The weekly Columbian. [volume] (Columbia, Tuolumne Co., Cal.) 1856-1???, 1856-09-13
Robbers. Desperate Condition ofthe Country.

Robbers Desperate Condition ofthe Country.
Not even id the darkest period of California's
experience Of the past, has there ever existed SO
desperate condition of affairs as is the case
with the present. The country is fairly swarm
ing with the most desperate set of villains and
the most reckless robbers. For several months
past our Northern exchanges have come to us
freighted with news of robberies and murders;
but the occurrences of the past week have
brought these horrible scenes to our own doors
No less than twenty robberies have come to our
notice since our last issue, the field of whose ope
rations has been principally between this place
and Knights Ferry. On Wednesday, 100000
were taken from the custody Of MIR. Robert Gar
dener, of Belvidere Flat, near Chinese Camp,
agency of chloroform, the safe was actually ia
ken from the store in which persons were sleep
ing, and even the safe, which was small, has not
as yet been heard of. In the evening, while
Circus company were performing at Chinese
Camp, a man was found robbing house and
was arrested and partially confessed his guilt.
He was severely whipped and is now in custo-
dy; in the mean time four houses had been rob-
bed of valuables and money. On the same day
a man was robbed of horse, together with his
pistol, while riding in broad daylight on the
road to Green Springs House. On the next
day two Cinnamon were robbed in the same vi
cinity. On Tuesday, a man was robbed of S25
on the road leading from Columbia to Sonora
On Thursday, before daylight the horses of one
of our Stage coaches were stopped while on its
way to Stockton The reins of the leading hor-
ses of the coach were grasped by man on
horseback. The driver did not know for while
what was the matter Of his horses, it being dark
hut on noticing more particularly, saw the ras-
cal with his horses, when calling for his pistols
the fellow left and disappeared in the darkness
On Wednesday, Messrs Mills & Parker, we'll
known gentlemen of Columbia, were stopped in
the road and their money was demanded; Mr..
Parker presented his pistols when the cowardly
rascals left. On Thursday, man received a
!
ing $50 or $50 with him in cash, was travelling
on the road below the Green Mountain House,
when he was arrested and his money demanded.
He gave up his money, and stated that that was
all he had they told him he had draft on Wells,
Fargo & Co.'s Banking House, as they had seen
him receive it. The man obliged to give
it up, but seeing that its presentation would en-
danger them to the authorities, the robbers re-
turned the draft coolly telling him that he
ought not to trust his money with banking swim
dlers as they were even worse than they (the
rObbers) were. One Of the men also gave him
back one dollar and fifty cents. and said, that
would be sufficient to pay his expenses to a
place where he could get his draft cashed On
taking their leave, one Of the men was for shoot
ing their VICTIM but the other said let him alone.
that it was bad enough for them to take his mon
| ey. The same fellow desired that he should be
| particularly noticed, in order that he might be
recognized another time.
We might enumerate other instances, but we
have already given enough to confirm our state
| ment of the desperate condition OF the country
Must an enlightened and powerful people such
as we find in California. submit to such highway
plundering and assassination as this-and is
there no redress? We have read OF the organ
| lied bands of highwaymen and banditti that for
merly infested the mountains of Italy, but new
err have we thought it possible that American
| citizens would submit to such scenes upon their
own soil. Rather than jeopardse our proper
| ty, our lives and the peace and safety of our
homes we should arise to a man. if necessary,
and rid the State of these proving demons
Raise money, and organize companies in every
section of the State, whose sole duty it shall be
| to restore our country to the fear and supreme
| CT of the law. Cannot the Governor take the
management of these affairs in his own hands
and act promptly and at once? 1t occurs to US
| that neither time nor money should be spared in
| its prosecution No sacrifice is equal to that of
| life and honor! no loss of property equal to a
| robbery Of all we have, and nothing more horr-
| BILE to contemplate than the destruction aud
| ravishment of our homes and the Preside cir
| Gle.
| ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.--The sixth ami
versary of the admission of California into the
| Union, was celebrated in San Francisco on
| Tuesday with enthusiasm and true patriotic
spirit. A procession, consisting of the Califor-
MIA Pioneers and various civil and military as