The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1879-06-16

Mudier0us Assault by an Insane China.
MANIA bloody Tragedy ut Piuie
Meadows.


+. w. Crutcher, large stock owner
in this county, has several cattle ranches
in northwestern Humboldt. at one of
which, at Piute Meadows, his family
resides. Some two months ago he en-
gagged a Chinaman who had worked
some time for Meacham & Blakeslee at
the Humboldt House, and subsequently
at the Sulphur mine, to cook for his
family. Mr.. Crutcher's business called
him away from home good deal Of the
time in the Summer mouths. and he
left the place i'll charge of his wife, who
with her children, one a boy about 10
years of age, one girl aged III years
and the youngest boy 4 years old,
stayed at the ranch during his absense,
and with the Chinese cook. were the
only persons living ON the Meadows.
Some two weeks ago, the family were
visited by Mrs. Holloway, a relative of
the family, who resided on the nearest
ranch, some eighteens miles from
lCrutchers. Mrs. Holloway called the
attention of Mrs. Crutcher to the
strange conduct of the Chinaman, and
remarked that she would not stay on
the place with him, especially during
Mr. Crutcher's absence. A week ago
the oldest Crutcher boy went home
with Mrs. Holloway and was absent
two days, during which time the China
man asked several times when he was
expected back. After young Coutcher's
return, the Chinaman frequently spoke
to him about money he had lost in the
Sulphur mines, and bis mother inform
ed him that the Chinaman had been
acting stranger than ever before during
his absence. The family were in the
habit of getting up at half past o'clock
every morning, when the Chinaman
rang a bell, and usually had breakfast
at 6 o'clock. Last Wednesday morn
ing no bell was rung, and about 6
o'clock Mrs. Crutcher thinking the
Chinaman had oversight himself, arose,
and called the other members of the
family. The Chinaman was nowhere
to be seen, and young Crutcher went to
his sleeping room, but found no trace
of him there. He then set about max
ing fire in the kitchen. stove, and
had poker in his hand ral,ing away
the ashes, when he heard his mother
scream. He ran to where he heard
her, and was Mortified to find the China
man with Henry rifle in his hand,
choking his mother, who had tainted
with fright. As soon as the Chinaman
saw the boy, he let go of Mrs. Crutcher
and turned on the boy who struck at
him with the poker and stunned him.
Young Crutcher then grabbed at the
Chinaman and tried to hold him down,
aud shouted to his sister TO get rope
to tie bis legs. The girl and her mother
who had partially recovered, tried
to get the rope on his legs, but he
kicked at them so violently that they
could not succeed in doing so. A des-
perate struggle ensued between young
Crutcher and the Chinaman, who was
the stronger OF the two, in which the
young mans arms were badly bitten
and one of his fingers was severly
bruised and larcerated by the mad
mans teeth. He told his sister to get
the AK, but she could not find it as the
Chinaman, as it was afterwards ascer-
tanned, had hid it in the sage brush.
He then told his mother to strike the
Chinaman with something-anything.
Mus. Crutcher finally got knife and
gave it to her son who struck the China
man on the neck, and cut his jugular
vein, causing him to bleed to death.
Some men from Bartlett creek, who
were informed of the tragedy, went to
the ranch and buried the remains.
Meantime word was sent to Mr..
Crutcher, and he brought his son here
to have his wounds dressed. DR.. john
son, who dressed the wounds yesterday,
saws some of the wounds on his arms