Columbia gazette., 1854-04-29

From tie Los Angslos Star, April 22. /
FROM THE COLORADO.
Breaking up of Walkers Pariy-Con-
edi'nn of Sonora-Gold on The Col
orado.
DR.. Thomas Foster returned to this
city from trip to the Colorado this
week. From his observations we gath
cr the following interesting items:
| WALKER's PARrY.-About the 9TH
instant party of ten or twelve of Wal
ker's men came up the Sonora side OF
the Colorado, and crossed the ferry,
nearly in naked and starving condi-
ton. The party gave no satisfactory
explanation why they separated from
Walker. They stated that about ten
days previous Walker crossed the river
some forty miles below the mouth of the
Gila, by means of RATS and swimming.
They describe the whole of the COM
rnsnd as being in most miserable and
destitute condition. Wearing the same
clothing with which they went to the
country, and this is in tatters and rags.
Walker himself is no better clad than
the rest, and has but one bot and a
piece Of boot At their crossing they
cached seventy or eighty stand OF aims.
The Cocupa Indians were here detect
ed stealing some of their stolen cattle,
and in the attack upon them seven or
eight o! tue Indians were killed. After
this, Walker recrosscd the river at the
same point, with only twenty FIVE mer,
and started back for Santo Tomas, with
nothing to subsist upon but beef, their
only fare previously. They represent
Walker rs having turned back in sheer
desperation, without an object, or if he
had one it was concealed, and because
it was the only thing he could do.
The party arrived at the Fort in ex-
trcmc dcstitution. and we're kindly fur
nished with clothing and provisions by
Major Hcintzclman and Dr. Mckins-
try. They represent themselves as cx-
tremely sorry for having joined the ex-
pedition, and are on their way to the
settlements to obtain employment
They say if they can gain an honest
living, they will not ego soldering any
more"
! From Observation-Disclosures from
Sonora is to the 7th March. The con-
dition Of the people is miserable in the
extreme. The dcpredat ions of the A
psches are undated; provisions scarce,
and no money in the country. Unpro-
tccted, unemployed, and starving, the
people are fleeing by every opportunity
Emigrants arrive almost daily at the
Fort. The intelligent portion of the
people are represented as being very
anxious to become citizens of the United
States, and it is only in becoming such
that they expect any relief.
i FURTHER PARrIcULARs.-Dr. Fos-
ter also furnished us with the following
| Since his arrival one of the men of
whom he speaks has reached town, trav-
: cling from the Colorado on foot in eight
days. From him We have the following
particulars of the march from San Vim
ccnte to the liver. Walker left San
Vinccnte with one hundred men and
driving off one hundred cattle. In cross
ing the mountains between them and
the Gulf, two men deserted and twenty
head Of cattle were lost. Soon after
crossing the mountains, they were join
cd by thirty Cocupas, who followed
them to the river, where they stole some
thirty head of cattle. Five of the In
dians were seized as hostages for the re-
turn Of the property, and in attempting
to escape, three of them were shot
AT this time tho rations had been re-
duced to beef alonc-and poor at that
There had been corn, but this had beer
reduced so that it was only to be had in
the mess of his Excellency, There was
murmuring at this, for Walker had
boastcd that he would share the hard.
ships Of his men.
They reached the river six miles a.
} bove its mouth, and about seventy from
Fort Yuma. The Colorado here is a.
bout four hundred yards wide, very deep
! and not rapid. The men crossed b,
means of RATS. In attempting to swim
the cattle several we're drowned and
some escaped, and the attempt was 4
bandoned.
/ The first raft took over, among 9th.
ers, Captain Douglass and Smith, an
Englishman; and for Douglass went a.
long, also, pint Of boiled corn, which
was placed upon the ground and stolen
BY Smith. When Douglass ascertaincd d
Smith to be the thief, he drew his pistol
and deliberately shot him dead. Thus
a pint of corn was worth mans life |!
The party remained at this point
three days: On the second day after
crossing, there was much disafection in
camp-and in barren country, which
they had invaded with hostile intentions,
with few means of repelling attack; ex-
hausted, naked, starvation staring them
in the face, many men prepared to a.
bandon the waning fortunes of the ex-
pedition, and return to the settlements
| for an honest livelihood.
The party of our informant were
thrca days reaching Fort Ynno. rvho