Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-09-04

| TO HlkCCH uuyb " uhAS WV NAH1
from my own experience that it is az hard
work as anan can engage in. l am INFORM
ed by men who have just came down from
above that some four hundred mules have
arrived at the North of Thompson river, sew
cnty miles above here, and that over one hum
drcd mules and twenty men arc making their
way to this place. They have trail to make
over very rough country. and their progress
must he slow. The citizens Of this place have
taken il in hand and will make the trail over
the first fifteen miles to the Indian Rancharia
or crossing of the river. Should they sue
coed in getting trail through, and the mules
put on, there will be but few who will attempt
passing through the canon. But should they
succeed in surlnounting all the difficulties in
reaching the upper country, there is still
difficulty to overcome which Is Of far more
importance than all others. The Indians
along the river arc divided of into clans or
tribes. The tribe Nt this place and many Of
the tribes below here have manifested n
friendly disposition towards the whites, but
those above have been inclined to treat the
whites as intrudcrs and take advantage Of
them whenever they can. Many of the mi
ners, anxious to prospect the mines above
have started from here with their blan-
kcts and two or three weeks provisions on
their backs, on prospecting tour up the riv-
or, and it was not unfrcqucntly they were
stopped on the trail by parties Of Indians,
and stripped of their blankets, coats and arms,
especially iftravclling two or three in compa-
n.y. Larger companies are seldom molcstcd.
On the river above the canon where the mi
nerS arc but tAinly settled the Indians appear
to be very hostile towards them,-in many
instances taking away their provisions and
driving them away from the bars. The
whites in nearly every instance gave away
to them whatever they demanded and in
many instances made them presents, ho-
ping thereby to keep on friendly terms. But
the more they gave them the more they wan.
ted and if the miners refused to give them
whatever they demanded, they would take it
by force and the miners, in their isolated stu
alton, were afraid to offer any resistance.
This they submitted to until forbearance ccaS.
: cd to be virtue. They came down here and
formed company, calling themselves the
Texas Rangers All were armed and express
cd n determination to prospect, mine, defend
! themselves. their property and their rights,
and started up the river. 4 short time after
they had arrived above the upper canon, near
the mouth of Thompson river, the Indians be-
came more troublesome than usual, and meet
ing with resistance, attacked some camps and
killed two Frcnchmcn and wounded some 9TH
crS. The miners collected together mmcli-
atcly and formed themselves into companies
and joined the Texas Rangers. There were
five companies : The Rifle, Shot gun, Revol-
YER Butcher Knife, and Ratchet companies
commanded by captain Of their own sclcc-
ton. When they started down the river
! one hundred and nincty-twO names were on
! the roll, besides number whose names wer c
; not given in. Their orders were to kill every
Indian they could find except women and chill
: drcn. They travelled down the river, but tho
l Indians fled to the mountains; and when
: came on they had killed but seven they were
[ sure Of, but thought they had probably killed
= and wounded several moro. They marched
until after midnight before they could find a
D safe and suitable camping place. In the
t morning all but the Texas Rangers started
: for this place. The Rangers started in at the
{ lower end Of the Big canon, intending to 60
!. up through and clean them out In the even
= ing was Informed they had killed ten Indi-
$ ans in the canon and burned several ranch.
!; cs. When the news reached here great en-
a citcment prevailed, a meeting was called i'm.
d mcdiatcly, and arrangements made to raise
= men to 60 up the river and exterminate the
= Indians, and relieve those who still remained
:. on the river above. They Immediately raised
d four companies,-thrce American and on
" French, The French company numbered u
:. men one American company Al, and the 9th
} or two about % men each. They marched
r yesterday morning. WIN. Douglass started
} in the LIST American company.
c have just received letter from Captain
Ii Snidcr Of the LIST American company. He
6 was then in camp about five miles above
t lie stated that he had succeeded in making 0
o treaty with two of tho tribes They had one
C Of the chiefs with them on their march up the
n river, with the hope Of being able to treat
C with the different tribes hope they may
o succeed, but If the Indians know their power
r they could whip all the Americans on the
: river-thcy could stop our navigation of the
' river aud prevent us from going either
l. up or down. The Hudson Day Co. say there
S are not less than 5000 Indian warriors on and
l. in the vicinity of the river.
My information in reference to the difficult
c ties above, was obtained from Richard Dixon
l. of Indian Diggings, and VIM. Salmon, Of Pla
: cerville, and many others who participated il
c the fight. Yours, J.B. BUKER.
S mn
n A lady near New Market, Jefferson county
:, Tennessee, was recently bitten by rattle
, snake, after which she undid her apron string
: and tied it over the bite, killed the snake, cul
= off N nincn and 0nniiaI il IN the wound and