The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-25
News from Lower California.

News from Lower California.
BREAKING UP OF WALKERS Observation-Disclosures
OF THB PARTY-RuMORED ATTACK ON SAN VICENTE
DISCOVERY OF GOLD ON THE COLORADO ETC.
The steamer Sea Bird, Capt Haley, at San Francisco
carried dates from San Diego to rl 18th and from Los
Angeles to April ed, fortngB later than previous
[From the Los Angeles Star, April 22.l
Dr. Thomas Foster returned to this city from trip to
gather the following nteresting items
About the It'll instant party Of ten or twelve of
and crossed the ferry nearly in naked and starving
condition The party gave satisfactory explanation
previous crossed tie r
forty miles below the mouth of the ella, by Of
RATS and swimming.
They describe the whole of the command as being in
most miserable and destitute condition-wearing the
same clothing with which they went to the country and
this in tatters and rags Walker himself is better
clad than the rest and has but boot and piece
boot At their crossing they cached seventy eighty
stand of arms The Cocopa Iodans here detected
upon them seven or eight Of the Indians killed
After this Walker recrossed the river at the point
Tomas with nothing to subsst upon but beef their only
fare previously. They represent Walker having turn
ed back in sheer desperation without an object or If he
thing he could do. The party arrived at the fort in
treme destuton and kindly furnished with cloth
ing and provisions by Major Heintzelman and DR.. Nc
Knsry They represent themselves extremely sorry
for having Joined the expedition and their way
to the settlements to obtain employment They say If
they can gain an honest living they will not Ego SOL
diering any more"
Or. Foster also furnished us with the following Since
his arrival one of the of whom he speaks has
reached town. travelling from the Colorado foot in
eight days From him have the following particulars
Of the march from San Vincent to the river Walker left
San Vincent with hundred men, and driving of
hundred cattle. In crossing the mountains between
them and the Gulf two deserted, and twenty head
Of cattle were lost Soon after crossing the mountains,
they joined by thirty Cocopas, who followed them
to the river where they stole thirty head of cattle
Five of the Indians seized hostages the return
Of
them were shot.
At this time the rations had been reduced to beef alone
and poor at that There had been corn but this had
been reduced that it only to be had in the of
his Excellency. There was murmuring at this, for
his men,
They reached the river six miles above its mouth and
about four hundred yards wde deep and not rapid
The men crossed by means of RATS In attempting
swim the cattle several were drowned and escaped,
and the attempt was abandoned.
The first raft took among Others Capt Douglass
and Smith an Engishman and for Douglas went along
also, pint Of boiled corn which place upon the
ground and stolen by smith When Douglass
Smith to be the thief he drew his pistol and deberat
shot him dead. Thus pint boiled Of worth
mans life
The party remained at this point three days. On the
second day after crossing, there much dsaectisn
vaded with hostile intentions with few meaus;of repe
ing attack exhausted, Naked starvation staring them
in the face many men prepared to abandon the waning
fortunes of the expedition and return to the settlements
for an honest livelihood.
Ile party OF our informant three days reaching
Fort Yuma, where they received by Major H. WITH
courtesy and their necessities supplied Before leaving
The fort many others came in and it was ascertaned
that fifty men had deserted Walker and others we're
preparing to leavein fact, geneal stampede had
Cured.
Finding his numbers thus reduced and that he could
not swim the cattle, which his only rations
Walker resolved to retrace his steps to San Vicente
with the evident intention of reoining his Exceency
Smith He started back in sthe winter of his discon
tent y with not more than twenty twenty FIVE head
of cattle
In reference to the proceedings of Governor Smith,
whom Walker left behind at San Vicente letter the
Star says
SAN DIEGO April II, 1854.
Areport entitled to considerable credit is in crcula
ton oday that Walker has departed for the valley CT
Trinidad where he waiting for his aid de camp,
Smith, who remained in San Vicente with twenty five
to gather and seize cattle from the ranches be-
low and to drive them up to form junction with Walk
these movements, collected together few and fell
upon San Vicente, killing four five that left
to guard the and ammunition there by Smith, on
his departure for Rosario below Santo Domngo for the
aforesaid objects and Mclendrez took the and
muniton and left Immediately pursuit of Smith hop
that he accomplished his object, killing several men aud
taking Smith prisoner. This must be generally true,
although perhaps of the particulars exagge
rated 1t is also reported that Walker is at the Huerta
that when be receives notceof what has happened his
companions in arms he will retrace his steps and wreak
his vengeance the innocent and unfortunate that
may chance to fall into his hands. Nearly all the fami.
lies OF the frontier on heir way to San Diego
have already arrived others are near and the whole
frontier is depopulaed. In Guadalupe there also
families who fled there for relief from distress and
famine and this refuge of the unfortunate must
now be abandoned, fear that shall have to order
all the in service there to withdraw to
A1na Rata aF s.4A