The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-04-05
CAREER OF WARREN,
FATHER OF JOSIE MANSFIELD A PIo'
NEER IN CALIFORNIA.

3
Josie Mansfield, whose gay career III
Gotham a generation age is we'll remem'
cered. had father whose career wa;
also -en,arkable-a mixture of the he
role aud tragic Said California forty
miner the ether day in a reminiscent
mood Mansfield Warren came from
New Orleans TO San Francisco in the
early fifties He came after gold, like
the rest of US. but. as he was small,
sickly, consumptive looking fellow. ne
did not pan cut we'll as digger IN the
mines So he went TO editing weekly
newspaper at Stockton Nc sooner had
he started up than the other editor went
tor HMM his paper
In those days personal Journalism
was the thing, and il California the ed
itors spoke right out. calling each other
all kinds OF names not used In society
Warren replied. but in q gentlemanly
way While this newspaper war was
going on one Of the merchants attacked
Warren for some alleged slight, and
Warren being small and physically
weak got the worst OF the one sldeo
fight. He was so badly used up that he
stated. as soon as he got out OF bed, that
he would kill the next man who attack
ed him Accordingly. he purchased a
long bowie knife 1t so happened that
the editor Of the rival sheet again
abused him, and before Warren's paper
came out he was attacked on the 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
"On the trial it was proved that war
rem had threatened to kill the next man
whom he might fight; also that no had
bought the bowie knife Immediately
after making the threat The defense
ARMED that Warren did not have the
rival editor in mind at these times, and
furthermore that he acted in self de-
Tense, which was the truth, However,
he was found guilty and sentenced to be
| hanged. The governor committed the
! sentence to life imprisonment, and In
year or two Warren was pardoned
1.-The family removed to San Francis
| CO, ana nero JOsiS DSS'ih w "S9toO - ''-N
elevation of the stage.
"As soon as she became prosperous
she left the family i'll their old age ana
poverty and fitted eastward to become
notorious as the cause Of the murder OF
Jim Fisk.
Il lost track Of Warren until 1869.
met him in New Orleans. He showed
me the first issue of The True Jefferso
MAN, q redhot Democratic paper that he
had Just started at Carrollton, q suburb
of New Orleans. He spoke very llttie
of California and Californians, anc
what he did say was rather uncompli
mentary, and do not censure him FOL
it, He died few years afterward abou
the time Of the tragedy of which hi
, wayward daughter was the central Zig
ure. He visited his daughter in New
! York during the height of her caree
and was very coldly received, am told
At any rate, he lived poor and died a
: poor as he had lived
|, II may mention an instance In III
: career which will show that he was no
a coward TWAS the custom of the min
. ers to ship their gold dust by steame
!, from Sacramento to San Francisco
= About 81, 900, 900 was made in one ship
= ment, guarded by Warren and hal
!, dozen assistants. About 90 roughs EN-
= barked on the steamer under the guls
), of cattlemen and rauchmen ell route
Frisco on business The treasure roof
was amidships on the lower deck. In
steamers in those days carried sma
: cannon at the bow, which was di'
:, charged OH landing, so as to notify tn
settlers It also frightened the savae
Indians, who soon came to regard tf
, floating houses with fear and superst
" ton. Warren suspected a move on tt
:. part of the roughs and fixed the gun 9
- a pivot, so that it would command IL
. stern of the boat and the approach
the treasure ROOM He heavily loade
u the gun and then threw in handful
~ nails for scattering shot. The attack,
was informed. was to be made at su
y down, Just as the boat was roundii
- the Pirates cove. about 30 miles abo
~ San Francisco. Warren and his men Q
o sembled in the bow and SOON noticed
number Of men forming on the stern
"a the cabin above by coming down the ba
~ stairway The cannon was Immediate
- reversed, and Warren and his men DIRE
their revolvers. Go up stairs, or l
!, ~ turn her loose and NOW You down II
no wheatl' shouted Warren as he sto
ready to let 'er go.
''The roughs seeing that they we
:, outflanked, recoiled in disorder,
~ some ran up stairs Just at that n
' ment the boat ran on sand bar
~ was keeled over. nearly upsetting N
'no The roughs were panic stricken. dou
o.. less thinking this was part OF the p
a' gramme. and some Of them jump
w overheard The cannon also went ov
u board. In few hours. fortunately.
10" other boat came along and hauled us
,ue the bar. and we arrived safely ut :
us Francisco with our $1,000, 600 in g
~ dust. No; those who jumped overbo
"a did not get back. We would not let o.
v body board us at that stage OF the p