The Shasta courier., 1871-05-20
SHASTA COURIER.
JOHN X. RIDGE.

About three year ago very remark
able man died in Grass Valley, John r.
Ridge son of the celebrated Cherokee
Chief. At the commencement of the late
war in 1861, Mr.. Ridge, in conjunction
with the writer, was employed in the edi-
torial departments of the San Francisco
Evening Journal and there wrote and pub
lished some ofthe most radical Union war ar
ticles of that day. 1t was then supposed that
Ross, Chief Of the Cherokees, would take
the side of the South in that case, his
hereditary foe, John R. Ridge, above
mentioned, had determined to raise party
of bordermen in California, proceed across
the plains, helping themselves to horses
and supplies in the Mormon country, and
coming in unexpectedly on the west side
Of the Cherokee territory. The Ross Cher
okees being presumed rebels, Ridge ex-
pected to obtain assistance form the United
States government, and as the domain was
worth several millions, he also hoped to
obtain funds of capitalists in New York.
These were his bold plans, laid one day
while sitting in the gallery of Hayes's
Pavilion, overlooking the frivolities Of
German festival, in May, 1861.
But John Ross took the other side, and
all Ridges fine plans came to naught. The
light of Unionism went out in his wig
wan, giving place to the Copperhead
Jack O'Lantern. "John Ross, his fathers
mortal foe, Ross the usurper, Ross the
Chief of his fathers slayers," having
espoused the Union cause, there was no
room for him in the lodge, and soon after
he was found amoung the fercest revilers
Of Mr.. Lincoln's administration. That,
and nothing else made him copperhead.
During that conversation at Hayes
Park, Mr.. Ridge, having became some
what animated with wine and the recollec-
ton of his fathers tragic death, we learn
ed something of his history, which it will
now do no harm to relate Major Ridge,
the elder, was seized, dragged from his
house and murdered in the night by thirty
six of the hostile party of his nation. He
was cut and stabbed all to pieces before
the door. His son John r. Ridge, then a
small boy, saw tie trag dy from his bed
Cftpt lUTOu1u Il NlHuOM. cSciHtu duu iliu
in the woods lie knew their faces, and
Indiau-like, treasured up his vengeance
until the age and vigor of young manhood.
Then the assassins began to diminish, one
by one until of the thirty six, only .tour-
remained in 1871. Some were slain in
alterations peculiar to the Border, others
found dead by the wayside, and others dis
appeared, nobody knew how and where.
Whether Ridge killed them, we don't pre-
tend to say, but nevertheless, have very
we'll founded opinion in their taking off.
A few years ago, party of Cherokees
were mining on Tr nifty river, and coming
into Weaverville, got on spree, when one
of them publiclc boasted that he chad
stabbed old Major Ridge thirteen times !"
A bystander from Arkansas telegraphed
to John R. Ridge, who was then editing
paper in Marysville. The editorial 'lead-
err was broken off in the middle; the pen
was flung down; a stage passage was Sc
cured, and Ridge had urgent business in
Weaveryille. Meanwhile, the intended
object got wind of it, and lost no time in
getting out of Trinity county, where he
did not return.
A sister of Mr. Ridge is married to
Judge Paschal, of Galveston, Texas. The
writer of this recollects her well, as beau
tiful and accomplished lady. Her COM
plexion was darker than her brothers, and
that was made the subject of malicious
remark by Judge Paschal's enemies, but
never, at their peril publicly. Some of the
Galveston ladies also put on airs about it,
probably doing so through enviousness of
the beautiful and dashing Cherokee belle
1t was commonly related that before her
marriage Miss Ridge had disguised her.
self in mems attire, pursued and slain sew
eral of her fathers assassins. On one oc-
casion, it was said and believed, that the
chivalric girl, mounted horse and rode
forty miles, alone in the night, slew one
of the assassins, sprang upon her feet steed
and escaped 10 Texas, where she became
acquainted with and married the distin-
guished Judge Paschal, and where she is
still residing, we believe.
Mr. Ridge went back to the East some
four years ago, hoping to recover his pos
sessions, but was unsuccessful. We never
saw him afterwards, but have understood
that the results OF disappointment shorten
ed his life He was writer of very great
ability, and has left several memorable
poems, one tf which, an "Ode to Mount
Shasta" we have always considered one
of the subimest ever produced in this part
of the country-Oakland News
/