The Trinity journal., 1857-01-24
Written for the Journal.
An Incident of Early Days.

1lessrS. Editors Il have often thought
would communicate to You some of the ma
nv incidents which have occurred within my
knowledge since the early settlement of Cal
ifornia, which if you see fit to publish may
be of interest to some of your readers.
Few who arrived here in the early days of
mining but know the trouble and annoyance
occasioned by the Indians, which, added to
the hard fortune which seemed to be the lot /
of nearly all, were quite as trying to the pa
tience as the Affections which Job suffered. |
Hardly night passed without some annoy
ance from the natives, who claimed the first
right of our mountain streams and unculti- |
waited fields, from which to gather their sub |
sistence. and when we reflect, it is truly sad
to remember how their rights were infring
ed. We took from them their ALL save ex-
istence. and even that, sometimes, as | am
about to relate.
One dark night in the month of May,
1856, after a hard days labor we sat 10y
our camp fire, congratulating ourselves up
on our hattcring prospects, when we were
brought to our senses by the sharp click OF
an arrow which whistled past us, striking
the rocks in the darkness beyond. But this
was not all Another messenger came, and
with it went out a curse upon the tribe which
had sought this treacherouS way of disturb
ing our enjoyment.
Unfortunately the extremity Of one of our
number had been the target, and with all
the haste ina maginable he drew the arrow point
from the bleeding wound. Our pistols were
in good order, but where was our foe ? The
darkness prevented our seeing them, and we
were obliged to place guard and wait the
coming of the morrow which we greeted
with pleasure From that night | sworc
within my own breast eternal vengeance up
on the Digger race.
We prepared substantial breakfast,
which we ate with more than usual relsh
then taking with us provisions for few days,
shouldercd our rifles and started in search OF
the lawless intruders who had so often inn
posed upon us. We climbed to the top of
one of the highest divides, following its
winding course up the stream, often stop
ping to take observations, or catch the sound
of~our foe. We travelled on for ncarl va
day without the slightest trace of human
being, save ourselves, having ever passed
that way On going down the divide we
were fortunate enough to find stream of
pure flowing water, where we built our fire
and campcd for the night, completely hid
| from all observation. The night passed with
out anything of note occurring. After ta-
king all carly breakfast we again started on
our hunt, feeling that the result of the day
would be one of Importance. We had pro
cecded but a short distance dwon the stream
when we were surprised by the smoking
brands of an Indian fire, md felt convinced
they were the objects Of our search. With
cautious step we advanced for nearly mile
when one of our number, who happened to
be in advance of the rest suddenly discov
cred one Of the d--s Gas he called him.
standing upon point of rocks which seem
cd to project out farther than the rest, ap-
i parently watching the fnny tribe, and ex-
/ pecting from them to make his morning meal.
/ We looked around for more but he stood
alone, and he alone was to be the victim of
our revenge. Two rifles were raised towards
| him, but only one report was heard One
leap cleared him from the rocky pinnacle
and he hoated down the river q lifeess and
dsfgured corpse.
MOHJHS llcN ny ANU NlllCI Will llS oHoh
and rain caused the red men to sue for quar-
ter, as starvation was fast reducing their
number, and their only alternative was to
seek protection from those who had been
their hated foes A large number had as
scmbled at the settlement, one of which at
tracted my attention. About her forehead
she wore embems of the deepest mourning
and every feature bctokened sadness aud
sorrow. On inquiry of the tribe as to the
occasion of this, | learned that short time
previous her Indian had been killed by par
ty of huntsmen. All this | had imagined,
for loosely thrown about her pale and slen-
der form, the only covering she bore, was a
blanket, having upon one corner the private
mark Of one of our company.
1t was near the midnight hour, when the
howl of the Cayote had ceasedf for the night,
and all nature seemed hushed, when the wild
dirge of the Indians broke upon our ears as
they danced around their camp fires indica-
ting that something unusual had happened.
Their carousings continued until near morn
ing when all was again quiet Death was
in their midst. The lone Indian woman
was no more. Grief and sorrow had work
ed upon her system until death had taken
her TO meet the victim Of our revenge
CORTLAND.
WrAyrRviLtt, January, 1856.
A CAIIFORNlA SwINDLE-A gentleman,