The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-01-28
A CALIFORNIA HEROINE.

James Batenau was one OF Jhe hrSC amer
leans who fairly settled down in California
after the great rush in 1919. He was unus-
ualy fortunate in his mining, and, unlike the
majority, knew when he had enough Send
ing to "the States" for his wife and children
he chose a pretty situation few miles from
where stood the one establishment that then
constituted FiddletOwn-a meeting hall,
bar-room, q restaurant. and a concert hall, all
IN one. There, at a heavy outlay, he erected
two story Jog house, which, neatly hewn
both inside and out, was for years considered
a marvel OF beauty and refinement. \ wide
veranda surrounded the building To en-
sure GOODNESS with dryness, this veranda was
raised some three feet from the ground, and
left open for the free circulation of air There
was large cellar. Upon each OF the four
sides there was a window some two feet
square, protected by strong bars Of wood,
looking out upon the open space beneath the
yeranda
Batemans family consisted Of hi9 wife,
three chiIdren-two girls and one boy, the
oldest thirteen years of 3ge-aud his sister.
{ For several years they had enjoyed peace
fuI, quiet life, that would have beer happy
only for one fact-Bateman was fast becoIn-
! ing confirmed drunkaTd. 1t was very sell
dom that nightfaI found him sober; and
from strong, clear-witted man, he was fast
becoming trembling, unerved imbecile.
it was at this time that joaquin Murieta
. began writing his name III characters Of blood
and fire throughout California. Twice Bate
man l0sJ valuable horses, stolen by men OF
4 the gang once lie had exchanged shots with
the magauderS. Exasperated, Bateman cast
aside his whiskey-bOttle and raised a COM
pany of men for the purpose Of ridding the
country of this scourge but he soon relapsed
into his old habits, for drink had premature
IL aged him, and he couIdsnot stand the IA
tigus Still, he always gladly furnished
mounts for those who did take the field, and
his hatred for the bandit increased with
every day.
So it was that James Bateman became =
marked man. and finally Joaquin Murieta
gavebis lieutenant, Manue. Garcia. Or ''Three
fingered Jack, " free permission to work his
will upon the settler and his family. As a
matter Of course, the imam OF blood lost nc
time in dealing his blow.
One evening Bateman was returning OF
horseback from FiddIetown, where he hac
been son a spree" for three days past. Hav
ing lost all the money he had wisn him, h,
was only about half drunk when he drew
near his dwelling. 4 sight met his eyes tina
wholly sobercd him.
The buildings that were set apart for hi
laboreTs were now occupied by number o
armed men, whose appearance, dress, weap
ons and all but two plainly proclaimed thei
identity, even had he not seen two bleeding
mangled bodies lying near They we're por
ton Of Murietas band who had surprised
ard murdered the laborers. The dwelling
appeared just as usual the doors and heav,
shutters were closed. Unless Batemau wa
/ at home, no one was permitted to enter o
emerge after sunset.
Bateman had just time to note this, wheI
he saw a man steal cautiously towards th
building, and vanish beneath the vsTanda
closely followed by another and another
! He knew then that the outlaws had not We
l effected entrance, and ray of hope en-
4 tered his heart. 1t was just possible that n
e could procure assistance at Fiddletown il
time to avert the tragedy, and knowing tha
this was the last chance, he turned and dash
ed away at full speed.
Meanwhile Mrs. Bateman had becom,
aware that there was mischief in the wind
+ As the farm hands, on quitting work for III
Z { UaN5 pdUScu ny biic HUuSC 1OI u QIiuk, eli
bade one Of them saddle horse and com
to her for a message she wished to send t
. Fiddletown to her husband. The man, sh
knew, was faithful, and could be trusted
So when an hour elapsed without his return
ing she became alarmed, and peered out o
I one Of the Ioopholes that overlooked the sta
{ bIes. From this she saw the shadowy fg
ures approach and disappear beneath th
yeranda and, knowing what cause the out
laws had for hating Bateman, she had it'll
difficulty in dYining the peril that threaten
ed. But she came OF true soldierly stock
: and instead of yielding to terror, as woul
a seem natural, she resolved to make goo
9 fight.
c Communicating her fears to her sister T
law, Mrs. Bateman first locked the door c
the chamber in which her three ehildren wer
sleeping, and then carefully looked to tliei
, means Of defence. There were two reyoI'
! ers and rifle all loaded. Though not e1
roved ct'iIGT use. the women understood FL
-onde sra,sIuaitiering these. 1t was portion {
9e and sin, ,Wnia education necessarily so.
er now sSistened intently, they could hea
psstl-i5 natching, grating sound from b,
as the enemy at work upon tn
1 hexs OF I'M, windows. OF seasoned,oak The
/ He is dead, my f7sv wins efy. worked car
: me to initiate his example.
! Yes, dead ] replied, after examinin
the oor1.z