Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/421



that they  held  a  mass  meeting,  and  declared  thd  state government unlawful  and  the  authorities  not  to  be obeyed. Two of  their  number  were  arrested,  charged with rebellion,  and  lodged  in  the  prison  brig.  On the  day  above  mentioned  forty  armed  men,  under  a mounted  leader,  marched  through  the  streets  down to the  prison  brig  for  the  purpose  of  releasing  the prisoners, and  also  to  recover  certain  lumber  of  which one of  their  number  had  been  dispossessed.

Arrived at  the  levee  they  found  close  at  their  heels a large  crowd  hooting  at  them,  and  making  warlike demonstrations. The mayor,  sheriff,  and  other  offi- cials were on  the  spot. Closely pressed  by  the  popu- lace, the squatters  wheeled  and  fired. The mayor, assessor, and  a  dozen  others  were  struck,  several mortally. The fire  was  returned  by  the  sheriff  and his supporters,  and  continued  for  about  an  hour. The leader  of  the  squatters  was  killed  and  the  band finally dispersed. Thus far  five  or  six  only  were  dead. Next day  the  sheriff  with  about  twenty  men  set  out in the  direction  of  the  fort  for  the  purpose  of  arrest- ing such squatters  as  they  could  find. Stopping at  a saloon  to  drink,  the  sheriff's  party  was  fired  upon  by squatters  concealed  in  an  adjoining  room,  and  a  gen- eral melee ensued,  in  which  three,  including  the sherifi", were  killed,  several  wounded,  and  four  squat- ters taken  prisoners.  On  receipt  of  the  news,  the governor,  then  at  San  Jose,  ordered  a  brigade  of militia  to  proceed  to  Sacramento  and  assist  in  quelling the  riot.  This  uprising  of  the  squatters  was  con- demned on  all  sides;  a  torrent  of  public  indignation burst  upon  them  from  all  parts  of  the  state.  For taking  up  arms  against  the  constituted  authorities, there  appeared  no  justification,  no  palliation.  Cali- fornia was  not  yet  a  state;  the  titles  to  public  lands and  Mexican  o-rants  were  ill  understood,  but  a  resort to  arms  was  not  the  way  to  settle  them.

Such, briefly,  Was   the  great   Sacramento   squatter riot   of   1850. The   squatter    party    was    composed