The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-08
Arrival OF Captain Frensh's Company.

From the Alta California Dec II
We have received from one OF the members Of
the above company, Mr.. William Miles, OF Car
lsle, Pennsy account OF their journey, TO
come extent, the treatment they received from
Captain French, sc.
The company was called the "Overland Ex
press Train" Il left New York CITY on the 18Th
Of May last, for san Francisco, by way Of New
Orleans, LayaCce, Texas, thence 70 IL PasO by
spring wagons. L seems that French had induced
some two hundred and thirty men 70 pay him $50
apiece, contracting TO take them through ~ sixty
travelling days They were four month. m reach
ing III Paso. Considering that they had been COM
pleteIy deceived by French, and being nearly worn
ou, with fatigue and disappointment, they resolved
20 hold prbllc meeting, and request French TO
send the passengers by pack mules 20 Their point
al destination. While they were consulting upon
the sUbjet the news arrived BY express, from san
Antonio, that French had used, without authority
Howlsnd and Aspinwalf names, in a letter OF ua-
limited credit without their knowledge and sigaa'
tuTe.
OF course, the whole company was thrown into
confusion. The idea Of being abandoned in a
strange land, without money or food, after having
paid $3.50 for a through ticket was not very CRATE
ful Legal measures had been taken by trenshs
creditors to seize all the outfit, 10 prevent which,
the company resolved 70 place everything in the
hands a officers chosen TO receive them, and 10 sell
and distribute the proceeds pro rata, according 10
the claims OF the passengers. French, while at
Iavacca. had Sc ected thirty men 70 act jurors
for the arbitrament Of differences and for the pun
ishment OF crimes and Offences himself signing his
with such organic atom, The chattels were Sold
final settlement made, and - per cent on all the
claims was paid over 10 the members Of the com
rany, or passengers. With this amount, they had
70 purchase their mules, provisions, and ray what
ever necessary expenses might accrue their
journey. French appealed to the American Mil.
fsry Commander, the Sheriff, the Mexican and
American consuls, 10 interfere in his behalf and
strip his dupes OF everything. But "a vain.
Finally, part Of the passengers, badly htted out,
leh II Paso, on a journey OF Thousand or htteen
they learned that French had employed some
twenty men, armed to the teeth. for the purpose
81 robbing them. This he effected, the passengers
beng scattered. Each man, az he came a., was
commanded, with pistol at his breast, to give up
hls weapons, and then was stripped OF whatever
he pesss ssed--bsnkets, clothing, mules. money,
&C. Many were thus left entirely destitute.
Finally, a little party Of half dozen Vermonters,
who happened 10 he together, determined TO, and
did, resst. battle was the consequence, In
which two, DIR. Wright and Mr. Nelson, were
KILLED; Mr. Cooper had thigh broken, and Mr.
Holmes both arms broken. French had his rght
arm shattered, and was supposed MORALLY wound
ed, being shot also in the side This occurred az
Corolitss, in Mexico. When French was shot.
HE banditt scattered, and the rest Of the comnanv
were allowed to pass on.
They suffered terribly by hunger thirst and toll.
but bore all with fortitude, working their way
along with worn down bodies and swollen feet,
until they reached the Colorado There the gar.
dens 81 the IIoumas Indians, which had been de-
serted by them after their battle with the California
troops, furnished the poor worn out travellers for
week or ten days with beans After journey Of
hiriyve tock passage IN brig Tor this place, and