The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-02-01
FREE FIGHTIN CALIFORNIA
TEN MEN KILLED BY ONE MAN.

1 nc lines dhO Circuits tue
Sacramento Statesman with the following:
PLAcERyILLs, December 23-2 p. M
The Mountain Democrat, extra, says. We
received the following startling intelligence
last night, after our paper had been worked
OF. Rocky Canon, the place ofthe tragedy,
is deep and almost inaccessible canon,
about forty miles north of this place, near
Todd's Valley, and uninhabiied.
Rocky CANON, Dec 20, 1854 NO officer
having been within convenient distance
TO attend TO a case OF emergency that has
Just happened near cur isolated camp here,
the undersigned constituted themselves a
coroner's jury, and held an inquest over the
bodies OF twelve men that were killed within
a mile Of our camp, on the 10Th inst. full
account OF which we deem it our duty to
publish. Three of the undersigned were eye
witnesses OF the whole scene, thoughstoo tar
off to giTe aid IN any way, and the rest of
Us can readily vouch for their veracity. On
yesterday, 10Th instant. three men. who
atterward proved 10 be Dir. James c. Nc
Donald, of Alabama, now deceased; DIR.
Bolivar; a. Sharks, of Mississippi. and Capt.
Jonathan r. Davis, of South Carolina, were
travelling OH loot on trail within mile of
our camp, to prospect vein of gold bearing
this place. AS they were passing the base
of u mountain, three Of the Undersigned, being
on hunting expedition on lis side, saw
party of men, who were concealed i'm the
bushes near the trail, spring up and COM
mence firing at them. Mr.. Mcdonald had
fuilen dead. He had pistol shot before he
was even aware of his danger. He and his
party had had nothing but their revovers.
Thos. Sparks shot twice at the banditt, and
then fell severely wounded.
In the mean time, Capt. Davis, who was
the fist to commence shooting in defense of
himself and party, in an instant after the
first volley of the robbers, being still unhurt,
kept up an incessant firing upon them with
his revolver, every ball forcing its victim
to bite the dust, until all the loads of both
parties seemed 10 have been discharged. The
only surviving robbers made a charge upon
Capt. Davis with bowie knives and one with
short sword or sabre. Capt Davis stood
firmly on his ground until they rushed up
abreast OF him within about four steps. He
then made spring upon them with large
bowie knive; warded off their blows as fast
as they were aimed at him; gave three OF
them wounds that soon proved fatal.
Having wounded the other one very slight
ly, and disarmed him by throwing his knife
in the air in warding off blow, as this last
man expressed in tone OF gratitude before
his death, Capt. ID. went to work at once
tearing up his own shirt and binding up all
the wounds of the living, of both his friends
and enemies. On an examination of the
persons of the deceased of those that COM
menced the attack OIL Capt. ID. and party, we
discovered papers, carefully concealed in
their pockets, purporting to be a copy of
laws and bye-laws by which they were gov
=, erned.
} The last of This band has just died. His
wound he thought himself but slight, and
81 seemed in q fair way OF recovery until With
i. in the last hour, and corroboratee all the
e whence proved by the papers in his pockets.
= 1t DR.. Sparks is we'll enough TO travel, DR..
. Davis speaks of moving him down to his
s friends to-m morrow. In conclusion, we deem
it due to state. that from all the evidence
), before Us, Capt. ID. aud his party acted solely
:, in selfdelence. We send the communica-
ton to your paper, because the bearer, hav-
q ing very sick family below, will travel post
e haste all night to Placervle.
). Signed-W. c. Thompson, Joseph Hamp-
ton, z. 5. Robertson, G.. w. Hendricks, J .
f. Norris, /. A. Hart, L. s. Gallibus, N. b.
Porter, q. b. Wingate, w. A. Newman, j.
. C. Lewis, s. c. Marshall, Il. G. Wallis, A :.
e Hughes, J. Webster, 0. E. Clarke j. K.
IS Trist.
!. Another letter. dated Rocky Canon,
!, December goth. to VIM. Henderson, ESQ.,,
Placerville:
Yesterday we had quite an exciting scene
n 10 happen within mile ofour tent: while
e two of my partners and myself were taken a
, hunt over the hills, we heard the report of
guns below us, and saw two small parties
shooting at each other. Convinced that
Il they were all strangers, we heslated for a
= moment before we ventnred down to them
s feeling of duty, however, soon prompted US
:, 10 hasten down.
y On approaching, two of little
party of three whom we had noticed follow
ing the trail unobserved, some half honr pre-
{ vous, fall in the fight, and the remaining
h one, man somewhat above the medium
5. height, whom We could readily distinguish
/, from all the rest bv his white hat, fghtng
bravely for his life; approaching still nearer,
we were surprised at the sight of eleven uaen
is stretched upon the ground, seven of them
: uead, belonging, as they afterwards prov i,
:. to party of robbers, and one only of the
party of three so suddenly fired upon from
the bushes by be robbers.
i Three of the wounded robbers having died
e last light, we had ten OF them TO bury. One
n survives. who will probably recover; he is
marked, however, .or life, has ing lost his nose
in toto, and shot through the forefnger of
5 his right hand. Seven OF them were shot
n through the head. The surviving one, who
seems TO be but lite hurt, says that their
band composed Of two Americans, =
'r Frenchmen, five Sydney men and four Next
e cans, and they had just commenced opera
ID tions, having killed six Cinnamon three days
y before, and four Americans the day before