Calaveras chronicle. [volume], February 14, 1852, Image 2

About Calaveras chronicle. [volume] (Mokelumne Hill [Calif.]) 1851-18??

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(Cnlaocras Cljronulc.
H. A. DE COURCY, Editor.
Saturday, February 14, IW2.
pa- Nonce. —Mr. L. P. Fisher is our
authorized Agent in San Francisco to re
ceive advertisements and subscriptions.
Orders for this paper, left with him at the
Counting-room of the Evening Picayune,
will be attended to.
Tbe County Petition.
We have pleasure in informing our
readers that the petition, praying for
investigation into the corrupt and fraud
ulent proceedings connected with the
county seat elections—which has been
in course of signature throughout the
county —has been transmitted this week
to the Legislature. Its great bulk be
speaks bow uv* versally it b»i l»»n sub
scribed. Indeed, every camp south of
Mokelamne River has signified its
wishes on the subject, all anxious that
the courts and county offices should be
located in a more central position, and
one easy of access from all parts of the
county.
Accompanying the petition is a mass
ofdocumenlary evidence,drawn up with
the greatest care, and duly verified on
oath, which must necessarily carry con
viction to the most skeptical, that illegal
and corrupt practices prevailed to a
fearful extent at the elections referred to.
In our last number we stated a few
of the facts connected with this base
proceeding. Since then we have been
favored with copies of the sworn testi
mony, fully sustaining the statements
advanced, and laying bare a preconcert
ed scheme to thwart the wishes of the
people, in which the plotters seem to
have freely availed themselves of fraud
ulent returns, gross bribery, and we
regret to say, even perjury.
The parties interested in maintaining
this reign of fraud, dreading an expo
sure, have been moving heaven and
earth since the meeting of the Legisla
ture to bolster up their cause, and,
mindful of theii old tactics, have been
dispensing their favors with no niggard
hand. There are those in our Legislature
who are directly interested in the suc
cess of the Jackson speculation, and we
have heard it reported that three mem
bers of the delegation from this county
are already pledged to maintain the
present arrangement. But such is the
force of testimony which will be pro
duced, that no man, with any preten
sions to candor or impartiality, can re
sist the prayer of the petition, for an
investigation. This is all we want. —
Let us have an opportunity to prove
our case, and the Legislature may then
take such action on the matter, as in
their wisdom shall seem fit.
We are not particularly anxious to
have congregated around us the immac
ulate official clique who were concerned
in this fraud —and in this we are
strengthened by the opinion of our plain
spoken, honest cotemporary, the West
ern American, who says :—“ If the
county seat of Calaveras county brings
into its neighborhood such a pack of
impudent and ignorant legal rascals as
congregate around some county seats in
our State, the people of Mokelumne
Hill are well rid of it.”
We have received the Jackson Sen
tinel, and perceive that the editor has
devoted a large portion of his space to
this subject. But as he deals so largely
in sophistry, and dues not even attempt
to disprove our statements, we do not
think it necessary to recur to them, nor
to bring up additional testimony. We
cannot, however, refrain from noticing
his statement that, with one exception,
all the large towns are on the north
side of the river, and that they are sat
isfied with the present location of the
county seat. Everybody knows that
the only place deserving the name of a
town, besides Jackson, on the north, is
Volcano, and the returns prove that
this precinct cast a large vote for Mo
kelumne Hill. In enumerating the
large towns of his section, we are sur
prised he overlooked Greaserville and
Pekin.
We fling back with contempt the
impudent sneer at the citizens of the
southern portion of our county. In
liberality and enterprise they are not
surpassed by those of any part of the
State. Their towns are built with regu
larity and neatness, and of substantial
materials, their streets strongly con
trasting with the noxious filth and mud
which disfigures the northern capital.
Neither is there tbe shadow of truth in
the assertion thot tbe great southern
towns are opposed to Mokelumne Hill.
Their almost unanimous support of our
petition disproves the calumny.
We can assure the editor of the Sen
tinel that it is not our intention to occu
py our space in fruitless endeavors to
convince him of the falsity of his posi
tion. Matters of greater importance
claim our attention —even were it not
generally known that his ephemeral
sheet was got up for the purpose of
raising false issues, and, if possible, of
misleading public opinion on this subject
Correction. —In our last issue was pub
lished a paragraph relative to a difficulty
having occurred at Murphy’s Camp, in which
we stated that the sheriff, Mr. Marshall,
hail shot two Frenchmen, one of whom was
instantly killed. Since then, we have re
ceived a correct statement of the whole af
fair, which is to the following effect: —An
Italian had made complaint to a magistrate
at Murphy’s, that five “Basques” (French
men), had jumped his claim on Cayote
Gulch, while he was occupied nursing his
partner, who, at that time, was very sick.
Wishing to arrange the dispute with as
little difficulty as possible, the justice ad
dressed the trespassers a letter, written in
their own language, requesting them to
leave the claim, or come forward and prove
their right to it. The “Basques” having
refused to receive the letter, or pay any at
tention to its requisitions, a summons was
issued and put into the hands of the sheriff,
who dispatched a deputy to serve it It was
not until tbe second day that the party
could be found, when they were informed
through an interpreter of what was wanted
with them. The eldest one of the party was
in favor of having the case tried, but the
others overruled him, and one who appear
ed to have most influence, swore “ they did
not care if fifty sheriffs or fifty alcalde*
came, they cared for no law in California.”
Upon receipt of this message, the sheriff,
with a small posse of five men proceeded to
the spot, and summoned the “ Basques” to
appear and answer in Court.
Having obtained two hours time to look
up witnesses, the whole party finally start
ed for camp. On the way, however, the
sheriff finding the “ Basques” to be all
armed, deemed it prudent to make them
give up their weapons Some of them did
so; but one who had a revolver,
refused. In attempting to take it from him,
the sheriff was beset by two others of the
party who attempted to wrest his rifle from
him. In the scuffle which ensued, the piece
was accidentally discharged, the ball tak
ing effect in one of the trespassers, who
died next day of his wound. Finding he
was now obliged to fight, Mr. Marshall
clubbed his rifle to defend himself against
the foremost of his assailants, but not fully
succeeding in beating him off, he eventually
drew his revolver and shot him. The
man is severely, though not dangerously,
wounded. The rest of the “ Basques” then
fled. One of them, the same who expressed
a willingness to obey the summons in the
first place, was subsequently arrested, and
failing to prove their right to the claim,
was discharged upon his pledge to abandon
all pretensions to it. We regret very much
the results of this affair; but we know that
the sheriff did no more than his duty re
quired under the circumstances, and can
assure him that he still enjoys the confi
dence of the entire community.
•—■• • • •
Democratic Convention. —In another
column will be found the report of the pro
ceedings of this convention, which met at
San Andres on Tuesday last. It was not
very numerously attended, however. Our
reporter informs us that every facility was
tendered by the citizens of S»n Andres to
prosecute the business for which it conven
ed. The report of the secretaries is cor
rect, with the exception of an oversight—
which often will unavoidably happen in the
recording of the proceedings of meetings—
of a resolution which was offered by the
Hon. Wm. Fowle Smith, recommending the
delegates to support the claims of Stephen
A. Douglass and Howell Cobb for the presi
dency and vice-presidency. This was dis
approved of, and a substitute adopted, leav
ing the delegates free from all instructions
to do what they should see best to advance
the interests of the democratic party.
Pirn. Docs—We are under obligations
by the receipt this week of a great number
of valuable documents, to the Hon. W. W.
Gwinn, U. S. Senator. Also, to the Hon.
J. Y. Lind, E. Young, T. B. Van Buren,
and Jas. W. Coffroth.
Adams & Co. —The gentlemen of this
establishment have most liberally supplied
ns with papers during the week, from the
Atlantic and Europe.
Carson Creek. — The population of this
locality, we are happy to say, is on the in
crease. The diggings all along the creek
are paying well, although the ravine has
been worked twice already. This has been
perhaps the richest placer in California,
paying largely throughout its whole ex
tent, while portions of it have yielded
amounts totally unprecedented in the mines
The want of water, however, is severely
felt here ; hut the miners are in expectation
of relief in tMs matter by the introduction
of water from the tanislaus. Should this
take place, the ravines and flats along the
creek will amply repay the labor expended
in their working, and it is said that even far
up the hill sides good diggings are to be
found. The day after the recent ra'ns, a
Mexican boy, walking along the creek,
picked np a piece of quartz, which, upon
being broken up with a hammer, produc
ed 8 ounces of ; and on the same day
| a minor kno* ’’•v “ Norwegian Bil,” dis
j covered nmong •;»>» “tailings,** a piece of
: pure gold weighing 6 ounces,
j From this creek rises the hill containing
I the celebrated quartz-veins, the richest yet
I discovered. The principal claimants are
the South Carolina, the Ufcion, and the
Consolidated mining companies, the title of
the latter being in dispute. The first-nam
ed company have leased out a portion of
i their mine to Madame A/artinez. This en
-1 terprisiug lady personally superintends the
operation. Her contract, which was en
, tered into before gold was struck, (and will
shortly toepire) is held on the condition of
giving Ihe company one third of the metal.
The grinding is performed by a rastra
erected m the Stanislaus. This shaft has
been sixik to the depth of 105 feet, the vein
bcaringnorth becoming more valuable. A
contracl has been entered into with Senor
Arraynj for three years, to work another
portion of this company’s lead, on payment
of 40 per cent, of t e nett proceeds.
The I’nion company are prosecuting their
works, *n contract with Arrayne, for one
third of the proceeds for the first year—af
terwanfe, one-half. They a large
quantity of metal on hand. The works on
the Comolidated company’s claim are at a
stand-still, pending the decision of the suit
between Morgan & Co. and Finnegan & Co.
This dispute has seriously retarded the
prosperity of the camp, as but for it, we
have nv doubt that powerful machinery
would long since have been erected in the
neighborhood, realizing immense wealth to
all concerned. A mill has been erected on
the creek for the pui pose of quartz grind
ing, but it has proved a total failure. We
are informed that Messrs. Chittenden &
Ncwland, of Sonora, are about to erect a
suitable mill on the Stanislaus, with a view
to develop the resources of these mines
We have to acknowledge,while on a recent
visit to this interesting section of our coun
ty, the courtesy of Mr. Finnegan, who,
with Mr. Devlin, of the South Carolina
company, and Col. Gore, of the Union com
pany, conducted us over the Hill, pointing
out the ditferent claims, guiding us in our
descent of the shafts, and affording us every
facility for witnessing the operations of the
miners.
Murphy’s. —We find that the miners, al
though suffering from a great scarcity of
water, are still doing as well as could be
expected under the circumstances. Within
a short time past, new diggings were open
ed on the south east side of Kenton Hill, or
Mount Pleasant, which promise to pay re
mark-iMy well No large strikes have as
jet been made, but the earth pays from the
surface, and grows better as the holes in
crease in depth. The ledge has not yet
been reached in this placer, and ths im
pression is, that when the holes get down,
from present appearances, they will prove
incalculably rich.
The Murphy’s Creek Mining Company
are steadily pursuing their operations,
meeting with that success which their ener
gy and enterprise so richly deserve- This
is one of the most liberal companies in Cali
fornia. They have generously yielded up a
large portion of their claim to those wish
ing to work on it, and their operations
have been conducted in such a scientific and
masterly manner, by their worthy Presi
dent Judge Putney, that they have secured
to the miners in the neighborhood the only
means of washing their earth.
The post office in this important settle
ment is one of the best conducted in the
State. Major Berniaud is a gentleman
every way qualified for the responsible po
sition which he holds The strictest regu
larity prevails, and all letters which have
been either misdirected, or their owners
have removed, are taken care of, and no
trouble spared to ensure their delivery at
their destination. The Major is also agent
for Brown’s Express—and is proprietor of
the largest miners’ store in the district, and
has on hand a large stock of provision,
clothing, mining tools, liquors, &c., &c.
We refer our readers to the advertise
ment, in aaother column of a grand ball,
to be given at M. Theate’s, on Tuesday
evening next, for the benefit of the French
Hospital here. We hope to see this soiree,
having so charitable an end in view, gene
rously patronized.
Public Instruction. —We have received
the first annual report of John Q. Marvin,
Esq., superintendent of public instruction.
It is a most able document, and reflects the
highest credit on its author. The para
mount importance of n sound system of
public instruction is earnestly set forth, to
gether with the necessity for an adequate
endowmentof schools. As there can be no re
venue received from the sources indicated by
the legislature for the support of schools
for a considerable time to come, some imme.
diate steps should be taken to provide funds
for this most necessary purpose, and ac
cordingly some suggestions are thrown out
to supply this deficiency which are entitled
to the most favorable consideration. An
appendix to the report on school statistics,
gives an estimate of the number of children
resident in each county, and we confess
ourselves agreably surprised at the number
of children at present within our State.
From it we make the following compila
tion':—Butt# county contains 60 children 5
Calaveras, 100; Colusi, 75; Contra Costa,
400; TEI Dorado, 100; Klamath, 50; Lo»
Angelos, 250; Marin, CO; Mariposa, 100;
Mendocino, 70; Monterey, 600; Napa, 100 ;
Nevada, 250; Placer, 120; San Francisco,
1000 ; Sin Joaquin, 250; Sacramento, 400 ;
San Diego, 12C; San Luis Obispo, 200; San
ta Cruz, 200; Santa Clara, 300; Santa
Barbara, 400; Shasta, 50; Sonoma, 250;
Sutter, 75; Solano, 200; Trinity, 125
Tuolumne, 150; Yolo, 75; Yuba, 150; mak
ing a total of 6,000 children and youths
between the ages of four ami eighteen years,
for whom there is no education, nor the
means of procuring it, provided by the
state.
Postal Regulations. —We have receiv'
ed a letter from James M. Goggin, Esq,
superintending agent, post office depart
ment, giving a most satisfactory account of
his exertions, for increasing the mail facili
ties of California, and more especially in
connection with this section of the
The letter is not intended for publication,
but from the great importance of the sub
ject, as well as in justice to Mr. Goggin
himself, we have determined to lay it before
the public, hoping to be pardoned for over
looking his request that it should be consi
dered as strictly private We are sorry our
limits prevent us giving it insertion to-day,
but it shall appear in our next.
Hunter & Co.—We had the pleasure of
partaking of a most sumptuous banquet, gi
ven by the proprietors of this Express and
Banking house on Tuesday evening at
Jackson, on the occasion of their establish
ing a branch ot their house in the northern
section of Calaveras county. George Tan
nett, Esq., presided on the occasion, and
gave the highest satisfaction to the nume
rous company assembled by his exbaustless
fund of wit and anecdote. Wines of the
choicest vintage flowed freely around the
board —song anil sentiment prevailed, and
at an early hour the company separated,
having spent an evening of rare enjoyment.
The dinner was served up by Messrs Du
pleix & Qodefroy, of the French hotel, in
a manner which reflected the highest credit
on their establishment.
Bath House. —The necessity for an es
tablishment of this kind has been long felt
here —more severely, perhaps, than in any
other part of California. There is nothing
more conducive to comfort and health than
personal cleanliness. It gives us much
pleasure therefore in being enabled to state,
that our enterprizing citizen, Mr. Henry
S. Edwards is making arrangements to sup
ply this great want, and will shortly have
his bath house in operation. Mr. Edwards
has long been connected with the “ city
baths” in San Francisco, and is well known
as an attentive and courteous gentleman*
We have no doubt but his exertions will be
duly appreciated by this community, and we
most cordially wish him success. Rooms
will be set apart for ladies. Mr. E. at pre
sent conducts a barber’s saloon on Centre
street, and is one of the most expert and
light handed professors of the tonsorial art
we have ever experienced.
Angel’s Camp. The miners engaged
here, are doing well. There is a good sup
ply of water in the creek, and the earth
returns a rich reward to the enterprising
and industrious. There are no deep dig
gings, but the placers yield well and all are
making good wages. The produce is from
12 to 50 cents to the panful. The late rains
have opened the springs in some of the ra
vines, which are paying well. Nor are
they without their “ chispas” in this loca
lity. A friend of ours, Mr Peter D. Gil
lespie, picked up, last week, a beautiful
specimen of pure gold, weighing 22 ounces.
He found it in his claim on the creek, which
pays over an ounce a day to the man.
We beg to call the attention of our
friends in this section of the country to the
advertisement of Messrs, Cameron and Ly
ons, which will be found in our columns to
day. These gentlemen possess unusual fa
cilities in trade. They are in connection
with one of the largest importing houses in
Stockton, and, having a number of teams on
the road, are consequently enabled to sup
ply every thing of the very best quality,
and on as favorable terms as any other
house in the trads.
Arrival or the Oregon.— Five Days
Later. —Through theckindness of Mr. Geo.
D. Brush, of Reynolds, Todd & Co., and of
Mr. Clark, of Adams & Co., we were put
in possession, on Thursday, of full files
of Atlantic and European papers by this
steamer.
From the evening edition of th* Alta, we
learn, that the P. M. S. Co.’s steamer Ore
gon, Captain Pearson, arrived at San Fran
cisco on Wednesday morning at 8 o’clock,
14 days and 7 hours running time from Pa
nama. The Oregon brings the mails, and
five days later advices from the Eastern
states. She had on board 489 passengers,
of which number 38 were females and 28
children.
The intelligence by this arrival is of con
siderable interest.
The Kossuth excitement is on the wane,
and a spirit of opposition is growing up
against his intervention doctrines.
Henry Clay, in an interview with Kos
suth at Washington, is reported to have
said “ A dying man, I oppose your* doctrine
of intervention. The importance of this’
statement will, no doubt, be powerfully
felt all over the Union.
The papers contain full reports of the
proceedings consequent on the presentation
of Kossuth to Congress, which took place
on Wednesday, January 7. In the evening,
the grand congressional banquet took place,
when the Hon Daniel Webster made seve
ral speeches and the greatest enthusiasm
prevailed.
The English government has disavowed
the act of the captain of the Express, in
firing into the Prometheus, and intimated
their intention of abandoning the protecto
rate of the Afosquito kingdom.
The Legislature of Texas has instructed
the secretary of state to go to Washington
and draw five million dollars of the debt
due by the United States.
The Spanish difficulty is to be amicably
arranged, and the Cuban prisoners sent
home. Mr. Thrasher, it is also expected,
will be shortly liberated.
Mr. Rives, our minister at Paris, has
been authorized to acknowledge the govern
ment of Louis Napoleon.
There are a great number of passengers
on the Isthmus, for California. Four sail
ing vessels, carrying 600, were to sail the
day after the Oregon, leaving behind them
at least 1000. Provisions are scarce.
A party of fifty Englishmen, from the
Cornwall mines, have landed at Chagrcs,
from Southampton, where they will pro
ceed to the quartz mines of Agua Frio, in
.4/ariposa.
[advertisement ]
Angel’s Camp, Feb 5, 1852.
Sir —ln your paper of the 17th ult., I
noticed an article representing that the
Sheriff had visited Carson's Hill, in com
pany of Capt. Morgan, to execute the writ
of restitution in favor of Morgan et al vs.
Finnegan et al.
The article referred to in your paper
from a gentleman representing himself to
be present at the time of said attempt of
said Sheriff to execute *aid writ, 1 pro
nounce false, and that the statement made
by Mr. E. F. Willison is not a one sided
or prejudiced statement, but a plain, truth
ful. and incontrovertible statement of the
facts as they occurred at the time.
In regard to your informant, I have no
hesitation in saying that he promulgated
the above facts knowing them to be false.
I am responsible to your informant.
Yours, respectfully,
Jno. McLean Addison.
Two Men Hung —On Wednesday last,
great excitement prevailed at Murphy’s.
Two tents had been broken into at that
camp, from one of which four hundred dol
lars had been taken—and from the other
but twenty five Sheriff Marshall, we learn,
arrested the persons who had commit*ed
the crimes, and they proved to be an Eng
lishman and an Irishman, whose names we
were unable to learn. The people were
infuriated beyond control, showing by their
excited actions that nothing but the lives of
the criminals would be allowed to expiate
their guilt. Accordingly, they seized
them from the sheriff, and with shouts of
passionate exultation, launched the unfor
tunate culprits into eternity.
Complimentary We have, again to
acknowledge the kindness of our friend Mr.
Laforge, for a liberal supply of the most
delicate tenderloin that has graced our
table for a length of time.
Captain H. M. Sturges, another of our
first and firmest friends, has laid ns under
obligations, during the past week, for ena
bling us to toast his health and prosperity
in bumpers of sparkling champagne, and
to allay our sorrows by the soothing influ
ence of his exquisitely flavored “ habanas.”
—• • •
Reynolds, Todd & Co. —Our friend Mr.
Turner, of this firm, has our thanks for
full files of papers. Also, for his most
welcome supply of magazines, and the il
lustrated papers of the Atlantic and
Eurdpe.
Hunter & Co. —We have had the plea
sure of a visit from Mr. Phenix, of this
enterprising firm, who handed us the Sac
ramento papers, and also the second num
ber of the Jackson Sentinel.
Died. —February Bth, at the house
Don S. Simons, on the Middle Fork of the
Calaveras, James Frjpe, aged about 22
years. He said he was a .son of Simon
Price of Newton county. Mo., and had a
brother in this country. California and Mis
souri papers, please copy.
On the Calaveras Rich Gulch, of apo
plexy, E. C. Reynolds, from Texas, aged
60 years.