USA > California > Lassen County > Illustrated history of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra counties, with California from 1513 to 1850 > Part 32
USA > California > Plumas County > Illustrated history of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra counties, with California from 1513 to 1850 > Part 32
USA > California > Sierra County > Illustrated history of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra counties, with California from 1513 to 1850 > Part 32
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boring towns. It is a splendid production, well worthy a place in the centennial collection of poems. More music by the band ; and then the president introduced the orator of the day, Hon. Charles A. Sumner of San Francisco. The general verdict was that it was a grand effort, and in every way worthy of the day. Some of his pictures of the old continental times were beautiful in the extreme; and towards the close, the excitement and enthusiasm aroused in the minds of his audience were intense. He closed with a beautiful poem. Following the oration was the song " America," and after more music by the band, the assemblage dispersed. After noon a pleasant musical entertainment was given at the town hall, under the direction of the ladies, and passed off agreeably. The celebration was concluded by a pyrotechnical display in the evening, and a dance. at the Plumas House that continued until the next morning. The closing stanza of Mr. Goodwin's poem, which was a scholarly and elaborate production, will give a good idea of the whole :
"So from these hills, these altars grand, we may prefer this prayer ; God of our fathers! keep this land forever in thy care ; Keep over it our holy flag, with stars increasing bright, The Nation's radiant guide by day, its lamp of light by night ; Keep pure and leal our maids and wives, our men keep brave and true; Keep thou our sages strong and wise, and as the years renew The generations on our shores, may they increase in might Until immovable in power, invincible for right,
. When next there solemn rings the peals to mark a century fled, Standing before the living and above the mighty dead ; The men of that day shall behold a nation of such grace As ne'er before in splendor woke a smile of earth's sad face; A nation held by justice up, whose soil by peace is trod ; Where Freedom's temples shed their rays sweet as the smile of God."
The other poem referred to as the work of a miner poet is dated at Franklin Hill, June, 1876, and entitled, "Our Country-July 4, 1876." Though not showing the literary culture and scholarly grace of the other, it breathes fourth a more fervid and patriotic feeling, and is full of rhythm and music. It contains seven stanzas, the first two of which are given :
" Minstrels ! awaken the harp from its slumber ! Strike for our birthright so glorious and free ! O, listen and hear ye the jubilant thunder Echoing afar o'er the land and the sea. With holy emotion, With fervid devotion, Our hearts loudly beat for the land of our birth ; Respond, O ye shores, to the song of the ocean, And chant out our glory and pride to the earth.
" While our eyes fondly rest on thy banner of glory, The bold stars and stripes unfurled to the breeze, Proudly we point to the page of thy story, When God from on high sent the angel of peace. While gratefully bending, Our thanks are ascending, For the great boon of freedom our heroes have won,
And with our thanks a deep prayer is bleuding,
For the people and land of great Washington."
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A PLUCKY CHINAMAN.
Some time in the fall of 1877 a horrible tragedy was enacted near Rocklin, Placer county, in which a man named Oder, his wife, and another man named Sargent, lost their lives. A Chinaman known as Ah Sam, working on the place, murdered the three in order to seenre money he knew his employer to be possessed of. The perpetrator of the deed fled, while the people rose and drove every Celestial from that section of the county. Ah Sam took refuge in Plumas county, and engaged himself as cook on Wolf creek. Early in the following February an officer from Placer county, who had received word of the whereabouts of the fugitive, came up with a warrant for his arrest. Imprudently making known the nature of his business, the Chinese of Quincy heard of it, and hastily dispatched a messenger to warn the unsuspecting cook; so that when the officer arrived at Wolf creek he found only the tracks of Ah Sam's snow-shoes leading up into the deep snow of the mountains. Word was sent in all directions to be on the watch for the fugitive, who had been tracked as far as 12-mile bar, and there lost. On Thursday morning, the fourteenth of February, 1878, a miner named Ira Wentworth, living a mile and a half above Rich bar, while going to his claim near the mouth of Mill creek, came upon a Chinaman lying by a camp-fire, who stated that he had started from 12-mile bar to go to Silver creek, and had lost his way. He was in a bad condition, his feet being frozen, and his boots almost falling from them. Wentworth had heard nothing of the murderer or his escape, and believing his story, gave him the lunch he was taking to the claim for dinner, directed him to go down to Rich bar, where he would find China- men who would take care of him. Wentworth went to work, but in the evening when he returned he found the Chinaman still at the camp. He followed Wentworth home, got his supper and some bread, inquired particularly the route to Silver creek, and left. In the morning Wentworth found that he had gone back to his camp of the night before, and had evidently stopped there during the night, and started out in the morning, the trail leading up the mountain towards the Mountain House. During the day he went to Rich bar, and related the incident. It was at once supposed that this was the fugitive murderer, and Alexander Buvinghausen and Thomas Stentz started out in pursuit. They followed his trail up the mountain for two miles, and finally overtook him at a point where there were two cliffs of barren rocks, separated by a little ravine full of snow-covered brush, over which it was impossible to pass at a rapid rate. The Celestial was armed with a Colt's revolver, and intrenching himself behind the rocks on one side of the ravine, opened fire upon his pursuers, who were compelled to get behind the rocks on the opposite side for protection. In this position the battle was maintained for some time, the heavy storm that prevailed preventing accurate shooting. It being impossible to rush upon him across the treacherous snow, it was decided that Buvinghausen should return to Rich bar for reinforcements, in order to surround the stronghold, while Stentz remained to guard the prize. Before help arrived, the Chinaman resorted to several strategems to overcome the single adversary who remained. He tried the old game of putting his hat on a stick and holding it above the rocks to draw fire; but that being unsuccessful, he resorted to another expedient. Hailing Stentz, he stated that he was going to shoot himself, and immediately the discharge of a pistol was heard, following which came groans as of a man in his last death struggles. Stentz failed to bite at this bait, also, and soon the rascal was up and on the watch again. Soon Richard Livingstone and Peter McDougall arrived, followed a little later by Buvinghausen and a number of others. It was supposed that he would now surrender, but he had evidently made up his mind not to be taken alive, and treated their proposals for him to hold up his hands with derision and contempt. When they found he would not come out, an attempt
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SHOO FLY BRIDGE
MOHAWK BRIDGE
NELSON POINT BRIDGE.
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was made to surround him, and on seeing this, he called out that he would kill himself. Standing out in full view, he placed the pistol against his abdomen and fired, falling on his face. When his captors reached him, they found that the ball had entered about an inch from the navel, passing through and lodging against the skin on his side. He was taken down to Rich bar, and everything possible done for him, but he died on Monday morning at six o'clock. He was out eleven days, most of the time in a heavy storm, and must have been possessed of a wonderful amount of fortitude, or he would have succumbed to the difficulties of the situation. Starved and frozen, he fought it out to the last, and " died game." The body was tied upon a hand-sled, and drawn twelve miles through the deep snow to Spanish Ranch, the journey occupying from daylight till nine o'clock at night. It was then brought to Quincy, and taken on the stage to Reno, and by rail to Rocklin, where it was fully identified. The reward of $800 which had been offered was claimed, but only $450 were received by the captors, the Placer county officials claiming the remainder.
MURDER OF A. Z. PAGE.
On the seventh of July, 1878, A. Z. Page was killed at La Porte by Roscoe G. Shaw, who is now serving out a life sentence for his crime. Page was a rather weak-minded man, about fifty years of age, and Shaw had been making him the object of his ridicule during the day and evening, following him from place to place, and annoying him continually, despite the remonstrances of the persecuted man, until at last Page procured a stone to use as a weapon for his protection. He went into Goailhard's saloon and sat down, holding the stone in his lap. Shaw soon after entered the saloon, and made an offensive remark to Page, who jumped up, raised the stone, and said, "Go away from me or I will put a hole through you!" Shaw immediately left and went to Buckley's saloon, where his brother, Charles H. Shaw, was playing billiards. The two brothers held a brief conference, and when the game was concluded they proceeded together to Goailhard's saloon, where Page was still sitting in a chair. They sat down a few feet from Page, who soon observed them, and warned Ross to go away or he would put a hole through him. At these words Ross seized an iron poker from the stove, in both hands, and struck Page a blow across the top of the head. The blow so disabled the victim that his head fell back against the wall, and he was unable to rise from his chair. While in this position, Ross rained half a dozen blows upon his upturned face and fore- head, in the most brutal manner, while his brother Charley stood guard with a long knife, to prevent any interference. One who undertook to remonstrate with Ross was struck twice, and chased out of the saloon by Charley, who flourished his knife, and took the occasion to remark that no one could " get away with the Shaw family." Page died in a few minutes, his skull literally smashed by the blows given him while sitting helpless in his chair. The two brothers were indicted for murder, and were given separate trials the following October. Ross G. Shaw was convicted of murder in the second degree, and was sentenced by Judge Clough to imprisonment for life, the extreme penalty allowed by the statute. On the trial of Charles H. Shaw, the jury remained out all night and the next day, when they sent word to the judge that they could not agree. They were not discharged, and about ten o'clock that night they came in with a verdict of " not guilty." Both of these cases were prosecuted by R. H. F. Variel, the district attorney, and defended by John D. Goodwin and William W. Kellogg.
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PHILLIPS KILLED BY KELLEY.
A young Englishman named John Phillips invited a party of his friends to help him celebrate his birthday at Johnsville, October 6, 1878. While he was entertaining them in a saloon, one of them, named Thomas Kelley, under the influence of too much indulgence in the beverage that annually fills our poor-houses and prisons with an army of victims, excited by a dispute, shot his entertainer with a revolver. Young Phillips lingered several days, and then died. Both of the men stood high in the estimation of their employers. Kelley was brought to trial April 1, 1879, before Judge Clough, R. H. F. Variel prosecuting, and John D. Goodwin and W. W. Kellogg defending. He was convicted, and sentenced to pass the remainder of his days in the state prison.
THE CRAWFORD-ROSS TRAGEDY.
Between John A. Crawford, a native .of Canada, and Ephraim C. Ross, a native of Maine, existed a feud for years, that resulted in the death of Ross at the hands of his enemy, September 28, 1879. On the day in question, while engaged in a game of cards in a saloon at 20-Mile House, a quarrel arose between the two men. Crawford left the room, went to his cabin for a revolver, returned to the saloon, and shot Ross down, without any warning to his victim whatever. He was tried before Judge Clough on the ninth of the following December, R. H. F. Variel prosecuting, and W. W. Kellogg defending. The jury found him guilty of murder in the first degree, and fixed his punishment at imprisonment for life.
MURDER OF JOHN R. McVAY.
On the twenty-sixth of June, 1878, one of the most brutal murders known to the annals of crime was perpetrated at Meadow valley by Samuel Cook. Some trouble existed between the two men in regard to Cook's wife, and the testimony on the trial revealed the evident intention on Cook's part to get Me Vay drunk, and then execute his revenge upon him. Following out this pro- gramme, the two men were in the bar-room of the Meadow Valley hotel, McVay almost helplessly drunk, when a cause of difference arose between the two men McVay drew his pistol, which was immediately seized by Cook with one hand, while with the other he beat McVay severely about the face, finally throwing him down, wrenching the pistol from his feeble grasp, and using it to prevent others from interfering while he continued to beat his helpless victim. In this manner he rained blows upon the prostrate man till he was nearly insensible, then dragged him out upon the stoop, seized him by the feet, and plunged his head and shoulders several times into a barrel of water. He then threw him down upon the stoop, and began again to beat him in the face. A number of men witnessed the affair, but beyond remonstrating with the murderer, did nothing to rescue McVay from the hands of his beastly assailant, seemingly afraid or unwilling to interfere. Cook threw Mc Vay into the garden, but after that, remarking that it was too good a place for him, dragged him into a mud-puddle in the road. While lying in the pool, unable to move, McVay was again approached by the cowardly brute, who several times thrust the stock of the pistol into the helpless man's mouth. It was then suggested that the body be removed, and Cook volunteered to assist car- rying the head by seizing hold of McVay's bloody hair and beard. McVay, who was not yet dead, was carried to a shed back of the house, where the men endeavored to wash the blood from his per- son, and give what aid they could to the mangled man. During this time Cook made frequent visits to the shed to watch the operation, and give vent to his anger, finally winding up by thrust- ing the pistol into his victim's face, and firing a shot that extinguished the faint spark of life still
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remaining. All this was done without any effort on the part of the dozen men who witnessed the affair to prevent it, even up to the culminating act. Cook was indicted for murder, tried the fol- lowing September, found guilty of murder in the second degree, and sentenced for life in the peni- tentiary by Judge Clough. R. H. F. Variel, the district attorney, and John T. Herrington conducted the prosecution, while John D. Goodwin and W. W. Kellogg managed the defense in such a way as to draw from the judge, while delivering the sentence, the following eulogium : " And, considering the airy and insecure foundation on which your counsel stood to make your defense, I feel, in justice to them, constrained to say that their arguments to the jury were the most able, ingenious, and subtle that I ever heard in this court-room."
FIRE IN THE GREEN-MOUNTAIN MINE.
One of the most horrible calamities which ever happened in the county occurred at the Green- Mountain mine, above Crescent Mills, on Sunday morning, October 6, 1878. About nine o'clock it was discovered that the timbers in the mine were on fire, and the most active operations were at once commenced to notify the men at work; but the smoke and gas were driven rapidly through the mine, and in less than ten minutes it was filled completely. The fire caught from the smoke pipe which led from the engine. The engine was situated a thousand feet under ground, and some nine hundred feet from the surface. The smoke and steam escaped through a pipe-10-inch stove pipe-about 600 feet in length, and then through wooden boxes to the surface. The fire probably originated from the soot accumulating and taking fire, probably some forty feet above the engine. Several men were at work in such places as to make their escape easy, but four were in a stope, from which it was impossible for them to leave after the fire started. The names of these were James Cashman, George Beeson, Richard Cornelius, and Michael Cullen. Frank Rodgers, the foreman, made almost superhuman efforts to save the men, and carried one man some sixty feet down the ladders to a place of safety. The man was insensible, but recovered as soon as he was brought to fresh air. It seemed as though the mine was filled with the poisonous gas and smoke almost immediately after the fire was discovered; and as the candles would not burn in it, of course the men were in total darkness, and had to grope their way through the tunnels. To get to the place where the doomed men were at work, it was necessary to go in about 1,000 feet, then raise up 175 feet, then back and down about fifty feet, and then on a level probably thirty feet more. Of course, the fire being below them, every chance of escape was shut off before they were apprised of the danger. When it was found to be impossible to save them, and every chance for them to be alive was exhausted, the mine was closed up to smother out the fire. On Wednesday it was opened, and the men who went in found the body of Beeson, part way out, lying on his face, close to the car-track. He had evidently come as far as he could, and when overpowered had put his mouth to the ground to keep the smoke from entering his lungs. The smoke was still too thick to go farther; and nothing more could be done until Thursday morning, when the other three bodies were recovered. Cullen was a very strong man, and had evidently made a desperate struggle. He had managed to get up the raise some fifty feet from his comrades, there was over- come, and fell. Cashman and Cornelius had not left the " breast" where they were at work. Cashman was found sitting or squatting on his heels, with his hands over his face. Cornelius was lying a few feet from him. Beeson and Cornelius were taken to Greenville for burial on Thursday, and the bodies of Cashman and Cullen were brought to Quincy and buried in the graveyard about ten o'clock Thursday night, the rapid decomposition of the bodies making it necessary to bury them as soon as possible.
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ANDERSON'S ADMINISTRATION.
As an instance of unusual integrity and honor, and as a tribute to a pioneer who has left an unimpeachable record behind him, we mention the following: In the year 1853 Charles A. Anderson of Mohawk valley made a present of a ranch in Mohawk valley to Thomas Wash, an old friend of his who hailed from his native county in Virginia. For many years Mr. Wash lived in possession of the property, and in 1879 died without a family. He left a will at his demise, naming Charles Anderson as his executor, but leaving the property to other parties. Anderson faithfully settled up the affairs of the state, using the utmost economy and the most scrupulous honesty in the transaction of the business. On the eleventh of November, 1881, he remitted to the heirs of Wash the sum of thirteen hundred dollars, having received himself from the estate the paltry compensation of one hundred and fifty dollars for his services. Mr. Anderson left Plumas county November 12, 1881, with only twenty dollars and fifty cents in his pocket; but he has left behind him a record that but few men, placed in similar circumstances, can boast of-the record of an honest man, "the noblest work of God."
RECORD OF CONVICTIONS OF FELONIES.
Crime.
Convicted.
Sentence.
Disposition.
William S. Harper. . Murder
Oct. 19, 1857.
10 years ... . Pardoned Aug. 28, 1866.
Fred Ashton. . Rape
Sept. 9, 1858. 3 years. . Escaped June 25, 1859.
William Dixon. Rape
Sept. 17, 1858 2 years. Escaped Sept. 19, 1859.
John Jenkins Murder
July 16, 1859
. Death Hanged Oct. 28, 1859.
Thomas Elder Murder
July 19, 1859
. Death . . Hanged Oct. 28, 1859.
John Morrow Larceny
May 27, 1861
4 years. . Escaped July 22, 1862.
Clark Rugg Larceny
May 31, 1861 . 5 years Discharged Jan. 12, 1862.
Amada Cardinez. . Murder
July 13, 1861 . Death Hanged Aug. 30, 1861.
Atlas Fredonyer . . Assault to rape . May 16, 1862. . 6 years .Pardoned Nov. 26, 1863. Escaped March 3, 1863.
John Ketchersythe. . Larceny
May 9, 1862. 1 year
David Hughes Larceny .
Sept. 10, 1862 ... . 5 years
Discharged Feb. 27, 1867.
Hugh Fat Manslaughter
. Oct. 18, 1862 .. 6 years Discharged Jan. 30, 1868.
Vincent Olivia. Assault to murder. . Sept. 28, 1868. .. . 1 year. Discharged Aug. 5, 1869.
China Hong. Assault to murder April 8, 1869. . 5 years. Discharged July 26, 1873.
Robert Francis. Murder June 2, 1869. . 15 years . Pardoned April 12, 1872. Thomas M. Long. Burglary . Nov. 29, 1871 . 1 year. Discharged Oct 17, 1872. John Ryan. . Larceny . Nov. 9, 1874. .2 years. Discharged Aug. 3, 1876.
Z. T. Brown. Larceny Nov. 9, 1874. 2 years Discharged Aug. 3, 1876.
Henry Thomas Larceny Nov. 9, 1874. . 2 years. Discharged Aug. 3, 1876.
John Sansome
Burglary
Oct. 2, 1875. 15 years . Still in prison.
Frank Barker
Burglary
Oct. 2, 1875 .5 years. . Discharged Jan. 3, 1879.
George Anderson Forgery
April 9, 1878. .1 year Discharged Feb. 13, 1879.
Frank Larish Assault to murder. . Oct. 25, 1878 14 years .. Still in prison.
Roscoe G. Shaw Murder Oct. 5, 1878. For life . Still in prison.
Samuel Cook. Murder
Sept. 28, 1878.
For life. Still in prison.
Thomas Kelley . Murder
April 4, 1879. . For life Died May 4, 1880.
John A. Crawford. . Murder
.Dec. 10, 1879.
. For life .. Still in prison.
B. F. Clark Larceny Nov. 1, 1880. .1 year. . Discharged Sept. 5, 1881.
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PLUMAS COUNTY PATIENTS IN THE STOCKTON INSANE ASYLUM.
Name. Admitted. Discharged. Remarks.
Asa Day
Aug. 15, 1854. . Date not stated.
Jacob J. Spurr.
. Oct. 4, 1855. . .. Date not stated.
Michael Mimiek
June 11, 1857 . . April 4, 1860.
Henry Scholl.
Aug. 1, 1857. .. Sept. 25, 1857.
Henry L. Tuckey May 19, 1858
Died. Dec. 9, 1858.
John Robinson March 26, 1859 Died June 28, 1862.
John S. West, (Scofield)
Feb. 12, 1860
Died May 24, 1881.
Leonard Vogle
April 22, 1860 .. Jan. 19, 1861.
C. Demerrit
Aug. 15, 1860. . Sept. 29, 1860.
Henry Brown May 14, 1863 .. June 10, 1863.
John Brown
. Nov. 9, 1863
Died April 6, 1865.
Philip Theo. Sagenbach June 7, 1866. Died June 9, 1866.
Wm. H. Jacobs.
. June 30, 1866.
Died Nov. 26, 1868.
Geo. F. Davis
July 31, 1866. . July 12, 1867.
John McQuinn Aug. 2, 1866. .
Died May 8, 1867.
Francis M. Goodwin
Nov. 22, 1866. . May 28, 1867.
Thomas Fitzgerald Dec. 1, 1866. . . April 4, 1867.
John Peterson
March 12, 1867. March 28, 1869.Ret'd voluntarily, d. Mar. 13, 1872.
Ramon Navarro
.June 24, 1869. . Feb. 28, 1870.
Lewis Jabier
June 6, 1870. . . May 11, 1871.
James Cannovan
. June 2, 1871
Still in asylum.
Ann Crocket.
Jan. 23, 1873
Died Jan. 27, 1874.
Henry Marks
March 26, 1873
Still in asylum.
Frank M. Goodwin, 2nd time. . Oct. 29, 1873. .. June 29, 1874.
Charles Wilson. . June 3, 1874.
Still in asylum.
Geo. H. Engelbeck Oct. 2, 1874.
Died Nov. 22, 1876.
Patrick Brannon Oct. 9, 1874. Feb. 4, 1875.
Andrew Powers
Oct. 18, 1874
Eloped Jan. 22, 1875.
John A. Ryan
. Oct. 23, 1874. .. Nov. 20, 1874.
Harriet F. Winchell Nov. 4, 1874. .. Dec. 15, 1874.
Stephen Manuel
. Dec. 16, 1874.
Died July 22, 1876.
Chas. A. Johnston April 28, 1875 . . June 23, 1875.
Frank Davidson
. Oct. 2, 1875. .
Nov. 5, 1875.
Susan B. Hathaway Oct. 22, 1875. .. May 26, 1876.
John R. Gallagher Nov. 5, 1875. . . Dec. 15, 1875.
W. S. Day
. Oct. 4, 1876
Died May 16, 1877.
Daniel Mitchell. Oct. 14, 1877. .. April 22, 1878.
*Stephen F. Kinsey July 3, 1878. . . Sept. 10, 1878.
*Frank Goodwin
July 28, 1879. . Dec. 31, 1879.
*Evoir Guilliomar
July 23, 1880.
Died Aug. 23, 1880.
*Eliza Schneider
.Aug. 24, 1880
Still in asylum.
*Mary F. Bell
March 22, 1881
Removed by friends July 25, 1881.
* Inmates of the Napa asylum.
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VETERANS OF THE MEXICAN WAR.
Of the gallant men who fought and won the bloody battles of the Mexican war, many came to California. Their love of adventure, engendered by the excitements of their long campaign, led them to seek this coast as soon as the news of the great discovery at Coloma was heralded in the East. A few are still living in every county in the state, honored and respected citizens. Among those who were pioneers of this county are remembered the following gentlemen :
Thomas L. Haggard.
From Tennessee
Living in Quincy.
Albert Keep
From Massachusetts
Living at Smith bar.
Alexander Kirby
From Missouri. Living in Sierra valley.
Samuel Galbreath
From Virginia Living in Quincy.
Thomas Lane
From Tennessee Living at Sawpit.
Thomas Taylor
From Wisconsin .Living in Quincy.
John H. Hudson
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