The Empire County argus., 1856-11-08
Total. 5l,l5i

FULL ACCOUNT OF THE CHINESE BATTLE.-The
Columbia Gazette of Saturday, Nov lst, gives the
following account Of Chinese fight which occurred
in Tuolumne county
The row among the Celestials, which we mentioned
in our last issue, came to "head" on Saturday last
and ended in regular Chinese field fight We start
ed for the battle ground at early hour the day
appointed, and on arriving at Chinese Camp, we fell
i'll with the Hong Kong party, numbering about three
hundred, armed with almost every barbarous weapon
imaginable including guns, pistols, knives, lances,
(irom eight to twenty feet in length,) three-tned
pitch-lorks, lavelins, and clubs. At about eight
o'clock the Legion" took up the line of march for
the field, preceded by their Captains and banner bear
ers mounted and on foot. Other companies joined
them on the way, increasing their number to about
four hundred. We kept on the road in the direction
from which the Canton party were expected and a
few miles below Mound Springs we met them "in
martial array" with triangular banners Of almost
every color and desi ign, "waving o'er them. At this
time they had received news of the enemys approach
and prepared to receive them by throwing out small
bodies of to the right and left to take the foe
in flank" The ground was well selected affordng a
good view to the spectators, and 'bcautifu ground
for race There were several hundred Americans
present, who posted themselves on the surrounding
heights all, no doubt, expecting to "pitchork"
fight in perfect security but phancy their pheenks"
when the Cantons commenced firing muskets, and sent
the balls singing over their heads.
The opposing armies marched up in fine style to
within less than half mile of each other but did not
appear over anxious to come to close quarters. A
party of musketcerS belonging to the Canton party
posted in the woods in the south of the field and
kept up irregular fire for some time without any
effect, but finally the Hong Kongs got their dander
up and started to dslodge them when stray ball
struck their leader and he fell This discouraged
them, and the Cantons, taking advantage of the mo-
ment, charged in regular Oriental style, and such
screaming and yelling never before heard and nev
expect to again, unless there is another Chinese
fight in this neghborhoOd. They charged across the
valley and up the hill to where the wounded Hong
Kong lay, when the whole party halted and proceed
ed to butcher him in regular Indian style. After cut
ting out his heart, and other 'choce pieces" they
packed the remains off pole. The death of this
man reused the Hong Kongs, and they charged in
turn, and drove the Cantons near a mile but without
being able to overtske them
The fight lasted in this manner for couple of hours
when the Hong Kongs, seeing they had poor show
with their spike poles against superior numbers armed
with muskets drew off from the field in an orderly
manner The Cantons remained on the ground and
then drew off also
AS the last party were leaving the field, Deputy
Sheriff Cogswell arrived, and summoning a posse
started after them with the intention of arrestng the
leaders. Overtakng them at point on the road,
about mile from the battlefield, he stated who he
was and what his object, and commenced making ar
rests He had arrested three or four when a shot
was fired by of the warriors" and others follow
ed in quick succession About forty shots were fired
but fortunately no one hitwhether owing to the bad
aim of the "pg-eyes,' or because horses arould
not stand still, we are unable to say.
During the firing all the prisoners escaped but one
who spoke English very well, and through him Dep
uty Sheriff Cogswell afterwards succeeded in arrest
ing the leaders.
We understand that Sheriff Stuart met the Hong
Kong party near Chinese Camp, and disarmed them.
Some two or three were killed. and three wounded,
we believe in the fight.
The affair, taken altogether, was one of the richest
we have ever witnessed.