Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/423



which, had  it  not  missed  its  aim,  would  have  killed him. Being unarmed,  and  unable  to  procure  a weapon  on  board,  the  officer  was  obliged  to  return without having  accomplished  his  purpose.

In May  1853,  one  of  the  frequent  disputes  arose  as to  the  possession  of  a  certain  piece  of  land  at  Santa Barbara. Jack Powers  had  settled  upon  a  tract about two  miles  from  town,  which  Nicholas  Den claimed to  have  leased  for  a  number  of  years  from  the government. The case  was  decided  in  Den's  favor  in the  district  court,  and  afterward  in  the  supreme  court. Nevertheless, Powers  refused  to  give  up  possession, claiming that  as  it  was  government  property,  it  was free to  all  American  citizens. Sheriff Twist  deter- mined to eject  him  by  force. Powers then  collected fifteen of  his  friends,  and  formed  a  sort  of  barricade on the  rancho,  by  felling  trees,  piling  up  logs,  and  ar- ranging wagons for  the  purpose. They had  liquors and food  provided  for  a  number  of  days,  and  several pieces of  music  to  enliven  the  time. Well armed with revolvers,  rifles,  and  shot-guns  they  were  pre- pared to resist  the  officers. Three of  Powers'  adher- ents, on the  way  to  his  place,  encountered  the  sheriff and others,  who  were  trying  to  take  out  the  spikes that had  been  put  in  the  cannon  the  previous  night. Words ensued  as  to  their  intended  use  of  the  cannon, which resulted  in  a  serious  melee  with  several wounded and  some  killed  on  both  sides.

Not less  than  200  men,  squatters  on  the  Fitch,  the Pena, and  the  Berreyesa  grants,  situated  about Healdsburg on  Russian  river,  banded  for  mutual  pro- tection in movements  defensive  and  au:g:ressive. Sonoma and  Santa  Rosa  valleys  in  common  with  al- most all parts  of  the  state  covered  with  Mexican grants, have  been  the  scenes  of  repeated  assassinations and outbreaks,  of  which  I  give  n  instance. In April 1858 fifty  armed  men  attacked  the  government  sur- veyor, Tracy, then  acting  under  instructions  issued by Mandeville,  surveyor  general,  seized  and  tore  in