Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1878-01-13
The Ranchito Troubles.

A hearing was commenced yes
terday before Judge Baldwin In the
Gaze of the People against Thomas
Phelan, charged on oath Of Man
uel Anguisola with forcible entry
aud detainer, perpetrated on the
Ranchito, place owned by Don
Pho Pico on New River, on the 7th
of January. The cause of action
grew out of the fact that Phelan
and others had squatted on and
employed surveyors to survey land
adjoining the Ranchito which they
claimed belonged to the govern.
ment and which Is also claimed as
part of Don P,co's ranch. Angui-
sofa with party of the ranch ten
ants attempted to eject the squat
ters, when row took place which
is thus described by Mr.. James
Teal, one of the surveyors:
About quarter past three o'clock
the Mexican reuters sent courier
to warn us off the land. We pr
leyed some time, and while yet
talkli the mob came upon US,
armed with every Imaginable kind
of weapon, from all old Cortez
sword to the latest improved rifle.
| They numbered ut that time about
twenty. five, but were constantly
receiving additions TO their num-
beers. We were ordered very per-
emptorily to leave. Our chaiumen
were told to proceed at their peril,
and Pico's agent, Anguisola, who
was armed with rifle, threatened
to shoot any man who attrmpte ed
to chain another step forward. Our
party being small, five men all
told, and only two were armed.
and with the Oldest kind of old
pistols (revolvers), came to the con-
clusion, being so eloquentIy per
suaded, that IL would be healthier
to leave than to attempt to b old our
position. We therefore collect ed
our instruments and walked
over to our wagon. Dur
ing this time, and while hitch
ing the horses to the wagon,
each man of the party was SUBJ
jected to almost every kind of yer.
bal insult and threatening motions
with guns aud other weapons.
We, however, managed to get
safely away with our wagon, es-
corted by the Mexican troop,
which, by this time, had aug
mented to about forty men, nearly
all mounted and arm.d. We pro-
ceeded 10 where two Of the squatter
party (5tsphen White and Ben
Wilson) had erected a sort OF half
shanty, aud who were armed with
shot guns and revulvers, intending
to hold the place. Shortly before
reaching the place We stopped ut a
pile of lumber (placed by Others of
the squatters) aud there picked up
coat and powder horn, owned 10y
The party. During this stoppage,
the Mexicans went on to the
squat .rs' s,anty and ordered them
OF. The squatters refused to go
and tod tile Inub o keep their dis
tance. Our party were nearing the
scene with the wagon, when we
noticed several of the mob p int
ing their guns at The two squatters
Nbo fic rAuotkCiS tCItIuk
them to keep back. When We
were within about one hundred
yards of the shauty, one of the
.quu'ter,' guns went of, aud one If
tue 1 rlncipRi Mexlcans fell. We
were unable To tel which one of
the two fired Foul If our party,
John Wilson, H. g. Dawson, A.
Hei oman and myself hurried over
to the squatt-rs, AS We expected
the mob t" charge them, aud we
did not wish to see them murdered
# we could be- of any assIstauce.
However, although the position
louksd very threatening, the effect
OF the shot dampened their ardnr
very considerably, AMI, aftera very
short tiule, they fell back to re-
spectacle distance. In the face of
The great number of the mob, it
was not wise to eudeavor to hold
the p sition, especially as we did
not have u single rifle In our party.
Meantime the mob had carried
their wounded maii off, but large
proportion of them remained be-
mind To watch us. We, however,
tOlu WI. 11iCh haluj WIN ihu shy u
with our wagon, to drive OH to-
ward MIR. Phelan's and we fol.
lowed In good order, on foot.
When we were we'll out on
the mesa, between Russel's and
the river bottom, we heard a shot
and direc, ly afterwards rifle ball
came right through the party,
striking the ground Immediately
in front OF US and ricocheltiug; We
scattered and gave 1t as wide a
berth as possible. From this time
until we reached the cover of Rus
sells we were comparatively under
fire, although fortunately, either
owing to their bad marksmanshlp
or our good luck, none Of us were
hit, the bullets coming close
enough, however, to be rather I'M
pleasant. After gaining the cover
OF Russells we made u detOur aud
struck through tue cornfields, aud
after some little time aud several
false alarms, gained Phelan's
house in safety. SO ended the bat
In Of ths Pinnnn