The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-22

wounding of a fourth man. He was Paul
Muller, native of Switzerland whom j
first met at Vallejo Junction He went TO
work as foreman under me as superln-
tendent. While in San Francisco previous
to going to the mine he met friend OF
my brothers. James O'Connor and when
Muller was sent UP 10 the mine in Octo-
Der he took OConnor along with him as
a companion till New Years night, when
1t was arranged that he should JUMP"
the claim. as the property would then re-
vert 10 the public domain, because no
assessment work was done on 1t for the
year then closing.
i sim retained a fourth interest in the
Gold Ridge, though at the time ! was at
another camp about four miles away. In
my employ was Dan 0'Connor, brother
of James. Knowing that l would not
tamely submit TO having my interest TAX
en- away in that manner. James O'Con-
nor was brought upon the scene with
hope of neutrahZing action on my part
There was no trouble till the. time came
for action on behalf of Dan DConnor, !
attached the provisions IN the Gold Ridge
House, and on the morning of Dec. 81,
1856, left my cabin at the Hllda with owen
White friend for the mine. Al Milton,
on the way, we met Dan O'Connor We
told him We were going to the 'Rldse' 10
remove the supplies then under attach
ment He accompanied us, as we needed
help to haul the provisions away on sled.
Upon arriving at the Gold Ridge camp
we met Paul Muller and James O'Connor,
a brother of Dan.
1T was then about $50 O'Clock at nignA
A dispute arose. during which James
O'Connor attacked me and l fired a shot
over his shoulder TO frghten him. AS
fired, Paul Muller who was sitting on his
bed with his rifle across his knees tired
at me, but 1 anticipated him and saved
myself by twisting James O'Connor in
front Of me. The rife bullet intended for
me struck james at the hip pocket, SMASH
ed the handle OF his pistol. and then, split
ting in two, a portion catered the body,
where 1t still remains. l opened fire on
Muller with my revolver. The first snot
hit him in the groin, but he recovered and
returned the fire. While he was pumping
out an empty shell | shot him and he drop
ped the rife. After it was over ! took
their weapons and smashed them against
a tree. We searched Muller's pockets and
found several location notices, which he
intended 60 post at midnight but at mid
night we posted our own notices and saved
our property.
1--WE hauled the dead and the wounded
man on sleds to Sierra City where l SUR
rendered myself. l was tried in Truckee
and discharged, as 1t was proved positive
''The mine was operated soon afterward
and Dan O'Connor worked there till June,
when he became very threatening in his
manner toward me. and told several per-
sons he intended killing me for causing
his brother to be wounded. On oct is last
we met at the foot of the Hilda trail, three
miles from Sierra City, and O'Connor in-
stantly opened fire. A bullet whizzed past
my cheek and then another before l could
get my rifle into position. In his anxiety
TO fire rapidly, O'Connor's pistol got check
ed so the cylinder would not revolYe~ He
lowered il 10 turn the cylinder with his
hand, but before he could raise it again he
was shot In the neck and dropped dead"
Two months after O'CoHnor was shot
sentence of twenty-five years imprison-
ment in San Quentin prison was passed on
Phelan. one of the trial jurors who had
| held out for acqu.ttal was Thomas Paul
ing, a respected pioneoE OF Sierra county.
known from the early days as scotch
Tom" repented of having been induced TO
agree to a compromise verdict He became
remorseful and mentioned the matter to
everybody he met, telling them also that
he believed Phelan fired In self-defense.
| When Phelan wes led into the court room
to receive his 'sentencefa tragic scene was
witnessed. Just as the judge pronounced
the miners fate a man fell from the gal
lery to the floor below, striking on his
head and dying instantly. 1t was Thomas
Pauling the fifteenth man to meet a sud-
den death afttr coming in contact with the
unlucky Gold Ridge mine in the high Ser
ras.