Glass Book. 7^/7 6 »»!iii.i~t. <0-" A HISTORY OF — TUOLUMNE COUm CALIFORNIA. COMPILED FROM THE MOST AUTHENTIC RECORDS. San Fbancibco, PUBLIBHED BY B. F. AlLKT. 1882. ft. j)>\% PREFACE. ♦ This work, undertaken in the desire to preserve from oblivion the deeply interesting records of the short but eventful jDeriod of Tuolumne's occupancy by civilized man, has been carried out in the fullest form compatible with absolute accuracy. 'Whatever has been here set down has been subjected first to careful scrutiny, in the hope that the printed book might, in the matter of exactness at least, be worthy of those by whom its perusal is intended. .The limits of the story are necessarily circumscribed ) but con- sidering the merely ephemeral interest which pertains to ordinary anecdote, and considering the comparatively few points on which the attention of future generations may center, it has been thought best to imitate in brevity and accuracy the more pretentious works of celebrated histor- ians, and not allow the intense interest which at present pertains to the affairs of the Golden Age of California, to warp the historical spirit that should discriminate between that which is worthy of perpetuation and that which, al- though interesting in the vicinity of its happening, cannot lend value to a book which should be of permanent worth. 'It was with the idea of presenting a variety of subjects relating to Tuolumne, that several persons were engaged to assist in the compilation of special articles upon topics 11 PREFACE, of industrial or scientific interest. Of these, the publishers have to thank Mr. Louis R. Tulloch, of Sonora, for a sug- gestive and timely article upon Pocket Mining, which will be found in its appropriate place. 'Unfortunately, the able and carefully written review by Miss Tulloch, of the Bot- any of Tuolumne has been crowded out of the volume.' To both of the above, the thanks of the publishers are exten- ded, as also to Messrs. Randall and Roberts, of the Demo- crat, and the Messrs. Duchow, of the Independent, who have kindly loaned files of their papers to assist in the work.^The venerable Dr. L. C. Gunu and D. O. McCarthy, Esq., both of San Diego, also unhesitatingly forwarded the valuable files of their respective jDapers, when called upon, and their kindness is most gratefully remembered. In conclusion it may be said that the thanks of the com- pilers are due to many other present or former inhabitants of Tuolumne county who have generously lent their assis- tance. H. O. L. TjlBLE OF CONTEP PAGE. Arrival pf the Woods Party 1 Settlement of Jamestown and Tuttletown 3 The Earlier Arrivals in Tuolumne 7 Habits of the Miners 12 The Earliest Recorded Trials 13 •The First Murder 14 First Election in Tuolumne 15 Further Discoveries of Gold , 17 Town Government organized in Sonpra 18 Religious Affairs ^ 21 Discoveries at Columbia 22 Administration of Justice 25 Columbia's Sudden Misfortunes 27 A Female Pioneer 27 The Foreign Miners' Tax 28 The Sonora Herald 35 Riot of July, 1850, and Atterapted Lynching of Four Mexicans 38 Mass Meeting and Proclamation of the Americans .... . 4A Business Affairs in Sonora 47 Early Affairs in Jacksonville 50 Hawkins' Bar 52 Big Oak Flat 54 .Riot at Hplden's Gardens 55 IV CONTENTS. Murder of Newby by Fuller 60 First Political Meeting ■ 61 Murder of Palmer by Thornley ; 62 The Holden's G-arden Chispa 63 The Barry Papers 65 Extracts from the Herald 71 Murder of Captain iSnow and Lynching of Two Mexi- cans ' 74 Lynching of Jim Hill in Sonora 76 Vigilance Committee 79 Organization of Sonora's Town Council 81 Progress of Sonora 84 Great Fire of '52 86 Kebuilding 88 The Chinese Question '91 Diversions of Early Days 93 Theatricals 97 Affairs in Columbia 99 ThejTuolumue County Water Co 100 The Star and the Gazette 101 List of Business Places in Columbia 102 Mining Affairs , 103 Social Affairs in Columbia 109 "The Fire of 1854" 113 Montezuma and the Hydraulic Ditch 115 Mr. Murray's Travels 116 Water for Mining Operations 125 Social Progress 128 Financial Matters 130 Fires in Sonora in 1853 134 The Miners' Convention ; 137 The Inner Life of the Miners 144 The Execution of Bruce in Sonora 147 Murder of Parrot by Nicholas 149 CONTENTS. V The Heslep Murder and Lynching of Griffiths 153 Ditch Matters and the Miners' Strike 162 Completion of the Stanislaus Ditch 172 The Kittering- Worth Homicide 178 Recollections of Colonel Moore 181 Execution of Escobar and Sebada for the murder of Sheldon 188 The Murder of Smith and the Lynching of Barclay . . . .190 The Hunter-Drake Shooting Affray in Sonora 197 Fandango Experiences 201 Eobbers and Robberies 207 Murder of Bond by McCauley 216 The Blakesley Murder 218 Hanging of Lyons, Poer and McCauley 220 Columbia in 1857 -^.221 The Miirder of McDonald and Leary in Columbia 223 More Recent Matters in Columbia 227 Fire of 1861 in Sonora 229 Murder of Judge Brunton 224 Military and Political Affairs 230 Decadence of the Southern Mines 233 Later Events in Sonora 234 The Murder of Sloane 240 The Bergel Murder 245 Stage Robberies 246 Railroad Matters , 249 Sonora — Its Society and its Business 255 Chronology of Tuolumne County 263 List of Officers from the Earliest Times 303 Geology and Mining 425 Theory as to the Formation of Gold Deposits in Quartz 434 Quartz Mining 439 Pocket Mining 457 VI CONTENTS. Gravel Mining 464 Formation of the Auriferous Gravel Beds 473 •Mills and Manufactures 483 Quartz Mills 485 Reduction Processes 489 Flouring Mills 494 Agricultural Resources oe Tuolumne County 495 BIOGRAJ-HIES, Abbott, A 324 Arnold, N. A 326 Baker, G. C 323 Bacon, J. B (Appendix) 39 Baldwin, Dr. D. M (Appendix) 16 Barber, H. P 401 Barclay, S. C 318 Barry, Major R. C 380 Beauvais, A. B . 411 Beckwith, W. J ' 338 Bell, James 348 Bemis, O. L 383 Benham, J. A (Appendix) 7 Birney, Hon. T. C 382 Bishop, N 359 Bixel, Joseph 325 Blair, Spencer 314 Blake, Dr. C. E (Appendix) 10 Bluett, J. F 317 Bolts, John F (Appendix) 44 Bowman, John 374 Bradford, S. S 397 Browne, Doctor 407 CONTENTS. Vll Bull, Horace 378 Burden, C 404 Butterfield, B. F 360 Cabezut, J. M 376 Cady, J. S 334 Campbell, W. A 326 Carter, C. H 313 Cavis, Hon. J. M 408 Chaffee, J. A 316 Chamberlain, Judge C. H 410 Chamberlain, J. P 316 Chamimey, A. D 358 Cheatham', Col 398 Christman, E. L 400 Clemens, Samuel L. (Mark Twain) (Appendix) 47 Clough, E. H 345 Coffroth, J. W 400 Colby, A 399 Colby, C. H 337 Coles, J. L 330 Covvie, John 388 Culbertson, G. F 322 Cullers, F. C 369 Cunningham, Z. H (Appendix) 3 Dart, J. P : 368 Dinsmore, W. G (Appendix) 8 Divoll, J. G 361 Dorsey, Caleb 373 Douglass, J. B 406 Duchow, W. A (Appendix) 12 Dwinelle, S. H 403 Eichelroth, Dr. W. E 355 Evans, Gen. George S (Appendix) 32 Till CONTENTS. Evans, T. J (Appendix) 9 Tales, Nathaniel 357 Fallon, Owen 329 Ferral, John (Appendix) 46 " Ferral, Judge Eobert (Appendix) 48 Foot, M 370 Francisco, Albert N (Appendix) 47 Fraser, D 356 Gale, Judge O. P 337 Galvin, E. E 378 Gibbs, W. D 342 Gibbons, Dr. W. P 420 Goodwin, J. A 404 Gorham, W. J 335 Grady, John H 419 Green, Alonzo .... : 408 Greenwood, Otis 390^ Gross, F.J 337 Gunn, Dr. L. C 377 Hall, George W 379 Hall, J 354 Harper, C. L 403 Harris, W. N 352 Heslep Brothers 385 Hibbing, William 370 Hubbs, Paul K 398 Hunter, E. F 389 Hunter, J. H 338 Hubbard, Winslow 317 Hyde, W. H 321 Jarvis, L. F 379 Jolly, John 352 Jones, J. M 401 Jones, J. P 396 CONTENTS. IX Keith, J. W 369 Kelly, Patrick 402 Kephart, H 33G King, John 359 Lampson, Dr. R. M 339 Latimer, J. B 359 Levy, David 381 ^Levy, Louis 336 Lombardo, C 328 Long, Hon. W. G 375 Long, Rev. Mr 394 Lopez, T 371 Lyons, E. G (Appendix) 3 Macomber Brothers 414 Major, J. W 318 Mansfield, William .... 349 Marshall,'^Hon. E. C (Appendix) 36 McCarthy, J. W 418 McDonald, C. B 399 McNeil, Judge H. B 412 McPherson, G-. W (Appendix) 8 McGarvey, Judge R 398 McPherson, Forbes 352 Mills, James 402 Miller, Sol . . (Appendix) 4 Minor, S. B (Appendix) 7 Mulford, Prentice (Appendix) 19 Palmer, H (Appendix) 4 Parsons, Edmond 347 Pease, H. M 384 Pease, C. S 330 Perrin, Otis 406 Potter, I. J 351 X CONTIJ^TS. Pownall, Dr. Joseph 342 Preston, A. B il6 Quint, Leander 377 Randall, C. H 418 Raymond, E. S 359 Robinson, R. A 413 Rodgers, Hon. E. A 394 Rooney, Hon. J. F 387 Rosekrans, H. M 417 Rudorff, W. G 401 Rutherford, C. B (Appendix) 15 Rutherford, C. B 383 Sampson, J. A 413 Sedgwick, John , 378 Sevening, H 395 Sewell, Daniel (Appendix) 17 Smith, W. J 340 Smith, J. H 341 Solinsky, C. W. H 315 Solomon, P. L 400 Soulsby, Ben 324 Stair, Alexander 412 Stetson, J B (Appendix) 14 Stoddart, T. R 389 Stone, W. S 323 Street, H. L 333 Street, C. L 372 Stuart, J. W 357 Tannahill, James 321 Tibbitts, Dr. J. P 415 Thompson, H 396 Trask, P. M 344 Twist, E. N 319 Van Harlingen, John 376 Walker, Dr. John 351 CONTENTS. XI Wells, Thomas 374 Wheeler, C. C 386 Williams, H. W 320 Wilson, Wm \ 320 Wing, Gideon 313 Wing, Hon. Stephen (Appendix) 45 Witt, T. J 402 Wright, George 354 Yancey, T. N 371 HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. 'The history of Tuolumne County properly commences with the date of its discovery by civilized men; a date which a careful comparison of accounts would show to have been in the ea-rlj' part of the summer of 1848, at which time a party of miners — Philadelphians, as is re- corded — came to Woods' Creek.* This very significant fact may, then, be regarded as the starting point of these records. It was at this time that the western slope had begun to resound with the blows of the hardy gold- seekers, whom the unprecedented wave of immigration had moved to California, bringing the throngs of adven- turers from many lands to people the heretofore silent canons and gorges of the auriferous belt, and to do their wonderful works, for which the world stands indebted. 'It has been poetically said, that, at the time of the first discovery by Americans, the country was one of the most picturesc[ue in the world. 'Noble forests existed, through which roamed the Indian and the d^er. ♦ Streams of crystal clearness flowed, fish playing therein in all the freedom of security. / The vast Sierra, bearing a diadem of snow, added grandeur to beauty. Pines and sequoias, the like of which can hardly elsewhere be found, tower heavenward. The oaks grew orchard-like in their regularity. 'Deer, ante- lope, wild fowl, in short, everything that was useful to man in his wild or unsophisticated state, here grew in pro- fusion, to his hand. This j)icture, though perhaps some- what exaggerated, was not unfitted to the time and place. 2 HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTT, Even now, after the lapse of a third of a century, and the desecration of land, the defilement of water-courses, and the annihilation of forests, the truth of those pictured lineaments niay be seen, and one may lament the work of the pioneers that has destroyed so much of beauty while building up a great and glorious State — the brightest gem in Columbia's diadem.' I The party of Philadelphians may, then, be regarded as the pioneers of Tuolumne County, for aught we know to the contrary. ( As mentioned above, they discovered Woods* Creek, naming it after their leader, the Rev. James Woods,* ♦ Those other members of the party whose names have been perpetuated, were James Savage, J. H. Rider, and Charles Bassett.^ The prime object of their search, gold, being found in quantity on the banks of the newly discovered stream, it proved a sufficient incentive to stay their pro- gress, and at Woods' Crossing, the first mining settlement within the present bounds of the county was formed. • Their work in extracting the precious metal proved ex- tremely successful \ so much so that, the news spreading, an increasing number of immigrants turned their steps towards this as to a promising field. ' The next settlement was that of a party of Mexican miners, who, pushing up Woods' Creek beyond the Cross- ing, located Spnorian Camp — a name afterwards changed to Sonora-«-all the inhabitants of which were of Spanish extraction, until the arrival of the first Americans, who came most probably in the spring of 1849.' As to the exact time of their arrival, that is, and must ever remain, in doubt.t However, the weight of evidence inclines to the time above given. < Again, there is doubt as to the names of the first American settlers of Sonora, but to Keeler and R. S. Ham may x>rovisionally be given that honor. I The former, it is said, was the first to enter upon agricul- HISTORY or TUOLUMNE COUNTY. 6 tural pursuits, he occupying land which was later included in the ranches of Messrs. Turner, Clark, Johnson, Ha,rrison and others. / In August, 1848, Colonel James, a lawyer of San Fran- cisco, located on Woods' Cre^k, and entered into mining speculations, in the course of which Jamestown was found- ed; but as this perhaps too enterprising gentleman as- sumed liabilities which he could not meet, thereby distin- guishing himself as the very first of the long line of unsuccessful speculators in mines, he incurred the ill-will of his neighbors to such an extent that, on his departure, the name of the town was changed, out of revenge; but, after a period of existence as American Camp, the old name was revived, probably never to be again dropped. / At nearly the time of Colonel James' advent, Judge Tuttle, arriving on Mormon Gulch, built the first log cabin in the county, the' previous structures having been cloth tents or Mexican remadan or brush houses.' This cabin be- came the nucleus of a village, which, in compliance with the custom of the times, was named Tuttletown. Exceedingly rich placers were now discovered at Pep- permint Gulch, and Mountain Brow boasted quite a set- tlement of men dwelling in te_nts. Among the more notable discoveries made during the latter part of the summer of 1848^ was that of Jackass Gulch, for which name the accidental loss of a long-eared animal contrib^J;ed, but which posterity will doubtless agree to have been quite as characteristic of a man who could give such a designation. / Jackass Gulch, despite its name, immediately took rank as among the very richest of the diggings yet struck. / Its g^old was of a very coarse description, lumps of several ounces weight being of common occurrence; and it is stated that two of the earlier prospectors, Major Means and his 4 HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. brother Julius, took out from a claim of 100 square feet $10,000 worth of gold ! » Nor was the gulch limited to placer diggings. ( The same geutlemen discovered upon their claim a q^uartz vein which yielded two-thirds of its weight in gold ! ' Mr. Carrington's vein paid from $100 to $30,0 per day for years, by simply pounding the rock in a mortar, i Numerous discoveries of rich placers took place during the latter part of 1848, and the country rapidly filled up with seekers of hidden treasure, most of them, unfortunately, illy provided with means for comfortably existing through the ensuing winter/ Exorbitant prices and much suffering were the consequence^ From the annexed quotation of prices, it may be learned how scarce the comforts and necessities of life were. ' Flour during that time was $3 per i:)0und/ Hard bread, beans, coffee, sugar, saleratus, and indeed all the indispensable articles of culinary consumption, sold for the anrform price of $3 per pound.* Salt pork, however, is quoted at the higher figure of $8,» If so, it would §eem that it was regarded in the light of a luxury* Merchants, it is said, no doubt truthfully, made speedy fortunes, both by reason of the high prices of their goods and the low price of gold dust, which was paid for at the rate of $8 per ounce, in coin, or $16 in trade. ■'Mercbandising, liquor-selling, and gam- bling stood nearly upon the same plane, if what has been written may be believed, and all three callings were un- doubtedly impaensely remunerative/ Gambling was freely practiced by all classes;* and the miner, after his day's work, betook himself to the monte or faro table, there to be relieved of his easily gotten ounces.* ' Spirituous liquors found an abundant sale at the price of $1 per drink, and the consumption, then as now, seemed one of the great objects of human existence.'' It has been often stated that the first women who arrived HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. 5 in Sonora were two sisters, Mariana and Jesus Ramirez; but the latter of the two, who is now the wife of J. M. Cabesut, Esq. of Sonora, disclaims the truth of the story, and says that the dis^inciiou belongs to other Mexican ■women, of the family of Leon, who arrived several months previous. ^Less unassuming was Ah^ Chi, a Chinese im- migrant, who was the forerunner of the great and disas- trous wave of his fellow-countrymen. / This Celestial kept an eating house in Sonora, near the spot now occupied by O'Brien's store, and which was well patronized by the miners, being looked upon as the best kept restaurant of the town. ^' « Within the short space of half a year from the discov- ery of gold in California, extensive prospecting had been done, and the gold-bearing territory had been examined for hujadreds of niiles along the Sierras, and many ex- tremely rich finds had been reported.'' Notably this was the case in Tuolumne County.' News of this sort traveled fast, and this region, then called the Southern Mines, be- came the cynosure of all eyes looking for the fabled El Dorado. The reports sent by the earlier prospectors were probably not in excess of the truth;' but there came an era of exaggeration, of wild misrepresentation, whose effects re- coiled injuriously upon the new communities.,' One of the earlier writers said : " The main bulk of the immigration centered here. / * * But so many gold seekers brought along with them some great drawbacks to the prosperity of the country. * Hordes of gamblers kept in the wake of the industrious miners, accompanied by rum-sellers and aban- doned females;.' and no sooner was a camp laid out by the miners, than a large rough tent was erected by the out- casts; a plank, resting on two empty barrels, served for a counter; and in lieu of the " fixins" of a regular bar, a barrel of whisky, with a tin cup or two, and we had a first- 6 HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. class hotel and gambling saloon, from which issued the din of cracked fiddles and the chink of money, from early morn until late at night; and not infrequently would the sun find the gambling tables crowded and the game and the dance as lively as ever. * * * "WTe are even yet reaping the fruit of these drones of society. It was the result, in a great measure, of the vast influx of Spanish population, and has been one of the chief hindrances to a better a a , 4g r- standing between the Amencan and Spanish peoples." I The latter part of this writer's words are included to show the prevailing feeling which existed even as late as 1860 (date of his writing) among Americans, against the Mexicans. 'Time has partly removed these injurious and unjust feelings, but they are not yet fully eradicated from the American breasts The author continues: "Hostility to everything American was originally engendered against us by the Mexicans during the war of 1846, and had not died out in 1849.W Nor is it to be wondered that the Chi- lians, Peruvians, and other Spanish immigrants who spoke the same language, had habit s and religion identical, and who were daily regaled with stories of the brutality and in- justice they had received at the hands of the American people. * * From the Spanish, the disaffection sjDread first to the Fi'ench, then to the German and Italian por- tion, and lastly to the Australian immigrants, extensively known by the euphonious cognomen of " Sydney Ducks," a name very soon to become synonymous with all kinds of fraud and rascality. «Accordingly, collisions became of daily occurrence. * * f Murders soon followed, and be- came so frequent that at one time it was seriously mooted whether foreigners should not be expelled from the mines. f It eventuated in bringing down upon them the heavy min- ing tax * * tantamount to expulsion from California.? i Thus far the venerable writer has been quoted, in order HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. 7 that his words might assist to a proper understanding of some of the events which took place at a somewhat later period in the county's history; events which, it wonld seem, had their starting point in that [most unjust and reprehen- sible war against Mexico, which had ended but shortly be- fore this history commences. / Among the earlier of the arrivals in Tuolumne County are enumerated the names of Col, B. F. Moore, Florida; Emanuel Linoberg, Poland; James Lane and Peter Mehen, Ireland; Josh. Holden, Texas; James Frazier, Scotland; R. C. Barry, Texas; Alonzo Grreeu and Terence Clark, New York; /Dr. Bell and 'A. Elkins, Texas; /N. F. Mur- phey, M. D., Ireland;! H. W. Theall, Pennsylvania;/ A. W. Luckett, Texas;< C. F. and Theophilus Dodge,^New York/ Dr. Wm. Shepherd, Ohioj Dr. W. Norlinn, Germany; Casimir Labetqure, France; B. F. Butterfield, New.Xork; Dr. Clarke, Louisiana; C. M. Radcliffe, Scotland; W. H. Ford and Wm. Pusick, New York; Theodore Saunders; Charles Heffernan, Thomas Hill, Theodore Lopez, Lieut. Wm. Srnith and George R. Searle, New York (the eight preceding were soldiers in Stevenson's Regiment); Jacob Green, Texas, one of the Yucatan Volunteers; William Bowman, Texas, one of the Mier prisoners, who escaped death by drawing a white bean at the famous drawing of lots; Dr. Lewis C. Gunn, Philadelphia. • Among the more prominent individuals of the foreign element were: Miguel Lesqui, France; L. Rondina and Francisco Pavia, Italy; Luis G. Elordi, Francisco Escobar, Baltazeo Estaben, P. Rojas, J. M. Vallenzuela, Remijo Riveras, Jose M. Bosa, M. Neguro, G. Aguazo, Ramon Enriquez, Luis Ordas and V. Davilla, all of Mexican or South American nationality, and of whom the last named is said to have been the first jeweler of Sonera. The above named are known to have cqme before January 1, 1850. 8 HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. The following named came in either during the last part of 1849 or very early in 1850/ T. M. Van Benschoten, Louisiana;!, J. D. Patterson, Texas;«R. M. Heath, Charles M. Creaner, J. S. Ogier, James C. Morehead, Isaac A. Stevens, and James W. Co£froth, Ohio; Leander Quint, Maine; A. W. Richardson and H. P. Barber, England; L. A. Besancon, Louisiana; E. F. Sullivan, Texas; George "Work, New Yoi-k (last from Mexico); Major A. Elkins, Texas; Major Henry Charbonelle, France; John Bannister, Texas; David S. McDowell, Mississij)pi ; Jose Maria Ca- besut, Mexico; John E. Stokes, Ohio. The foregoing list comprises but a small portion of the whole number who had arrived in what is now Tuolumne County previous to the beginning of the year 1850; but they were representative men, the most of whom took a prominent part in the affairs of their time, and some of whom yet live to remember the exciting times and great achievements of the pioneer days.-^^ . Much has been written concerning the habits, mode of life and pursuits of the golden age of the State j* Volumes of most interesting matter could be compiled on these and kindred subjects, but the themes have so often been touched upon by writers that every one, at this later time, may be considered to have accurate ideas thereon. ' The designation " Golden Age" is not inapplicable to a time in which the search for the metal was attended with such abundant success. ' The records of the time prove the truth of the oft-repeated assertions of the " Old '49-ers,'' that gold could be gathered almost in any required quantity by the exercise of their primitive means of extraction. The pick, the pan and the shovel constituted the sole apparatus by which fortunes were made. / Finds, amounting to hun- dreds and even thousands of dollars, were too common to excite comment, and the labor of a single week often pro- HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. 5* duced enough to carry the fortunate miner to his home in the East, there to live his remaining years in comfort. -*Not all, however, who were favored by the sight of the goddess Fortune, were minded to return. I Some there were from whom her face was averted, and after many years of painful seeking, they have found their rest, or, perchance, they still live among the hills that once echoed a livelier strain, and are awaiting that round of Time's cycle that shall lay their bones beside those of others gone before.^The old Cali- fornian is a being whose present life is but a retrospection of the early days, i He lives but as one awakened from an entrancing dream, to tell the glories of the days of '49; to describe the opportunities of accumulating wealth, when gold was so plenty that any man could sally out with his pan and shovel and make enough in a day to set at rest all thought of present need./ These things, and many more, have for years formed the great staple of conversation throughout the Western Slope, and the statements conned and repeated have taken on, like the tales of the other Argo- nauts, a tinge of exaggeration, however unrefined and un- poetical.i The oft repeated accounts of the phenomenal honesty of men in those days excite wonder and admiration in the later generation, who can not understand how a miscellaneous aggregation of men of all nationalities could have escaped contamination by a few to whom such noble traits were strangers.' The state of society which admitted of miners leaving in their cabins, with unlocked doors, large amount? of gold dust and other valuables could not have been of long continuance; hence the papers of an early date in 1850 teem with accounts of robberies, murders, and all descriptions of outrages, which have not suffered any cessa- tion thus far. ' It is, notwithstanding this fact, not proper to doubt the truth of the assertions of such highminded morality, but to ascribe it to the agency of fear. / 10 HISTOBY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTT. • At this date the observing student of history is struck most forcibly with the apparent air of prodigality that per- vaded all classes and all doings of the time of which this section treats, and indeed of the subsequent years of rich strikes. He sees the spectacle of myriads of hardy, adven- turous men daring every danger and hardship in the frantic pursuit of gold, which, after attaining, they flung recklessly away! It needs no further exemplification of this than the further spectacle which he sees to-day of the remnants of those myriads dragging out their days, mostly in penury and want, many of whom, once possessors of unbounded wealth, which could have purchased every comfort which desire could dictate, but now living in squalor, and djdng, to be buried by the hands of charity! " With some, the fierce fight for wealth p>ast, and the prize ungained, ambition loses her sway, and the once energetic miner settles into the narrow groove of a hanger-on of a whisky saloon, to clean the spittoons for a drink, to aAvait the generous pa- tron at whose expense the liquid stimulant passes his ap- preciative lips. For such ends as these does he wear out his days and belie the promise of his earlier years. « But not all are thus. Some of that immortal band still carry hearts as brave as those that first dared the perils of the "Horn" to dig the sands of the Stanislaus and the Tuol- umne. 'The weight of years has not diminished their cour- age nor abated their energy, which still dii'ects them in their toil for the perhaps delusive goddess. • Ever in the van when new regions are explored and new fields give, up their treasure, the rigors of an Alaskan winter can not daunt them, nor the soft sweetness of a tropic climate lull them into forgetfulness of the spirit of the early Californian. • By the mountain top his camp-fire burns, and the crags of the Andes and the Cordilleras echo back the still forceful blows of his pick. ► Never until the kindly earth HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. 11 against which his own stirring blows have fallen shall in- close him in his windowless palace of rest, shall his efforts cease. 'His little cabin is perched far up the rugged side of the mountains that bound the State he helped to found. »The railroad train passes far beneath, bearing back those of hapj)ier fortune to the old home and friends in the East; but the old prospector's work is not — never will be finished until he lies down in his blankets for the last time. 'There is heroism in his work; there is heroism in every day's ex- istence of every old Californian whose spirit is not quenched nor his soul debased by misfortune's slights. • All honor to the men who advanced civilization's bounds over the Western shore! Kindness and honor to the living;* honor and peace to the dead! M Travel to the Southern mines was very constant during the year 1849, the immigrants coming by way of Sto_ckton, the road from which to Sqriora becoming a celebrated route. 'The garrulous recorder of those times informed his readers that the camp-fires on that highway were near enough together to show the traveler his way. He also says that the dealers in mining tools provisions and gen- eral merchandise, who, by the way, wisely combined the retailing of liquors with the above, also supplied the hun- gry miners with pork and beans at the moderate rate of one dollar per plate ! A similar charge was also made for house-room for sleeping, the applicant finding his own bedding. It is mentioned that board was at the rate of three dollars per day. The same veracious chronicler says that gold-dust, serving as a medium of exchange, was often 12 HISTOKY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. guessed at as to its value. Gold scales, he explains, were unknown at that date, and such an amount of gold as could be held between the thumb and finger was called a dollar's worth, while a teasgoonful passed for an ouncej a wine- glassful was one hundred dollars, and a tumblerful was called a thousand dollars. / Much gold was dropped in handling, and to obviate this loss, blankets were stretched upon the counters and gambling tables, which received the falling particles. ^ All unite to pronounce the miners of that day men of the most reckless prodigality;* but, as might be expected where such habits prevailed, the virtue of charity was much prac- ticed. 'Towards the sick or destitute, the miners, gamblers, traders and all, were most ready in their demonstrations of good will. 'Nor did these demonstrations take the sole form of kind words and speeches? these were left to the utterance of a later generation, whose purse-strings do not so readily loosen to the cry of misfortune. • The readiness of the gamblers to respond in cases of distress has been supposed to have been a bond between them and the honest class, which led to their being tolerated as they were. Charity to the unfortunate took the other hazardous, though hardly less praiseworthy, form of reliance upon the word and honor of strangers, so that, as is well known, an entire stranger could buy on credit, without introd action or refer- ence, hundreds of dollars' worth of the necessaries of life, and this without exciting remark. 'Again, if a stranger be- came sick, it was not uncommon that the trader of the nearest camp assumed charge of the case, paid the bills, medical fees, etc., and in case of death, buried the unfor- tunate. ' Such cases are attested to, and are, beyond doubt, true. -Such reports go far to remove any unpleasant reflec- tions which the reported avarice may occasion. / Early in the year 1849, two events occurred of which the HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. 13 narration will throw much light upon the primitive ways of administeriug what was thought to be justice. These events were two trials, for theft and murder, respectively. ^As is well known, neither wrtten law, properly constituted officers, nor courts of law, existed. ♦ In lieu of the jDresent machinery of the law, an officer, called Ly the Mexi.can term Alcalde, was selected from the inhabitants of a dis- trict, and to him were delegated the necessary powers for preserving the peace, settling disputes and trying offenders. • The mode of choosing an Alcalde was as unsystematic as the powers that he assumed, f 'Instances are on record of an Alcalde's assumption of his position without the form of a vote, or even a request from the surrounding inhabitants, as did R . S. H am, the first Alcalde of Sonora, who was recognized in that capacity until a case which demanded more talent than he was supposed to possess, when he was summarily deposed and James Frazier, a store-keej)er on Sonorita Gulch, was raised to the dignity, t ' The circumstances of the case of theft, to which allusion has been made, were as follows: 'Shortly after the dig- gings along Sonora Creek had been first discovered, Charles Bassett, a sailor, from the P. S. S. Oregon, had settled there with a number of others. « The cook of the stea,mer, one of the party, had been accused of robbing an American, whose cabin was at the present location of the Washington street bridge. / This he denied, but was taken before Al- calde Ham, who ordered him into confinement until the morrow, when he would doubtless hang him. Bassett, however, anxious to save a shipmate, collected the neighbor- ing miners and elected Frazier to the now important post of AlcaMe, ignoring Ham, who is described as a rough, illiterate man, while the new officer was regarded as the most influential and cultivated person in the vicinity.'' The trial came off the next day, the first act of Alcalde Fra- 14 HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. zier being to name the new place Sonora Camp, or in the uncouth habit of the Americans, "Sonorian Camp.V The trial did not plainly show the guilt of the prisoner, so that the sentence was not death, which would doubtless have been inflicted if the accusation had been proved, but as there was a serious doubt, the verdict was guilty, with a recommendation to mercy. /Frazier accordingly sentenced the man to be flogged, but it is thought that this sentence was never executed. ^' t The circumstances of the murder case alluded to were these: a quarrel had arisen between one Atkins, an Ameri- can gambler, and some Irishmen, at Big Bar, on Sullivan's Creek. Atkins, being roughly used, retired to his cabin, and, loading his rifle, fired at and killed a man whose name has been given as Bojal or Boydau, and who had been ac- tively engaged in freeing Atkins from the assaults of the others./ Then was seen the spectacle of a mob, clamoring for condign punishment upon the guilty man — a spectacle that has been witnessed many times since in Tuolumne, with all the added horrors of executions unauthorized and undeserved. / In this case, however, the party of order tri- umphed. lAtkins was taken away under guard and subjected to trial before Alcalde Frazier, when a verdict and sentence in the case were arrived at, "That Mr. Atkins be found guilty of murder and that he be fined five hundred dollars, and be ordered to leave the settlement, forthwith, under pain of death." • • This verdict was not received with favor by the friends of the murdered man, one of whom armed himself with the fixed purpose ot killing the Alcalde, for which luxury he offered to forfeit five hundred dollars also. Atkins left as commanded, and went north and became the Sheriff of Siskiyou some years later .^ Thus ended the first murder trial in Tuolumne county — a trial that affords a fair exam- HISTOKY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. 15 pie of the administration of so-called justice by lynch law.** / On June 3, 1849, a proclamation was issued by General Riley, the Military Grovernor of California, ordering a gen- eral election, the first ever held by Americans on the West- ern slope. The following is a copy of the original tally- list made on the occasion of the election : /* At an election held at the office of the Alcalde of the Sonora Camp, in the San Joaquin District, on Wednesday, the 1st day of August, 1849, in accordance with the pro- clamation of B. Kiley, Brevet-Brigadier General, U. S. A,, and Governor of Calijornia, dated 3d day of June, 1849, for the purpose of choosing delegates to a General Conven- tion, and for filling the offices of one Judge of the Supe- rior Court, for the District of Sonora, Sacramento and San Joaquin, one Prefect, two sub-Prefects, and one 1st Alcalde for Judge of the First Instance, for the District of San Joaquin, the following persons voted :^ / William Walker, J. A. Talbot, Thomas Smith, Edward P. Kennedy, Thomas Williams, Moses B. Carson, Henry J. Wilson, Nathaniel McCullock, Charles C. Sweet, Daniel Okeson, Francisco Duarte, Juan Sanchez, John Riley, Manuel Valencia, Domingo Curiega, Edward Blair, R. B. Wilbur, George Weeks, W. Warren, I. M, R. Clements, J. R. Barton, Vicente Duarte, Dorotea Sabileto, Wm. Ford, Pio Moreno, Nathaniel Delano, Orson Murray, William Bowers, W. R. Banks, Wm. Long', James M. Key, Benja- min F. Ross, John D. Winters, H. G. Brown, William Howard, John Mason, James R. Lewis, Richard H. Clarke, H. W. Theall, D. A. Enyart, Francisco Pavia, Antonio Palma y Mesa, Juan Machado, Jesus Jeda, E. R. Clay, James Demican, John Finch, G. C Armstrong, Casimir Labetoure, John Campbell, Robert Keating, James Dove, Thomas Hudson, Charles Mclntyre, Henry Ryan, Fred. 16 HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTT. Bohringer, Elanali Galasha, Eobt. Hill, Jno. Phillips, AIbx. M. Coe, J. M. Bradshaw, Pat. Halpin, William Belt, Will- iam K. Smith, H, Fairchild, K. G. Ackley, Alba Maurison, S. Haley, Louis Pollock, George Kerr, A. W. Luckett, James M. Danean, James B. Lyons, Joshua Holden, John E. Stothers, Ignacio Bayez, David Carson, William Wil- son, John Campbell, Jr., Rosario Marin, Louis Crane, Isaac Thomas, M. G. Patterson, Exaltacion Canscio^ Louis Van Reed, Antonio Labori, Alonzo Green, Eli Dobson, John Hart, James Cahn, William Callahan, Jens Schon, H. C. Nesbitt, Charles Van Winkle, John Satterlee, Andrew Lublette, W. Yaker, James Fraser.i James Eraser, Charles C. Sweet, Daniel Okeson, Inspectors. Total vote 98." That Mr, James Eraser, or Frazier, as the name is indif- ferently spelled, was a popular officer is shown by the fact that the residents of Sonoran Camp held a meeting to ex- press their sentiments of respect and gratitude, at which complimentary resolutions were passed, speeches were made and the following document signed by thirty-nine of the prominent men: SoNOEANiAN Camp, 2d August, 1849. To Mr. James Eraser : If there had been a vacancy in the office of local Alcalde for this camp, and we had conse- quently voted for a person to fill that office, we would have voted yesterday for you in preference to any other candi- date. We remain, j^our obedient servants, (Here follow the signatures.) Prospecting was now rife, and new placers were almost daily discovered. The diggings at Yankee Hill were found, and on the 17th of May the place was given the above name HISTOBY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. 17 by Thomas Hill, a discharged drummer of Stevenson's regi- ment, who formed one of a party of nineteen jDrospectors who came from Mokelumne Hill, and who won the toss which conferred the honor of naming the locality. -The names of " Frenchy," Rochette, (later of Lee and Mar- shall's Circus), Thomas Hill, P. Cutrell and L. G. Alexan- der, only, are preserved of all the company. * It seems that this company, or ii part of it, left these new discoveries to go to still newer diggings at Yorktown, of which extrava- gant reports were in circulation.' At an informal election at the latter place, P. Cutrejl was elected Alcalde, and Ro- chette Sheriff. The latter did not hold his office long, preferring to follow mining as an occupation. Accordingly, L. G-. Alexander was selected to succeed him. Diggings were discovered on Sullivan's creek which proved remuner- ative.! The fielder's name is given as Savage, but there is at present no means of identifying him with certainty. In the month of June Jacksonville was founded, Colonel Jack- sen having discovered gold-bearing gravel at the junction of Wood's creek and the Tuolumne river. These diggings are said to have sustained for many years their reputation of moderate richness, other more pretentious camps having died in the interim. The delegates to the convention which framed the consti- tution met on September 1st, 1849. Those chosen from this district were four in number, viz: Colonel B. F. Moore, of Texas, J. M. Jones, a celebrated lawyer of New Or- leans, O. M. "Wozencraft and B. S. Lippincott. James - Fraser, who has been frequently mentioned in these pages as the first regular Alcalde, gave place to Hiram S. Theall, who became -prominently identified with the affairs of So- nora, as a judicial officer, as military commander of a local body of militia and as a business man. 'Subsequently, Chas. F. Dodge, another prominent business man of Sonora, was 18 HISTORT OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. chosen to the office, in which position he remained until the legislative enactment organizing the town of Sonpra went into effects Previously a town organization had ex- isted, for it is on record that on the 7th of November, 1849, the citizens of Sonora met and organized a town govern- ment, mainly with the view of providing a hospital for the sick, for the scurvy had raged^during the preceding winter from the unsuitable diet, consisting almost entirely of salted provisions. The mortality was great, especially among the Mexican population; and it was with an idea of abating such sufiferings that the hospital was built and maintained throughout the ensuing^ rainy season, partially by the contributions of the benevolent and partly by the sale of town lots. A steward was hired at a daily pay of eight dollars, lime juice was bought for five dollars per bottle, potatoes at one dollar to one dollar and a half per pound, and other supplies at a corresponding rate. These prices, it must be observed, were not considered high at that time. ■* The first Town Council of Sonora consisted of C. F. Dodge, Joshua Holden, Peter Mehen, C. Labetoure, E. Liinoberg, J. B. Litton, William Perkins and another whose name cannot be ascertained. One of their acts was to order a survey of the town into lots. ' This was done by Cooper and Galledge, whese map became the official chart. On the arrival of the news from San Jose, the seat of the State government, that Sonora was to be the county seat, the Council passed a resolution that all vacant lots should be regarded as the property of the town and that the money derived from their sale should be applied to paying for the survey and to the hospital expenses. Apropos of the latter subject it may be appropriate to reproduce cer- tain bills of goods furnished to that institution, as a,t this day they have a historical interest never before possessed: HISTQRY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. 19 Town of Sonera to Eolden and Greene, Dr. For 38 yards wide matting, $2.50 per yard $ 95 00 For 16 yards narrow matting, $1.50 per yard 24 00 For tacks and labor, in putting down matting 20 00 For 15 lbs. nails, from Theall & Perkins 30 00 For 2 lbs. sperm candles, from Theall & Perkins 12 00 For William "Williams, for building 300 00 For berths 50 00 For nails 8 00 For clearing of lot for building 15 00 Total $554 GO Received Payment. Geeen & Holden. Dickinson, Dr. to Elkins. January 15, 2 lbs. bacon, $3; 1 lb. chalk, $1 50 $ 4 50 18, 6 lbs. bacon f 100; flour $2 12 00 18, 2 lbs. coflfee, $2, cash, $3 5 00 February 9, 1 bottle brandy . 4 00 ■' 9, 6 lbs. bacon 7 50 " 6, 4 lbs. rice 3 00 8, 11 lbs. flour 8 25 Paid cash to Bell, for medicine 7 00 Total , $51 25 Eeceived Payment, A. Elkins. SoNOKA, February 13, 1850. Town of Sonora to Green and Holden, Dr. To one bottle lime juice, by Dr. Shepherd $ 5 00 To bread 1 00 To one pair blankets 12 00 To 66 feet of plank, at 50c 33 00 Tofal $51 00 Gbeen & Holden. ' It required the utmost exertions to keep the hospital open, the most striking instances of liberality being shown 20 HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. iu its aid. ^ Messrs. C. S. Dodge & Co., who kept a meat shop, the first in Sonora, were prominent, and it is said that a very large bill for meat furnished by them was left unpaid by the town of Sonora.' The same Charles F. Dodge, when Alcalde, 'paid, from his own private funds, the deficiency in burial chai-ges, amounting to very considera- ble sums. On the morning of Nov. 14, 1849, the first serious fire broke out in a gambling tent situated where the Sbaw's Flat road crosses Wood's Creek. Very soon it had extended the whole length of town, causing a loss variously esti- mated at from thirty to- forty thousand dollars, which is not large, considering that the population of the town was not' less than five thousand. It was on the occasion of this fire that Charles Bassett organized a guard of four ex-soldiers of Stevenson's regi- ment, who were camping in the gulch then called by his name, but which now is Sonora Creek. Th'ese men being in uniform and armed with their muskets, were stationed on the outskirts of the fire, taking charge of whatever prop- erty was saved, and not sufltering anything to be removed from their supervision. By this means thefts were pre- vented. Alcalde Frazier gave his sanction to Bassett's disposition of these affairs, so that Bassett may be said to have held the first military command in this place. y Dr. Strotber opened, in the Fall of 1849, the first drug store in Sonora. It was situated in the vicinity of Bassett's camp, or near the present location of the City Hotel. Just below his place were a few reviadas (brush houses), which together were called " Scott-town," from the name of the most prominent of the occupants, a gambler "of gentle- manly deportment." Thus early in her history, Sonora Lad arrived at the maxi- mum of lier importance and population, she not having less HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. 21 than 5000 at this date — a number she has never exceeded. #As is the custom in all mining camps, the favorite day for trade and barter was Sunday; /when her streets were thronged with miners fi*om the suri'ounding claims, in town for their mail and for the purpose of purchasing supplies, and to seek the excitement of the gaming table. S'.ill in the memories of present inhabitants are recollections of the streets so densely thronged that locomotion was im- peded ; stores filled to overflowing with men seeking to spend their accumulations of the week; on such days the number of j)eople in town could not have been less than ten thousand /And these vast crowds consisted almost wholl^^of nien;-»-men in the prime of life and of uncommon niental and phvsical vigor, as if they had been the picked men of their respective distant communities.-/ And they were so in some sense, possessing the best qualities of dar- ing, strength and determination that have left their impress that shall exist through all time,^ .- /Eeligious matters, as is usually the case with all new set- tlements, and more especially mining towns, had not at first received much attentive consideration; other than those of money, had not disturbed the current of existence in any appreciable degree, until at a much later period. A slight sprinkling only, of Grod fearing men, began in a quiet way to make their influence felt as ear]y as the fall of '49, when Padre Arnault settled in Sonora. - This gentleman came from Mexico, and was the reported possessor of great wealth, of which he gave freely to endow the first Roman Catholic organization, which was formed under his aus- - pieces, giving the ground on which a church was built to succeed the small adobe building which was first erected for celebrating the Catholic service, and which was completed in the summer of 1850. The efi'orts of the projectors of this concern were said to have had a good effect upon the 22 HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. remainder of society. » At first scoffing and jeering at the proposed new order of things was heard, but insensibly a change was affected which has continued beneficially down to the present time, when, despite the complaining of clergymen and other professional religionists who never see aught but the dark side of things, Sonora, and Tuol- umne in general, contains as moral, decent and upright a community as grace any portion of God's footstool. / Discoveries at Columbia. In March, 1850, the diggings at Columbia were found. This location, which has ever since been celebrated for the remarkable extent and richness of its gold deposits, is said by some to have been first discovered by a party of Mexi- cans from Santiago Hill, about a mile northwest of the new discovery. According to this account, these men were seen b}' a party of Americans, among whom were Dr. Thaddeus Hildreth, George, his brother, John Walker, William Jones and Alexander Carson. These, being in- formed that the place was rich, stayed to try their luck, and finding the result beyond expectations, thej' returned home for supplies and afterwards located permanently at the new discovery. ' Another account, being a slight mod- ification of this, is to be found in Heckendorn and Wil- son's Business Directory, This ascribes the discovery to the same party having encamped under an oak tree that stood at what is now Main street, near the bridge. Kain falling during the night, they were obliged to remain some time in the morning to dry their blankets, and while thus detained Walker prospected the ground in a small gulch leading from Kennebeck Hill, so named at a later day. His prospect being encouraging, the party decided to re- HISTORY OF TDOLUMNE COUNTY. 23 main for the day, which they occupied in examining the im- mediate neighborhood ; their work for the day giving a re- sult of one ounce of gold. They then decided to locate at this point; but water being scarce, they were obliged to carry their dirt in sacks to it, and wash in rockers. It is said that even by this laborious process, they were able to make six or eight ounces per day to the man. Such are the two stories in reference to this very im- portant discovery. Which one is true it' is impossible at this time to say, nor does it matter much, the essential point being the time of the discover}', which both ac- counts place in March, 1850. The first account bears the most likely appearance of truth, as there is a well-known tendency on the part of mankind in general, to ascribe to trivial causes the most important and far-reacbing eifects; and this story of the wet blankets, and the consequent detention, is on a par with othera that have been invented to account for other similar discoveries. Whether or not the Mexicans were already on the ground when the Hildreth party arrived, there were, at all events, men of that nationality at work alongside of the Ameri- cans when the latter commenced systematic work. Their location is stated to have been four hundred feet above where a wooden suspension bridge was constructed about 1860. 'The proximity of the hated foreigners had the usual effect of causing the Mexicans to remove them- selves from their unwelcome neighbors, to seek other fields. It is related that the new-comers took out fifteen pounds of gold dust daily for the first three days, the most of which was from ground that the Mexicans had once worked. The accounts of their success in the com- mencement disagree somewhat, but there is no occasion to doubt that it was immense, since the "rush" that im- mediately set in for "Hildreth's Diggings," the name by 24 HISTORY or 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 ta prospecting, with the result of abundant new discoveries. The trails were now crowded wil h men, in numbers before unknown, all traveling to the great centers of attraction, with their blankets on their backs, aael 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 io ('olumbii stands the name of Captain Avent. This gentleman bad 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 Lis average was twelve or fif- teen ounces daily, until the failure of the water iu July. In the cdurse 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 Leil'ord, 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 cow^ and sheep. He also opened a store, combining with it a HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. 25 restaurant, butcher shop and dairy. ~ A part of his multi- farious business was to peddle ciilk '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 persons 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-thi'ee, with capitals aggregating from one million to one and a half million of dollars! G-ambling 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. I 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 tiie most reasonable means of doing so, a public election was called for April 21)th, 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 ! 26 HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTT. 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 recovei'y of a mule.t The property was proved bej^ond 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 canuot be ascertained that there was any foundation for these charges except private malice, il would be manifestly unjust to give place 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 camj) 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. On 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 — HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. 27 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. Ead- 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. Eadclifife, 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- 28 HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. nished by her, the town of Guaymaa was taken by the United States ships "Cyane" and "Warren." This course brought down ujDon her the vengeance of the Mexican Government, and she was corapelled to fly to the pro- tection of the American men-of-war, tibandoning her 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 Avhich 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 camj:) 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, 1850. Effect of the Miners' Tax. tThe 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 poj)ulation; while the latter, whose growth had been so rapid, was reduced, through the Tax Iiaw and the scarcity of water, to a community of only nine or ten persons. • So it is credibly told. I'Of the se- ceding miners, some went to their homes in foreign lands, while others sought diggings in secluded places, where the HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. 29 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 Co lumbi a that the foreigners meditated forcible re- prisals on the Americans of that camp, resulting in a stam- pede from that town to Souora of the whole American population; with the exception of Charles Bassett and a few others. A rumor having reached Souora that Bassett was murdered, a band of armed men marched upon Columbia, beaded by "Frenchy" Rochette, carrying the American flag. ' This statement is given upon the authority of Cap- tain Stoddart, wlio further adds that the only destruction effected by this warlike band was npon the liquors and eatablos of the said Bassett, who was nearly eaten out of house and home by his zealous friends. Walter Murray, who subsequently became edilior of the Sonora ZTt^rrt/^/, 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 encamjimeut at Mor- mon Gulch, at full speed, evidently' big with exciting in- telligence. j»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 \var approaching, tit ap- peared that the Cullector 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 forei_gn- 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 pojoulation, with whom the 30 HISTOEY OF TUOLDMNK OOUNIT. 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 in 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. rThere 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 mincers 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 rjfles and pistols and jn'opariug for the expected con- flict. « r "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. I AVe 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. 1 However, we pressed on, determined not to stop short of the place for which we set out. On arriving at a camp of HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. 31 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. 'i Reassured by this apparent calm, I hurried on to the town, reaching it five or ten minutes in advance of the party. I All aj)peared quiet and peaceful as ever. * * * * j waited to see the little procession enter town, i Soonit 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, f 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 scuriy at the big hotel; «waiters went hurrying to and fro, and ail 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 32 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. > Kumors of assassination and massacre were fearfully rife;j 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. I'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! iMexicans, Chilenos, 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 hiwros were being hastily packed, while crowds upon crowds were already in full retreat. xWhat could have been the object of our 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 HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY. 3S some thousanJ 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 ru^or 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. #1, 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 Califjornia 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. 7 ^ Even at this late day, it is not difficult to form accurate conclusions as to the causes and effects of the movements above portrayed, i 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, j 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- 34: 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. «0n 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.