The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-04-24
CAREER OF WARREN.
Father Of Josie Mansfield Pioneer IN
California.

abhoA VI JOoie MdnSnelQ q Rl0neer n
California.
Josie Mansfield, whose gay career i'm
Gotham generation ago is well re-
membered, had father whose career
was also reIn2rkable-a mixture Of the
heroic and tragic. said California
forty-n.ner the other day in renlin-
scent mood Mansfield Warren came
from New Orleans to San Francisco in
the early forties. He came after gold,
like the rest of Us, but, as he was
small, sickly consumptive looking fel-
low, he did not pan out well as a dig
ger in the mines. 10 he went to edit
ing weekly newspaper at Stockton.
No sooner had he started up than the
other editor went for him-in mis- paper
In those days personal journalism
was the thing, and in California the
editors spoke right out, calling each
other all kinds Of names not used ia
society. Warren replied, but in a gem
tlemanly way. While this newspaper
war was going on one Of the merchants
attacked Warren for some alleged slight
ana Warren being small aud physical
y weak got the worst Of the one sided
fight. He was 80 badly used up that
he stated, a. soon a. he got out Of bed.
that he would kill the next man who
attacked him. Accordingly, he pur-
chased a long bowie knife. II 80 hap
pened that the editor Of the rival sheet
again abused him, and before Warren's
paper came cut he was attacked on tie
streets by his opponent He knocked
Warren down jumped on him and was
beating him numerically. Warren
succeeded in unsheathing his bowie
knife, when he stabbed the aggressor
to the heart.
son the trial it was proved that
Warren had threatened 10 kill the next
man whom he might fight also that
he had bought the bowie knife imne-
dfateiy after making the threat The
defense argued that Warren did not
have the rival editor in mind ct these
times, and furthermore that he acted
in self defense, which was the truth.
However, he was found guilty and sen
fenced to be hanged. The Governor
c0minuted the sentence 10 life impris-
oament, and il year or two Warren
was parloned.
''lhe family removed to san Fran
cisco, and here Josie began to assist in
the elevation Of the stage.
"As soon as she became prosperous
she lef; the family in their old age and
poverty and fitted eastward to become
notorious as the cause Of the murder of
Jim Fisk.
Il lost track of Warren until 1859.
| met him in New Orleans. lie show
cd me the first issue Of the True Jefer-
s1"ia', redhot Democratic paper that
he had just started at CarTolltOn, a sub
ur6 Of New Orleans. He spoke -ery
little Of California and Californian,
and what Ee did say was rather un-
complimentary, and I 90 not centure
him for it. He died few years after
ward abOu. the time of the tragedy CT
which his daughter was the central
figure. He visited his daughter in
New York during the height of her
career and was very coldIy received,
am told. At any rate, he lived poor
and died as poor s.he had lived.
Il may mention an instance in his
career which viii show that he was not
q coward. II was the custom Of the
miners 70 ship their gold dust by steam
er from Sacramento 20 san Francisco.
About l,090,0)) was made in one ship
ment, guarded by Warren and half
dozen assistants. About 80 rOughs en-
barized on the steamer under the guise
of cattlemen and ranchTlen en- route to
Frisco on business. The treasure room
was amidships or the lower deck The
steamers in those days carried a small
cannon at the bCw, which was dis
charged on landing, 80 a. to notify the
settlers. I also frightened the savage
Indians, who soon came to regard the
.'ficatiHg houses with fear and super
stitiOn. Warren suspected a move on
the part OF the roughs and fixed the
gun on pivot, 50 that il would COM
mand tine stern OF the boat and the ap-
pToach u the treasure room. lie heav-
ily loaded the gun and then threw in
handful of nails for scattering shot
The attack, he was informed was to lie
made at san-down, just a. soon as the
boat was rounding the Pirates cove,
about 30 miles above san Francisco.
Warren and his men assembled in the
bow aud soon noticed number of
mel forming on the stern of the boat
and Others joining them from the cab
in above by coming down the back
stairway. The cannon was immedi-
ately reversed, and Warren and his
men drew their revOlvers. $50 up
stairs, or I'll turn her loose and NOW
YOU down like wheat - shouted War
rem as ne stood ready to let er go
''The roughs, seeing that they were
outflanked, recoiled in disorder, and
some ran up stairs. Just at that mo-
ment the boat ran on sand bar and
WAS keeled over, nearly upsetting her.
The roughs were panic-stricken, doabt-
less thinking this was part of the pro-
sraIa, and some of them jumped over
board. In few hours, fortunately,
another boat came along and hauled
Us of the bar, and we arrived safely at
Sln Francisco with our 1899, 900 in
gold dust. No; those who jumped
overheard did not get blc.I. We would
no; let anybody board Us at that stage
of the proceedings, especially - we
knew who they were. They may have
swun ashore, though concluded the
fogty-niner is a rather doIbting tone as
to the ultimate safety OF the roughs-
six Astcri- led Mules.