News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-03-06
ONE OF THE ARG0NAUTS.
ABRAVE ACT IN TIE CAPTURE OF
MURDERER.
The woudrous Nerve of California
Sherih-AIOnc Facing LOU Armed ana
Angry Men.

The late General David D. Cotton. of
California, was a native of Maine. Be-
fore he was of age he performed a very
brave act in capturing a murderer, and
the day he was 81 he was elected sheriff.
Shortly after Colton's return from the
East with his bride occurred notable
incident. A valuable water right was
claimed by a company and coveted by
the individual miners of the camp.
While it was in litigation a miner, disre-
garding the injunction of the conrt, cut
the companv's ditch and helped himself
to the water. He was arrested and
JAILED for contempt of court Popular
sympathy was with him. The miners
determined upon his release. Fifteen
hundred of them assembled fully armed
at the jail, and demanded the release OF
the prisoner. Cotton was at the mo-
ment attending church fair which his
wife, with the few other women in camp,
was conducting to assist the only re-
ligious society of the settlement. Some
one rushed to him with news of the up
rising, and while the miners were still
clamoring at the Jail door for the release
of the prisoner and threatening to take
| him out if he was not set free, Cotton
came running hatless toward them, his
| long red hair-he always wore it long,
even when Treasurer of the Central
Pacific Notwithstanding back from
| his beardless countenance. Cleavlng
| his way through the mob by sheer i'm
petus, he rushed up the steps, and,
planting his back against the door, con-
| fronted the angry throng of desperate
and armed miners. He commanded
them in the name of law. order. and au-
thority to dispense peacefully. The re-
Spouse was a clamorous demand for the
release of the prisoner. ''Never," said
| the young officer, calmly: "you can
only take him over my dead bodv;" and
he confronted them unfinehingly. The
mob. momentariy COMPOUNDED and
cowed by his heroic mien, recoiled, but
soon returned, swearing that they would
have the prisoner. "Give up the pris-
oner ~ shouted hundreds of them. press
ing forward threateningly. "Tll die
first" responded the young sheriff.
"Then die, Won - fool" cried the
foremost rioter, leveling his pistol. The
sheriff was too quick for him. His own
weapon was out and discharged in a
twinkling, and the leader of the mob
was carried off disabled. Instantly hun
dreds of weapons were drawn, and a
volley was fired at the sheriff from every
angle of attacks He stood undismayed
fronting the mob and returning then
fire, throwing down one revolver as
soon as emptied and drawing another
Strange to say, not a shot of all those
fired struck him, but several of his as
sailants were wounded.
1t was an unheard of thing. A moi
of 1900 desperate, armed, and mad
dened men beaten off and discounted by
one officer, and he yet a youth, Pas
sion was boiling in the hearts of the
rioters, and they soon returned raging
to the attack; but in the meantime the
conduct of the sheriff had inspired
others with some of his spirit and raised
him up supporters. The judge of the
county, the clerk, and a few others took
their places with him at the jail door
and when the mob returned the battle
was resumed on more even terms, anC
the defence was maintained until tine
rioters were beaten off. Cotton received
two wounds, several of the mob were
killed and more wounded, the law wa:
indicated, and took its cour e with the
prisoner The affair created grea
stir all through the mines, and thu
young sheriff was the hero of the day
Governor Bigler, in recognition of hi
services for law and order, appointed
him Brigadier- General of Militia o
Northern California.