The record-union., 1891-03-15
THIRTY YEARS ago.
How a Forest Hill Miner Smoked
Away a Fortune.
Wood-Sawing Contest for the Cham
pfonship Belt-A Controllers
Clerk on the Rampage.

They used to have wood-sawing con-
tests in those barbaric times, a pas
time that seems to have quite disappeared
with modern civilization. One of these
affairs took place at Rough and Ready,
Placer County, and was thus reported in
the Transcript: "Gephard came to the
scratch looking confident of success. An
immense crowd had assembled to witness
the performance. John Davis accom-
panied him, holding large piece of fat
bacon to grease the saw. Steve Collins
was sponge-holder, and Roberts bottle
holder-an performing their parts well,
especially the bottle-holder, who proved
himself an adept in that line. Gephard
let himself out, and was Justify cheered
by his friends, as stick after stick was
sawed in rapid succession. The perspira-
ton ran from him in streams, and it soon
became evident that he could not hold
out long at such speed. At the expiration
of six minutes he submitted to the
sponging process, and little stimulant
was administered. He then pitched in
with determination for four minutes
more, when he appeared very weak. AT
the eleventh minute he gave up the con-
test, his wind having failed him. The
belt and money were then awarded to his
competitor, McKoy, who was proclaimed
champion wood-sawyer.' 1t is quite
likely that there are still residents of
Rough and Ready who can recall that
novel contest, but it is doubtful if the
bottle-holder yet survives.
........A modest-appearing little item
among the news clippings in the UNION
of March Z, 1861, taken from an Eastern
paper, read as follows: "An old Califor-
nian.-Captain w. T. Sherman, late of
Ohio, who was formerly in the army,
and spent some years in Louisiana,
where he had charge of a military
school, resigned his post on the pas
sage of the secession ordinance by
that State, and is preparing to go North.
He prefers to maintain his allegiance to
the United States, rather than renounce
it for that of the Pelican nation. Captain
Sherman is brother of John Sherman,
and son-in-law of Thos. Ewing. He re-
signed his commission in the army while
stationed in California, and became a
member Of the banking firm of Lucas,
Turner d Co., on the dissolution of
which he removed to st. Louis, whence
he went to Louisiana"
This Captain Sherman was few years
afterward leading one Of the armies of the
Union down through the rebellious
States, crushing the life-blood out of the
secession monster. A few weeks ago the
nation laid him at rest in the churchyard,
and the civilized world mourned the
death one of the greatest military Cap
tains of the age.
.........The press was discussing the atti-
tude of the various religious denomina-
tions on the question of the dismember-
ment of the Union. In this connection
an address delivered by Archbishop Pur-
cell, Of Cincinnati, was widely quoted
and commented upon, for its spirit of
patriotism and loyalty. In the course of
his address the Archbishop said: every
where throughout the world the clouds
hang in darkness. 1t would seem as il
the death-knell OF our glorious Union had
already been heard-that it was to be dis
membered and torn into fragments; that
State would part from State, and cities
from the States to which they belong.
Oh! what is the treason of those men
who thus sacrifice the noblest hopes OF
man! And who is there that would not
lay down his life willing sacrifice to
preserve the union of these States? A
Union modelled after that of our church,
which allows every man the largest
liberty in doing right, and only restrains
him when he attempts evil.''
.........Mr. and Mrs. Barney Williams
were drawing packed houses in st. Louis.
......Joe Jefferson had just thrown up a
New Orleans engagement to come to
California......J E. Murdoch was playing
at the Walnut-street Theater, Philadel-
phia.. Forrest was in New York. The
Old Bowery Company was playing
'Tippo Saib'' in Boston 1.-THE Seven
Sisters" was holding the boards at Laura
Keene's Theater... ...Sothern was doing
well in Washington, and Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles Kean were playing Hamlet in
T PiSl,n
considering an offer of $500 to sing for a
few months in London. Charlotte
Champion was the first to appear at the
new theater just opened in Columbus, o.,
and played Hamlet Mrs. Barrow,
George Pauncefort, w. Carter, Mr.. and
Mrs. N. T. Davenport, E. w. Marsten,
Miss Lizzie Emmons, Mrs. Mary Mel
company at the Worcester Theater.
.........A rattling row occurred in the
Union Hotel saloon about 2 o'clock one
morning that caused quite a commotion.
William Newsom, a clerk in the Con-
troller's office, was ION a Jag" and drew
line across the floor. He called it a
secession line, and dared anyone to cross
it. Police Captain McClory and a couple
of friends had been taking oysters at the
farther end of the room, and when they
moved toward the front had to cross the
line. Newsom grabbed tumbler from
the bar and was about to hurl it at Nc
Glory, but Barney Mulligan seized him
and took it away. Newsom then seized
another tumbler and threw it at Emmet
Doyle, San Francisco lawyer, hitting
him in the eye. The glass had broken,
and Doyle's eye was shockingly mu-
tilated. Bystanders then rushed in and
secured Newsom.
......... Officers Burke and Keyser had
some lively pistol practice on street one
day. They saw man on horseback and
leading another animal, near Tenth, and,
concluding he must be horse-thief, they
hailed him. Their conclusions were
probably correct, for he let go the extra
animal and put spurs to his horse. The
officers jerked out their pistols and
banged away at him, but he escaped them.
His hat fell off, however, and when
picked up it was found to have two bullet
holes in it. They then got horses and
near Suffers Fort. Sure enough he
proved to be horse-thief, both horses
having been stolen from Faber's ranch in
Yolo. But the officers came near killing
him before they knew he was q criminal.
.........General 10 Lane of Oregon, al
though prominent man in political cir
cles in those days, was noted for his
the press the following as letter written
by him from New Orleans to his wife:
''Dere Cane: 1 rite to tell you that j
have dissoluted, in common with the
Sowth. We are afeared o. Jeemes
Buchanan; he is two korrupt for us, d
we have resolved to throw him on the
tender mussy of the North. i can't tell
when will ce you, the kuntry needs my
survives, Il wont Civ her up. Sci the
COW and git some money, for i expect a
Office now"
Larry Finn was Woodworking
man who lived at Forest Hill, Placer
County. One day he received draft for
the amount of rich legacy left him by a
man named Luke. Larry couldn't read,
SO he lit his pipe with the draft. Before
h.,l x,El L. Lot. -