The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-06-25
Summary Of California News.
MASSACRE OF THE SONORA FILLIBUsTERs
NEW YapY Jnre 10

NEw YoRK, June 13.
The United States Mali steamer George
Law, VIM. Lewis Herndan, United States Ma
w, commander, sailed from Aspinwall June
Sd, at 10 O'Clock P. NJ, with the United States
mails, passengers, and ST, ,376 in specie for
New York, brought down by the steamer So
nora, and arrived here yesterday afternoon.
In California, few events of more than or
dinary interest have trdnsplred. Frequent
showers throughout the State have been Of
immense benefit to the growing crops, and al
though the yield this year will be far below
the average, still they ore by no means ruined,
as was feared they would be few weeks ago.
Fruits and vegetables have suffered little from
the drouth.
The mines, as usual, contihue to yield up
their golden treasures. Fewer accounts of
"big strikes" are chronicled as time advances
but the diggings generally are paying quite as
well as ever. Much more confidence prevails
relative to quartz mining, as is evidenced by
the increased capital being invested in this
branch Of mining enterprise.
No further disturbances have taken place
among the Indians in the northern part of the
State, although their enmity TO the whites coa-
tinues undated. Great numbers have been
sent from Sierra and Piamas counties to the
Nome Lackee Reservation in Tehama county
OREGON.
From Oregon there is nothing Of importance.
Election matters monopolized the columns of
the local journals. The Indians in Washing
ton Territory are menancing hostilities, but as
yet have committed few overt acts.
BY the arrival OF the Archer from Hong
Kong, we have received eleven days. later in
tellgence from China than that brought by the
Kate Hooper. The British war vessels had
made several successful cruises after the pirat-
zeal iurks that infest the Chinese waters
Mutiaies on board Coolie ships are becoming
more and more frequent, and several Of ter
ribie character are reported.
SONORA
ANNIHILATIoS OF cRsBBE's EXPEDITION.
The news below, which is copied from the
San Diego Herald of the 9th, will canse
thrill OF horror to curdlc Tie blood of the hun
dreds of relatives and friends of the men who
have met death al the hands OF the Mexicans
Ia Our last issue we Published rlmor OF
the entire destruction Of lIenry a. Cfabbe's
party, numbering about 1oJ men, by the Mex
leans in Sonora. BY the following statement
of the facts, kindly furnished US by gentle
man just arrived from Fort Yuma. it will be
seen siiat the rGmor has been confirmed. He
SAYS:
The expedition into Sonora. under the COM
mand Of II. A. Crabbe. has had most disas-
trous end. .4
Late in March Crapbe's party left Sonoita,
Sonora, and marched 10 Carorea, asnali Mex
lean town near Point Lohos, and on the Gulf
OK California. The first intention was to have
proceeded to Altar, butne Of its partial for
tiacation aad susceptibiiilyo of strong defense
caused the diversion on Cayorea On the
morning of the 1st of April, the party of
Americans entered the suburbs OF th. town.
They We're met by body Of Mexican troops
commanded by Rodriguez. II is said Rodri-
gnez advanced 10 speak to Crahbe, when tie
Americans opened fire and killed the Mexican
commander and several others. The Mexi-
cans Immediately retreated---some 10 the noun
tains, but the majority to the church, which
had been placed in state OF defense. and had,
at the time Crabbe entered the town, number
Of beeves, roasting whole in front of it, to feed
the Mexican troops.
1t appears that here occurred Crabbe's first
and fatal mistake. Instead of at once char
gins and taking the church, which would have
given him the town, he occupied several houses
on the corner Of the Plaza, ia front Of the
church.
The Mexicans at first deserted the most of
the town, but gradually being emboldened, re-
turned and gradually hemmed the America
in. Fighting continued eight days, with a
loss to the Americans of twenty FIVE killed
The Mexican loss is reported by themselves to
have been twenty-five, bur it is supposed to
have been much greater, as high as 200. On
the eighth day an attempt was made by two
OF Crabbe's men TO blow up the church, by
placing kcg of powder under the portico and
firing it. The devoted men who attempted
this were both killed, and Crabbe is said to
have been wouded in experimenting it. 1t is
said an offer was made by Crabbe to retire if
the Msxieans would allow it. lie had refused
to retire when the offer was. made him, after
the lighting had continued two days, and now
the Mexicans, confident Of his weakness and
their triumph, refused. The Americans were
gradually but surely caught in snare, from
which they saw no escape. @
BY breaking through the walls of the ad-
joining houses, the Mexicans forced Crabhe
and his men into the corner building, which
they repeatedly set on fire, but which the
Americans as often extinguished. At last, a
Papago Indian shot into the roof of the main
building, occupied blythe unhappy fillibusters,
a lighted arrow. The flames caught the roof,
and in few moments the fire was dropping in
great fakes upon the heads of the doomed men
within. Worn cut with constant fighting, ex-
hausted with anxiety, famished by probable
days Of starvation and thirst, and without am
munition, Henry A. Crabbe, and fifty eight
inen marched out of the burning house, with a
white flag before them, laid down their arms
and surrendered. 1t is supposed unc ondision-
ally. This was in the night or toward morn
ing. They were Immediately tied, their hands
behind them, taken to a corral near the Ar