The Nevada Democrat., 1856-10-01

Col. FREnoST-A LEAF FROM CALIFORNIA His
statement having been made by the
Sacramento Daily Times, to the effect that Jose
Santos Bcrrycsa was stumping the lower conn
ties for Fremont and Dayton, that gentleman
has published card, of which the following is
an extract. As leaf from California history
it will be found interesting, while it shows up
the Republican candidate for President in nc
enviable light:
When the Bear party" revolution coInmenc-
ed. | was Alealde of the country north OF the
Bay of San Francisco. AT the capture OF So
noma. myself and two of my brothers were taken
prisoners. In a few days Col. Fremont arrived,
and proceeded on to San Rafeal There bloody
tragdy was enacted, the particulars OF which !
leave others to speak. One OF the murdered
men on that occasion was my grey-halrd OLD Ia
ther Of sixty years. He had been sent from san
Jose by my mother to see after the safety of her
sons and others of their family. He came peace
ably. and did not dream of danger, whether fall
ing into the hands of friends or foes of the exist
ing government
The next day Col Fremont returned to Sono-
ma. Some of the old settlers told me of the
shooting of the three men, and remarked they
we're sure one of them was my father. Soon
after Col Fremont passed the door of my prison.
| called to him, and told him he had killed my
father. He said it was not so. Just at the mo-
ment one of the soldiers of his company came up,
and on his person recognized the sercle always
worn by my father. On it l saw the marks of
fresh blood. pointed to it, and said to Col.
F., flhat tells the tale-he is dead; will you
direct the man to give me the serdpe2-l wish to
! "a II Il I;o1 hat fho
serape belongd to the soldier it was the booty
he had won, and he could keep it if he liked. |
tHtped to the man and asked his price for it. He
said twenty-five dollars. The money pulled
out of my pocket and paid him, and thus obtain
ed the article
leave it to the reader to say how ardent must
be my support of Colonel Fremont, and how
many speeches ought to make in his favor.
JOSE S. BERRYESA.
The following is the statement of Jasper
O'Farrel Esq, in reference to the above men
toned acts:
Was at San Rafael in June, 1916, when the
then Captain Fremont arrived at that Mission
with his troops The second day after his arrival
there was boat landed three men at the mouth
of the Estero, on Point San Pedro. AS soon as
they were deserted by Fremont, there were three
men(of whom Kit Carson was one) detailed to
meet them. They mounted their horses, and after
advancing about one hundred yards, halted and
Carson returned to where Fremont was standing
on the corridor of the Mission, in company with
Gillespie myself and others, and SAID, Captain
Fremont, snail ! take those men prisoners?'
J In reply, Fremont waived his hand and SAID II
z have got no room for prisoners" They then
advanced to within fifty yards Of the three un-
fortunate and unarmed Californians, alghted
from their horses, and deliberately shot them.
0he of them was an old and respectable Caltor-
nian, Don Jose 5. Berryesa, whose son was then
Alcalda of SonOma The other two were twin
brothers, and sons Don Francisco de Haro, u
: citizen of the Puebla of Verb Buena. ! saw Car
son some two years ago and spoke to him of this
act, aud he assured me that then and since, he
regretted to be compelled to shoot these men,
and says that he intended to make them prison
ers; but Fremont was blood-thirsty enough to
order otherwise. And he further remarked, that
it was not the only brutal act he was compelled
to commit while under his command.
: should not have taken the trouble of making
this public but that the veracity Of a pamphlet
published by c. b. Picket, Esq, in which he
mentions the circumstance, has been questioned,
a history which am compelled to say, is, alas
too true-and from having seen circular adj
dressed to the native Californians by Fremont
or some of his friends, calling on them to rally
to his support therefore give the above act
publicity, so as to exhibit some of that great
warriors tender mercies and chivarous exploits 4;
and must say that | feel degraded in song pa
, per with the name of man whom for that act
| must always look upon with contempt, aAd
consider as murderer and q coward.
JASPER OFARREL