The Shasta courier., 1855-03-10
Rescue of a Prisoner from the Yreka Jail
...sevcrnI HIen Killed and wounded!

Rc.cue Of a Prisoner from the Yrekn Jail
---sevcrnI 1Ien Killed and wounded:
By letter from the office Of Rhodes & Co., In
Yreka, dated Thursday, the lst inst, we learn
OF terrible affair that occurred in that place on
the evening previous 1t seems that miner by
the name of w. A. Baker, was imprisoned IN the
County Jail for breaking Middle Green Horn
| Ditch. large number Of miners from Green
! Horn were greatly dissatisfied with this treat
ment Of the prisoner, and determined to rescue
him. They accordingly repaired to the Jail
after dark, and with cooked pistols pointing in
the face of the jaor demanded the keys. They
were of coarse, under the circumstances yielded,
and the prisoner set free. Just about this time
Sheriff Cotton, having got wind OF what was GO
ing on reached the Jail with posse Of citizens,
when fight occurred, which resulted in the
death of several of the mob, and the wouuding
| of many on both sides.
| Since writing the above. Cram, Rogers & Co.
1 have placed in possession of the Herald Of the
] 3rd, containing full particulars of the unhappy
affair. The Herald says:
The mob attacked The door with an axe, but
were driven away. They then made further
onsets, telling the officers they would not listen
to any more, pushing the officers about, threat
enng to shoot &c. At this time the under Sher-
| lit, MIR. NJ. G.. White, arrived with pair of re-
! volvers, handing one to the Sheriff. The mob
were then told to stand back. They refused,
| when the Sheriff and his deputy. and few cti-
| zens fired several rounds ON the mob, which
| they returned direct at the Sheriff. and retired a
] short DISTANCE. The Sheriff and his posse then
/ x-a1 fra
rallying, returned. and were again ordered to
desist-refusing. they were again fired upon !;
they then rcfreated and disappeared. By this
Time twenty-five citizens were at the JAIL well
armed :"
OF the Sheriff and his posse. but two were
wounded. MIR. Slicer and Sheriff Coton-the for
i"er severely, but we are happy TO state not dam
gerously wounded, in the thigh the latter re-
ceived two slight wounds in the hand.
Several other citizens narrowly escaped injury
| One gentleman had his watch chain shot Oft.
| Others were knocked down and several closely
glazed by bal!s
OF The mob. it has not heen ascertained to
certainty how many We're shot. One died OF
his wounds yesterday in freka two others are
| in town badly wounded, the recovery of one Of
which is doubtful. 1t is believed that several
others badly wounded. /: was reported
yesterday that two had died Of their wounds on
Greenhorn.
Reports Of all kinds are hourly arriving in
town' great majority Of which are wholly with
out fnandation.
On Thursday the Sheriff had large posse
armed and ready to arrest the leaders Of the
mob or ally that were aiders or abettors.
The netple hold themselves in readiness TO
obey the commapds of the Sheriff at any time.
supply Of arms and ammunition was received
from Fort Jones yesterday.
Capt. Goodal and others arrived from the
Lower Digeings yesterday, well armed, to as
sist the Sheriff.
1t reported and generally believed that Will
son, Bill Fox. aud some other leaders of the par
ty have left this part of the country.
Our citizens deserve much praise for their
noble conduct in supporting the laws; especially
those few but faithful gentlemen who were with
the Sheriff at the jail, at he lime Of the attack
umphed over an infnriafed mob, sustaining and
preserving the majesty of the law.