Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-01-17
From the Mo. Republican.
California Correspondence.
PiacerriHe. (Hangtonn,) Cal,
Ocioher 2f. 1850.

eliminating In this meridian for some
weeks past. The tide of the overland
emigration, as il rolled in It's hundreds
of weary, worn, and plunde-ed popu-
lace-their tales of sickness, losses, pri-
vations and suflerings, although unccas-
ing for three months past, afforded but
one source of food to the hungry nav
of popular excitement. Stories of the
gold mines here, and gold lakes there,
and immense deposites Of the precious
dust somewhere else, were constantly
manufactured 10 keep alive the restless
and rowing spirit Of the Californians.-
| suppose that if anywhere an approx
nation to the idea Of shell let ioose," is
TO be in any degree realized, 1t is in this
same town of Placerville alias Hang
town. On the Sabbath we have one
hundred and fifty groggeries open; these
occupy the stores, hotels, boarding -hou-
ses, stalls, workshops, and coffin ware
rooms The auclioneer's hammer goes
from morning until evening-the gaming
establishments are crowded with giddy
votaries-music streams out from all
these haunts miners, by hundreds,
come in and purchase provisions for the
following week-and then, 10 this i'm
moral array, you may add preaching by
the Notwithstanding on the public
square of the society for the relief of
the INDECENT, and the INDECENT dead
meetings in the same place, of the $50
ciety for The better observance of the
Sabbath" and the whole concluded by
meeting in the same place of the
Temperance Society, which closes up
The day at abou, ten o'clock in the even
ing. This is our usual Sunday bill of
fare. Last Sabbath, however, The last
meeting of the day was a meeting TO re-
ioice over the admission of California
into the sis.erhood of the States. 1t
came off about IL o'clock, p. NJ, and
deafening cheers for the Union, Cor Cali
fornia, and three cheers, "with WILL"
for Col. Benton, the champion of Cali
fornia. Rockets and firing of guns clo-
sed the night, and ushered in Monday
day break. r....
Atpresent we have three exciting top
les on the tapis. The first is, depreda-
lions and murders committed by the In.
dams, within Il week, on the remnant of
the emigration, and on the miners
Some seven or ten persons have been
killed within dozen miles of this place.
The Indians are warlike, and are said to
be congrega,ed within ten miles. Their
number is variously estimated at from
six to ten hundred. Two companies of
volunteers. of one hunnred men each,
under the Sheriff, left this place On a
scout, two days ago. They expect 10
meet with resistance, as the Indians have
ordered the citizens of Webertown and
Ringgold to leave the county, on pain of
death. The Indians have sent off their
wives and children. The Sheriff retur-
ned yesterday for additional supplies and
ammunition; and reports that the Indians
will most probably give much trouble.
Another source of excitement arose
from fight at Ell Dorado Hotel, of this
place, between two or more gamblers,
on night before last, in which one receiv-
ed two mortal wounGs-on in the abdo-
men, the other in the chest, which cans.
ed his death in twelve hours.
The name of the deceased was Levi
Vowals, of Michigan. He had but late
ly arrived, and spent most of his time
in mining, but for a few days past took
up the game called "the Mimbles," and
was engaged at this game with his Thin
bles when an alteration took place be-
tween himself and two other gamblers.
This resulted in fight, during which a
third party, Richard Crone, of Ireland,
and lately Of ST. Louis, inflicted the
mortal wounds.
Crone had an examination yesterday
before Justice for commitment. Du-
ring The day the miners poured in by
hundreds, and it became evident that they
would wrest the prisoner from the civil
authorities. While the examination
was going on, the mob held a meeting
and selected and swore jury of twelve
citizens, some of them gray headed, 10
60 and hear the evidence and report TO
them. Immediately on the Justices
statement, at the close of the examina-
ton, that the prisoner should be sent 10
jail, for trial, the jury reported him gull
ty of murder, whereupon a rope was