The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-26
sRNAToa FEtroN's CAREER
He Was Piucky Dandy in His BARLEY
DAYS.

ne was Plocky Dandy In His Earlier
Days.
Charles N. FELTON, OF California. oue of
the new senators sworn 10 on Monday last.
says Washington letter TO the New York
san, has an eventful career. He is a
native Of New York state, aud was a
forty-niner. When a mere boy he entered
the California gold fields. migrating from
camp to camp in the restless fashion pscul-
lar to the miners OF the great west. He was
always neatly and almost fastidiously
dressed, aud for this he was satirizsd by his
companions In camp. who did not attempt
to conceal their contempt for the dandy
who was very careful 10 brush every speck
OF dirt from his clothes and wipe the
dust from his polished high-heeled boots.
bis linen was always clean
and nicely starohed. FELTON, was
not much disposed to mingle indiscrimi-
nately among the boys yet, withal, he
was sociable enough in q quiet, superior
way, and was not unpopular with a major
ity OF his companions. He was known to
be dead game" and this in the early days
OF California covered q multitude OF sins
he became a candidate for sheriff Of Yuba
county. His, opponent preferred serious
charges against the young New Yorker. Il
was alleged from the stump that he i'm
ported bis white shirts, and that they cost
50 each. FELTON, ignored these allegations
as long as he could, but when the popular
ciamor against him became too pronounced
he met the accusations In this wise:
"You see these clothesi They're mine:
bought and paid for them. / imported
these shirts aud my studs are genuine. Call
tfornia laws do not forbid my wearing
them II choose. / will continue to wear
what please, and If you don't like it you
can go to hell.n
Strangely enough he was elected, but by
bare majority, In the year 1854. or there
abouts. mob collected at Marysville and
took prisoner from the Jail TO hang him.
Mike Gray, az that time celebrated for MS
filisbustering exploit in Nicaragua. arrived
III the town, and. approaching the young
sherlff, this dialogue ensued;
Young man, what's your namew
Felton,
For the love of God. you're not the
sheriff, are youl"
=" / am the sheriff."
"Do you see that man over thereg, point
ing TO the wretch who was even then hay-
ing the moose adjusted around his neck.
II see him."
"Are you aware that you have o duty to
perSormi Have you pistol n
"Then follow me.p
These two accompanied by two others,
arrived at the spot. FELTON, stood up in q
wagon, surrounded by the mob, and mos
ever since been noted for his eptgrammatic
speech. Said he:
"Hents, you are many and we are few,
but II you don't give US that prisoner we
will get some of You.n
And with this they flashed four revolvers
before the astontshed eyes of the mob. The
prisoner was finally rescued and marched
back to the Jail at the top Of a hill, followed
by the bowling mob with pistols drawn.
FELTON, was afterward elected 10 the impor
tant and lucrative office OF tax collector Of
Yuba county. After time he went to
San Francisco, became a stock operator,
and was interested IN the Spring VAL
ley Water Company, which supplies
water to the city OF San Francisco. For
tunate land speoulations Ia Alameda
county, Of which Oakland is the county
seat. increased his wealth. He held the
Office of sub.treasurer of the United States
at San Francisco for term of years. was
twice elected assemblyman. and was once
defeated In the legislature he was noted
Tor an ability to crowd moro into a three-
minute speech than any man in the state
He was twice elected to congress. His
services In that body gave him no great
reputation for either oratory or statesman
ship. In March, 1891, be was elected
Hearst, deceased. His principal conn
petitor was Morris NJ. Estee. During the
| contest story was circulated and published
to the effeot that Estee, rummaging In a
waste basket one day, brought forth hand
full of small pieces of paper, which, being
fitted together, proved TO be list Of legis-
lators, with some figures and dollor mark
set opposite each name, and that these legis-
lators voted for Mr.. FELTON,. The assembly
| Of California usually contains number Of
politicians openly charged with being COR
rupt, and many Of the stories told about
the use of money In Senate campaigns
are generally believed. 1t was formally
| charged that che Southern Pacific
railroad contributed money to defeat Estee,
and Senator Stanford stole a march on his
enemies and left for the east Just as sub
pona was to be issued for him to appear in
court and produce the book of the COM
pany of which he is president. The grand
| jury is now Investigating the matter. Mr..
FELTON, was acquitted OF any wrongdoing,
as was shown by his election. The new
senator is a millionaire and lives in luxury
at Menlo Park, San Francisco, where he Is
neighbor Of his colleague, Senator Leland
| Stanford.