The hydraulic press., 1858-09-04

W us. IloW iltlie IulilluS fliidSe-
settled almost exclusively by Ameri-
cans, and certainly never even re-
motely under Spanish Catholic inau-
ences, located so far in the mountains
as it is,-ever came to be christened
after defunct saint, we could not
imagine.
But an old resident has lately ex-
planned the mystery, which now-like
all other mysteries when once ex-
plained-seems simple enough. 1t
appears from this gentleman's account
that early in 1858, Christopher K entz,
who discovered the diggings on this
hill, and Edward Skif-who still re-
sides here-together built a cabin
which is still standing, on the lower
end of the hill, near the "King Cut"
One evening, when this cabin was
about ready for roofing, and the bull
ders had started on the way towards
Sweetland (where they were then Ii
ving) Mr.. Kentz turned to look back
at the pioneer ediGce-the first one
on this hill-and laugbingly remarked
to Skif'-"Why, it looks like the Cas-
tie Of San Juan!' Ode Ulloa.) The
next morning, when they started from
Sweetland to complete their work,
they jokingly observed that they were
"going to San Juan;" and this face
tiously applied name they and others
continued to employ until it became
the fixed title Of the whole hill, and,
subsequently, of the town which sprang
up around them. What increases the
joke is the fact that, so far as we can
learn, neither of the above gentlemen
had ever seen. Vera Cruz or its fa>
nous castle, and that their log cabin
no more resembles it than hen coop
does Westinghouse.
Mr.. Kentz afterwards, when he
thought town was sure to be built
on the hill, erected at great expense
the building now knownas the Half
way House, which is situated about
midway between this town and the
quiet village of Sebastopol; expecting
that it would be the nucleus of the
embryo settlement. But there it
stands alone to-day, surrounded by
sluice tailings, and off the now trav>
eled road, monument of mistaken
enterprise.
Doc FIeHT.-Very peaceful times
we have had in our little town for a
good while past.
The spectacle Of two human beings
engaged in a beastly battle on the
ground, in the midst of an eager
crowd of men who would feel insult
ed did you deny their claims to that
refinement of which Americans love
to boast,-a spectacle like this has
not disgraced our streets for several
blessed weeks. We had almost for
gotten that the spirit which foments
and delights in such scenes ever had
an existence, when we were most un~
pleasantly reminded of its continue d
vitality, by the occurrence of des-
perate dog fight, which speedily at
tracted a large circle Of human spec
tators.
AS We saw them running from ev-
cry quarter of the town, leaving their
avocations and their shops with pre-
cipitate eagerness, we thought Of a
newspaper paragraph which runs as
follows: eff you want to know how
many idle men there are in a place.
set two dogs fighting"
But If nothing more discredltable
to human nature than idleness were
indicated by this eager hocking to
scenes of cruelty, to -broils, and
dog-battles, and cock-fghting, and
rat~baiting, we should not now take
the trouble to express our opinion
According to Carlyle, men have an
inherent proclivity to hero worship,
and are, of course, always on the
lookout for an idol. If nothing bet
ter than desperate couple of niser-
able fighting ours presents its9lf, why
the heroism Of such a combat has to
suffice; and this is the mildest thing
xro ooo co., ~ III c,h,aoF