The weekly Placer herald., 1854-04-08
Per Adams A Go.
Arrival Of the Sierra Nevada.

This steamer arrived at San Francisco
on Sunday last. She had on board 955
passengers, among the number are 10
ladies, and l25 children.
On the passage up two ofthe deck hands
got into quarrel, when VIM. Pratt, the
second officer, went from his room to
quiet them; while doing so steerage
passenger by the name Of John Gardner
interfered. Mr.. Pratt requested him to
go away, when Gardner seized him by
the throat and In the scuff1e stabbed Pratt
twice in the breast, and also severely cut
the third officer in the arm. Gardner at
tempted to escape, but was caught and
confined. Mr.. Pratt died in about 80
minutes. He leaves a wife on Long
Island.
When the Nevada arrived at the Bav,
Gardner was confined in Jail to await bis
trial for the murder.
Mr.. Douglas Nebraska Bill seems to
agitate the fanatics awfully. Some of
them have gone so far as to burn HIM in
effigy. On the Sd of March the bill pas
sed the United States Senate by vote of
SO ayes to ID noes, 0 members absent or
the North have been unceasng in their
endeavors to create an excitement on this
question, but the great mass of the peo-
pie look upon the bill as Gan act Justly
due to the good sense Of the inhabitants
Of the Territories, and one that is calculat-
ed to sustain them in their rights as in
dependent freemen who are capable of
choosing such laws as will best subserve
their own interests.
The New York Herald says:-The In
dians in Nebraska Territory are rapidly
preparing to vacate their lands in favor
of the white settlers, who are about emf
grating to that country in large numbers.
By the outlines of the treaty, published
In another column, it will be seen that
the Omaha tribe have entered into ar
engagements to sell eight million acres of
their land; the Ottoes have also agreed
to dispose of between two and three mil
lion acres, and delegation of Indians are
now in Washington, negotiating for the
sale of their domain. A few years hence,
and the Territories of Nebraska and Kan
sas will be covered with the domicils and
growing crops of industrious white men,
who, by their votes, will forever settle
the question which is now so intensely
agitating the people of the Union and
their representatives in Congress-, with
regard to that region of country.
The entire California delegation in
Congress-, are in favor of the Nebraska
Bill.
The total number of deaths in New
York, for the week ending March 4, were
4S4
At Washington city, on the 18th of
March, the jury in the Gardner case, re-
turned verdict of guilty. They were
out twenty-five hours. The sentence of
the court was ten years in the penitentiary.
DIR. Gardner was placed in the custody
of the Marshal, and died very suddenly
shortly afterwards. He is supposed to
have poisoned himself. 1t is not certain.
however, that the case is suicide Over
wrought feelings, it is thought, may have
been the cause. On entering the cell
where Gaadner was confined, he was OBJ
served to drink some water, throwing his
head back, and it is supposed he took
strychnine pill. He was seized with con-
vulsons almost Immediately. After CIV
ing letter to Charles Gardner, his bro
ther, he remarked that he was going he
fore Judge who would not pronounce
him guilty, and then expired in great
agony. 1t is not known for whom the
letter was intended. He was thrty-six
years old; had the education and manners
of a gentleman, and was engaged to be
married to Il lady in Georgetown. His
Counse's exceptions to the bill contained
twenty-nine counts, and some of his
friends entertained the opinion that the
Circuit Court would have granted new
trial. Union.
BY the arrival of the John L. Stephens
we have two days later news from the
east.
A tremendous fire occurred in New
York on the morning of the 5th March,
destroying $SOO,0C0 worth of property.
The fire occurred IN Spruce street, and
destroyed Nos s, 10, 10, ID and l6. The
Harpers have lost by this fire about $780,
900.
The American steamship Nashville ar
rived at New York on the 9Th. She left
Havre on the 18th, and Southampton on
the morning of the 10th ult. The Nash
Vile passed through the English fleet
about to sail for the seat of war. The
news brought by her is of a highly impor-
tant character, giving details of the enor-
nous military and naval preparations