Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-04-13
A BATTLE-GROUND.
Women in Arms in Washingtor-GuardE
out-What it is All About

The railroad grade cuts through the towr
east and west. At intervals it is pierced by
a long opening-say 500 feet-and it ii
spanned by trestle work. Through this open
ing the water from the old levee breaks
above and north of the town would find its
way. People live both above and south Of
the grade. The people on the south pro
cured, some time ago. an order of the Board
of Supervisors of Yolo county for the cree
ton of bulkhead along the north side of the
grade, and which closes the trestle at Fourth
street. This most of the people on the north
resisted, but they were defeated and the
bulkhead was erected for some two
blocks. The north-enders say they were
willing to have the obstruction erected just
below the breaks in order to turn the water
out into the tules, but the south.enders
objected though this they deny emphat-
ically. The bulkhead's effect is to check the
free passage of the water and make it con-
siderably higher on the north side than it 9TH
erwise would be, while on tie south side the
lots are dry and the water runs off through
more distant openings below the town. The
people on the north are, as a consequence,
"washed out of house and home" to put
it strongly. Yesterday a delegation of
women visited this Office to state their
case. They were nerth-enders. They
told pitiful story of the destruction
of their homes and possessions. If, said they,
the openings were free, the water would not
work such disastrous effects upon our prop
Lshty. We want our case fairly put before
The public. OF course, if the bulkhead was
removed, some water would run on the back
lots on the south side, and fill the lower
streets but we are all taxed alike there a
we claim all should share the damage alike.
A little water on many is not SO bad as all of
it on a few. As it is, a current and lake is
created, that has damaged us thousands of
dollars, and our homes are well-njgh ruined.
The husbands of some of these ladies went
before the Board of Supervisors last week
at Woodland, and an order was made as fo,.
lows: Ordered that the Roadmaster of
District No. l remove distractions on
Fourth street, in the town of Washington.
Yesterday, say the north-siders, Roadmas-
ter d. o. Entrican appeared on the ground,
armed with broken shovel, with which to
dig up the bulkhead and let the water
through. At the same time there appeared
on the grade a large number Of south.sid
residents, mostly women. They surrounded
the Roadmaster and babe him desist. He
made faint show of going on with the work.
when one lady stepped out and took his hand,
HtlcEStso all illS SSG GkJ q CltSFB
The man then began to scratch on the ground
little with his shovel, when the women
again surrounded him and began to pull him
this way and that, and IN the scrimmage,
which to the north-ender women seemed but
a farce, the broken shovel of the Roadmaster
struck the ground, and the blade turned up
on the handle, and so the officer, having his
guns spiked, capitulated and marched away
amidst the hurras Of the south-enders. The
north-side people further aver that the south-
enders have stood guard over the bulkhead
with shot-guns night and day, and that one
lady went so far as to load a gun and come
out, declaring she'd spill all her blood and all
of the precious fluid of any north-ender who
dared to touch the bulkhead. The north
enders say that they are law-ebidiug; they
wish to do no one any harm; neither do they
think anyone should do them harm. They
have the law on their side now. and mean to
have it enforced. They say that the south
end people have gone so far as to threaten to
mob north-enders who took prominent part
in securing the last order Of the Board Of Su-
pervisors.
A representative of the RECORD. UNION
visited the battle ground yesterday, and in
terviewed prominent representatives of both
sides. The south enders admit that they
have defended the bulkhead, and avow their
intention to continue to do so. Some forty
south. end woman did assemble yesterday and
resist the Roadmaster, and took his shovel
from him and threw it into deep water. It
was not broken. There was no farce played
it was dead and aliva earnest business, and
the Road Overseer knew it well. No men
interfered. The women are quiet, deter
mined, and declare they will fight AID defend
their homes. They point out that the bulk
head was erected under authority of the ST.
hot II tho ..pn,,la SS00 not
the people are all poor and can not afford to
thus lose the investment benefits. They point
out that to open the bulkhead would lower
the still water from one foot to fourteen
inches on the north side, but in it's place a
strong current would be created that would
do double the damage the still water
does. That to open the bulkhead
will food large number Of homes
south of the grade; that the repeating
order of the Supervisors was procured
through Misrepresentation that the Super
visor from District No. l Washington fought
against. and resisted the repeal that MIR.
Furness, a north-ender, has been threatened
because he brought about the repeal; that
not all of the north favor cutting
the bulkhead, but number agree that it
would result in greater damage than ever,
by inducing swift and nearer in-shore cur
rent; that of the taxable property nine
tenths in value is located south of The bulk
head; that the bulkhead now protects the
largest and best part of the town
that the north enders resisted the
building of the bulkhead above town
and below the breaks, as was first intended,
and finally that the south enders will never
permit the bulkhead to be opened and will
guard it night and day with weapons, and de-
tend their property with their lives if need
be. They seem to be in earnest, and if any
one doubts it, visit to the battle. ground will
convince to the contrary. The reporter saw
that on the north all the lots are flooded, and
that the water has done about all the damage
it can. On the south all is dry, gardens are
in bloom, alfalfa is two feet high in the fields,
the homes are numf rous and well-built, the
PEOPLE are industrious, have beautifed
their places, and seem to be deeply
attached to the town. In fact, Washing
ton is much prettier village than
most Sacramentans suppose it is, when its
frequent hoodings are recalled The women
on the battle-ground yesterday were lady.
like, respectful, not loud of speech. seemed
to thoroughly understand the situation, and
were proud in the realization that they were
masters of the field. Ii they had weapons
they were concealed. They keep a strong
guard on the bulkhead, ard if any masculine
biped thinks il safe to cut that work, after
looking at the Anazonian guards, he is
drawer than most men. The husbands of
these women are mostly employed in Sscra-
mento. and hence it is that they take care of
the enemy by day. The reporter saw some
north-enders who agreed with the south-end-
ers, and said that to open the bulkhead will
do them more damage than to keep it closed.
The reason of the retreat of the Roadmaster
yesterday is explained by the fact that he
was arrested on complaint Of south-enders for
destroying their property. He was taken be-
fore Justice Buckingham and allowed to go
on his own recognizence. The Overseer took
no side, and both parties speak well of him.
He did his best to get posse to assist him
in cutting the bulkhead, but all refused to
aid him, and he found that one man against
forty women, organized thoroughly and with
leaders and officera, stood no show, and go he
has retired to his home, eight miles up-riyer,
to mediate on the wopdrous will of woman
when once she makes up her mind.
OFFICIAL VIsITATIoN.-J. A. Filcher, Of
Auburn, Great Sachem of the Improved
Order of Red Men. is paying an official visit
to the various tribes of the Order in this city.
Last evening he visited the Owossos; this
evening be viii call on the Cosumnes, and to-
morrow evening the Red Jackets. MIR.