Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-02-28
a MAN or NERVE
Thrilling Incidents i'm the Career of
a California Pioneer.

n 1CttcA AIOA Odn IlduC1sCO W b4O
Chicago Tribune gives some incidents in
the career Of General David D. Cotton,
who came to California from Maine while
beardless boy and, had a remarkable
career. The writer says; Siskiyou is the
northwest county of California, and by
no means its most important. Gold
was found there in 1851 and
thousands rushed there to get it. Cotton
was among the number. Leading citi-
zens here who knew him then say that at
nineteen he plainly bore the marks of
character which distinguished him
through life-the massive under jaw, the
strong, firm lines of the mouth, denoting
his iron resolution, the stout neck, set
upon a frame Of great strength, made
him then, as all through life, man to be
singled out and re- rked in q multi
tude. Cotton was law-and-order man,
and his cool and steady courage, his dar-
ing and determination, were the quail
ties which marked him for peace off
Ger.
A Klamath chief, Chinook, decoyed
two miners, Haines and Converse, from
Illinois, into his rancherie, and there
treacherously murdered them. The Kla-
maths we're warlike tribe, having moth
ing in common with the degraded Pah
Utes of California and Nevada-the low
est grade Of Indians in existence. Their
murderous chief took refuge in the noun
tain fastnesses, secreted and protected by
his people and aided by renegade whites.
Cotton, still not Of age, determined to
capture and bring him to justice. Heset
out in pursuit accompanied by only two
resolute miners. For six weeks he fol-
lowed the willy murderer through will
derness and mountain recess, from one
lair to another, every mile of the way
beset with peril, day and night, never re-
hnquishing the pursuit till the savage
fugitive was run down and taken on the
Shasta river His captors tied him to
horse and conducted him through forests
swarming with alert and savage Indians
eager to deliver their chief, and with even
more savage and desperate white men,
the friends of Chinook, until finally the
murderer was delivered to the authorities
of the settlement and dealt with accord
ing to law. This was recognized rs no
ordinary achievement, and Cotton was no
sooner of legal age than the electors of
IKE county, by almost unanimous vote,
promoted him from the position of under
sheriff to that Of sheriff The early sher-
ifs of California were remarkable men
men of proved courage, GOODNESS and de-
termination-they had to be to fill
the Office or be chosen for it-and Cotton
was representative sheriff. He was a
man of influence, and power and wealth
poured in upon him. He made flying
visit to the East to marry the girl of his
college day love, Miss Ellen NJ. White,
daughter of DR.. Chaunc ncey White, of Chi
cago.
Shortly after Colton's return with his
bride occurred the thrilling incident of
the defense of the jail. A valuable
water right was claimed by company
and coveted by the individual miners Of
the camp. While it was in litigation
miner, disregarding the injunction Of the
court, cut the company's ditch and
helped himself TO the water. He was ar
rested 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 re-
lease Of the prisoner. Cotton was at the
moment attending church fair which
his wife, with the few other women in
camp, was conducting to assist the only
religious 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
misunderstanding back from his beard
less countenance- Cleaying his way
through the mob by sheer impetus, he
rushed up the steps, and, planting his
back against the door, confronted the
angry throng of desperate and armed
miners. He commanded them in the
the name Of law, order and authority to
disperse peacefully. The response was a
clamorous demand for the release of the
prisoner. eNever," said the young off
Ger, calmly; ''you can only take him over
my dead body" and he confronted them
unfinchingly. The mob, momentarily
confounded and cowed by his heroic mein,
rccoiled, but soon returned, swearing
that they would have the prisoner. "Give
up the prisonerln shouted hundreds Of
them, pressing forward, threateningly
'I'll die first, responded the young
sheriff. Then die you fool. cried
the foremost rioter, leveling his pistol
The sheriff was too quick for him. His
own weapon was out and discharged in
twinkling, and the leader OF the mob
was carried off disabled. Instantly hun
dreds of weapons were drawn, and
volley was fred at the sheriff from every
angle Of attack. He stood undismayed,
fronting the mob and returning their fire,
throwing down one revolver as soon as
emptied and drawing another. Strange