Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-04

Inc steamship btaf OF Inc west hrf1feu AZ new
York on Saturday afternoon, bringing two hundred
and sixty passengers and S71o,ooo IN specie on
freight Her dates from San Francisco are to the
9th Of November She brings the passengers that
arrived at San Juan b the steamship Cortes
Among them are Senator Weller and lady, and
Mr.. McDougall Senator Gwinn was expected to
leave by the next steamer. Mr.. Latham had left
several weeks before
CALIFORNIA MATTERS.
Colonel Hays, surveyor general of California, Is
seriously i'll
The overland emigrants recently arrived here re-
port serious encounters with the Indians.
Colonel Fay, the mail agent ia making important
arrangements to facilitate the postal service in the
southern part Of California.
The news from the mines continues favorable
Business was very active at improving prices
Later advices from Australia represent business
dull there, and the yield Of the mines declining.
Admiral Despoints has despatched the French
brig of war Oblgardo to Guaymas, San Bias and
Acapulco. II was said the object was to prosecute
an inquiry concerning the death of Count Bouloon.
The citizens Of Carson Valley are urging the an
nexation Of that place to California.
The attempt to reopen the overland express
from Acapulco to Vera Cruz has been temporarily
frustrated by the refusal Of Alvarez and party at
|
The vacancy on the Supreme bench viii prob
ably be filed by the appointment Judge Field, of
Marysvile.
PROVISIONING VICTORY.
The election on the 9Th for City Comptroller re-
suited in Mr.. Sherman receiving majority of ,042
votes over Mr.. Haight There was no regular
nominees in the field Mr., Sherman is understood
to have been the nominee of the Know Nothings
The whole number of votes polled was 4,74O
fha beId nf Ga
Der last the entire vote polled for City Comptroller
was l0,435.
From the San Francisco Alta California, Nov 0.
Again does II fall to our lot to chronicle one of
those unhappy events too frequent in this State,
which has cast dark shadow over one hearth at
least, and left one heart desolate.
The principals in this duel were Achilles Kewen
and Colonel Woodlief The particulars, as well as
could be ascertained are as follows Last Friday
evening Mr. Kewen and the Colonel were, with
several others, in the saloon known as the "Blue
Wing" Montgomery street. The conversation was
principally on the politics of the day, and became
rather animated. The Colonel remarked to Kewen
that he was DID g Know-N Nothing" upon WHICH
Kewen struck him on the mouth with his hand.
Friends nterfered and arrested further proceedings
at that time. 1t is said that on Monday Mr. Kewen
sought out Col. Woodlief and offered an apology,
which was refused. The offer was again renewed,
Kewen stating that he would make the apology In
writing, If it would be more acceptable. The Colo
mel in the mean time had sent a challenge and he
expressed his determination to have it settled in
the usual manner. Friends were accordin xiv
chosen, and y was concluded to cross the bay and
adjust the difficulty by recourse to firearms.
Yesterday morning the parties left in the Oak
land ferry-boat, at o'clock in the morning. Sew
eral persons in the city having been informed Of
what was going on crossed over in the ferry-boat.
On arriving at Oakland the parties proceeded
short distance outside of the city limits The friends
of Mr.. Kewen were Messrs. Wake Briary and Rob-
ert Wood Col. Woodiers friends were Captain
Skerrett and Major Mcdonald. The arms chosen
for the occasion were Mississippi yagers The
ground was being marked off when deputy sheriff
Simons, who had got wind of the affair, made his
appearance and ordered them to desist. The par
ties then got into their carriages and left with the
determination to cross into another county. After
continuing the journey for some time, until they
were about ten miles from Oakland, and in the
county Of Alvarado, they dsmounted and ascended
hill near by, followed by crowd, which by this
time had increased to about one hundred and fifty
persons. On the ridge of the hill they halted the
took their places, and ON the word Sire" being
given, both wheeled and fired, the ball from Mr.
Kewen's rifle passing completely through the heart
of Col Woodlief and out at his back, killing him
instantly. 1t is said that the unfortunate man did
not live ten seconds after receiving the wound
This disastrous affair took place about one O'Clock
The body of the Colonel was brought over to the
city in the ferry boat last evening, and taken TO the
Tehama House. The scene, when the wife of the
dead man looked upon all that remained of the
former partner Of her joys and sorows, whose sill
yer thread of life was so abruptly cut, and Who
but few short hours before had gone forth in the
strength and prime Of manhood, Is said by those
who were presentlast evening 10 have been afec Z
ing In the extreme.
n Is said that Colonel Woodlief made his will on
Tuesday evening, leaving all he possessed to bis
ON the occasion, and stopped In San Antonio while
the party went out. She returned with the body
to the Tehama House
Devereux j. Woodlicf was born In Greenville
county, Virginia, and moved TO Texas more than
twenty years ago. He was elected colonel in the
Texan army, and was In active service during the
revolution there. Subsequently he was one of the
Texas Rangers. During the Mexican war, he nc
companied the American forces as an amateur war
rior, and was distinguished for the Independent
method in which he took his positions during the
battles and the accuracy Of his Workmanship. He
had been engaged in number Of duels, had been
wounded number Of times in battle, and carries
to his grave three bullets in bis body. He came to
California in lS49, and was collector OF the foreign
miners tax in Calayeras county. Colonel Wood
lief leaves brother, wealthy merchant in New
Orleans. With the brother resides daughter Of
the deceased, twelve or thirteen years Of age
THE ALLIED YLKrr AND OTHER souADRoSs IN THE
PAcIuc-REroRPED NAVAL ENGAGEMENT.
Since the repulse Of the allied feet at Petropo
lovski, the movements of the respective vessels
have become a matter Of interest. The greater
portion of the combined squadron now lie at an
Choir in our harbor.
They comprise II. B. NJ frigatcs President and
Pique, sloop-ofwar Amplitude, and steamer vira-
go, and the French frigates Forte and Euridice
They are accompanied by their prize the Russian
ship Sitka. II. B. NJ. discovery ship Plover Is also
In port
The French brig-ofwar obIigado, which consti.
tuted portion Of the squadron in its attack upon
Pctropolovski, sailed from this port on Saturday
last for Guaymas to make inquiry into the circum-
stances attending the death Of Count de Raousset
Boulbon.
The brig Henry William, which arrived on Mon
day night from Sydney, reported heavy cannon
adc outside the Heads, resembling sea fight, and
last night there was flying report throughout tho
city, said 70 have been brought by piIot-boa, to
the effect that the oblgado had encountered