Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-10-24
A Pioneer Expedition.

Twenty-six years ago the first expedi-
ton ever fitted out for the invasion of
a foreign land by the United States sail
ed in three transports from the port of
New York for California, under the COM
mand of Col J. D. Stevenson, which ex-
pedition was known as Stevenson's Regi-
ment of New York Volunteers, destined
for the invasion of California. While
the regiment was quartered on Cover
nor's Island awaiting transportation,
many regarded the expedition with dis
favor, and all appeared to consider the
idea ridiculous, that single regiment
of 1000 men, and volunteers at that,
was capable of conquering an !; holding
California, and the officers and men who
composed it were regarded by many as
reckless fellows, who knew not the dan
ger they courted. The expedition sail
ed on the 26th of September, 1916, and
arrived in the Bay Of San Francisco, III
March, 1847, where the members found
the American flag flying, the country
having been taken possession of by the
American inhabitants of California, or
ganized as Freemont's battalion, and
the sailors under command of Commo-
dore Stockton. The arrival of Stevenson's
regiment settled all doubts of the ability
to retain possession of the country, and
its final incorporation into the Ameri-
can Union became settled fact long be-
fore the close of the Mexican war.
Nov, when California is regarded as
one of TIE greatest and most important
States of the Union, d few pause to ask
what has become of all that band of gal
liant men who twenty-six years ago, left
their homes to plant their country's
standard upon foreign soil, and lay the
foundation for the mighty possessions
we are nc v enjoying on the Pacific coast.
They did not come to California for
gain, for their pay was but 81 per month
for services and $3.50 per month for
clothing, just one-thlrd the value of d;
pair of shoes in California at the time of
their arrival. They were not lured here
by the gold-fi fields Of California, for the
gold discoveries were not made until
nearly two years after they left their
native homes. They were actuated by
patriotic motives. During all the excite
ment of the gold discovery, although
the 900 men Of the regiment were post
ed from La Para, in Lower California,
to Suffers Fort, on the Sacramento,
not more than twenty-five left, for
single hour, their post until honorably
discharged by order Of the President
San Francisco Paper.
How IT FEELS TO BE HANGED. Though
would-be suicides are sometimes resuci-
tated, it is seldom that half-strangled
victims Of the laws majesty return to
tell of their experience. A man named
Franks was sentenced to be hanged i'll
Fiji, last summer, for the murder of a
Mr. Thomas Muir. 1t was the first at
tempt in Fiji to carry Il capital sentence
into effect, in civilized way. The pre-
parations were bunglingly made, and
after the drop fell Franks was apparently |
dead for about three minutes, when he
revived, raised one arm, and got hold of
the rope. One of the officials on the
impulse of the moment cut the mali
down, and soon after reprieve arrived. |
Franks said that when the bolt was
drawn and he fell, he thought he felt
something break at the back of his neck,
and he vas praying, and thinking of God !
and Heaven. Then the memory of Il
wreck from which he was rescued passed |
before his mind. He saw himself cling
to the chains until washed away; then
seizing rope attached 70 floating spar,
and clinging to it until washed back
again on deck by a heavy sea. All the
details Of the wreck passed through his
mind, and then came the thought, why !
do I not die?" Finding he could breathe,
he suspected an intention to torture
him by pro!onging his suferings The
Fiiians seem to have had enough of the
Western method of execution, and it is
understood that Franks has been Danish
ed from the country. Whether Fiji will
return to the roast-oven system remains
to be seen.
INVENTIONS. - The greatest inventions
seem to have been almost Simultaneously
duplicated. Faust and Guttenburg still
divide the honor or discovering the art of
printing and of the rival claimants of dis
covering the invaluable use of ether.
either may receive the praise. When
Watt cudgeled the steam engine out of
his brain, it was found that mad French
man had projected the whole thing on
paper long before, and oeen imprisoned
for boring people with his diagrams.
When Morse threw off the magnetic tele-
,ropb 90 n SNorl from his a1antric mind II