Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-12-15
Encounter with EoStcys.
In CALIFORNIA

The hunter Though rarely) has been set up
on by robbers for the cake of the pack of furs
he was carrying on his back to some of the sea
port towns on the coast to dispose Of but as
the fur hunters are generally on foot, and, from
habit II wstet,ag about for either hostile In
dams or Wild sn'mals, they are always on their
guard, and as the robbers we'll know that they
are, to a man, riieuen who seldom miss their
mark, they AVOID them. During MANY "a .n5les
IN the wiids and Businesses OF California be-
came acquainted with many Of them, some
from the back settlements of the United States,
Others from Canada.
have hunted for months with them and
witnessed some conflicts between them and
wild animals In which the utmost daring and
recklessness was exhibited bv the hanter,-
These are not the men robbers like To tnconn-
ter, bot have said they sometimes take a fan
cy to the valuable packs of furs which if they
find any facility of obtaining, they make the
attempt. Ii is the very climax uf cruelty 10
plumber those poor fellows of packs which were
procured only by outlaving for months IN the
depths of the forest and Willis of the country,
and not uDfrequentIy in the hunting-crounds
of tribe of hostile Indians.
l once hunted for three months in COMPANY
with hunter we'll known INT aforna. He was
wild and imaginative in the extreme: but, in
his acts of daring, &c., the most cool and phi
losophic fellow | ever knew. A commerce.
anto, or merchant, at st. Francisco, OIL whose
veracity know from experience can depend,
told me the following story of this man, which
will at once illustrate his general character:
This hunter was, some months before had
fallen in with him, making the best of his way
down the valley ofthe Tule Lakes from the III
terror, with heavy pack of furs on bis back
his never-erring rife in his hand, and his two
dogs by his side. He was Joined at the north
errnost end Of the valley by the merchant have
spoken of, who was armed only with his sword
and pistol. They had scarcely cleared the
valley when party of robbt rs galloped ont be-
fore them. There were four whites fully arm
ed, and twv Indians with the lassos cooled up in
their right hands 'ready for throw
The hunter told the merchant, who was on
horseback, to dismount Instantly 'and to COW
e." Fortunately for them, there vas good
deal of thicket, and trunks of large trees that
had fallen, were strewed about in a verv desir-
able manner. Behind these logs the merchant
and the hunter quickly took up their position,
and as they were in the act Of doing so, two or
three .hots were fired after them without eff
feet. The hunter cooly united the pact of
It's my opinion, merchant said he, shat them
varlnint there wants either your saddle bags,or
my pack, but reckon they'll get neither" So
he took up his rifle, fired. and the foremost In
dian, lasso IN hand, rolled off his horse. An
other discharge from the ride and the second
Indian fell, whilst in the act of throw ing his
lassO at the head and shoulders Of the hunter as
he raised himself from behind the log TO iire.-
snow" said the hunter, as he reloaded, lying
on his back to avoid The shots of the robbers.
"thats what call the best of the schrimmage.
to get them brown thieves with their Iasso out
Of tie way first. See them rdscslly whites now
jumping over the logs to charge US in our coy
en-"
They were fast advancing, when the rife a
gain spoke out, and the foremost fell; they still
come on to within about thirty yards, another
fell, and the remaining two made desperate
charge MP close 20 the log. The hunter from
long practice, was dexterOus in reloading his
gun. "Now, merchant" said he, sis the time
for your popguns,' meaning the p;sols, .snd
don't be at all nervous! Keep a steady hand,
and drop either IMAM or horse. A man Of them
n mt escape"
The two remaining robbers were now up with
the log, ami fired each pistol shot al the hun
ter, which he escaped by lodging behhd tree
close to, from which he fired with effect. As
only one roober was left, he wheeled round his
horse with the intention Of gaioping oil, when
The pistol bullets Of the nero hant shot the horse
ON un,ier him. swell done, merchant" said
the hunter, "you've stopped that fellows gal
lop." As soon as the robber could disentangle
himself from the fallen horse, he took to his
heels ard ran down a siop,ng ground as fast as
Ne c yu1. The hunter drew his tomahaNk from
his bell and gave chase after him. As he was
more of an equestrian than a pedestrian, the
niInblcness Of the hunter shorte ned the distance
between them, and the last of the robbers fell.
Thus persisted this dangerous gang Of six by
the single hand Of this brave hunter, and, as the
"comercianto' informed me, he acted as coolly
and deliberately rs if he were shooting tame
builocks for the market. The affair was rather
advantageous 20 the hunter, for on searching
the ssdiie-bsgs and pockets Of the robbers, he
pulled forth some doIbloons, and a few dollars,
with other saluabcs they hal, no doub,,a short
time pre- vionsly taken from some traveller the
sa1ile-bags arms and accoutrements of the fonr
white men were packed UT, and made fast on
the saddles Of horses, the hunter mounted
a third, the merchant mounted another, his be-
ing shot, ard thus they left the scene OF action,
hodties of the robbers 20 the wolves who were
bowling about them, aud entered ST. Francisco
in triumph.-Coutters .3drenturs.
A SHARP LAp.-Groeer Well Augustus,
you have been apprenticed now three months,
and have seen the several departments of our
trade. Iwish to give you choice of occupa-
ton. apprentice Thank'ee, sir. Grocer !:
Well, now what part of the business do you
like best1 augustus, with a sharpness be-
yond his years)-Shuttin' up, sir!