Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-11-05
A sEav1AH TRAGEDY.
Foreign Customs la CALIFORNIA;
Dark and Curlous story.

4 sERVIAN TRAGEDY.
rSPcign Customs la Califeruia-A
Dark and CurIous story.
Tho recent arraignment for MUIR
der, in San Francisco, of Slavonian
emigrant named Ross, gives the jour
nails Of that city occasion TO recall
the beginning of the dark and curious
story Of the present culprit's crime
in what was known two years ago as
tho tragedy of Cherokee Flat. At
the last named place, which is situ-
ated in Butte county, CAL, and still
retains n part of its original Indian
population, gentleman owning
large ranch had MS guest In his fam
ily. in the spring of 1871, young
lady named McDaniels, from another
part OF the state. Amongst his agri.
cultural labnrcrs was n Scrvian,
about thirty-iive years of age, known
as George Sharksovick, who had pre-
vinusly worked for the father Of Miss
McDaniels, and lost his situation
through having presumptuously
shown too much admiration for his
young mistress. The rauchman's
household knew nothing, however, of
the Vnst history Of tho mar in qucs-
ton; ami, rs their guest, from mo-
,ivcs Of pride and delicacy, conceal
ing her feelings of surprise and an-
moyaucc at recognizing him on the
place, nothing was thought of said
recognition. Sharksovick, who was
a sworthy. keen-eycd, vigilant bar
bariam, with all the snake-like subtIl-
i,y of his race, soon perceived that
the girl had contided nothing to her
friends of his earlier character. and
detected therein an opportunity to
renew his prosecutions. Intercept
ing her by stealth whenever she left
the house alone, he alternately plead
| ed with her to become his wife, and
intimated fearful revenge if she re-
fused. lie told her that in the Au.-
trian section of Dalma,ia, in which
he was born, it was the custom for
the young man who loved q woman
to abduct her forcibiy, if she would
not become his voluntarily, and kill
her rather than she should be the
prize of another. Swearing by his
blood and lns tribe, he vowed that
the afTriahtcd girl must either agree
to accept him for a husband or pre-.
pare for death within tweMty-fuur
I.our-.-'rncre was TO be party that
night OH II neighboring ranch; he
would be there in disguise to hear her
final answer and act accordingly
Now, at last, the better reason of
| Miss McDaniels vindicatcd itself
sufficiently to cause her to take Il
young lady OF her hosts family part
Iy into her confidence, 10 the extent
at least of an intimltion that some-
thing in the manner of Austrian
George, alarmed her.
She went to the party with tho
family Oh the evening of May 50, aud
by remaining closely with them
avoided whatever scheme her per-
suer had devised for an interview.
On leaving the ball room TO return
home, she and the young lady above
mentioned were separated for no
mcnt from thcir companions, and in
that moment the barbarian lover
fulfilled his awful threat. AT the
very side of her Mortified friend she
was struck down and instantly stab
bed to death hy "Austrian George -
who boldly proclaimed his name to
the swiitly-gathcring thromg of
the appalled, spectators sought 10
size him. Before morning the news
Of the atrorious crime had spread tar
and wide, and by early dawn an armed
band of determined ranchmcn and
Indian runners had left the house TO
which the body of the slain girl had
DCCH Cdi ICu, oI ttC llall VI tic cAS-
Grated assassin. 1t was believed by
| those who knew the character of the
man they were tracking that lie had
retired TO cabin which he was
known 10 possess in wild part Of
Bloomer's Hill, at the north fork of
Feather river, there to make Il dcs-
pcratc ght for his life and die as be-
came barbarian. To this cabin
liastcned the avengers accordingly,
and in that neighborhood the Scrrian
was ovcrtaken, combattcd and killed
like a dog. AS one of the pursucrs
fired the fatal shot at him he was in
the act of Staying himself with his
own revolver, and expired with a
shout ct triumph for his crime and
defiance for his eXecutiouerS. The
latter, in their evaporation at the
wretch, fired his cabin, and, casting
his body into the flames, destroyed
the last veslisc OF the assassin and
his den. Such was the tragedy of
Cherokee Fiat, as it was called dark
aid revolving 10 tell aud not to be too
briefly recalled, save rs a singular
study of the barbarism it is possible
to import into civilization and the
occasion of later tragedy scarcely
less remarkable.
The Kind OF Barns PennSylVania