Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/251



the place. Next morning  Morgan  took  peaceable possession of  the  hill,  but  when  the  squatters  saw  by how  small  a  force  they  had  been  ousted,  bristling  with arms, and  ranged  in  three  concentric  circles,  they  sur- rounded the hill  to  the  number  of  about  one  hundred and fifty,  and  threatened  the  Morgan  party  with  ex- termination if they  did  not  leave  immediately. After calm consultation,  the  besieged  concluded  to  withdraw, wisely preferring  to  trust  their  cause  to  a  course  of moderation  than  to  mar  it  by  bloodshed. Posting notices of  warning  to  intruders,  and  leaving  one  of their  number  to  act  as  their  agent,  they  withdrew. The besiegers  then  ascended  the  hill  and  took  posses- sion ; the  agent  they  seized,  and  declared  him  under arrest.

This is  one  version  of  the  story ;  I  have  another. Hance and  Finnegan  owned  a  rich  quartz  claim,  dis- covered in 1849,  on  Carson  hill. Needing machinery, Fmnegan went  east  to  purchase  it,  and  was  gone  about two years. On his  return,  he  learned  to  his  astonish- ment that Hance  had  sold  the  claim  to  Morgan  and Company, and  had  absconded  with  the  proceeds. Finnegan's mind  was  troubled  yet  more  when  informed that the  claim  had  yielded  over  a  million  of  dollars. December of  1851  saw  the  Hill  the  centre  of  great commotion. Tearfully Finnegan  besought  the  miners' aid; so  they  drove  Morgan  out,  and  placed  him  in possession. Morgan called  upon  the  courts  to  save him, and  the  courts  placed  Morgan  in  possession. But what is  law  without  popular  support  ? Finnegan called his friends,  the  miners,  together ;  the  call  was  largely answered, for  the  country  for  miles  around  was  .by this  time  deeply  stirred. In fact,  it  was  open  war  be- tween the people  and  the  courts. At this  meeting, the miners  voted  the  judge's  decision  a  fraud. They resolved that  Morgan  should  leave  the  Hill,  and  then drove him  away. It was  now  Morgan's  turn  to  secure allies. Calling a  meeting,  which  was  likewise  largely attended, he  secured  a  host  of  adherents,  who