The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-08-18
he Riot on Fremont's Marfposa
Ranch.


A correspondent of The New York Evening Post
communicates the following interesting account
of the difficulties on Colonel Fremonrs estate in
- BEAR VALLEY, Mariposa Co.
There ha: been exciting times since last wrote
you, concerning the Mariposa difficulties.
The Pine Tree Vein" in this valley was opened
some tine since by Colonet Fremont, and has beer
worked under his direction to the present time. On
Friday. the eth instant, The Mercede mining Com
pany, who are at swords points with MIR Frenl mt,
sent a hired hand, numbering eighty, to jump the
yein lew OF fremonrs men were in the drifts
and the invaders did not obtain iDgrsss They euc.
cee!ea however. in guarding the mouths SO that
course the drifts are drilled horizontally through
the rock from the outside and inside re many cross
ours And drifts the men inside had the advantase,
and the Merceders dared not enter lest going frIn
light into darkness. they should be shos. The
word soon reached the men who accustomed TO
found their coworkers shut up in the drifts, the
mouths of which were still held by The attacking
party They QuietIy posted themselves around the
Mercedes men, and both parties stood their ground
armed to the teeth, and numbered respectively 20
and 50 men, Col. Fremons Immediately went to the
1t was ticklish to look at, assure you. To see
two bodies Of msn (there were three drifts, the
Observers were a. tns principal ene sitting within
cd six shooters and knives in Their belts. when a
motion would have brcught on a desperate battle
trenonts men stood quiet but firm. word FRI N
the Colonel wenld have set them on the invaders
but he din not wish to sacrifice so many lives and
determined very properly, to appeal to the Law for
protection. Three more men We're secretly put into
the mines with provisions and ammunition and all
that remained for hls force outs dc to wa,ch the
aerceders lest tney should attempt to rass in and
to force an inVress for The carrying of provisoas
sbodlo peaceable entry be opposed. Thus matters
sto1d for six days. / was often at the scene and
aaturally became deeply interested in the result
he sheriff read the riot act and ordered them to
uspeTss; of course, no attention was pa,d TO him
IN nespress was then started ter Governor Weller.
Matters grew mora and moro interesting q, and the
Mercedars evidently b. gan 10 think they had "eet
fner foot into it," Tbey were AFRAID to enter the
mines, for they would have been blown out again
by the kegs OF powder which FremonPs party had
placed and fused; and they were afraid to attack
the bows outside, though they greatly outnumbeveS
them. foI they knew the Fremonters woul, stand
left They offered to withdraw their forces If Ere
mont would withdraw his. and place the Pine Tree
Elm in the possession Of two individuals till the
decsion of the Suprs me Court in Biddle Boggs
These terms, Of course, Fremont refused Before
the matter could be settled By law the Merceder
men were withdrawn and the Fremonters left in
Possession.
Gel. Fremont's residence. which is not very far f.
was naturally place OF great resort for fhe synpa-
thising aud the curious Mrs. Fremont, though
somewhat excited By the personal danger of her
hEsbaud--and quite naturally, toC-did great SER
vice az the house. by Suggestions during he rego-
fiasions; and her fair hard wrote many weary
iiIe, while by the supplies of bodily comforts to ihe
men, and encouraging messages which she sent
they were much inspired and determined TO stand
Jog on the alert for six days and seven nights With
in a few feet OF twice or thrice many desperate
men, boiling ali day in l22 degrees of hot sun, and
shivering with cold at night, with only few hours
sleep the whole time. is no joke aud requires nerve
To sum up, Col. Fremont holds the claim. The
which the Mercede Mining Company have worked
with great success the past year, and the suits
brought against him for taxes have been with