Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-30

Defeat and DETERMINATION OF = Band Of
Robbers in California.
The Aoaatoiu Democrat, extra, says We
received the following startling intelligence last
night, after our paper had been worked of.
Rocky Canon, the place of the tragedy, is
deep and almost inaccessible canon, about forty
miles north of this place, near Todd's Valley,
and uninhabited:
Rocky CANON, Dee. 20, lS54.--No officer
having been within convenient distance to at
tend to case of emergency that has just hap
pened near our isolated camp here, the under
signed constituted themselves coroner's jury,
and held an inquest over the bodies of twelve
men that were killed within mile of our camp,
on the 18th instant, full account Of which we
deem il our duty to publish. Three of the un-
de.aigped were eye-witnesses of the whole
scene, though too far off to give aid in any
way and the rest of us can readily vouch for
their veracity.. On yesterday, the 18th instant,
three men, who afterwards proved to be Mr..
James -. Mcdonald, of Alabama, now de-
ceased; DR.. Boliver; A. Sparks, of Missis-
sippi; and Captain Jonathan r. Davis, of
South Carolina--were travelling on foot on a
trail within a mile Of our camp, to prospect q
vein OF gold bearing quartz some twenty or thirty
miles north Of this place. As they were pass.
ing the base Of mountain, three of the under.
signed, being out on hunting expedition on
its side, saw party Of men, who were con-
cealed in the bushes near the trail, spring up
and commence firing at them. Mr.. Mcdonald
had fallen dead. He had pistol shot before
he was even aware of his danger. He and his
party had nothing but their revolvers. Thomas
Parks shot twice at the banditti, and then fell
| severely wounded
/ In the meantime, Captain Davis, who was
the first to nnmnsase shnnfinr in dofanao o.
| himself and party in an instant after the first
| yolley Of the robbers, being still unhurt, kept
up an incessant firing upon them with his re
volvers, every ball forcing its victim to bite the
| dust until all the loads of both parties seemed
to have been discharged. The only two sur
| viving robbers made charge upon Captain
Davis with Bowie knives, and one with q shor
sword or sabre. Captain Davis stood firmly
on his ground until they rushed up abreast O
| him, within about four steps. He then made 9
spring upon them with a large Bowie knife, war
ded off their blows as fast as they were aimed a
him, and gave three of them wounds that soor
proved fatal. Having wounded the other one
very slightly, and dsarmed him by throwing
his knife in the air ip warding off blow, as
this last man expressed in tone of gratitude
before his death, Captain D. went to work al
once tearing up his own shirt, and binding uE
all the wounds Of the living, Of both his friends
| and enemies. On an examination of the per
sons Of the deceased of those who commenced
the attack on Captain D. and party, we discov
cred papers, carefully concealed in their peck
cts, purporting to be copy of laws and bye
| laws by which-they were governed.
The last of this band has just died. His
wound he thought himself but slight, and
seemed in fair way Of recovering until within
the last hour; he corroborated all the evidence
proven by the papers in his pockets. If DR.
Sparks is well enough to travel, DR.. Davis
speaks Of moving him down to his friends to
morrow. In conclusion, we deem it due tc
state that, from all the evidence before US, Cap
tain d. and his party acted solely in selfde
Tense. We send the communication to your
paper, because the bearer having very sick
family below will travel post haste all night to
! Placervile.
Sgned-W. C. Thompson, Joseph Hampton
p. s. Robertson. G. w. Hendricks, j. E. Nor.
ris, ]. A. Hart, T. J. Gallibus, N. B. Porter, O
R. Wingate, w. A. Newman, J. C. Lewis, s. c.
Marshall, T. c. Wallis, A. Hughes, ]. Webster
O. E. Clarke, J. k. Trist