The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-27
Tho Outrages In tho Mines of California.


From the Alta California, July III
We have quite late information from the southern
mines. representing matters there as still IN very
unsettled and excited state, particularly in the re-
gion of the town of Sonora. Measures have, how
ever, been adopted by American residents. which,
although they are harsh and of character not
legazed by the law, have frequently to be adopted
in new countries, where the law can, from the
nature of thogs, be but imperfectly administered
However much we may deplore the circumstances
which call for such extreme measures, we can
readily excuse them when we reflect upon the
w1nton and gross ourages which have led to their
adoption. When, in an industrious and hard
working community, il is found that neither life
nor properly is safe, and that the existing law is
poweress to protect one of the inherent principles
and laws of nature dictates self protection and pre-
servaton. 1t has become a matter of certainty
that not only are there a large number of thieves
and murderers roaming through the southern
mining districts, but that there is a re gularly
ganised gang of desperate characters, composed of
Mexcans, Chenes, and, it is thought, some
equally demoralized white men, who have banded
themselves together as guerllas for the purpose of
plumber. Not only is the miner, returning with his
hard earned gains, subject to their remorseless
attacks but the trader, while upon his lonely path,
laden with Supplies, falls victim to their rapacity.
Outraees of this kind have been frequent, and
have at last aroused the people of Sonora to de-
cded action party of Americans have been
raised, well armed and equipped, and formed into
scouting party of rangers 10 scour the country in
search of the desperadoes, and with full power to
execute the severest retaliaiory measures upon
those who are found to have committed any act Of
violence or robbery. This company numbers about
citizens of Sonora, sl6 per man per day. They
are all determined men, well acquainted wit
the country, and will soon rid the district
of the scoundrels who infest it. Our great fear
is that some innocent men may suffer from the
haste which rangers too frequently evince in the
formation of their opinions TO the guilt or inne
cence OF a suspected party The existence Of the
guerilla band of which we have spoken, is con-
trune tu iVafa Ieffe han lad ma hu "A nea.fIa
man doing business in Sonora, but now in this
city. IL is from his partner and bears date on the
night Of the 10th inst He states that a posse Of
about one hundred persons had just brought into
town four Mexicans, who had been found in the
act Of burning the bodies of two Americans, whom
il is supposed they had murdered and robbed that
night. Upon examination, their Threats were
found to have been cut, but their bodies were 30
much burned that they could not be recognized.
Subsequently, fifth, who, with others, made his
escape when the party were discovered, was
magistrate; but incensed were the populace that
they insisted upon their being taken upon the hill
east OF the town, where their case was to be de-
cided by Judge Lynch, and his sentence carried
into imme date ex ecuion. Four of them would
undoubtedly be hung, but the fifth used as evidence
TO detect the residue Of the party On the mig h of
the 9th, apary Of Chinese Were attacked near the
so badly wounded that it was supposed he would
not recover.
Outrages Of this character will enable us readily
10 understand the state of evaporation which must
prevail among the honest citizens Of the infested
district and TO excuse the adoption of even the
harshest measures.
Since the above was written, we have received
some additional particulars from the same source,
relative TO the five men accused Of the heinous
offence of numbering and burning the bodies Of
their victims IL appears that they were taken out
on the hill as stated, convicted by Judge Lynch,
and sentenced to be hanged. Just as they were
about TO string one Of them up, the officers OF the
law arrived, and with the aid OF some who had be-
come somewhat more considerate and calm, res
cued the accused and succeeded in getting them
INTO Jail TO await trial.