Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/422



chiefly of  immigrants  from  the  western  states,  where Spanish grants  were  unknown. Schooled in  the  doc- trine that all  unoccupied  American  soil  is  free,  they knew and  cared  to  know  nothing  of  the  land  laws other than  the  laws  of  preemption ;  and  to  be  driven from their  lots  by  speculators  claiming  under  the Sutter title  was  unbearable  tyranny.

The trouble  had  long  been  brewing. Much feeling prevailed during  the  winter  of  1849-50,  and  the squatter element  then  lacked  only  a  leader  openly  to resist. Such a  spirit  at  length  appeared  under  the name of  Dr  Robinson,  who  was  seconded  by  one Mahoney. One of  the  squatters  had  been  ejected by the  authorities,  and  two  arrested  as  before  men- tioned. Meanwhile the  squatters  had  been  collecting arms and  ammunition  with  which  to  oppose  the  exe- cution of the  law. Robinson was  arrested,  passed the form  of  trial,  and  was  released. Not long  after he was  elected  to  the  leo-islature  from  Sacramento county, an  act  on  the  part  of  the  people  significant  of their  sympathy.

An organized  band  of  squatters,  some  eighty  in number,  who  had  taken  up  claims  on  an  island  in Feather  river,  known  as  the  Jimeno  grant,  told  the deputy United  States  marshal,  who  in  May,  1853, was attempting  to  serve  certain  summons,  that  they had contributed  $3,000,  with  which  to  defend  the suit, that  they  were  now  carrying  it  to  the  supreme court, and  if  they  lost  it  there  they  should  then  fight. They told  the  officer,  moreover,  that  if  he  attempted to serve  his  summons  they  would  kill  him. The mar- shal retired and  took  the  boat  for  San  Francisco. Stopping at  a  wood-yard,  he  learned  that  the  proprie- tor, Holiday, was  one  of  the  persons  for  whom  he  had a summons. The marshal  delivered  the  writ  and  be- gan to read  the  summons,  when  he  was  interrupted with, "Waal,  I  suppose  I  may  as  well  kill  you  now  as any  time,"  at  the  same  time  receiving  on  his  arm, which he  had  thrown  up  to  protect  his  head,  a  blow