National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-03-28
California Bandltti.

Since the withdrawal OF the telegraph
from the San joaquin country, says a
California paper, in the neighborhood
of Firebaugh's Ferry. there has been a
great influx of desperadoes to the Sec
ton, and acts Of lawlessness have be-
come of daily occurrence. The absence
of the telegraph gives these characters
every opportunity to ply their vocation
without the fear Of speedy capture, and
life and property are in constant jeop-
ardy. Bands OF cattle and sheep are
boldly driven off, and horses are stolen
under the very noses OF their owners.
George l.. Hoffman keeps store and
hotel there, and is Postmaster and
Wells, Fargo 4 Cos. agent. Wednes-
day evening, about o'clock, just as
supper was over and the boarders, seven
in number, were seated about the fire,
enjoying their pipes, five men, armed to
the teeth, entered the room with pistols
drawn, and ordered the astonished crowd
to throw up their hands. Being taken
so completely by surprise, no alterna-
tive was left but to comply with the
demand, when they were bound and
laid upon the floor. So little disturb
ance was made during this proceeding
that Mr.. Hoffman, who had not yet
finished his meal, knew nothing of what
was going on until he emerged from the
dining room, when he saw n guard at
each door, and found himself looking
down the barrel of iarge-sized revol-
yer. He was commanded to hold up his
hands, but not complying at once with
the command, it was repeated with an
earnestness which left no doubt of the
intention of the ruflians to enforce the
order. Mr.. Hoffman was then obliged
to open his safe, from which was ex-
tracted $3.50 of his own money and 500
belonging to Wells, Fargo & Co. The
stage from this place to Visalia drove
up during this time, and the driver,
Dennis Conroy, was seized, bound, and
laid on his face in company with the
others, after being relieved OF $40.
Twenty-seven dollars were also taken
from man named Allen, and about 5000
worth of clothing from the store. But
five of the robbers were seen, all Span
iards except one, who was Frenchman,
but the house was supposed to be snr-
with desperadoes.
Mr.. Conroy, the stage driver, was
bound and robbed about year ago near
Soap Lake, while making his usual trip.
One of his assailants was captured and
tried, and Mr.. Conroy's testimony Sc
cured for him term of twenty years
in the State prison. Among the band
on Wednesday night he recognized an
other of the party who had attacked him
a year ago, and the ruffian seemed to
family remember him, for he scrutin-
lied his countenance closely number
Of times, and turned him over and over
in order to find some more sure resem-
blance. He then consulted the leader
Of the band, who asked Mr. Hoffman
who this man was, Mr. Hoffman, re-
the previous robbery, re-
Piled that he had just arrived in the
State, and that the regular driver being
sick, he had been driving in his stead.
This explanation seemed satisfactory,
and the robbers left, much to the re-
lief of ne poor fellows feelings, for he
says had he been identified they would
have killed him for sending
one Of their comrades to prison.
The canal company is at work some
miles from Firebaugh's, and the party
headed directly for that point, and it
was thought they contemplated an at
tack on them, though when our infor-
nant left nothing definite was known.