New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-10-17
CALIFORNIA.
p.n;d Recovery from Fires-A True Caiifor-
niap-Rescue and Execution of the Crtmi-
uaIs-state Election-Criminal Trials-Ihe
in California.

Chinese in California.
Correspondence OF The y. Y Tribune.
SAN FRAScIsco, Monday, Sept. |, lo5l.
The demolition of one-half of Marysyllle
bv fire. and the butchery OF two more Sydney
burglars by our Vigilance Committee, are the
foremost items of news that You viii receive by
this steamer The number of houses destroyed
| =, Narvsyille was about two hundred, compris-
ING the best portion Of the town. But II VIII DE
rebuils before you hear of the calamity. ouch
things are scarcely felt In California. The CON
tract for rebuilding Is made while the hre burns.
Time Is more precious here than in any other
country. and sufferer would think himself
ruined if he had to sit down and cypher up the
| condition of his finances before starting airesh
Last week brewery and distillery IN tins city
were burnt The buildings were but Just com
pleted. and everything painted and whitewashed
| in perfect order The fire took place about noon,
and part OF the lumber for rebuilding was
! hauled TO the ground before night One OF our
citizens put mp mill lately, and wanted to run
| IL day and m ght friend OF his expressed some
surprise that he should be so eager for gain,
when he was suffering from disease OF the lung.
which would soon carry him off He answered
that having but short time to live. he was anX-
! ious to improve his time as much as possible
/ He was true Californian.
The hanging of the two men, Whitaker and
| MKcnzie, by the Vigilance Committee, was &C
companied with circumstances peculiarly outra-
! geous and barbarous. They had been tried by
! the Committee in secret session, and condemned
to be executed But the Governor, Sheriff and
others rescued them in the night few hours
! before the time appointed for their death. That
! the civil authorizes should show themselves IN
any respect superior to the Vigilance Committee
! could not be tolerated The Governor became
an object Of abuse aud resentment, and the ex-
citement against him was furious. The Vigil
| ance men and their advocates could see nothing
! IA the rescue of the two maeiactors by the au-
! thortles, but a design to protect them from all
| punishment and IN this idea they Were sus-
| tanned by the press, In the most shameful and
| hagltIOus manner.
on Sunday afternoon, when Rev. Mr.. Will
llarns was engaged, is his Gust ON, m cOndact-
ING public worship IN the prison, and during his
closing PRAYER, several well-armed men who had
slyly gained access TO the prison, suddenly fell
on the keepers and oyGcame them, when the
gate was opened by others who lay III walt. and
The next minute the two prisoners were IN car
rage, with pistols pointed to their heads, driving
furlously toward the rooms Of the fatal tribunal.
The carriage was escorted by an armed guard
The signal ben was tolled and thousands of men
sireamcd from all quarters to the spot. In few
minutes more the wretched felonS, one of whom
was already nearly dead with fright, dangled by
the neck above the doors of the Committee,
amid clappng of hands, and shouts OF approval
Several members OF the Committee stood IN the
doors rubbing their hands aud laughing IN eXllta-
ton. Oh, 1t Was lOyiui sight And how did
that mass OF human beings gloat on the specta
Gle What victory was now achieved over he
authorities Human le the football III the
game
Atorhanglng awhile the bodies were lowered.
and one of them exhibiting signs OF life, they
were again holsted up. THIS was done with SO
much violence as TO dash the head OF one several
times against the projecting beam. The same
loss of sensOlllty appeared to prevail among the
actors as the PansIanS exhibited IN the days oi
the Guounc, when iad'es repaired early TO the
scaflod and sat working at their embroidery 10
secure good seats tor the bloody exhibition
To crown She scene, a splendid banner pre-
scented to the Committee 10y the ladies OF
church whose pastor had ohclated as chaplain
to that body, was exhibited IN triumph. and
waved beneath the writing felons And all
tins transpTcd on the sabbath
Knight have remarked that the feeling OF hos
tihty TO the Governor was much enhanced lay his
rcprieye of one OF the robbers who were under
sentence of death IN Sacramento. On the day
set for their execution reprlcve was produced
for one OF the three, deierrlng his sentence for
few weeks. When the two others were hung.
according to law, the people seized on the re-
wleYed man. and carried out the sentence Of The
Court, IN spite of the interference OF the Govern
or The worst possible construction was put
on this act OF the Governor, and 1t was used by
the people and the press IN san Francisco 10 fan
the flame OF excitement which ended IN the ira
| IL an
Is profigate and corrupt man, ! believe. But
that he was actuaied by proper motives IN re-
prleVng the man at Sacramento. with the repre-
/ scntatOnS made 10 INN on the subject, have
not the least doubt. And that he was only per
forming his duty when he aided in the rescue OF
Whitaker and M'kenzie no one can DENY
But popular excitement has no eyes.
When viii these things end In my NEXT let
ter hope to advise YOU OF the dawnme OF
I brighter day for California; day OF order and
tranquility Ia Two DAYS come the State and
municipal elections \ portion OF the Vigilance
Committee have made an aitemp; to control the
election IN this city hy getting up ticket of pure
and upright, and patriotic men, N whose hands
/ the destiny of our people Will be safe One OF
then prominent candidates IS noted for his IN
temperance. AFTER the starting OF this move
ment, those " no dlsapproycd OF II found them
selves IN majority al The meeting OF the body,
and they passed resolutions condennIng 1t. But
! 1t goes ON nevertheless. | wish could say that
lis opponents In the Committee condemn il on
principle | fear their leading motive Is the o.
lection 70 the interference with party nomua-
tl0As. However, the organIzailOnl now divided
agaln>, Itself, amt the result may be good
Another singular case has occurred for the
records Of criminal Jurisprudence. Two men,
Hall and SpIers, were tired for the murder Of
an Indian ~ poisoning They were both from
sydney. Hall was found guilty but the my IN
the other case returned verdict OF no. guilty..
IN a few minutes The testimony was the same
m both cases. Another man named Turner 5
noN suspected. aud the general belief = THAT
both Hall and >pler> are innocent Hall viii
have new trial, end DC acquitted.
Btrduc, OF stewart, OF whom | spoke IN q for