The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-30

ssSIx MONTHS IN the GOLD MINES This is the
title of well got up duodecimo volume of 172
pages, just issued by Lea and blanchard, Of Phila-
delphia, and for sale by Taylor and Maury, of this
city The author, E. Gould Buffum, lieutenant
in the first New York Regiment, resided in Upper
and Lower California in l847-S-9. He has written
narrative familiar in style and graphic in de-
scripton. We quote an incident from his work for
the entertainment of such persons fancy they
would love the romance Of frontier life:
GA scene occurred about this time that exhibits
in a striking light the summary manner in which
Justice is dispensed in community where there
are no legal tribunals. We received a report on
the afternoon of January Goth, that five men had
been arrested at the dry diggngs, and were under
trial for a robbery The circumstances were these:
Mexican gambler, named Lopez having in his
possession large amount of money, retired to his
room at night, and was surprised about midnight
by five men rushing into his apartment, one Of
whom applied pistol to his head, while the others
barred the door and proceeded to rifle his trunk.
An alarm being given, some of the citizens rushed
in, and arrested the whole party. Next day they
were tried by a jury chosen from among the citi-
zens and sentenced to receive thirty nine ashes
each, on the following morning. Never having
witnessed punishment inflicted by Lynch law, i
went over to the dry diggings on a clear Sunday
morning, and on my arrival found large crowd
collected around an oak tree, to which dashed
man with barred back while another apply
ing raw cowhide to his already gored flesh.
guard of dozen men, with loaded rifles pointed at
| tempt being made to escape. After the whole had
been fogeed, some fresh charges preferred
against three of the men-two Frenchmen, named
Garcia and Biss, and Chileno named Manuel.
| These charged with robbery and attempt to
murder, on the Stanslaus river, during the previ-
GUS fall. The unhappy men were removed to a
neighboring house, and being so weak from their
punishment to be unable to stand, stretched
| upon the floor. AS it was not possible for them to
attend, they were tried in the open air. in their abb
sencc, by crowd of some two hundred men, who
hah alxfpct at1rxr
| ed pro tsmpore judge. The charges against them
were well substantiated, but amounted to nothing
more than an attempt at robbery and murder; no
overt act being even alleged. They were known to
| be bad men, however, and a general sentiment
seemed to prevail in the crowd that they ought to
be got rid off At the close of the trial, which lasted
some thirty minutes, the judge put TO vote the
question whether they had been proved guilty.
universal Affirmative was the response; and then
the question, What punishment shall be inflicted
was asked. brutal looking fellow in the crowd
cried out, Hang them The proposition sec
onded, and met with almost universal appreciation.
mounted a stump, and in the name of God, hu-
manity, and law, protested against such a course
of proceeding; but the crowd by this time excited
by frequent and deep rotations of liquor from
neighboring groggery, would listen to nothing
contrary TO their brutal desires, and even threat
ened to hang me if l did not Immediately dcsist
from any further remarks. Somewhat fearful that
such might be my fate, and seeing the utter use
lessness OF further argument with them, ceased,
and prepared to witness the horrible tragedy.
Thirty minutes were only allowed the unhappy VIC
Tins to prepare themselves to enter the scenes of
eternity. Three ropes were procured, and attached
TO the limb Of tree. The prisoners were marched
out, placed upon wagon, and the ropes put round
their nccks No time was given them for explana-
ton. They vainly tried 10 speak, but OF them
understanding English they obliged to en-
ploy their native tongues, which but few of those
assembled understood. vainly they called for an
interpreter, for their cries drowned by the
yclls OF Infatuated mob black hsndker-
chief was bound around the eyes Of each; their
were pnoned, and at given signal, without
priest or prayer book, the wagon drawn from
under them and they were launched into eternity.
Their graves were dug ready TO receive them, and.
when life was entirely extinct, they we're cut down
and buried in their blankets. This the first
execution ever witnessed. God grant that il may
be the lastlp