Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-08-20
FROM CALIFORNIA.

+ A.
The steamship Pfemetheus arrived at n. York
on the l4ih inst, from Chasres via San Juan de
passengers and news from San Francisco 10 July
18th, two weeks lster than previous accounis.-
The passengers speak in glowing terms Of the new
route. The time from San Francisco to New
York was only twenty seven days. The Prone
theus brings over three hundred passengers and a
half million Of dollars in guild dust. The steam
shin Pacific had arrived at Panama with eight hun
dred thousand dollars in gold dust Fhe resources
of California promise more largely than ever the
mountains are opening new treasures Of gold, and
the fields make abundant returns 10 the agricultu-
rist but crimes of all kinds are fearfny prevalent,
and the whole country, from Oregon to San Diego,
seems to be overrun with gangs oflhe most reck-
less and desperate characters. Lynch law is now
almost the only law in The mining districts, while
at San Franciscothe Vigilance Committee has per
fecled its organization and commenced an unrelen
ting crusade agains, robbers and iccendiaries. II
does not appear, however. that public security has
yet been restored. Several executions had taken
place by order of the Vigilant Committee. One Of
The persons executed was the notorious Jim Stuart,
an English CONVICT who was convicted of murder
and numerous robberies He confessed that he be-
longed to band whose sole object was robbery and
murder. The authorities endeavnred 10 rescue him
from the hands Of the Vigilant Committee, but did
not succeed.
l. Judge Campbell had charged the Grand Jury
that the Vigian Committee were nothing else but
murderess. The mayor also issued proclamation,
calling upon all good citizens 10 abandon the Vigi
lance Committee There was, in consequence,
great excitement The fila California thinks the
Vigilance Committee will soon rid the community
of the villains who have so long infested it. Or
CARNATIONS of similar character are daily spring
ing up throughout the country The effects Of the
late FIRE al San Francisco are YET preceptible but
houses are being rapidly constructed. Already the
burnt district is thickly dotted with good and sub
stancial edifices. The Fourth ufJuly was not eel
ebrated with any great pomp in consequence of The
recent calamity. The news from the mining re-
gions continues favorables rich gold diggings have
been discovered on the coast. They range about
twenty miles from Santa Cruz. Between fifty and
one hundred men are now at work in them. They
are said 10 be very productive. A shipment of six
ty tons Of the gold-bearng quartz has been made to
Europe f"r the purpose of having 1t tested by the
machinery used there in extracting gold No pro-
cess known in California has succeeded in saving
all the metal, and in most instances half Of il IS
supposed to be lost. Quicksilver is used altogeh-
or for the work. but is aSceaned that the smaller
particles Of the gold do not readily combine with
quicksilver unless the latter metal is thoroughly
diffused through the crushed quartz.
The China Vomen and the Vigilance Commit
tee.-The members of the Vigilance Committee
have had rather busy time Of It for some days
past in addition TO the trial of Stuart for murder,
and some half dozen others for larceny, in addition
a.. Ii nf
arrived and swelling by some three or four the list
of passengers departed, they have had the pleasant
task on hand Of trying three four China women,
on charges of murder, larceny, arson, drugging, |
poisoning. and Heaven knows what else, preferred
against them By Assiug Aing, Aching, Acky, ard
The whole of the Chinese population OF San Fran
cisco. What the motivts of the Cinnamon may
I've in endeavorng to keep the women from emigra
ting to this country, we cannot say; but that they
have done their best to effect that end is evident
In the present instance these women were arrested
at the prayer of Assing, who has lived in the States
long enough TO know what he is abnut
A great number of Cinnamon appeared as wit
nesses. The charges made against the women
were so exaggerated as to be incredible. They
were consequently released, and not sent back 10
China, in accordance with the prayer of the petit !
ton, and left the house with the consciousness Of
triumph, which caused several palrlarchal China
men to gnash their teeth until half the enamel was
destroyed. 1t was stated in evidence upon the tri
al, that two thousand Cinnamon, including several
women. were either on the ocean, or wees prepar
ing to leave the Celestial Empire for California.
The story about the murder Of the editor of the
Sonura Herald, is contradicied over the signature
ofJames w. Cofworth, the party reported to have
been killed.
An important move has been made for the es-
tablishment Of College, to be situated at Santa
Clara, and $27 800 had been subscribed for that
purpose.