Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-04-01
Oar San Francisco Correspondence res /,

Vuc Son 1AoAO1sCO correspondence,
San Francisco. March 30, 1865.
EDS. Coin HILL NEws-G eatleme,, -
/ hardly know how to commence this
week, there is so much work commenced
and so little finished which would be Of
interest to your readers. Among the
most exciting events Of the past week has
been the trial of
THE GREAT REPUBLIC, "
Ship, not nation, understand, of course.
The result of the trial, so far, is already
known to your readers through the medi-
UNI of the telegraph, but the minor details,
or some of them at least, are still unknown
to even the public of San Francisco. The
disclosures of the condition of affairs on
board that magnificent vessel on her last
trip from New York are enough to sicken
the hearts of the stoutest, and bring the
blush of shame to the cheek of every
American. The origin of the trouble is
alleged by the owners to have been in the
system of shipping or " shanghaing
seaman, prevailing at New York, Boston
and San Francisco. 1t is claimed that
the men came on board at New York on
the day the vessel sailed, many of them in
an intoxicated condition, having received
nominally four months wages in advance
1.-THE advance went to the man -stealers
who shanghaied them). and when it was
attempted to make sail on the vessel, it
was found that eleven of the men shipped
as !" able seamen /" did not know the bow
of the vessel from the stern, and had, in
fact, never been on board ship before in
their lives. The captain alleges that
through their ignorance and stupidity he
came near losing his vessel on the first
night out, and that nothing but brute
force kept them at work at all throughout
the entire voyage. This may all be so,
but what of the long list OF nameless hor-
rors which were perpetrated on board, as
testified to by the witnesses. Much of
the testimony was received with closed
doors, it being of such character that no
decent public could listen to it. Enough
is, however, known to show that men
were knocked down with Delaying pins,
beaten until in some cases crippled for life,
kicked. gagged, triced up by the thumbs,
and otherwise maltreated; and even all
this is nothing to what cannot be stated.
although sworn to by numerous witnesses,
and believed by the jury. Sodom and
Gomorrah was repeated on small scale
on board that vessel, and it seems as if
the spirit of hell itself reigned on board.
And yet, presume the officers will get
off with mere nominal punishment. A
poor, ignorant Greaser steals horse worth
$50, and goes to the State Prison for ten
wears, and the brute who compels his fell
low-men to commit acts which no pen can
relate or even hint at, in presence OF
whole ship crew, or knocks down and
beats poor frail boy until his back is
broken, and he is doubled up like half
closed pair of compasses for life, is set
loose with small fine and reprimand.
Such is the course of justice in Califor-
MIA. Speaking of shanghaing, reminds
me of fact which shows how safe it is
for respectable man to be caught around
the wharves in San Francisco after night
fall. A well-to-do farmer of Alameda
county came over to the city year ago
last Autumn to dispose of his produce,
and while here fell among men in whose
company he became intoxicated. Moth
ing more was seen or heard of him, and 1t
was supposed that he had fallen through
a man. trap and been drowned. His wife
put on mourning for him, and in due time
letters of administration were taken out
on his estate by citizen of Alameda
county. Everything went on in the usual
form. He was sought for no more.
He was dead, wept, buried;
Why should he returnf'
Thought and said his friends, but return
he did. One fine Summer day the good
ship Charger sailed into Boston harbor,
and when the crew was discharged, our
Alameda county farmer went to the office
of the owners and demanded to know why
he had been carried on board, deprived of
his liberty, and transported around con-
tinent against his will. The owners knew
nothing of the matter. He came on board
in the usual manner, !. e., dumb or insen-
sible from the effect of drugs, had received
his advance Tor his captors had done it for
him), and that was all they could tell him.
Very sorry, hut who was to blame?
That's the question. Who was to blame:
NO FELLOWSHIP WITH EDWARDS.
The son of well-known resident of
San Francisco, left here some time since,
and was mustered into the service of the
United States at the East, as an officer in
the Army of the Potomac. Recently he
was tried for eowardice, convicted, cash.
tered and dismissed the service, and re-
turned here to reside. with his young wife.
She, true woman and patriot as she is,
disowned him, however, and separation
which is to end in a divorce has taken
place, as she is determined to bear no Off
spring to a coward who turned his back
on the enemies of his country. Serves
him right SAYS everybody; and so say 1.
THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL.
The Metropolitan is closed for the pres
emit. Mrs. Heron Stoepel at Sacramento,
en- route for Silver Land, with her assist
ants and supporters. Wheatleigh is at
Maguire's, playing full round of his
characters, and drawing a good house
every night. Fanny Brown down to her
proper level playing Trips to the Moon"
at Gilberts old Melodeon (now Worrel's
Olympic), where her " shape" is drawing
crowded houses Of the elite. e." Take any
shape but that" say L; but if the public
is pleased and satisfied, won't grumble.
Bear we witness, however, that al told
you so" months ago, and that the fair
Fanny is now where predicted she
would bring up, after brief run. Madame
Bianchi had an 10. baby last week. her
first one. Verify, it seems to me that /
must have read something of that, or a
similar affair, in my school-boy days. l
think the gentleman who got off the story