Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-04-03

~ oYpNeiuuSc. AAG uO tOIlHcI WOIC ClOtueB
that were seedy. but became the pride Of
his tailor's heart. Never. however, under
any circumstances would he carry a pack
age downtown il he could help it, and Mrs.
Elliott never since that eyentful day has as
much as thought Monster"
A Maine Lion.
THE THRILLING EXPERIENCES or DAVID D.
COTTON IN CALIFORNIA.
David ID. Cotton was a remark able man
and his career Was characteristic Of him.
lie came from Maine in 1851. beardless
boy, and among those strong. turbulent
spirits, our early Argonauts. vas famous be-
fore his majority. He died a, 40 and had
then for over . quarter Of q century been
one Of our leading and most notable ci,i-
xens. Some Of the authenticated incidents
Of his career are Of a. thrilling character
as anything in history or romance.
A klamath chief, Chinook, decoyed two
miners, HaiDes and Converse, from illinois,
into his rancherie, and there treacherously
murdered them. The klama,hs were war
like tribe, having nothing in common with
the degraded Pan Utes Of California and
Nevada-the loves, grade of Indians in ex-
isience. Cotton, still not Of age. determined
to capture and bring him to justice lie Sc,
out in pursuit accompanied only By two res
olate miners. For six weeks he followed
the vii, murderer, through wilderness and
mountain recess, from one lair 10 another,
every mile Of the way beset with peril. day
and night, never relinquishing the pursuit
till the savage fugitive was run down and
taken on the Shasta river.
His captors tied him to horse and con-
dueted him through forests swarming with
alert and savage Indians eager TO deliver their
chief, and With more savage and desperate
white men. the friends cf Chinook, until
finally the murderer was delivered to the
authorities Of the settlement and dealt with
according 10 law. This was recognized as
no ordinary achievement. and Cotton was no
sooner Of legal age than the electors Of tie
county. by almost unanimous vote, promoted
him from the position OF under sheriff TO that
of sheriff.
The early sheritFs Of California we're re-
markabIe men men Of proved courage.
cooness and discrimination they had TO be
10 ill the office or be chosen for it-and
Cotton vas a representative sheriff. lie
man OF influence. and power and
wealth poured in upon him. He made a
flying visit to the cas-; TO miTr, the girl Of
his college love, Miss Ellen NJ White,
daughter Of Dr. Chaunccl White. Of
Chicago.
Shortly after Cotton. return with his bride
occurred an incident Of the defense Of the Jail
by Cotton. \ ,aluabl, water righ, va,
claimed By company and coveted by the
individual miners of the camp. While it
Was IN litigation miner. disEegarding the
injunction Of the court, cut the company
ditch snd helped himself TO the water. He
was arrest,d and jailed for contempt Of
court. Popular sympathy ras with him.
The miners determined upon his release.
Fifteen hundred Of them assembled fully
armed al The jail, and demanded the release
OF the prisoner. Cotton was al that nome n:
attending 4 church fair which his wife. with
the few other women in the camp. was con-
ducting 10 assis, the only religious society OF
the settlement. Some one rushed to him
with news Of he uprising. and, while the
miners weir stih clamoring at the jail door
for the release Of the prisoner and threaten
~ ~iSt VaN a. A.t ~ uol StN litt
Cotton ca ne running hatless toward them.
his long red hsir--h- always wore IT long
even when treasurer Of the Central Pacific
railroad streaming back from his beardless
cuunlenance.
Clearing his way through the mob hy sheer
impetus, he rushed up the steps. aud plant
ing bis back against the door. confronted the
angry throug of desperate ana armed min
ers. lie commanded them in the name Of
law. order and authority. to dispcr.e peace
fully. The response wa, clamorous DE-
mand for tue release of the prisoner.
"Nrvvr," saii the Young officer, calmly
"you can only take him over nv dead
body = and he confronted them unAinching-
~. The mob. momentarily confounde1 and
cowed By his heroic mien. rrcoiicd. bat soon
returned, swearing that the, would have the
prisoner. Give us the prisoner shouted
hundreds Of them, pressing forward threat
eningly. "l'.i die frs, - responded the
Young sheriff. Then die, you damned
fool. cried the foremost rioter, lesellng his
pistol. The sheriff was too quick for him.
His own weapon was out and discharged IN
a twinkling. aud the leader OF the mob was
carried of d sabled. Instantly hundreds OF
weapons were drawn and volley was fired
at the sheriff from every angle Of attack.
He stood undismsyed. fronting the mob and
returning their fire, throwing down one
revolver as soon as emptied and drawing
another. Strange TO say. not shot Of all
those fired struck him. but several Of his as
sallants were wounded.
II was an unheard of thing. \ mob Of
| 800 desperate. armed and maddened men
h.atsp of and tod k,-o nd
he yet youth. Passion was boiling in the
hearts of the rioters. and they soon returned
raging to the attack but in the mean time
the conduct Of the sheriff had inspired Others
with his spirit and raised him up supporters.
The judge OF the county, the clerk and a
few Others took their place with him at lhe
Jail door, and when the mob returned the
bate was resumed on more even terms, and
the defense was maintained Til the rioters
were beaten of. Cotton received two wounds.
several of the mob were killed and more
wounded, the law was vindicated and took
lis course with the prisoner. The affair
created great stir all through the mines.
and the young sheriff was the hero Of the
day. Governor Bisler, in recognition of his
services for law and order, appointed
him brigadier general Of North California.
Another display of Colton's dashing
courage was afterward made even more
romantic than the defense of the jail. A
friendly Indian revealed to him plot to
massacre a family Of whites named Johnson.
TO get assistance to thwart this plct it was
necessary to pass through defile known to
he smbuscaded. Without hesitation he
dashed into it. rode safely through the FIRE
Of the Indians, reached the nearest settle
ment. rallied twenty five men, and saved the
family.
lie prospered in everything he undertook,
acquired much wealth, and then the failing
health Of Mark Hopkins made an infusion
Of new energy into the overland railroad
management here necessary. He was taken
into partnership by Huntington. Stanford