The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-03-09
Adventure with California Robbers.

|
| 'isonce hunted Tor three months in company
| with a l,onres we'll Iknswo in California. la
idea he was wild and imaginative 10 the -ex.
,reme; bari his acts Of darice, &c.. the most
| cool and philosophic fellow ! even knew. IA
commerciamo. or merchant, at San FTancisco,
On whose veraciry knew from experience
can depend, told me bbe following story oil this
man. which will at opce illustrate his general
| Icharacter: a t.,-if..-,,.,..,
"This hunter was. some mon'hs before ] had
iallen-in with him. making the best OF his way
dow n7lhe valley Of The Tude Lales from The
interior with heavy pack Of furs 90 his back,
his never errne rife, in his hand. and his Two
dogs by his side. lie was joined al the north
ermost end Of The valley by The mefchaft ]
have spoken OF, who was armed only with
sword aud pistols. on .Mrros9
They had scarcely cleared the valley when
a parry Of robbers gailoped out before lhem.-
| There were four whites fully armed. and Two
Indians with their rich, hands ready for a
| throw" The hunter told the merchant. who
was on horseback, to- dsmonnt INSTANTLY, 'and
to cove,.' Fornnately for hom, there was a
good deal of Ihicket. and trunks OF large trees
that had fallen were srfewcd about in a very
desirable manner. Behind these the hunter
and the merchant quickly took mp their posi-
liop. aud as they we've IN the act Of doing SO,
Two or three shots were fred al them without
effect. The hunter icoolly united the pack oi
furs from his back add laid them beside him
It's nv opinion. merchant said he. that,
them varminIs there want either your packsad
die or my pack, but-i reckon they'll get nel'hy
er.' etr ;-f . .,--... y
$50 he took up his rifle. fred, and the lore
most Indian, lasso in hand. rolled off his horse
Another discharge from his tihe, and the second
n tsat
so M the head ynd shoulders of The hunler, as
he raised himself from behind he log 10 hte,-
Now, said the hunter ras, he reloaded, lying
on his back 10 avoid The shots of The robbers
that's what call The best ofthe scrihmase,o
get Them brown lhieses with their .aisol out of
the way first. See them rascaily whites row.
jumping over the logs 10 charge US 10 our Gov
er."
"They were first advancing. when the rifle
a gain spoke out, ah1 the foremost fell they
still came on within thirty yards--anotier fell.
and The remaining two made desperate charge
close up to the log. The huater. from a long
practice, was dexierions 10 reioading his gun.
Now, merchant, said he, 'is the lime for your
pop guns (meaning the pistois) and don't be at
all narvous keep a steady hand, and drop eth
er man al horse. A man Of them shaE't es-
CAPE" ~ ,t 81,
" IUe TWO remaining rODOcfS were INV UP
with the log, and fred each pistol shot q, The
hunter, which he escaped by dodcing behind
a tiee close To, from which he fired with effect.
As only one rider was ef; lie wheeled round
his hose with The intention Of galloping off,
when the pistol bulleis Of the merchant shot
the horse from under him. ',t e'
"'Well done merchant said The hunter.
you've Stopped that feIlsw' IS gallop.' As soon
as the robb,r could disentsngle himself Gom
the horse. he took 10 his heels, and ran down
slopng ground as fsst as he could Phe
hunter drew his tomaliawk from his belt, and
gave chase after him. HAs the fobber was more
of 40 equestrian than . pedestrian, the nlmble-
ness oi the hunter soon shortened the distance
between them. and The last or The robbers fell.
Thus perished this dangerous gang of. six. by
the single haad oi this brave hunter. and. az the
com mel icianio Informed me, he acted as coolIy
aud deliberately as if he were shooting tame
bnllocks for the market.
"The affair was rather advantageous TO The
hnnrer, for. on searching the saidleosgs aud
pockets Of The rnhbers, he pullrd form some
doubloons and dnIlars. with other vsluabes,
which, they had, no doubt some time previous
Iaken from some traveller; ;iiie saddle bags, arms
and accouiremenis of the four white m n were
packed up and made fast on the saddles ofihe
two horses. the hunter mounting a third. the
merchant another, his hose being shot, and
thus lhey leii ihe scene Of aclioo,l :eayiog the
bodies of The robbers to The wolves, who were
howling about them. and entered San Francis
CO IN triumph - Coulte,'s Adventures on the
Western Coast of South America. .Hqa