Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/258



yielding   to    necessity    was    tearing    down    the     ob- struction.

Sheldon's rancho  on  the  Cosumnes  was  the  scene of civil  discord  during  the  first  days  of  July  1851. A dam had  been  built  by  Sheldon  for  the  purpose  of  ir- rigating his land. But while  a  benefit  to  him,  it  was a great  injury  to  the  miners  working  on  the  river above, as  the  water  flowed  back  on  their  claims ;  where- fore they rebelled  and  threatened  to  destroy  his  works. Sheldon, bringing  150  ranchmen  to  his  support,  with a six-pounder  placed  in  position,  prepared  to  resist  the miners. The latter,  however,  in  Sheldon's  absence, spiked the  cannon  and  took  prisoner  the  man  who  had charge of  it. Sheldon, upon  his  return,  finding  the miners advancing  with  axes  to  cut  away  the  centre  of the  breastwork,  undertook  to  defend  the  dam,  and with twelve  allies  walked  forward  and  took  positions in different  places,  Sheldon  then  remonstrated  with the miners,  told  them  that  they  were  trespassing  on his  property,  and  threatened  death  to  the  first  man who should  attempt  to  cut  away  the  dam. Immedi- ately a shot  was  fired  from  the  besieging  party,  strik- ing;; Johnson, one  of  Sheldon's  adherents,  and  almost instantly killing  him. Some one  in  the  crowd  ex- claimed, "there, we've  killed  Johnson,  now  give  it  to Sheldon,  give  it  to  Sheldon ! "  Half  a  dozen  guns were aimed  at  him,  and  he,  too,  fell  dead. Another of his  party  was  killed  and  two  wounded. Several were taken  prisoners,  but  speedily  released. The num- ber of miners  is  variously  estimated  at  from  forty  to one  hundred. They escaped  with  little  or  no  injury.

A difiiculty  arose  at  Park  bar,  about  the  middle  of July  1851,  over  some  mining  claims. The authorities interfered, but  were  successfully  resisted  by  seven  men, who maintained  their  claim  in  a  most  defiant  manner.' The authorities  then  sent  to  Marysville  for  assistance, and two  officers,  McCloud  and  Bowen,  came  over  to make  an  arrest,  but  were  met  by  sixty  belligerents, who, armed  with  pick-handles  and  stones,