Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-11
THIRTY YEARS ago.
A SACRAMENTO MANS ACCOUNT OF A
FAMOUS DUEL.
Last Hours of the Lesislature-NoteF From
Veteran-The Indian Massacre
ON Carson River.

5000 'nS Aaooe uotcu encounter on record,
was furnished the press by Mississippian
residing in Sacramento in 1860. The duel
was fought away back in 1928, and had been
almost forgotten. Knowing that Bowie
was desperate man, about twenty friends
OF the challenger accompanied the latter to
Natchez to see fair play, and all parties
went upon the field. The combatants took
their places in the center. Behold the fol-
lowing battle array: Twenty armed
Louisianians behind their champion and
his seconds and surgeon, and opposite them
and behind Bowie twenty armed Missis-
sippians. The nights of Natchez were
thronged with spectators, and steamer in
the river rounded to, its decks black with
passengers, who watched the scene with
deep interest.
The plan was to exchange shots twice
with pistols, and to close with knives.
Bowie being armed with his own terrible
weapon, the "Bowie-knife." At the first
fire both parties escaped. At the second
the Louisianian was too quick and took
advantage OF Bowie, who awaited the word.
At this BOwie's second cried Foul play %
and shot the Louisianian. The latter's
second instantly killed the slayer, and
Bowie in turn drove his knife into this
man. The surgeons now crossed blades.
while with loud battle cries the two
parties behind the principals came
together, and in moment the
whole number were engaged in
deadly combat. The scene was fearful
one, and sent thrill of horror through the
spectators at distance. Dirks, pistols and
In Wi mead mil
one party drove the other from the field.
The narrator of the story could not saw
how many were killed, but the slaughter
was dreadful. Bowie fought like lion,
but fell covered with wounds. He fingered
for several months, when death put an end
to his sufferings.
.......William Johnson, late Sergeant of
Company G, U. S. Infantry writes to the
SUNDAY UNION as follows from the Veter-
ans Home in Napa: "If it is not too much
trouble, as you are giving the accounts of
thirty years ago, would you give the &C.
count of that great march made by the
Sixth U. S. Infantry in the fall of 1858? l
believe it was in November or December
that we camped on the other side of the
river from your city, with Colonel Andren
and Colonel Hoffman. was a non.com.
missioned officer. The city of Sacramento
gave us great reception. We came from
the Salt Lake expedition. also from Leaven-
worth Barracks. 1t was a great march
across the plains. / am suffering badly
from heart trouble. Most of the boys are
dead, having been killed at the battle of
Gaines Mill. Of the few that are still alive
only two are here Captain V. Drescher,
who is still employed on your paper, was
one of our officers during the war. Gen.
eral Hancock, General Kirkham, of Oak
land, also Major Wood, Paymaster (now
dead, and General Kelton, Adiutant- Gen.
eral, all came at the time. My Captain got
killed at Games Mill. Please excuse my
handwriting, as / am so nervous from
heart trouble"
.........There were great doings in the AS
sembly chamber just after the Legislature
had adjourned sine die. The Third
House" was called to order by Assembly
man Ellis of Sacramento, and James w.
Cotfroth was chosen Speaker, and Mr..
Lightner, of the gas works, was elected
Speaker pro tenn. Mr.. Ellis was elected
Clerk of the House and Mr.. Pevton Ser
s,at-Arms. On taking the chat Mr..
Softroth made felicitous speech. He said
he felt he could not preside with the ability
shown at the last meeting of the Third
House by Speaker Hal Clayton who was
at that time negotiating on pork aid beans
in the classic land of the Washoe canary.
The Speaker then appointed Gilbert A.
Grant, Robert c. Clark and Levi Parsons as
Pages. For two hours great sport was had
over the resolutions and bills presented,
and at the close Speaker Coffroth was pre-
sented, in lowery speech by Wilkins of
Sonoma, with mammoth watch. The
case was blacking-box, and the dial was
artistically drawn on piece of white blot
ting paper. The session expired in blaze
of glory.
...."...A desperate character named Will
son Wisdom committed suicide in his cabin
near Dutch Flat one day. He had robbed
the sluices of miner named P. D. Drumm
on the preceding night, and William c.
Richmond went to his cabin and accused
him of it. Wilson assaulted Richmond
with huge knife, but Richmond got out
of his way and summoned aid. On return
ing to the cabin they heard commotion
within, and on entering found Wisdom dy-
ing from the effects of a wound inflicted by
his own hand. He had cut his throat from
ear to ear
.......... The pony express arriving in Sac
ramento on the 9TH of May brought the
particulars of the Heenan-Sayers fight in
England. Thirty-nine rounds were fought,
and as it looked as though it would be the
last in which Savers could stand up before
the herculean California blacksmith, the
crowd broke into the ring and saved the
Englishman by rescuing him. The fight
was declared draw.
......... 1t was about the same then as now
The UNION of those DAYS remarked I: $50
far as our personal observation goes, there
was more interest manifested on Monday
in the news about the Heenan and Savers
fight than in relation to the nomination of
q candidate for President of the United
States" And that nomination, too, was
the signal for the secession of many States
from the Union, and the Inauguration of a
bloody civil war.
AT the annual meeting for officers
of the Congregational Church Charles H.
Swift was chosen Moderator Seth Babson
Clerk, and r. T. Brown Treasurer. D. o.
Mills. A. Redington, W. M. Harron, P w.
Burnett, ]. r. Ray. A. G. Sweetser and
Samuel Cross were elected Trustees. The
Music Committee was composed of n. A.
II. Ball, John McNeill and E. B. Kenyon.
-.......Thirty years ago the city authori-
ties were discussing the ACCESSIBILITY of FL
tering the water used by the people of Sac
ramento, and-they have been discussing
the proposition ever since. Doubtless they
will keep up the discussion until the pres
ent source of water supply shall have been
supplanted by another and better.
1.-THE papers were raising a great
howl because the Legislature had made APP
preparations amounting to million and a
half dollars. Legislatures double and
treble that sum nowadays without exciting
much comment. The people are becoming
so accustomed to being robbed that they
rather expect it.
......... W. B. Hunt was elected Foreman
of Confidence Engine Company, A. j.
Rhoads Assistant Foreman, G. W. Lang
vile Second Assistant J. +. Crawford Re-
cording Secretary, James Lansing Finan-
cisl Secretary and James Coggins Treas
urer.
.......A fearful massacre of whites &C.
Cured In Nevada near the Great Bend of
Carson river. A band of Piutes and Sho-
shones went on a raid and murdered thir-
teen settlers. Parties of volunteers left
Virginia City at once to pursue the savages
aud revenge the slaughtered whites.
$4,000. The rainfall up to May 9Th of that
season amounted to upward of 81 inches,
and il was still coming down. The next
winter was that which Witnessed the great
flood of 1862.
For the benefit of that class of
weather cranks who persist in declaring
that "our climate is changing and grow
ing colder. it may be stated that On the 9Th
of May, 1860, quite heavy frost visited
this section of the State.
There was big horse-corral In
rose DAYS on Sixth and X streets. and the
,ers were kicking" because the proprie-