The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-06-18
Pacific-Coast "reminiscences.

Pacific-C Coast "reminiscences.
AWashington correspondent of The
EcW Io'E Tribune writes: Senator
Jones. of Nevada, ut one time wa.
worth S6,OOO,OOO; to-day it is doubtful
whether his bank account is worth one.
thousandth part of that sum. Still, he
is not without hopes of retrieving his
fortunes. He is interested in some
mines up in Alaska, which are begin
ming to pay largely. Jones is rarely
seen in his place in the senate. He pre-.
fers looking after his business interests
to listening to the dull debates carried
on by his colleagues. When he was
first sent to tho senate he was worth q
great deal of money. and he spent il
freely. Before he had served out his
torn, however, he had lost nearly the
whole of it. Yet he has been returned
without difficulty. not only once, but
twice, since then. This shows, Think,
the great personal popularity of the
man. He has the good sense of avoid.
ing quarrcls. and never speaks ill of
anyone. He has met here in Washing
ton great many of his early California
friends. There is, for instance, Justice
Fiold, of the supreme court, who was Il
justice of the peace in Marysvillc, Cal,
when that town was little more than 81
collection of tumblc-iown shantics.
A few doors from the judges home
was clearinghouse where Jones and
George G. Gorham, who many years
aftcrward became secretary of the
United States senate, boarded. Ad-
joining the clearinghouse lived an
lrishman, who had q very pretty daugll.
ter, whom he was in the habit of treat
ing rather harshly-to use mild OK.
prcssion-whencvcr he had partakcn
of too much mountain dew. This
greatly scandalizcd the gallant board
ers next door, and they succeeded in
arousing the sentiment of the town
against Murphy. One fine night a
vigilance committee, of which Jones
and Gorham were members, waited up
on Murphy and informed him that he
must stop padding his daughtcr OF
stand the consequences, which meant a
ducking, probably, in tho creek near
by. a ride on q rail, or coat of tar and
feathers. nm not informed what the
outcome of that visit was, but pre-.
sumo it accomplished its object. The
treatment at the hands of her father
does not scem to have done much harm
to the young lady, except to cause,
perhaps,somc temporary inconvicnce:
for she grew up to be fine woman,
and became in after years tho wife OF
Senator William Sharon, and the moth.
cr of Lady Hesketh. the wife of Si1
Thomas Hesketh, of England. Cor.
ham, who had shown himself to be
such an efficient champion of little
Miss Murphy, was. not long after he
left Marysvillc, nominated for governor.
and Jones, the present senator, was
put on the same ticket, though forget
in what capacity. Judge Field con-
tinued practicing his profession al
Marysvillc. Time and subsequent
events scpasAted these three men, and
they did not meet again until they bon
frontcd each other at the capital here,
the one an associate justice of the SUI
preme court, another senator from
Nevada, and tho third as secretary OF
the senate.
There is another acquaintance OF
Justice Fields California days livin.
near here, who is the hero of Il more
serious adventure than that of the res.
cue Of II little girl from the hands of a
brutal father. refer to Rear Admir-
al Ammcn, who, from naval officer,
has turned into a farmer of the most
enthusiastic kind. His farm near
laurel. Md, with its fine mansion and
grounds, which he calls "Ammcndalc." !"
is Il model of its kind. The admiral is
frequently seen in Washington, where
his wcll-knit frame, silvcry hair, and
kindly face have been familiar for many
years. He and Justice Field were pas.
scngers together OH the California
steamer Ocean Queen. Admiral Am.
men. then only lieutenant, was in
charge of contingent of over two
hundred men, most of them 'roughs,"
who had volunteered for naval service
on the Pacific coast. There were owe,
a thousand other passengers, including
many women and children. On the
first day out the recruits showed dis.
satisfaction with their quarters ant
their food. They were headed by
ringlcalcr by the name of Kelly, big,
burly fellow, strong and determined.
1t soon became evident that it was th.
intent of tho mutineers TO seizo ane
rifle tho steamer and the passengers.
On the third day out, they scizcc
Capt. Tinklepaugh as he was passing
on II round of inspection, and threaten.
cl to proceed to cxtrcmitios. Lieut..
Ammcn was then in n distant part oi
the ship. He Immediately hurried te
the scene of the disturbance. and with
out moments hesitation drew his re-
volvcr and shot Kelly dead ON the spot
Another conspirator shared the same
fate. The proceeding was u summary
one, but it crushed the incipient mutiny
instantly. A few other ringlcadcr.
were cast into irons, Lieut.. Ammcr
himself going into the crowd and sciz
ing tho men. There was little resist
anco, and when tho dead bodies of the
two leaders had been sewed in canvas
and cast overheard, tho mutiny had
come to an end. Justice Field, who
was q witness to tho whole
scene. has never forgotten the courage
and determination shown on that occa-
sion by tho young lieutenant, and to
this day believes that it was tho firm
conduct of Admiral Ammcn which say,