USA > California > Amador County > History of Amador County, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 19
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12
20 29
26
21
31
1,779
SHERIFF.
IV. A. Phoenix
119 34
12
30
107
408
45
372
73
19
21
35
98
6
15
18
29 20
4 22
27
1,500
James Harnett.
24
65
166
285
135
312
26
12
8
153
24
31
5
16
17
9
24
32
1,384
Wm. L. McKimm.
27
62
172
373
148
215
94
16
9
1
140
23
2
5
25
26
21
28
45
1,522
DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
106
40
78
106
281
.44
364
44
14
16
32
99
5
29
18
25
1
9
30
33
1,372
S. B. Axtell.
35
26
21
170
407
135
318
55
16
12
3
150
20
17
5
24
25
25
44
1,528
ASSESSOR.
James L. Halstead.
89 61
20
41
103
278
42
428
50
15
17
7
5
15
18
3.
7
32
1,345
H. A. Eichiberger.
45
57
173
414
139
256
49
16
12
26
25
28
5
18
26
26
44
1,579
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR.
83
36 29
69 28
175
411
134
337
50
16
12
16
121
24
30
5
26
21
28 28
35 42
1,569
CORONER.
86 60
36 29
42 57
173
319 374
138
323
45
16
12
3
138
23
16 29
5
23
26
21
27
31
1,553
NUMBER OF VOTES CAST.
154
73
99
281
696| 131
696
100
31
31
41
254
32
46
26
50
27
35
56
77
2,989
7
275
6
9
22
5
9
1
4
928
Volcano
'13
3
22
4
1
646
582
90
18
19
2
121
22
45
11
9
45
1,447
James C. Shipman
41
30
52
235
242
125
31
459
G
15
20
33
114
6
60 91
41
36
103
319
41
351
55
15
16
31
113
5
18
26
9
29
39
1,350
L. G. Lyon.
101
282
44
346
50
15
16
19
119
4
16
18
26 24
9
1,316
Jerry T. King. E. B. Harris.
66
TREASURER.
James T. Farley.
12
1
1
10
1,002
Sutter Creek
6
23
1
3
61
496
James F. Hubbard.
29 26
28 28
27 42
1,410
W. W. Cope
28 28
103
WV. M. Sharp.
118 132
Ione City.
Fort John.
..
80
HISTORY OF AMADOR COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Immediately after the determination to organize, the activity became remarkable.
Sutter Creek offered to give towards county buildings ten thousand dollars; Jackson ten thon- sand dollars, and Ione about six thousand dollars. Volcano offered nothing, but ridiculed the offers of money as all bosh, that Jackson would prob- ably donate the old county jail, which was made of logs so small that a man could cut his way out in an hour or two with his jack-knife, and, moreover, the logs were so rotten that an enterprising pig would root his way out. Volcano relied upon votes, and it is probable with a little outside exertion would have carried the matter for itself, as it only lacked sixty or seventy votes of the selection. Real estate in Volcano and Jackson went up with a boom. Town-lots were staked off everywhere, and, until the evening of the election, people were in a high financial fever. Volcano patients soon recovered, but the Jackson unfortunates were afflicted for some years.
It will be noticed that the candidates at this elec- tion were mostly men of ability. Some of them will have biographies in the chapter devoted to lawyers. Others have become lawyers since leaving the county.
M. W. GORDON remained in the county, occupying many times stations of honor.
JAMES F. HUBBARD was originally a surveyor; studied law, practiced awhile in Amador county, moved to San Francisco, and has drifted out of sight.
CHAS. BOYNTON, the brilliant editor and poet, will be mentioned again in connection with newspapers.
JAMES C. SHIPMAN, several times elected County Clerk, was from Virginia-one of the genuine, old stock. His honor and integrity have never been questioned even by his political opponents-enemies he never had.
W. A. PHOENIX was a young man of energy, integrity, and ability. He was killed in the unhappy Rancheria affair, in which account he will be further mentioned.
JAMES HARNETT was a farmer of good standing in Ione valley. He returned to the East and has drifted out of sight.
JAMES T. FARLEY is our present United States Sen- ator, and will have further mention in the proper place.
W. L. McKIMM, the first Treasurer, occupied many positions of honor and profit; was Government Sur- veyor, and was employed to settle disputes in regard to lines, having the confidence of all parties. He was killed by being thrown from a buggy, while descending the hill south of Jackson, in company with the Hon. John A. Eagen.
W. W. COPE, now resident of San Francisco, once a Judge of the Supreme Court will have further mention.
S. B. AXTELL, since member of Congress from the
First District, Governor of Salt Lake and New Mexico, will be further mentioned.
JAMES L. HALSTEAD farmed in the early days on Volcano Flat, has since been a member of the Leg- islature from Santa Cruz, and is now a prominent lawyer in that county.
II. A. EICHELBERGER was a trusted citizen of Ama- dor county several years; went to Nevada in the beginning of the mining excitement, and was acci- dentally killed while trying to prevent a quarrel between two of his friends. His remains lie in the cemetery of Ione.
J. T. KING has drifted out of sight.
DOCTOR HARRIS acted quite a prominent part in the carly settlement of Amador county. He was a successful physician as well as miner. He built and run for some time the Newton Hotel; was largely instrumental in the organization of Amador county; found time to help build up the State Agricultural Society; mingled in politics; taught singing, and did many things to help build up society. He was among the foremost who went to the Washoe mines, put up a custom mill, and made thirty thousand dollars before other men had time to look around. When the civil war broke out, he joined the Union army, and was made Assistant Surgeon General, where bis known skill as a surgeon, his great executive abil- ity, and energy, were invaluable. Though genial and social in his habits, he never, cither by his presence or conversation, promoted or countenanced gambling, drinking, and other vices, that swept into the vortex of ruin so many brilliant and talented young men in early days. At present he is practic- ing medicine in Nevada.
DOCTOR SHARP was an able and successful physi- cian for many years in Jackson.
DOCTOR LYONS was a farmer and physician in Ione. He was unfortunate in his domestic relations, in being connected, by report at least, in the drowning of his wife, which happened in a well in his own yard. He was acquitted by the jury of the charge of murder, and soon after left the country.
"THE OWL."
This was a paper published occasionally in the carly days of Jackson-a sort of bubbling or froth- ing over of wit that was too lively to be bottled up. A reproduction of some of its articles will recall many incidents, in connection with the county scat, long forgotten :-
In Snougerville's romantic bay A gallant bark at anchor lay, Whose banner bore this strange device : Inquire at Logan's for the price Of passage up Salt river.
The Owl, upon its office door, The following flaming placard bore :
" Here Logan, agent of the line, From four o'clock till half-past nine, Sells tickets for Salt river.'
At four o'clock, the anxious crew, With vacant looks and pockets, too, Crowded around the sanctum door Of him, who oft had made before, The passage up Salt river.
*
RANCH & RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM H. PROUTY, JACKSON VALLEY, AMADOR COUNTY, GAL.
LITH. BRITTON & REY, S. F.
RESIDENCE OF EDGAR BISHOP, IONE CITY, AMADOR COUNTY, CAL.
81
ORGANIZATION OF AMADOR COUNTY.
Towering above the east was seen A stove-pipe hat* of doubtful mien; Battered and bruised, and crushed, it looked As if its owner had been booked Already for Salt river.
The poem had eighteen verses of this kind, filled with allusions to noted persons. Snougerville was a name given to what is now called Water street. One of its citizens was nicknamed Snouger-hence, Snouger bay.
From the Owl, August 25, 1854 :-
There was a sound of revelry by night, And our new county seat had gathered then Her miners, and her merchants; and the light Of tallow candles shone on drunken men. A dozen hats had bricks in them; and when Some jolly fellow, tighter than the rest, Invited the whole crowd to drink again, Not one among them needed to be pressed; But hush! hark! a deep sound strikes every guest. Did ye not hear it? No, 'twas but the wind, Or some damned jackass braying in the street. Give us our drinks-let joy be unconfined; Nor part till morn-we've got the county seat. What fellow was it offered to stand treat ? But hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more, As if the walls its echo would repeat, And nearer, more distinctly than before It is ! it is, -- to be concluded next week.
COURTS ESTABLISHED.
The first term of the Court of Sessions was held in McKimm's Building, near the present Central House; M. W. Gordon, acting as Judge; O. P. Southwell and William Wagner, as Associate Judges. These last were selected from the Justices of the Peace elect. The names of the first Grand Jury were D. W. Aldrich, C. Derthick, D. L. Wells, W. S. Birdsell, James Beekman, W. P. Jones, A. L. Harding, I. Bell, Leon Sompayrac, Robert Reed, B. S. Sanborn, Simeon Burt, Thomas Jones, Frank Wayne, A. B. Andrews, E. Evans, S. D. Herrick, and J. T. King.
Levi Hanford not appearing in season, and hav- ing no satisfactory excuse, was fined twenty-five dollars, which he paid.
The first indictment for murder was against John Chapman, for the murder of E. P. Hunter, of Lancha Plana. The case of C. Y. Hammond, who had the previous Summer killed his partner Elliot, as it was alleged, with a blow of his fist, came before them and was dismissed. Indictments for assault with intent to commit murder, were found against one Mexican, and several Chinamen. They also recom- mended the suppression of the houses of prostitution, so frequent and conspicuous in Jackson, and the other towns; the division of the county into town- ships, also the purchase of a safe, for keeping the public funds.
The first trial jury was in the case, "The people vs. Domingo Verjara," the names of the jurors be- ing Nathan Coon, John T. Griggs, E. H. Williams, Charles Towles, A. H. Kirby, William Jennings, John Rawley, John McKay, James Creighton, Will- iam Horton, J. L. Averill, and B. Ashton.
EFFORTS TO SUPPRESS DISORDERLY HOUSES.
The first Grand Jury had called the attention of the authorities to the houses conspicuously kept for the purposes of prostitution. The courts paid little attention to it, perhaps thinking the Puritanic spasm would soon pass away, or that the matter was a dangerous one to touch, on account of so many of the courts' constituents making their living by it. But the second Grand Jury, summoned for Decem- ber, 1854, took the creature by the horns, and in- dicted several prominent citizens for renting houses for the purposes of prostitution. The parties were duly arraigned in court. After some skirmishing the charge was dismissed on motion of the District Attorney, S. B. Axtell, on the ground of want of evidence. The jury .also found true Bills against the town authorities for obtaining money under false pretenses, for licensing the aforesaid places as busi- ness houses. On motion of the District Attorney the Court dismissed the charge.
The names of the Grand Jury, which made these efforts at reform: George L. Gale, Foreman; James L. Harnett, T. H. Loehr, Thomas S. Crafts, I. Stew- art, J. W. D. Palmer, G. M. S. Matthews, L. L. Robin- son, Silvester Streeter, D. C. Ferris, James Johnson, A. D. Follett, James M. Ballard, I. S. Roy, A. Boi- leau, Scott Cooledge, and Samuel Davis.
Though these efforts miscarried, they showed that the leaven of reform was beginning to work. The practices were not stopped, but the stamp of con- demnation was set on them, so that a man seeking office at the hands of the people, made a practice at least of decency. In - a man of education and apparent respectability, with M. D. to his name, in the town of Volcano, waited upon a prostitute to a circus. There were numbers of respectable females, young and old, present, and though the doctor had an undoubted right to select his company, the act was looked upon as at war with the better interests of society. The roads were rather muddy, and the portly doctor took the soiled dove in his arms and carried her home, the act being as coolly done in the presence of hundreds, as though the woman was a cherished wife or daughter. The following Autumn he came up as a candidate for Sheriff. He was met with such a rebuff that he withdrew his name, and shortly left the town. In the earlier days persons high in office were often seen in the dance with the frail ones.
AMUSING PROCESSION.
It will be remembered that the sevcral towns anx- ious to have the honor of being the county seat, Vol- cano excepted, offered liberal sums for the erection of county buildings. Some of the croakers pre- dicted that the promises would be forgotten after the election. The prediction did not prove true, for Jackson went to work in good faith, and at the end of three or four months presented to the county a nice and comfortable Court House. The county officers had been occupying rooms at the foot of
"Referring to Colonel Platt. 11
82
HISTORY OF AMADOR COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Broadway, in and around the Ameriean Hotel. A procession was formed here to take possession of the new Court House. The order of the procession was as follows :-
BAND,
Consisting of craeked drum and asthmatic clarionet.
[This was as good as the band which eseorted Na- poleon to his palaee on the island of Elba, which, aeeording to Sir Walter Scott, consisted of four wretehed fiddles.]
FIREMEN -- (In red Shirts). M. W. GORDON, County Judge, Flanked by
WM. WAGNER and O. P. SOUTHWELL, Associate Judges, John Phænix, Sheriff; S. B. Axtell, Distriet Attorney; J. C. Shipman, County Clerk; Wm. L. MeKimm, Treasurer;
Followed by Citizens generally.
They marehed to the Court House in a body. when, after Court was ealled, A. C. Brown, in behalf of the eitizens of Jaekson, presented the building to the eounty. Judge Gordon aeeepted it in a neat speeeh, eomplimenting the eitizens of Jaekson on their liber- ality and publie spirit. Some four or five hundred dollars, baek on the ereetion of the building, was made up by subseription, Major Shipman, the recently eleeted County Clerk, giving fifty dollars towards it. The loeation of the eounty seat at Jaek- son, was supposed to insure the permanent prosperity of the town. In the burst of enthusiasm following the settlement of the matter, the Court, county offieers, and citizens generally, were invited to par- take of the hospitalities of several of the leading saloons and bars of the town. The procession reformed in the same order as before. The Court being still in session (aeeording to our informant) the offi- eers, jurors and witnesses were compelled to follow, or subjeet themselves to a fine for contempt! There is no reeord of any punishment for eontumaey or even of failure to partake of the proffered hospital- ities, so it is presumed that the arrangement was mutually satisfactory. Our informant, though a juror, and consequently obliged to follow the Court while it was in session, may have been mistaken in thinking the Court was not adjourned, but, as sus- pecting his veracity would spoil a good story, it is best to give the story the benefit of the doubt.
ELECTION, 185-4.
Dwight Crandall (Democrat) was elected Senator and James T. Farley and J. W. D. Palmer (Whigs) were eleeted Assemblymen. The eounty was eon- sidered Democratie, but the Know-Nothing or Native Ameriean party had organized and made itself a power in polities. The eampaign was conducted mostly by James T. Farley and Alonzo Platt, the latter, though an old politieian, being no mateh for the young eandidate, who, though in his early twen-
ties, showed eanvassing powers of the highest order. He did not carry any angular notions into the ean- vass, but professed to be willing to be governed by the will of the people.
The vote for Governor stood: J. Neely Johnson (Know-Nothing), 2,035; John Bigler (Democrat), 1,719.
FIRST TAX LEVY.
The Legislature of 1853-4 having abolished the offiee of Supervisors in Calaveras eounty, the Court of Sessions was empowered to transaet the business of the county. August 26, 1854, the Court ordered a tax of fifty eents on each one hundred dollars of property, five eents of which was to be devoted to sehool purposes, and forty-five to eounty purposes.
CONDITION OF SOCIETY IN 1854.
The introduction of improved methods of mining brought a great inerease of population to Amador, as well as the other counties of California. Along with prosperity eame the institutions, the dance- house and the gambling saloons, looked upon then as a peculiar feature in California society, but which is now found to be a natural growth wherever sudden wealth eomes to those unaequainted with its proper use. The absence of the family influenee also fav- ored a condition of society in which the influenee of woman was in the deseending seale. The soiled doves were mostly natives of Mexieo, " dusky daugh- ters of Montezuma " as the poets termed them, and of Peru. It is said that at one time two hundred of the frail beauties were resident in the town of Jack- son. Their daily appearance on the street or dane- ing during the evening in sight from the street, ealled forth no remark of disapproval but had eome to be regarded as a matter of eourse. Some respect- able eitizens made left-handed wives of them, and wealthy men did not hesitate to build houses and rent them for these institutions. Men who had left families in the East were seen in friendly ehat, and young men by the seore or hundreds rather poured their gold into wanton laps. Some of these women would accumulate ten thousand dollars, or in some instanees double that, in a Winter's campaign.
Faro, monte and other games gave the lucky miner a ehanee to double his money or lose it, the latter being the ordinary result. Many men who now bewail their bad luck in California, turned their earn- ings into these banks that reeeive deposits but never pay interest or principal. Whisky, too, had its dev- otees, and the principle was ineuleated that he who would not drink was a mean man. Nearly all social intercourse was based upon "drinks all around." When men met and when they parted, drinks were in order; when they traded, drinks for all were ordered as a matter of course. When a man ran for office, whisky was his trump eard. An old politieian said to a man about running for office: "If you will not treat, you may as well stay at home and give it up." Another one said:
83
RANCHERIA MURDERS.
" Twelve hundred drinks elected me." To decline these social observances was to become to some extent ostraeised. There were exceptions it is true; there were men who would shut themselves in their cabins and deeline all intercourse rather than indulge in the prevailing vices. These would remain unknown until fortune in the shape of a rich claim smiled on them, and then they were mentioned in no complimentary terms. Every day men might be seen in all stages of intoxication; some crazy with rough fun, others ready for a brawl. One day one man in a cabin was on a spree and requiring the restraint of his companions, the next another. Whether because the whisky was bad or beeause the hot, dry climate aggravated the ills of the fiery liquors, or both, the effeet was disastrous, morally, physically, financially. The men capable of writing a solid article on politi- cal or scientifie subjeets, or of delivering an oration off-hand, could be seen ranting and howling through the streets or sleeping off the effects of a debauch.
CHAPTER XIX. RANCHERIA MURDERS.
Ill-feeling between the Americans and Mexicans-Frequency of Murders-The Band First Seen at Hacalitas-Up Dry Creek -- At Rancheria-To Drytown-A Second Time to Rancheria -Slaughter-Departure of the Robbers-Excitement the Next Day-Immense Gathering-Trial and Hanging of the Mexicans-Death of Roberts-Borquitas-Presence of County Officers-Pursuit of the Murderers-Hunt Around Bear Mountain-The Murderers Overtaken-Death of Phoenix- Expulsion and Disarming of Mexican Population-Outrages at Drytown-Burning of the Church-Mass Meeting at Jackson-Review After a Lapse of a Quarter of a Century.
THIS affair happened something over a quarter of a century since. Many of the witnesses are dead, others are gone, and many have forgotten some of the important matters. Those who are accustomed to criminal trials, know how contradictory testi- mony may be among candid, truth-telling men, even while the events are fresh in the mind. How much more difficult then to get at the truth when a quarter of a century has rolled over the events, inevitably obliterating much that would be necessary to form a rational opinion of the murders, and the resulting events of the following month. A somewhat retro- spective view of the relations between the Mexican population and our own, seems necessary, to get a correct view of the situation.
There never was a good feeling between the native population and the Americans. The indolent native, fond of his siesta and cigarette, proud of the smallest quantity of Castilian blood, and holding in utter abhorrence laborious occupations, had, at first, contempt, and then hatred, for the wild Ameri- canos, or Gringos (green-horns), as the Americans were termed, who seemed to be endowed with an infernal energy that tore up all the ordinary routine of life, and made men almost maniacs, in the search for wealth.
This feeling was older than the war in which Cal-
ifornia was conquered. Years before that Alexander Forbes, an Englishman, now a resident of Oakland, who wrote the " History of California," as early as 1835, speaks of occasional parties of Americans who came from the frontiers of the United States, whom no danger eould appall and no difficulty deter; who would be likely in time to take California and hold it as they had taken Texas, if some foreign power did not step in and forcstall them. At the time of the war, there were some two hundred Americans who had often made their power felt. Isaac Graham, with some fifty or sixty men, had taken possession of the Capital (Monterey), and made Juan B. Alva- rado, Governor. They were always in a quasi rebellion. Fremont with his battalion, had gone in force through the country, stubbornly refusing to be whipped. The Mexican Government had an article inserted in the treaty, that the rights of the Mexicans to their property in California should be respected. But this did not prevent the Americans, on the discovery of gold, from taking possession of the best lands, and pareeling them out into farms and cultivating them. The native owner was wont to consider himself lucky if he could save even his houses and his herds. The latter, the Americans would drive off and slaughter by the thousand, with hardly a pretense of secrecy. In this way the herds of nearly all the old dons were cxterminated. The titles to their lands were scarcely ever recognized until they had passed into the hands of the Amer- icans. In the gold mines, they were treated as intruders, and the discovery of a plaeer was sure to bring a swarm of men about, who believed in " Americans ruling America." This ill-feeling often culminated in murder and robbery. Particular roads frequented by parties of Mexicans, were found to be dangerous to travel. Several persons had been murdered on the road between Drytown and Cosumnes. Murderer's gulch, north ofthe town, had witnessed several murders, which, as the people believed, had been traced to the native population. Several attempts had been made to banish them from the country, but when driven from one eamp they would go to another. As the miners were roving about and the population changing, the expulsion was soon forgotten, and the natives would return embittered and sullen. Joaquin's raids through the country had not been forgotten, and when the news of the slaughter of six or seven persons at Rancheria had spread over the county, it is not strange that the community should be terribly excited, and should be moved to deeds which were afterwards looked upon with regret.
The murders were committed by twelve men, one of whom seemed to be white, and one a black man, the rest appearing to be of the ordinary Mexican type. Some of these were men of education, others had been vaqueros in the valleys; and all perhaps felt that they had some grievance to avenge, for we cannot account for their subsequent career on any
84
HISTORY OF AMADOR COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
other hypothesis. They were first heard from at Hacalitas (hard camp) not far from the Q ranch, on the night of the 5th of August, 1855, where they stayed all night.
The following morning, Monday, August 6th, they left the camp and made their way towards Drytown, first robbing a China camp, leaving the Chinamen tied. They passed some white mcu without disturbing them, however. It happened that George Durham, foreign tax collector, had started on much the same route and found that all the China eamps from there to Rancheria had been robbed. He got a very good description of the numbers and appearance of the men, and found that they had been at Rancheria at Francis' store; also saw their camp just out of the town. He warned Francis against the men, saying that he thought they were the same men who had recently committed somc depredations at Tuttle's store in Tuolumne county, and told Francis that he was in danger of being robbed. Durham then went towards Drytown, passing their camp. There seemed to be some difficulty among them, as two were well stripped apparently to fight, but were quieted by a tall, slender man, who seemed to be recognized as a chief. Two of the party followed Durham as if to attack him, but turned back after going a short distance. At Drytown, Durham en- gaged Cross, the constable, to assist in collecting the tax from the Chinamen at Milton's ranch, as they had dodged him before when he went alone. They got back to Drytown about dark, and went into Mizen- er's store. While there Judge Curtis came in and said that a Spanish woman had come to his office and told him that the town was full of robbers; that she was afraid that they were all going to be robbed. The description of the party corresponded with the party which had been seen at Rancheria, and Cross and Durham resolved to visit the place on Chile flat where the robbers were taking supper. On coming to the house, they had left, but were found a short distance to the rear. Both parties, as they met, commenced firing, some thirty or forty shots being exchanged. The Mexicans were on an elevation, and Durham and Cross were in a depression; these circumstances as well as the darkness prevented any fatal results, one person only, a Mexican, being wounded. Both parties now withdrew, the Mexicans going to their camp on the hill a half mile away, and Durham and Cross to the American part of the town. It was now evident that no small job was on hand. Twelve desperate men thoroughly armed would take the town. The citizens had heard the firing and many of the bullets had struck the buildings, though without doing any damage to persons. Although this was in 1855, only a few years away from the time that the men crossed the plains cach with his rifle in order, but few fire-arms could be found. When these had been gathered up, it was learned that the banditti had decamped and gone toward Rancheria. Whether it was a ruse to draw the
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