Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-26
THIRTY YEARS ago.
PETER LAssEN's TRAGIC DEATH AT
THE HANDS OF INDIANS.
An Early Eccentric sacramentan- Mrs.
McGinty's "Carrackter"-A Week
Without Events.

Some months ago the SUNDAY UNION
published a brief account of the tragic
death of the old pioneer, Peter Lassen,
which occurred late in the spring of so.
The recent holiday number of the Lassen
Advocate contains a sketch of the old noun
taineer, with fuller particulars OF his muir
der by Indians. Lassen was one of those
restless, indomitable spirits whose love of
adventure and the wild pleasures of the
frontier kept always in the advance of civil
ization-a man of sterling character and
peaceful habits. He erected the second
house built in what is now Lassen county,
log structure which still stands on its old
site. He was an honored member of the
Masonic Order, of which, it is said, he
brought the first charter to the Pacific Coast
in 1913 or 40 At any raj tie, the charter it.
self (which is now hanging in the hall of
the Lodge at Shasta, and which was
granted by the Grand Lodge of the State
OF Missouri, May 10, 1913, shows that he
was the first Junior Warden of Western
Star Lodge, which named the place of its
institution as Benton City, Upper Califor-
MIA. Peter Lsssen had been a pioneer so
many years of his life that the restraints of
civilization finally became irksome to him,
ard as settlers crowded into the valley and
squatted around the ranch on which he
had built his cabin, he rented his place,
and with his horse and gun and two other
prospectors started to the east in search of
new mines. They camped in small
ravine one night, about $50 miles northeast
of Sussnvills, in what is known as the
al k-,- l.. Al.
next morning he was awakened by the
crack of an Indian rifle, the bullet from
which had killed one of his sleeping COM
rades. He and the third man sprang to
their feet guns in hand, and while his
companion was trying to secure their
horses, which had broken loose the brave
old man stood by bis bed, straining his
eyes, which ne shaded with his hand, try
ing to get a glimpse of his foe, who was
seoreted behind q cliff of rocks. While in
this position a second shot was fired, and
the truest and warmest friend the Califor-
MIA Indians every had fell to the ground,
shot through the heart. His remains were
removed to his ranch and buried at the
foot of a large majestic pine tree which
stands On one corner OF il. Over his grave
his Masonic brethren have erected fine
monument about eight feet high, very
artistically cut from native granite The
monument also bears various pioneer and
Masonic embiems. The seal of Susanville
Lodge f. and 4. NJ, has for its emblem
fac-simile of the tree and monument.
........Among the attorneys in Sacra-
mento thirty years ago was one George e.
Montgomery. While the columns Of the
local press of that time do not show that
he figured prominently at the bar, his
name was frequently mentioned in con-
nection with the debating society and one
or two kindred bodies. A few years later,
however, Montgomery transferred his resi-
dence to the town of Napa. 1t was under
stood among the toTnspeople that Mont
gomery was a lawyer, but he was never
known to show himself in Court. Indeed,
he was of most eccentric ways. He occu-
pied little room over one of the business
blocks, which served as Office bedroom and
general liVing-room, and lived while there
the life of a recluse. He was a fine, dis
Notwithstanding man-tall, slender, and
of dark complexion, with quick, nervous
aAanneIA H s face always pale and clean
HsnaveA was q classic mold, and he looked
like han of high mental attainments.
He invariably wore black cloth coat, but
toned close up under the chin, both in
summer and winter. He was an enigma to
the people of the village, who never got
glimpse of him but once day. Just once
a day and at q certain hour he would de-
scend the narrow passage-way from his
room to the street, accompanied by his
only associate, a great black and-white
Newfoundland dog, which shared with
him his scanty lodgings and-as the public
were led to believe-eVen his bed. After
casting glance up and down the street, as
if to assure himself that the coast was
clear, Montgomery land his dog would
make a break directly across to a small
Ia GU 10 hi oh
they would soon emerge, the master bear
ing in his hand paper of food. Another
rush across the street and the twain would
disappear up the stairway and into the
mysterious chamber, the interior of which
was as a sealed book to both neighbor and
ianitor Montgomery always wore high
silk hat, and in appearance looked like the
typical brokeE-d down tragedian. his whole
life was mystery to the Napa people, and
he disappeared from the place as silently
and mysteriously as he came.
......... Considerable amusement was Gre
ated in the Police Court one day by Mrs.
McGinty (prohably the mother of the gen.
tleman recently drowned), who was
charged with the theft of sack of meal.
Being informed that she might make
statement, she assumed a dgnified posi-
ton, and throwing back her disheveled
locks and revealing whisky bleared lace,
started in: Sure, yer Amer, Oh was allus
dacent woman; Oh lived long time with
Mrs. O'FlaheIty-Go bless herl-that kapes
the cimetarv, an also with Mr.. Brodericks;
an sure OF have as many recognizements
as would give ME as good carrackter as
amy man. OF alluZ had good carrackter
until OF came from San Francisco on the
stameboat-bad luck to the thing" Here
Mrs. Mc5inty became overwhelmed with
emotion, and, pausng, shed few quarts
of tears. The Court thought she haa been
punished sufficiently and ordered her dis
charge.
uusl meeting Of the State Agricultural So
ciety in 1860 over the location of the fair
for that year. The debate lasted two DAYS,
and was participated in by Rabe OF San
Francisco, ]. W. Winans, E. B. Croeker,
James W. Coffreth, a. Redington and
Others of Sacramento, Phelps of San Mateo,
Gibbons of Oakland and many others.
Some 500 votes were cast on the final bal
lot, and Sacramento won. Ten votes were
cast for Washington, Yolo county. That
meeting was probably the stormiest ever
held by the society. 1t lasted for several
DAYS. and all the debates were reported in
full in the UNION. The chief Gebaters were
E. B. Crocke-, R D. Ferguson, = Richard
son, Charles Croker, Joseph W. Wlnans,
General Hutchinson, J. 3. Saul, Charles I.
Bolts and 0. c. Wheeler.
.........There was a petition before the
Legislature for the creation OF the county
of Mokelumne out of portions of Sacra-
mento and San joaquin. The territory
asked to be taken from Sacramento was
that south of the section line running east
and west through the center of township
north. BY the north line of the baylor or
Omochumnes grant, and following said
grant line 10 the township line between
townships and north; thence following
said township line to the boundary line
between Amador and Sacramento counties.
The petitioners claimed that they were so
far removed from their respective county
seats that they cid not share the benefits
from the bulk of taxation thst were en-
loved by those living nearer the centers OF
population.
1.-THE Sacramento correspondent Of
a San Francisco paper, writing of the pros
pect of the Legislature then in session re-
moving the State Capital to that city, said:
Garry the Imagination forward two cen
turtles, and what gorgeous picture fills the
mind, of the Queen of the Pacific setting in
mslssty upon innumerable hills The
UNION remarked that il feared the only