CALIFORNIAN EXTRACTS. REPORT OF COL. RALSTON.

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 481, 23 November 1850, Page 1

CALIFORNIAN EXTRACTS. REPORT OF COL. RALSTON.

(From the " Picayune," Sept. 12.) To the Committee for the relief of destitute EMIGRANTS, APPOINTED BY THE CITIZENS OV SaCRAMENTO : Sacramento, Sept. 6, 1850. Gentlemen,— On my way hither I met, on the 27th July last, at the west end of the great Desert terminating on Carson , river, my friend J. Nearly Johmon, Esq., charged with the distribution of the fund* and provisions furnished by the benevolence of the citizens of this and other cities, to relieve the destitute and suffering emigrants on their nay acrois the Plains. Having passed many thousands of the emigrants en route, I wai enabled to impart to Mr. Johmon much information touching their distressed condition. I also at once gave him all the aid in my power in relieving the sick, destitute, and starving among the crowds who thronged the trail, On the 7th. day of August Mr. J. left the station on Carson river, on his return to tbii city, and I then took exclusive charge of the remnant of your .supplies, and continued to issue them until the 27th August, when they were wholly exhausted. During this time, about 1000 emigrants — all destitute of the meant of subsistence, were supplied by me: The amount furnished each was necessarily small, but still of great value to the suffering, enableding them to pursue their journey to places of greater abundance, to thatjnone perished of absolute starvation this side of that station, though I have good reasons for believing that several perished east of that station for the want of the necessiaries of lite, and still greater numbers from diseases caused by suffering and hardships incident to the trip, and from the use of unwholsome meat stripped from the carcases of dead animals lying by the wayside. During the same time, twenty four families, all that applied for assistance, received such aid as they required and I was enabled to bestow, — but I had to regret my total inability to supply many of their most pressing wants. In many cases, they were not only destitute of subsistence, and all their animals had died or been stolen by the Indians. I procured for two of these families transportation as far as Hangton,—paying in each case twenty»five pounds of flour. As the provisions in my hand grew scarce I could no longer pursue this course ; and at I had no part of the Char* ity Fund in my possession, and my private means, available, were soon exhausted, 1 could do but little to aid them. In several instances I was compelled to behold, without power to aid, aged men and Women " Whose tottering limbs protlaim their Lengthened years." purtae their toilsome journey on foot, carrying their little bundles of clothes and provisions. In a few cases I purchased on credit, to be paid for in Sacramento, some oxen for the use of families, I also purchased on credit, also to be paid for here, about sixty pounds of (lour at 4?'r75 per pound, which I issued to the last families that passed the station before my departure. Hoping to receive additional supplies and being unwilling to see the hungry go away without anythiug to eat, I purchased beef for their use at a cost of 4577*10 wheh I promised to pay in Sacramento city. Several men had remained at the station for weeks unable] to pursue their journey on foot without ability to procure a conveyance of any kind, Unless they receive aid, they must inevitably perish ; yet they would certainly recover and I think become useful citizens if they could be hauled into the settlements. Having done ull in their case* that my means would allow I specially lecomtnend them to your favourable consideration. Unable myself to furnish or procure them a conveyance I left one family at the station, supplied with several days subsistance, but without any meant whatever to carry themselves further. If individual charity has not supplied their wants ere this 1 hope your agent may speedily furnish the requisite aid. For several days before leaving the station, I sought from every available source, information about the numbers and condition of the emigration still behind, j fclie lesult of which satisfied me that there were about J 10,0 0 on the way this side of Salt Lake and Bear River who had not crossed the Great Desert, at least one half of whom would be destitute of teams and sub* sistence before reaching Carson River. About one J half of these emigrants were deluded by false reports, and led to tike a wrong road from Salt Like, leading round to the south of the Lake and uniting with the old road on Humboldt River about 200 miles above the sink. The distance by this road is greatly increased, and a desert about 00 miles long has to be crossed. Most of the animals on this route perished on the desert, and not (infrequently men, women and children sunk under the hardships of the road, and perished for want of water and food. Those who are fortunate enough to get over the desert will still have to travell near 300 miles before they reach Carson River, and but few of them will reach this point with any means to purchase subsistence. I was credibly informed that several thousand persons, among (hem many families, took this road; but«up to the time to my leaving Johnson's Station, only a few of these persons (no fa- j milies) had passed on their way in, thus leaving room j tor the few that much suffering is behind amoug this body of the emigration. At the time of my departure from Johnson's Station, provisions were exceedingly scarce amoug both emign>nts nnd traders, but I met on the road large supplies^ iv the hands of enterprising traders. I think, therefore, the amount of provisions en route to the desert in the hands of ti a Urs,and the amount laieljjseut forward by tbe active benevolence of the citizens of California, may be sufficient to supply the emigrants. But a large amount of money should be in the hands of your agent, to tmlile him to puichasc teams or hire conveyances for the i'e>titute familiei, the sick ai d the decrepid, who are unable to walk. This would enable him to effec

tually aid them across the mountains. Otherwise} many will be left to periih. The Carson River road seems to be the only road travelled by emigrant! in great numbers, the Truckee route having been abandoned on account of high water and other cauiei. All of which I moit respectfully submit to your consideration. I have the honour to be gentlemen, Your obedient serrant, J. A. RALSTON. Messrs. Henley, Bibler, and others of the Committee*

Hangtottn.— Several companiei of emigrants have armed here from this quarter — they state that there is much suffering from fever and dysentery, and confirm the report o! suffering' on the plains. It appears that traders have done well for themselves, by bartering provision!, &c, for the wagons, cattle and horses of the emigrants. No doubt considerable sums may be realized in the speculation, but we would prefer any other mode of acquiring money, rather than that arising from the urgent want of our fellow creatures.

We copy the following from a letter published in the Alia California dated "Amercan Bar, Feather River, July 15th 1850." I have recently learned of ft desperate battle that took place between the miners and Indians several miles above. The Indiana having been guilty of many unprovoked outrages and murders, the whites formed a corps of Riflemen for their common defence. While some seven or eight of the company were out prospecting they were suddenly attacked by a party of fifty or sixty natives some of whom were armed with pistols which had been imprudently sold them by the whites. The men stood their ground and were soon reinforced by their commander (Capt. Sanger), and some others who heard the firing and rushed to their aid. This little band stood their ground for three hour! under a terribly hot sun and in a most disadvantageous position, till at last the Indians disheartened by their slam, retreated. Capt* Sanger was mortally wounded, and three others severely; the former was from Maasachu' setti and the latter from Maine. Lieut, Johnson started the next day with the entire force and completely broke up all the enemy's villages or camps and entirely routed the scoundrels, so that no government aid will be needed at present. He is quite sure that he heard either an Irish or a Scotch voice among the enemy— perhaps some disgraceful miner. The Maine and Massachusetu men were dreadfully exasperated by the attack on their friends and took fearful vengeance, and the deadly rifles of the Kentuckians and Missourians told wiih terrible effsct.

DREADFUL DESTITUTION. [From tke " San Francisco Dally Herald," Sept. 10.] We have seldom had oar feelings io much chocked as by a narration of suffering detailed to us by a friend* who happened, a few days since, to stroll orer to the neighborhood of Happy Valley. Hearing cries of pain inue from a wretched tent, he turned and looked iniide. A icene of misery and destitution presented itself, of the existence of which in our midst, few of our citizeni have any conception. Two children, almost naked, were crying for food to their mother, a blind woman, who, in the attempt to cook some food, had burned herself in a shocking manner. Their history was a tad one. The family had been in fair circumstances in the States, but had come out here to seek their fortune in California. Soon after landing, the father died, and the mother was subsequently striken with blindness. WMi this infirmity sharpening the pangs of poverty and adding to them, the poor creature was dragging out a miierable existence, trying to feed her starving children, when the accident happened which attracted attention to her condition. We fear there are many instances of suffering of a like nature entirely unknown to the public ; and the approach of winter should remind us that this wretch" edness will be increased ten-fold during the rainy •canon. The thought is startling and horrible, but we believe it is nevertheless true, that people die on the outskirts of the city without the knowledge of ony human being. Several skeletons have been found at various times, in the sand, in the neighboorhood if tents, to the identity of which no clue could be discovered. There is no provision here for the destitute, unless they be sick, and then they are deterred from going to the hospital by the dreadful knowledge tha one of every four who enters its gates must die. There is no such thing as a charitable institution in San Francisco. The jobbing principle pervades the whole system, and for destitution there is no relief unless it can be turned to account. We believe our citizens will hold the Council guilty of the deaths that take place next winter from destitution and want of proper care, if the present system be continued. We have again and again called on them to act in this matter; we now repeat the ca'l; and whatever be the result, this journal, at least will have done its duty.

(from the l»te San Francisco papers.) Excusable.— A. gentleman whose name we have not been made acquainted with, being- in a very distressed condition crossing the plains, was assisted by one Win. C. Wright. The gentleman was accompanied by a daughter. After the arrival of the three lieie. Wright carried the daughter oft* to "Rough and Ready" diggins. The father went up to this place, tenrched for her in vain, tnd even offered to give Wright .S'2oo provided he would lestore her to him. ThU Wright refused to do. The old man then attempted to get satisfaction by process of law ; but failing in this exasperated and in despair, he shot Wright dead. Wright wat a gam« bier, and was from Pke county, Mo. —The old man then camp immedihtely to Sacramento city and deliv•ed himself to the authorities. We are informed that, under the circumstances, the uuthont es here promptly discharged him without a trial."- Transcript* Another Tragedit, — We have juat icceived the fol

lowing pnrliculius of a tragedy that has occuned at Hawains' IW :—: — Tlic wife of ft man named Simons, from Arkansas, at the above named place was annoyed by the repeated insulting advances and even threats of violence upon her perbon, by another man of the name S. E. Elmendoiir, formcily of Pennsylvania, of winch Mrs. Simmoiiß informed her husband who pave notice to Elmendortt, that if he persisted in coming about his premises, he would elioot him. Nothing intimidated by thii warnine, Elmendo.lT persevered; and at lost taunted Simmo™, m his wn house, with his not bav.ng fulfilled liis threat. Upon which Simmons immediately shot him with a pistol, causing his death in about thirty minutes. Considerable excitement ensued. The friends of Elmendoiff insisted upon hanging Simmons without a tiial ; but through the interference of others he was released from their hands received a hearing before a lrgnl tribunal, and was held in custody to await his trial at Sonora. JufeTiriAHi.E Homicide — We understand an affray took place at Salmon Falls last Sunday morning, during ! which Mr. McNeely (who w»s only a spectator,) was attacked by a man by the name of Childs. In oider to save hit own lite, Mr. McNeely was obliged to kill Childs, who attacked him without provocation. Previous to the quarrel, (which was generally among: a dozen or so,) Childs had aimed himself on Mr.Me Neely's account, *nd took advantage of Mr.McNeely's presence during a riot in which he had no concern, to consummate his intentions. (One more of the sad results of carrying deadly weapons in social society. They get three men into difficulty where they gave one from it, or get him out of it.)— Alia Murder at Mauysvillb. — We cut the following account from the Placer Times :—" Mr. Mills, who is working a claim on Feather* River, purchased of a packer of the name of Cargill, a quantity of goods to the amount of <BQ7, for which he condition.cd to pay him in the event of the success of his labors. The claim proved a failure, and Mills, left to go elsewhere. Cargill followed him to Marysville, and meeting him about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, opposite the United States Hotel, denaauded of him a note, which lie consented to give him payable in California. Cargill icfuscdjto accept tbii, and required that it should be payable in N. York. On declining to comply with his request, he deliberately drew a pistol and shot him through the heart, killing him instantly. Cafgill was arreited forthwith and placed in custody of the sheriff. The populace met in the evening and demanded his immediate punishment. By the intervention of Mr. Goodwin, they were induced to refrain from extreme measures, and a court would be held on Sunday morn* ing. The determination to hang the murderer was 10 general that whatever be the result of the case, there is but little chance of his escape. The court was. in session when our informant left. Murder. — We are under the painful necessity of recording another outrage in our district. One week since Major Baldwin and Mr. Atkinson were murdered in the'r tent upon the Merced, about four miles this side of Ford's Ferry. The deed was done with large pieces of rock, with which the brains of the sleeping victims were dashed out. Mr. Atkinson had for some time been in ill health. One of them after being assaulted, crept out of the tent and expired. Mr. Baldwin had also been stabbed, and his arms were . severely cut in his vain attempts to defend himielf from the aesult of the assassins. A teamster, who had stopped there, took the precaution to sleep away from Loth the tent and his team, and the appearance of his load in the morning, bore evidence that it had been searched by the murderers.— Stocton Journal. Supposed Murdkii. — We are informed, on reliable authority, that the dead body of a man was found recently in the woods near Sonora, covered with leavci find rubbish | and so much devoured and decomposed, that it was impossible to distinguish the features. He liad been dead apparently, a month or six weeks. The dress was neat, and finer than that worn by the minen. The body bore the marks of wounds inflicted by a knife or dirk, and the supposition was that the individual had been decoyed into a lonely spot, and murdered for his money. Murder near Sonora. — On Friday night, a company of gentlemen went out from Sonora to view the body of an American who h«d been discovered near the Stanislaus, within a distance of five miles from that town, by two French hunters. An inquest was held on the spot, and a verdict of wilful murder against some party unknown was returned by the jury. The head was discovered completely severed from the body, some twenty feet distant from the trunk, which was covered with the leaves and branches of trees. It was evident fiom the decayed state of the deceased, that the murder was committed at least two months •jo. A gang of lawless Americans between the Tuolume and Merced ate daily committing barefaced robberies upon unoffending Mexicans. One of their most favorite plans of rascality is to pass themselves off as collectors, in which guiie they strip their victims of almost every thing they posess. They have even be. come so daring as to drive off numbers of horses and mules from their owners. Not a day passess in which more or less of theic outrages does not occur. A Mexican was shot by a Indian, at Curtis's creek, on FriJay last. It appears that the former was in charge of a correl, and the latter attempted to drive the horses off, when he was resisted by Ihe Mexican, The Indian retaliated, nud shot the keeper of the correl in the shoulder with an arrow. AjCowardly Attempt to Kill.— There was considerble excitement yesterday, adout noon, in J St., near the Empire, occasioned by the appearance of a Spaninrd, mounted and armed, who was rushing; by the sidewalk on his horse, with a pistol in his hand, and evidently trying to get a shot at a man who was dodging through the crowd — finding it impossible to gratify his fiendish desire, he coolly rode off, leaving the crowd who had witnessed the scene lost in amazement at such*, bold a'temptto murder. Robbbry. — A few dapsr ago Judge Marvin and Sheriff Work were stopped on the banks of the Stanilaus by a Mexican, who informed them that an American had broken into a carrel and driven off a mule, his property. The Mexican attempted to 6top him, when l the American attacked him with a knife and stabbed him in the arm. The two gentlemen started in pursuit of the scoundrel, but their horses giving out, they were compelled to give it up. Misery. — A family arrived in this city about a month ' since and have been residing on L street, near the house of Judge Hastings. They consisted of a man and wife and the wife's mother. The wife has been a raving maniac since she came up from Panama. Her lunacy was caused by a painful illness which she suffe.t Jon the Isthmus. We have seen the case, and one bo t ad and fearful will gcaicely be found in the Asylunai of the East. All the parties arc of the first respecia-

bility and the mnrnrd ones had been but lately united. Thiee days ago the husband left the house and Ins just been heard of by letter dated at the Stanislaus. He wtries that he can never retui n again, that he will hence, forth be an outcast from nil civilized society, holding communion only with the savages of the mountain!. His resolution is irrevocable. What a situation ii now that of the mother and daughter. They have no resources save the sympathy of the community. The case is one that needs no pleading. Those who have so lvindly undertaken to procuve relief need only ask and it will be given.— Sac. Ti ansu i}'t. (How many thousand similar tales ot sonowand affliction are in tlic g.eat unwiitten volume of Californian History. Ah I what horrors have rewarded many instead of gold dust.)— Alia Cal-fotnin. Horrible Cruiclty.— We have read and heard of the cruelty of Spaniards towards animals, but we had never bo good an opportunity to witness it as we had this morning. As the Masonic procession move-l along StocKton street, its members were shocked by one of the most cruel exhibitions ever witnessed in a Christian community. A Spaniard or Mexican, on horseback, had two cows fastened to each other by cords passing through their nostrils and round their upper lips, attached to a rope which he held in his hand, and by which he was dragging the helpless beasts along These in their struggles, had twisted the cords and with them their lips and their noitrils flora which a stream of blood was flowing to the ground. The wretched animals were evidently weak with p»in, and their distress caused many a stout man's heart to shake, Cannot our city fathers look to the matter ? And will they not sdopt an ordinance foi bidding such wanton cruelly toward dumb animals ?

The Weatheb.— The aspect of the weather in the southern mountain region has completely changed within the last few days. — The skiei have been clouded, and at night the cold has been intense. The lerape and blanket are now the most prominent objects in the miner's costume. , We notice that there has been ram all over the country within the last few days, *nd we believe such a thing is quite unusual at this season of the year* At San Join, rain fell on Tuesday last. The Sacramento Transcript thus notices the rain in that place. We mentioned, a day or two ago, that a change in the seaion was quite perceptible. Since that time the thermometer has ranged about 75 deg. fah. Yesterday the heavens were covered with thick clouds, and at four o'clock in the afternoon the rain commenced falling. The thermometer stood at 66 deg. It has made its appearance in Stockton also, as will appear by the following from the Stockton Journal. September 10, 1850.— Rain, the first of the season fell in Stockton today. It seemed more like a " «oft and gentle dew" than anything else, compared with our rains that is rains yet to come. A Shower —Wo were visited this morning about sunrise, with quite a smart shower of rain, the first vre have had since the cloie of the lait rainy seasonThis, we presume, is a precurier of the approachiug wet weather.— Sacramento Transcript. Tub First Rain.— Yesterday morning about nx o'clock, our city was visited with the first shower since the end of the last rainy season. It was a regular unmisteakable rain, and nothing else. We are accustomed to heavy fogs and mists, but this was neither fog nor miit, but a veritable shower, which came pattering on the roof, bringing with it pleasant remembrances of April weather in the States- The day was | exceedingly warm, and there was evidently a change in heatmosphere. — Alia California, Sept. 10. The Streets.— The work of grading and planking the streets is carried on with activity, and will be well advanced, to say the least, before the rainy leagon is fully set in Montgomery street is much improved by the filling in, but the homes that were not raised have shrunk amazingly. Those of a single story will soon be buried if the owneis do not dig them out. Sunday Svorts.— On Sunday last, a young man of genteel appearance, put several bricks in his hat and mounted a spirited hoise for a ride. He went dashing through the streets like one of the family of Jehu, leaping over barrels and boxes, and bringing up in the window of a jeweler, with considerable smash, ing of glass. One of our clergy was preaching a sermon *t the same time, from the text : " Strong driuk is raging." Corner Stone.— The corner atone of the First Preibyterian Church will be laid during the present week. The building hai beeu commenced and we trust that the good people of our city will see to Us completion at an early day. Services of different religious denominations have been regularly held each Sabbath throughout the city, and in the Methodist Chapel, but this is the first building dedicated to a religious purpose that has been commenced in ourmidit— the Methodist ! church having beeu shipped from the States.— Sac. Tianscript.