The hydraulic press., 1861-01-19
For'the Hydraulic Press.
"Reminiscences of Early Times in the
Region of Fosters Bar.

"Reminiscences of Early Times in tn e
Region Of Fosters Bar.
In the year 1850 there resided at Fosters
Bar, Yuba county, celebrated character
known as t'Jim" Stewart. His real name
was James Stewart He was an Englishman
by birth, parentage and education, and an
escaped convict from Sydney, whittier be
had been transported by his mother country
when yet young man, for committing some
crime or other unknown to the writer
There also resided ut Fosters Bar at this
time, besides the writer, two men named
Dodge, proprietors Of drinking saloon
Major, then Captain Hungerford William
Hawley Charles Simpkins, and other parties
who figured somewhat in the scenes I am
about to relate, but whose names have for
gotten. | mention the foregoing names be-
cause the gentlemen who wear them are yet
in the neighborhood, and can and | have no
doubt WILL bear witness to the truth of this
story. There also resided at Fosters Bar in
1850, a gentleman now a resident of North
San Juan, o. P. Stidger, Esq, who was
at the time a Justice of the Peace. with
a jurisdiction extending to Downieville, on
the east, and Marysville on the west He
was the eonly Justice residing within twenty
five miles of Fosters Bar, go which way one
would. As he figured somewhat extensively
in the scenes | am about to relate, hope be
will find no fault if | should have frequen,
occasion to mention his name
The Dodges, as | have said, kept a saloon
in which they occasionally permitted gam
bling-a business at that time much prac-
tised by gentlemen, when it was licensed by
a State law. At that time iron safes were
scarce in the mountains Of California; con
.sequently, every man who was fortunate
enough to possess gold dust or money, either
had to bury it for safe keeping, or find a
friend with a strong box who would take it
on deposit. Such box the Dodges had
or, rather, it was a small iron bound trunk,
box-sbaped. with a good lock and key at
tached. Feeling perfectly secure against
robbers and burglars, the Dodges gave notice
that they would receive gold dust and coin
on deposit; and many OF the residents of
Fosters Bar, glad to be thus accomm odated,
entrusted their valuables to the trunk for
safe keeping. Among the depositors were
j. B. Whftcomb, now of the St. Nicholas
Hotel, Marysyille; Charles Dannals, of Sweet
land; Major Hungeriord, and numerous
Others. The gamblers who had their game
in the Dodge saloon also deposited in the
trunk, believing it to be entirely safe.
One night in the month of September,
1850, think, after the games had been
closed in the saloon, and all hands had re-
tired to rest, some one entered the sleeping
apartment of the Dodges, situated immedi-
ately in the rear of the bar room, where the
two Dodges and a half dozen other persons
were sleeping, and abStracted the trunk from
its place without awaking the sleepers. You
can Judge of the CONSERVATION and excite
ment produced among the depositors when
on the following morning, it was made
known that the trunk, containing over five
thousand dollars, had been stolen. Every
body turned out to make search for the
missing treasure, and if possible, to assist
in the detection and arrest of the robber A
few hours industrious search brought to
light the trunk, broken open and riAed of its
contents. 1t was found about two hundred
yards distant from the Dodge saloon, on the
side of the mountain, near a fallen tree
Owing to the peculiar formation of the soil
it was Impossible to track the robber.
For nine days after this occurrence moth
ing else was talked about; and many poor
devil who perhaps had lately been seen in
and about the Dodge saloon, was accused o.
the crime, his steps dogged night and day
and the foulest suspicion cast upon him
The writer of this employed two men, at Ss
each per day and night, to watch an individ-
ual who was as innocent of the crime as the
man in the moon.
A few days subsequent to this robbery
the depositors with the Dodges offered a re-
ward of $500 for the recovery of the money
and the detection of the thief. 1t was this
reward that stimulated the action of those
who expended their money in efforts to bring
the guilty party to justice.
jim Stewart at this time was building 6
house at Fosters Bar, with the view of open
ing large grocery store. Although fonG
of gambling, he had the general reputation
of being Woodworking, industrious fellow
sometimes little tricky, but entirely above
suspicion as q robber. 1t was known thai
be had been in the saloon the night the rob
berry occurred, ''bucking at the Tiger" anG
quit the game considerably loser. 1t was
also known that Jim had but little, if an,
money, other than that which he had lost
Notwithstanding the diligence used tt
discover the perpetrator of the robbery, som'
time had passed without any satisfactor,
results, when one evening Major Hungerfort
in private interview with Judge Stidger
detailed the following matters: A French
man, he said, on his way to Downieville som
time previously, had left his trunk, contain
ing lot of fine clothing, in the care OF on
of his countrg men. When he returned tt
demand It. l. found his countryman gone
and the irnpA remaining in his house, bu
broken open and despoiled of everything i
contained. 1t was the opinion of Major Fl
that if clue could be had to discover tn
person who stole the clothing, it might lea'