Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1856-07-18
I,om the NcU York Evening ru,t.
HOW FREMONT RAN ~ II.

AAO " ANAsaAOHA AhAAA AAs
iThc following sketch is from the zen Of
one of the many who were fascinated by the
brilliant aud dashing career OF Col. Fremont
as the dcli,crcr Of California, and who be-
came acquainted with the incidents he dos-
cribss upon tho spot, and from the lips Of
parties who witnessed them. They show
that Fremont made a good run " once,
and will ~ fIr 10 satisfy those whoarc open
to conviction shat he can DO it again
Fam,>r, or THE RIDE or ruE OSE HIS
DRIED. In the early part Of the year 1877
business called me to Alta, California
Having been long a resident on the Pacific
coast, and being familiar with tho language
and customs Of the people, | was selected
to elect large contract Of hides for one Of
our eastern firms, the trade being nearly
paralyz,l at the time by the war then in
progrcs, between our country and Mexico,
whore handful Of noble men were accom-.
pli.hins icglswhich have given them place
in history by the side Of Lconiias and hi'
braves. The CALIFORNIA; had become to usa
dcsiIantum, although their mineral wealth
still slum5'r,l, waiting for that cuchantcr
oi modern days, Yankee enterprise, their
splendid harhor', ,lc coniiguiiy Of posses
sion, in Oregon, and the facilities for trade
with China. were a sufficient incentive.
Commodore stockton had hurricd mp from
CalAo in the fri.a,c Congress and General
Kcarncy had crossed the plains from the
Missouri river, with a force Of armed hunt
ers, hr the purpose Of taking ilc country
and holding i,a' faso fora 'a''yo,iory
treaty.
The native Cali!ornnus, who had long
croluci beneath the imp1sis OF a distant
government, and ycnial governors, had them
sclyc, invited our o,erturcs, but few Of
their leaders, with deadly hatred toward
the Yankees, and hop, Of personal reward
from Mexico, were as,iluou.ly ,nlcayoring
to stir the people up T. rcyol,-in many
cases with too great success. Manuel Cas-
tro, q wealthy and influential ranchcro, noted
for III, determined opposition To all change,
and cnmity to the " Cirinso'," had arrins-
ell for an attack ON the Pueblo los Angeles,
the hcadqulr,cr. Of Kcarncy, held by a small
force ormauncs and volunteers, His agents
wcr, in all parts Of the country, inlamius
the inhabitants and urging them To join him.
By some means hi, rllu leaked out
| was at this time At the ranch Of my old
friend, Gen. MARITIME Vallejo, on the Sanoma
Creek my companion was Capt. D.,
who has since cspouscd one Of our hosts
daughters. vallcso was one of the largest
lanl-hJllgrs IN California, owning some
sixty square miles, with forty thousand
head Of cattle, and several hundred horses,
cattle and horses at that time being a mans
available wealth. lie had been formerly
military governor Of the country, and was
considered fair spoil by our people, though
in Justice must state that he was kindly
disposed towards the Americans. The house
was substantial clifcc Of two stories sur
4 rounded by corrall, with a stone gateway ;
the household consisted Of some twenty per-
sons.
7 We lad al retired to rest, and were wrar-
ped in slumber, when the loud barking OF
dog, anil halloins Or men aroused US SUD.
denly from our dreams Expecting an at
tack fom the bear party "a band Of lawlcs'
dcspcradocs who infcst the country, all
rushed to the courtyard, armed As well ~
the time permitted, and in costumes the
most picturesque, as primitiycncss is usually
considered 50. The General, sabre in hand
came at last, he challenged the iniFudcr'
with
-" omen Is ar" (who is thcrc.)
j Z" .ineaoaao, amigos, aJra Ia puerto,
lAmerican. and friends, open the gatc,) wa'
the response, blow accompanying thcwords
that made the door shake again.
The demand was pcrforcc complied with
and a band Of some fifty men were presented
to our view, mounted and arraycd as trap
pcrs and hunters. and armed to the teeth.
Foremost among them, on black mustang
was a small, slnewy, dark man, evidently
their leader, with "an eye like Mars 10
, - 49, .,n,,,uan,.n nv.