Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-05-11
CALIFORNIA NEWS.


/
both ultimo, and arrived at Sandy Hook, at
halfpast eleven, on the evening of the 9Th
| instant. She connected with the John l.. Ste
phens, and the passage has been made through
in 20 days and hours
IMPORTANT FROM MExIco.-The news from
Mexico is of highly interesting nature. Santa
Anna has blockaded the port of Acapulco, and
the government troops and those of the reyo-
lutionary party are busily engaged in fighting.
The Pacific mail steamship John L. Stephens,
Il. III. Pearson, commander, left San Francisco
with 500 passengers, the United States mails,
and 1000 in specie, ON Saturday, April 10, at
| $50, p. m. The steamer Sierra Nevada left
the same day for San Juan.
On the I'D, at 8, a. M, saw ship in Man
camilla bay. Same day, at 5, p. M, arrived off
the harbor of Acapulco; saw two vessels, show
ing what appeared to be French colors, lying
off the main entrance, each of which fired a
gun as the Stephens approached through the
north channel, and soon afterwards fired shot
which fell short of us. The engine was inn
mediately stopped, and the helm put to star
board. The ships forereaching came in full
view of the fort, which appeared to be crowded
with men.
The steamer then losing her Storage way,
and drifting towards the rocks on the north
shore Of the bay, the engine was started ahead
to bring her round head to wind and tide, when
the ship. and schooner, coming up under our lee
in point-blank range, fired two shots close over
us. The engine was again stopped, boat
lowered, and the first officer sent to inquire the
cause of their firing into US. He was not al
lowed to board the ship, but was met by an
officer in the ships boat, who informed him
IL. Al IoJ xhakx
Immediately leave the harbor, or he would sink
us if he could.
Captain Pearson himself then boarded the
ship, and was Immediately informed by the
commander that his orders were imperative
from Santa Anna to allow no vessels to pass,
and that if we attempted it he would fire into
u.s. Having sufficient coal to reach San Juan,
the ship was put on her course at 8, p. m, and
orders given to the chief engineer to use all
possible economy.
During the detention of the Stephens, at Aca-
pulco, shots were frequently exchanged between
the two vessels and the fort, and without effect
on either side. Santa Anna, with an army va
riously estimated at from three to five thousand
men, was encamped in the neighborhood and
it was expected that he would make an attack
on the town during the night.
DREADFUL ExPLosIoN.-,San francisco, April
Is, l854.-This morning, at 10 clock, the steam
ers Secretary and Nevada left from Pacific wharf,
bound for Petaluma. At II o'clock, while cross
ing San Pablo bay, the Secretary burst her
boiler, carrying death and destruction in every
part Of the boat to the passengers, of whom q
large number were on board. So great was
the force of the explosion, that the boat was
literally blown to pieces. The Nevada hap
pened to be near, and Immediately rendered
every possible assistance. She Immediately put
about after caring for the survivors and attend
ing to the dead. Many persons were blown
overheard and their bodies not recovered. The
Nevada arrived at San Francisco at o'clock,
with the survivors and the bodies of those re-
covered.
INDIAN FIGHT ON McCLoUD RIvER.-The
Shasta Courier contains letter from Cow
creek, dated April 2, from which we gather the
following:
Gin consequence Of the depredations of the
Indians, a party of whites collected at Dribble-
bis ferry, crossed Pitt river under the command
of Captain johnson, and on the fourth day out,
while between the Sacramento and McCloud
rivers, they discerned the camp-6res of the
| Diggers about four miles distant At daylight
following, they surrounded the camp and fred
upon the Indians, killing all except three-a
| squaw and boy taken, and "buck" that es-
capped severely wounded. The whole number
killed in the excursion was fifteen. 1t is
thought that the other Indians will, within ten
or fifteen days, arrive at Johnsons ranch,
which has been designated as the place for
talk"
| INDIAN FIGHT.-An Indian fight, instigated
by Captain Whisky, took place at Yuba city
on Wednesday evening last The Marysville
Herald says:
ut is melancholy fact, that these Indians
have initiated civilization SO much as to intro
duce party spirit into their peaceful body poll
tic. They drew up in two lines. Bow.strings
were twanged, arrows were drawn to the head,
the deathly missiles were sent on their errands
of destruction, one Indian was killed, dozen
desperately wounded, the squaws yelled and
| screamed most horribly, the dead and the
wounded were carried off the field, and the sun
sank down in the west with the same noncha.
liant look he gave when the old guard fell back
on the field Of Waterloo"
A DUEL took place on the 10th Of April
near San Francisco, between Hector Chauvi.
| teau and man named Richards. Two shots
we're exchanged, the first without effect, the
second grazing the forehead of the latter and
the chest of the former. A lady is said to have
been the cause of the difficulty.
Two slight shocks of an earthquake were
| felt this morning at the telegraph station, at
Point Lobos, at ten minutes to eleven o'clock,
lasting from one to three minutes, shaking the
house and breaking the glasses in the windows.
There was about fifteen minutes intermission
| between the shocks.
Dled.-At ST. Louis Diggings, Sierra county,
March 81, oftyphoid fever, Alexander s. Palmer,
formerly of Knoxville, Illinois, aged twenty-four.
At Chandlerville, Sierra county, March 2S of
typhoid fever, Peter Lotterdale, formerly of Ar
kansas.---At Gbsonvle, Sierra county, March
| 81, from poison administered by HIMSELF Z. De-
craft jeweer aged thrty-six years, formerly Of
| Quincy, Illinos.---In San Joaquin Valley, March
81, Orson Willard, aged sixty-six years late Of
Sullivan county, Indiana--In San Francisco,
March 5, John @. Ghon, in the thirty-sixth year
of his age, formerly Of Philadelphia--In San
Francisco, March %, Peter ONeal aged twenty
seven years, formerly of the fremont House,