war, but their accounts were all contra- dictory, some saying that the excitement was all over; others, that there was immediate need of our services. However, we pressed on, determined not to stop short of the place for which we set out. On arriving at a camp of
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
Mexicans, one mile short of our destination, we were sur- prised to see its motley inhabitants very quietly seated in front of their brush hovels, playing monte and other games, as if nothing unusual had transpired. They, too, were none the less surprised to see the column of armed men advancing on them in close order-especially as they heard the general yell that was joined in by the American party as they advanced toward Sonora. Reassured by this apparent calm, I hurried on to the town, reaching it five or ten minutes in advance of the party. All appeared quiet and peaceful as ever. I waited to see the little procession enter town. Soon it came along, headed by fife and drum-which, by this time, had been scared up-and, first and foremost, by the glorious stars and stripes, borne aloft and waved very gracefully to and fro by an inhabitant of the big city. Thus, with music sound- ing and banners waving, the little band marched through the whole length of town, vociferously cheered all the way by the American inhabitants, who turned out en masse to see them. On arriving at the other end of town, the word, 'Forward, by file left; march,' was given, when the fore- most man found himself headed off by a well-stocked bar, whereat each one, as he arrived, was 'liquored up.' They were then countermarched through town again, the same hospitality being extended at several places on the route, and were at length halted in front of the principal hotel, where the Collector of Foreign Miners' Taxes made them a speech. After speaking for about ten minutes, he informed them they might rest that night and the morrow 'to busi- ness.' Accordingly, all was soon bustle and scurry at the big hotel; waiters went hurrying to and fro, and all was busy preparation for a general meal. After an hour or so, which seemed an age to the hungry miners, the long tables were loaded down with eatables, and the word given to
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
fall to; and fall to they did, in a manner only to be par- alleled in California and in the mines.
"After supper, the arms were all stored away in a build- ing temporarily devoted to the purpose of a guard-house. A watch was set during the night, with regular reliefs; patrols were organized, and the city speedily assumed the appearance of being under martial law.
"Many and various were the reports circulated on that eventful night. According to some, the town was to be attacked and set fire to at different points. Rumors of assassination and massacre were fearfully rife; but at length morning dawned, and the country was discovered to be safe. Breakfast was spread out for us at the same hospita- ble board, and then all were assembled on the main street, and divided into companies, headed each by its own cap- tain and lieutenant. A column of some three hundred armed men, in all, was thus formed, which, headed by the Collector and Sheriff of the county, commenced its march through the disaffected camps.
"Alas, as we marched along, what a scene of confusion and terror marked our way! Mexicans, Chileños, et id genus omne-men, women and children-were all packed up and moving, bag and baggage. Tents were being pulled down, houses and hovels gutted of their contents; mules, horses and burros were being hastily packed, while crowds upon crowds were already in full retreat. What could have been the object of onr assembly, except as a demonstration of power and determination, I know not; but if intended as an engine of terror, it certainly had its desired effect, for it could be seen painted upon every countenance and im- pelling every movement of the affrighted population. How- ever, on we marched, through this dire confusion, peace- fully pursuing our way, until we reached what was deemed to be the headquarters of malcontent -a camp containing
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
some thousand Spanish Americans-about four miles from the county seat. Here we halted for the last time (liquored up, of course, for it was the month of June, and the roads were dry and dusty), and, after being paraded through the main street, and held for an hour or more in readiness, awaiting the report of certain officials dispatched to inquire into the truth of a rumor that a foreign flag had been hoisted somewhere in the vicinity, were finally discharged. Every man then fired his rifle in the air, reloaded his piece, and started homeward, each on his own particular way. I, too, started for the 'Gulch,' and until I reached there never lost sight of the train of fugitives scattered along the roads in every direction. Some were going north, some south. The great body were probably bound for home; some by way of the sea, others by way of Los Angeles and the Great Desert. Others, again, were scattering them- selves over the country, to commence the career of blood- shed and cold-blooded atrocity which for months afterward stained the pages of California history. Even those who were bound for home often left behind them, along the way, bloody traces of their deep-set hatred to Americans, or, perhaps, their natural thirst for massacre and pillage."
Even at this late day, it is not difficult to form accurate conclusions as to the causes and effects of the movements above portrayed. Undoubtedly, at that time much pardon- able excitement was occasioned, much bad feeling was en- gendered, and many causes for hostility and strife were given on either side. The weight of evidence does not ex- onerate the Americans in any particular from the charge of violent and premeditated wrong. On the other hand, the ignorant, priest-ridden foreign classes betrayed their nat- urally revengeful dispositions, in many instances commit- ting robbery and murder on innocent individuals in revenge for the acts of a whole community or State. When, how-
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
ever, the evil effects of the tax were clearly seen, even the most pronounced of its former advocates became dubious about the wisdom of the measure; and those who only tol- erated it as a measure of political wisdom, finding it the precursor of serious evils, withdrew their tacit support. Efforts were finally made for a repeal of the obnoxious law; but sentiment being divided, no great headway was made, until, the foreigners of the several mining counties uniting, the obnoxious measure was repealed. Previous to this, however, public sentiment suffered such a change in their behalf that a fund for testing the legality of the Act was created in Sonora, many merchants and others contributing to it. On the list we find the names of Joshua Holden, Theall, Perkins & Co., Charles F. Dodge & Co., G. S. Evans, and Charles Bruce, who donated for counsel fees, etc., on behalf of the foreigners, sums ranging from ten to one hundred and twenty-five dollars. This, it has been observed, makes it clear that only those traders of Sonora who transacted business with the foreign element, and so profited by their presence, were in favor of a repeal; while the American miners, generally, were, for selfish reasons, in favor of the law as it stood.
Affairs are represented as remaining in a state of com- parative inaction until the foreign element began to return to and work in the mines; and by the next spring a large number of those who left had come back and resumed operations. But neither of the two principal camps ever recovered the entire bulk of their population.
Martinez, lying a short distance east of Columbia, was a distinctively Spanish camp, named, as has been already said, in honor of Doña Martinez. It had been discovered previously, and up to the time of her arrival had been known as the "New" or "Spanish" camp. The lady seems to have been influential and wealthy, as she brought with
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
her a large number of "peons" (Mexican servitors) and considerable money and jewelry. Apropos of the latter, the Mexicans attach great importance to the possession of jewelry. Indeed, the predominant characteristics of Mexi- can families are children, jewelry and dirt. Doña Martinez had very good success in her mining operations, having taken up a considerable tract of ground, on which her bondmen were set to work.
The population of the town from being at first ex- clusively Spanish speaking, began to contain a sprinkling of Americans, who crowded in, while the invariable result of the crowding out of the less energetic Mexicans and Chileños followed. These tactics prevailed, as they always have where the grasping, combative Anglo-Saxon comes in contact with the more decent and mild men of Spanish descent. Dona Martinez, however, was left in peace, the infringing outsiders, with a rude, though not ineffective idea of gallantry, regarding her sex as entitled to the fullest protection.
On the morning of July 4, 1850, appeared the first issue of the Sonora Herald, the first newspaper published in the California mines. The only files of this very in- teresting paper now known to be in existence cover the first three years of its life, and are the property of Dr. L. C. Gunn, in former times a well known and highly respected member of this community, who has kindly loaned the papers to assist in the compilation of this work. The first seven numbers of this periodical were printed on paper nine by thirteen inches in size. With the eighth number the sheet was enlarged to twelve by seventeen inches. It is interesting to observe the straits to which the publishers were put by reason of the scarcity of material. Wrapping paper was used in at least one case of necessity, and many issues were printed on paper much larger than necessary.
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
To be "out of sorts," was, with these pioneer printers an every day occurrence. These drawbacks, however, are not alluded to in a spirit of criticism. On the contrary, these very facts show as plainly as the most detailed descriptions what must have been the state of affairs at that time, and even arouse our admiration that so interesting and ably conducted a sheet could have been issued. Great diffi- culties, such as the present country newspaper editors have in some measure to meet, must have blocked its way. Nevertheless, the Sonora Herald existed until the year 1859, pursuing its course successfully. In the prospectus, the editors announce that the Sonora Herald is published every Saturday morning in the town of Sonora. The price of a year's subscription is the rather startling figure of twenty dollars, and single copies were fifty cents each. Advertise- ments were inserted at the rate of four dollars for six lines or less.
In the following table will be found the names of the various editors and proprietors, and also the length of time during which each presided over the paper's destinies :
John White, from No. 1, Vol. 1, until No. 11, Vol. 1.
J. G. Marvin, from No. 1, Vol. 1, until No. 18, Vol. 1. J. R. Reynolds, from No. 12, Vol. 1, until No. 14, Vol. 1. Dr. L. C. Gunn, from No. 14, Vol 1, until No. 47, Vol. 3. E. L. Chrisman, from No. 18, Vol. 1, until No. 40, Vol. 1. Walter Murray, from No. 46, Vol. 3, until No. 4, Vol. 4. J. O'Sullivan, from No. 46, Vol. 3, until No. 37, Vol. 5. L. C. Gunn, from No. 4, Vol. 4, until No. 36, Vol. 5.
J. O'Sullivan, from No. 36, Vol. 5, until No. 18, Vol. 6. Alexander Murray, from No. 36, Vol. 5, until No. 8, Vol. 6.
E. A. Rockwell, from No. 18, Vol 6, until No. 9, Vol. 8. J. O'Sullivan, from No. 9, Vol. 8, until its decease.
The Herald's politics varied as widely as its editorial
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
management. It became in succession Independent, Demo- cratic, American (Know-Nothing), Whig and finally Re- publican. The press first used by the printers of this paper was the same on which the manifestoes of the Mexi- can authorities in California had been printed many years before. First being carried from New York to Mexico, it had next found its way to Monterey, the seat of govern- ment of California under Mexican rule. Upon it, at a later date, the California Star, the pioneer newspaper of the Pacific Coast, was worked off. Stockton became its next stopping place. Then, as remarked above, the Sonora Herald was at first printed on it. When that paper was enlarged its necessities demanded a different press, and the old contrivance was sold by its owner, Dr. Gunn, to George W. Gore, who started the Star, the first paper pub- lished in Columbia. An unsatisfied claim for materials furnished to the new enterprise, however, compelled the latter paper to suspend after a few issues. Execution was levied upon the materials, but before the press could be removed, it was set fire to by some one, and the woodwork consumed. The gentleman who had in his possession the metallic portion of the machine announced his intention of bestowing it upon some museum ; but whether this was done or not is not at present known.
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