, 1863-05-16
Colville Correspondence.
PINKNEY Cry, May I'd. Is

ANIANLA C441, way ~, 1OOA'
EDS. STATESMAN :-Pinkney is once more al
most deserted and an apathetic dulness peryades
everything, animate, or inanimate in this much
neglected village; even the wind forgets to blow,
and the dogs are TO indolent to bark The few
inhabitants who are left speak low and serious as
if the shadow of an impending calamity clouded
their spirits, and oppressed their minds. The
Sil0Gshes have gone on their periodical fishing cx-
cursions, and the "birds of passage" who made
things lively during last winter, have all taken
their departure: the majority going to their old
stamping ground on the Columbia river, some to
Bitter Root, and some to Boise, while others have
gone to meet the small pox half way in the wilds
of British Columbia. Business is good, for
Pinkney is the depot of supply for large farm
ing and mining population, and the traders must
wake up spasmodcally, to the consideration of
the main chance.
The farmers are very busy with their spring
labors, which will soon be completed. 1t is to be
regretted that their operations are productive of
so little good either to themselves or others, for
while majority Of them are confessedly poor
many of the commOcest articles for table use such
as vegetables, butter and eggs, all of which could
be produced by farmers with profit are so scarce,
that it is frequently impossible to obtain them at
any price and in fact, with regard to butter in
seven out of ten, it is not fit to eat when you
do get it.
After nearly years residence in this place, I
have come to the conclusion, that nothing short
of strong infusion Of Yankee farmers, with their
wives and families, and accompanied by the
schoolmaster, will ever DO any good for this part
of the country and in addition to the above,
there ought to be thorough merchant, one who
would be content with something like reasonable
profits, and not seek to claw all the cash in the
country into his own Golfers.
The prisoners, Arnet and Steen, confined on
charge of murder, who escaped on the 4th, ult.,
have not been recaptured. have this moment
heard that the boy, Morgan, who was comitted
as accessory in the murder case has Just now ef-
fected his escape in company with several others
confined for lesser offences. So far as Morgan is
concerned, It is well, he evidently did none of the
killing, and am not alone in the opinion, that it
was not credtabe to the civil authorities here, to
keep a poor, ignorant, and iriendess boy a
prisoner in irons, after having allowed the really
guilty parties to slip through their fingers.
believe there is not now any criminal case for
judicial action, so, perhaps those who long for the
pomp and circumstance Of Court times, and those
who lay by for soft snaps upon such occasions,
will have to wait for a future opportunity.
A little difficulty occurred few days ago be-
tween a soldier and citizen, in which the latter
was most shamefully abused. 1t appears that the
soldier, who is not dependent on his pay for
spending money, had been on benGer in short
he was drunk, and when in that state was set up
on by the citizen and beaten in the most shame
full manner, his thumb nearly bit off, and his face
smashed with blacksmith's hammer. This sol
der, who served on nearly every battle field in
Mexico during the war; is man of unusually
quiet habits, drunk or sober, and is much respect.
ed by his comrades, consequently the boys were
indignant at the outrage, and next day party of
them came down. and warned the citizen to leave;
giving him till evening to prepare. In the
evening they again came down to that their
mandate had been obeyed they neither injured
him in person or property, all they required was
that he should leave and he left I am no ad-
vocate of mob law, but instances will sometimes
happen, in @hich extenuating circumstances are
so strong, as to constitute a case of absolute
Justice This was such a case. The citizen above
alluded to- who is a blacksmith, came here last
fall in nearly destitute circumstances and but for
a soldier, who bought out blacksmith's shop for
his benefit; he would have been in poor trim to
pass a winter in Colville No sooner had pros
perity begun to dawn upon him, than he turned
upon those who had fostered him in his mis-
fortune, and sneered at and villifed them every
OCCASION and eventually wound up by committing
the outrage l have related.
My friend, the volunteer, desires me to say, if
you see the Paymaster around, please, do send
him along as quick as possible, for as he eN
presses it, if he don't pay soon and that with hard
coin too, "before God, there will be trouble in
this camp" More anon yours,
PETER SNOOKs.