es by the lower classes
against Spaniards pass unnoticed. Innumerable drunken fights. Broken
heads and collarbones, stabbings. "Sabbaths almost always enlivened by
such merry events". Body of Frenchman found in river. Murder evident.
Suspicion falls on nobody.

LETTER _the_ NINETEENTH PAGE 259

MURDER, THEFT, RIOT, HANGING, WHIPPING, &C.

Three weeks of excitement at Indian Bar. Murders, fearful accidents,
bloody deaths, whippings, hanging, an attempted suicide, etc.
Sabbath-morning walk in the hills. Miners' ditch rivaling in beauty the
work of nature. Fatal stabbing by a Spaniard. He afterwards parades
street with a Mexicana, brandishing along bloody knife. His pursuit by
and escape from the infuriated Americans. Unfounded rumor of conspiracy
of the Spaniards to murder the Americans. Spaniards barricade
themselves. Grief of Spanish woman over corpse of murdered man. Miners
arrive from Rich Bar. Wild cry for vengeance, and for expulsion of
Spaniards. The author prevailed upon to retire to place of safety.
Accidental discharge of gun when drunken owner of vile resort attempts
to force way through armed guard. Two seriously wounded. Sobering
effect of the accident. Vigilance committee organized. Suspected
Spaniards arrested. Trial of the Mexicana. Always wore male attire, was
foremost in fray, and, armed with brace of pistols, fought like a fury.
Sentenced to leave by daylight. Indirect cause of fight. Woman always
to blame. Trial of ringleaders. Sentences of whipping, and to leave.
Confiscation of property for benefit of wounded. Anguish of the author
when Spaniards were whipped. Young Spaniard movingly but vainly pleads
for death instead of whipping. His oath to murder every American he
should afterwards meet alone. Doubtless will keep his word. Murder of
Mr. Bacon, a ranchero, for his money, by his negro cook. Murderer
caught at Sacramento with part of money. His trial at Rich Bar by the
vigilantes. Sentence of death by hanging. Another negro attempts
suicide. Accuses the mulatto Ned of attempt to murder him. Dr. C. in
trouble for binding up negro's self-inflicted wounds. Formation of
"Moguls," who make night hideous. Vigilantes do not interfere. Duel at
Missouri Bar. Fatal results. A large crowd present. Vigilance committee
also present. "But you must remember that this is California."

LETTER _the_ TWENTIETH PAGE 281

MURDER--MINING