The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-04-06
4 Pioneer Party's Encounter
With the Indians.
Ths Perils of Search for Gold and Wealth
in Northern California in
Early Days
Written for THE SUNDAY CALL.

January Q, 1850, and the company separ-
ated, some going to the mines and others
engaging IN the several occupations which
at that time commanded the high wages of
from So to $50 per day in San Francisco,
Glhon was an engrayer, and found coed
employment in his art Hoyt also
remained in the busy city. Both.
however continued their association
with the company. Early in the spring of
1850 attention was directed to the far north
ern coast, now comprising the counties of
Humboldt and Del Norte and the western
portion of Trinity. The larger number
went to prospect for gold diggings, but
some were in search of large tracts of land
in the interest of parties in San Francisco.
In these expeditions embarked Judge
Tobin, now of the Hibernia Bank, aud one
Of the Police Commissioners, Frank Le-
mon, one of the California Volunteers who
came with Colonel Jonathan d. Stevenson
in 1S47, Smyth Clark, well-known pioneer
of 40, Major Sayles, DR.. Gros, DR.. Clapp
also early pioneers of the gold-hunting pc
rod. In another expedition Gihon and
Hoyt, Ihomas Dung, banker, and COM
rade OF his named Kellogg, were among the
number They left San Francisco in the
bark Hector Captain Camp, for Trinidad
Bay. On landing at Trinidad some of
the party started for the interior country
and camped On a high hill, where they
found another party of fourteen men from
Australia, who had come from San Fran
cisco in the, ship Laura Virginia. Captain
Ottlnger, to hunt for gold mines.
PLUNDERED BY THE INDIANS.
During the night the Indians robbed both
camps of their weapons and mining outfits
and in the morning all resolved to return to
Trinidad and make their way TO the mouth
OF the klamath River. The Australians
had been we'll provided with rifles and
hatchets, and among them were some
known - Bushmen. Gihon had besides his
short-Darreled wager Ratchet, Kellogg a
navy Colts revolver and Hoyt an Allen pep
per-box pistol. These they had kept close
at their sides as they slept and thereby sue
ceeded In saving them from the thieying
Indians. At Trinidad they found the Laura
Virginia still at anchor and made the ar
rangement with her captain to- be taken
TO the mouth of the klamath. They found
there also Frenchman who had tor sale
lou OF common swords and several of them
bought these at exorbltant prices. They
were, however, better than no weapons.
In two days the ship arrived at the klam-
attn, where the distinctive parties sepa-
rated, each to pursue their own chosen
course. Outside the bar were many In
dams in canoes catching seals and salmon;
inside was an Indian village. All the Iu-
dians showed signs of becoming trouble
some. Gihon, Hoyt and Kellogg resolved
W Aetp lOStlueI, anu TWO OIutT passengers
by the Laura Virginia, Ehrenberg and Ar
thur, both armed with rifles and an ak,
Joined them for common and mutual pro-
lection.
ANOTHER INDIAN DEPRECIATION.
The experience in the night camp back Of
Trinidad, a few nights before, had taught
them to be wary of Indians and they
camped for the night more cautiously. Not
outstanding this, the Indians managed to
steal rifle and an AK. Arthur shot at
one of tue fleeing Indians, but missed him.
The next day the party moved on to Red
wood Creek. twenty-five miles from the
klamath, where they met Frank Lemon
Judge Sayles and Smyth Clark, vino were
taking up claims. A band Of thirty Indi
ans gathered near them, manifestly with no
friendly intentions. The party camped
that night near the creek aud careful vigil
was maintained until morning. The Indians
We're armed with only bows and arrows and
had wholesome fear of the firearms of the
whites. In the morning Lemon and his
two comrades, joined by Arthur. Kellogg
and Ehrenberg, started off to take up claims.
Gihon and Hoyt concluded to return 10 the
klamath. Arrived at the river they en-
gagged two Indians to take them across in
canoe. HOyt sat in the bow and Gihon in
the stern. A short distance out in the stream
they observed the Indians on the shore
making significant signals TO the two in the
canoe and Immediately they began webbing
the frail craft, evidently TO upset it and
throw them in the river. At once Gihon
aimed his wager at the Iudian III front of
him and ordered return to the shore.
Hoyt leveled his pepper-boX at the other
Indian, ana between the two fires, as it
we're, the Indians ceased their movements
for an upset, and padded TO the shore as
directed. Holding their weapons ready for
instant use, Gihon and Hoyt stepped
ashore and kept the Indians at safe dis
lance. The bucks ordered the squaws back
from the shore and began to draw near the
two men, with their bows and arrows in
threatening manner. There were i'll all ten
bucks opposing Gihon and Hoyt, who
stood them off with their firearms, the
hatcnet and sword, as they made their way
to bluff a mile distant, where they discov-
cred the tents of camping party of whites.
BATTLE WITH THE REDS.
In his emotion Hoyt touched the trigger
OF his peppeT-box and most fortunately the
trifiing revolver made an effective shot.
the bucks but two turned and ran at the
top of their speed. The two who stood adj
vanced. Hoyt, in his nervous fright,
dropped his pistol, and quicker than Gil
hon could work the defective trigger one of
the bucks grabbed and wrenched the wager
from him and snatched the Ratchet from
his belt. Hoyt stopped and recovered his
| pistol and again 1t did effective service. The
Indian fronting Gihon made a blow with
the hatchet as Glbon drew his sword. AT
| tuO odiilO iuStuht Cdillt Tile UlOW anu Tue
desperate thrust which pushed the blade
deep into the groin of the Indian. But the
| Ratchet was crashed into Gihon's skull, on
the left side, high up on his forehead, in
iiictlng stunning and painful wound
| In an instant while the weapon was raised
| for another blow, Hoyt leaped and grasped
| 1t from the Indians hand, but neglected to
| strike the savage with it. Gihon's fall and
| the sight of the blood rushing from his
ugly wound for the moment Disconnected
him. His first care was his PROSTATE COM
| rade. The Indian, unarmed and power
less, endeavored to pull the sword from his
| body.
A STRANGE SPECTACLE.
| AS Gihon rose from the ground quite
| blinded by the blood which was streaming
| down his face, weak and not wholly con-
| selous, the strange spectacle met his gaze OF
| the Indian endeavoring to withdraw the
| sword. The hilt had come off in the at
| tempt and was held in one hand while the
stoical buck was using the other in his at
| tempt, working it up and down, as urcon-
| cerned, apparently, as though his body was
| insensible to pain or feeling, like so much
wood. The extraordinary scene helped to
restore him to clearer consciousness.
Singular good fortune brought speedy re-
lief and safety from further attack by other
| Indians in the neighborhood. The white
men camping on the high bluff had wit
! messed the encounter and with all possible
haste had rushed to the scene. They ar
1 rived in good time to rescue Gihon and
| Royt. The Indian last shot by the latter
was not killed but badly wounded. He had
| recovered sufficiently to go to the aid of his
brave companions in the deadly fray. With
| heavy rock In his hand he was drag
| ging his way to the spot where
| Hoyt was endeavoring to stanch
| the flow of blood from the head of Gihon,
who was sitting upon the ground from sheer
| weakness. Their backs were 60 him. In q
few minutes more he would be close enough
| to hurl the rock. The advancing party of
rescue at once took in the situation.
| TWO MORE SHOT.
Two well-aimed shots made the proven
bal good Indians" of the pair, and the
crack Of the rifles was the signal of deliver
ance to Gihon and Hoyt, who had not un-
til the moment observed the approach of
| their deliverers. They were taken to the
camp ON the bluff. Among the party
| there was Dr. Robinson skilled