THE MENDOCINO TRAGEDY—THE VEN DETTA REVIVED.

Southland Times, Issue 923, 27 March 1868, Page 3

THE MENDOCINO TRAGEDY— THE YEN DETTA REVIVED.

(From the " San Francisco Bulletin.) The Mendocino " Democrat," of October 26th, gives the following particulars of the affray between the Coates and Frost families ; by which six men were killed. The extraordinary and awful occurrence which brought despair on two families, and cast a mantle of gloom over the entire community, haa so engrossed the attention of our people, that we have been only able to place a few particulars in connection with the sad affair before our readers. In making up the statement of the ease, we have drawn upon the know- i ledge of the friends and acquaintances of the respective parties resident at Little Lake, as well as upon the testimony adduced before the Coroner. ; Like many other affairs, the origin was the concurrence of several events,; such as two or three fist fights between members of the Coates and Frost Families, and a spirit of superciliousness in both, in* which one was as much, toj blame as the other. The fight was commenced by Wesley Coates, who bantered Duncan (a brother-in-law of the Frosts) to fight him. Wesley Coates went into the store where Duncan was sitting, and asked Duncan if he would take back what he said on a previous occasion. Duncan replied that he would not, to which Coates added that he could not whip him, and that if he thought he could, to step out and try it ; Duncan accepted the challenge and walked out in the road, where Coates pulled off his coat when Duncan struck him twice with a pistol on the forehead, breaking the pistol in two and knocking Coates down. At this moment the friends of each party Crushed in and all crowded together, and the firing commenced. It is not known who fired first, and as those who were engaged were mostly killed, and as the spectators dispersed when the firing commenced, all that did happen is not precisely known.. Upon the one side were Duncan, Martin Frost, Isham Frost, and Elisha .Frost; The three last named were brothers. On the other side : were Wesley Coates, iAlbert Coates, Henry. .Coates, Thomas Coates, James Coates, Abraham Coates , and .Abner C. Coates. Wesley, Henry, aud James Coatee .were brothers! -Abner Coates was the. father of Albert ? .and uncle ; of the three brothers. Abraham: was a cousin of all the others except , Thomas, "who was his uncle. ' All the Frosts and Duncans had pistols — Colt's navy jrevolvers. Duncan, however, broke his 'in the beginning of the fight, and.did^ifotjshqqt it. Wesley Coates and Abraham Coates. had pistols,. Abner Coates had a, doublebarrelled shot gun — one rifle-barrel and one shot-barrel, and Wesley Coates also had a knife. One of the* witnesses examined before the Coroner's Jury Wore that James. Coates had a knife in his hand immediately before the commencement of the fight.' It is not known whether any of the combatants hadot-her weapons or not- Martin Frost was seen to shoot Wesley Coates, Abraham Coates,and. Henry Ooates. Isham Frost was seen «&> shoot Thomas Coates ; Elisha' Frost was seen to shoot Albert .Coates, aud Abner Q. Coates killed Elisha Frost with his shotgun, both barrels of which were discharged, and took effect. ■'=''• Abner Ooates was shot in the "shoulder, by whom is not known. -He was the least- hurt of any wounded, though his wpund.is severe. J ames Coates received, a pistol shot in the abdomen, which was -at 'first^considered mortal, but there, are 'nbW hopes o f his recovery. It is"-nbfc\knpw ( n' who shot him. 'Duncan, was. dangerously stabbed and cut abonib ithe neck v back,<: and arm. His wounds at first were regarded asfatal,but he isißaid to' be' recovering. 1 It is presumable that Wesley' Coates cut and stabbed him, as a large knife was found lying almost in Wesley's hand immediately, after he was killed. The blade of the knife was very bloody. Five were killed' instantly and never spoke eiy cept Albert Coates, who exclaimed— 1 "My -God !" and fell and expired. A friend: rushed to Elisha Frost instantly, turned him over. (he fell on his face), he threw up his hands, gave a groan and died. Abraham Coates survived until next day about noon, when he died. He was sensible to the last. The shooting could not have lasted more then a quarter of a minute. It was like (as some of the listners expressed it) the firing of a string of shooting crackers, the shots were in such quick succession. There were about twenty shots fired. After the fight, Martin Frost and Isham Frost began to reload their pistols, but being advised not to do so by some bystanders, desisted, -and put their pistols -in- the scabbards. Three;, or fpnr pistols were found on the ground after the fight was over. Among them was a derringer not discharged. ■ <.■■-'■•<>>■■ ' irJ - <-•■'■■■'•" It is said that Wesley Coates shot at Elisha Frost during the figkfcj : i Frost had some four p^ five mortal; wounds, i^nd about forty others of small shot. Duncanwas ;insensible ; at ithe ehd n of y the C fight: 'Elisha Frost' leaves a,* widb\^ ! and: five; or' ' six small children. ' Thbmas "Qpa^s^wliOi was sixty-three years.' of agf>, leases a .wife and assort and daughter.. „ £he\two latter are yo~ung, but' grown. ' ' Abner.^Qi Coatesi lias, a family. „ All the others, are young--s ingle men. ' Th v e'.,c|ead l! .weroi,t^en into the hall and laid -out side by side, whGre they remained until they were placedlih.! the coffins. They werd then taken putside the hall, and placed.' in'^rpnt,, , of it J whence they were remoyeclto their graves. As the coffins lay in front. of the; ball immediately before the funeral procession moved, the friends of ; tlie tfece'&fedS came; up to take a farewell .glances' '.at 1 , .them. Then transpired a scene rarely witnessed. The parents,, children,, wives,'! brothers, and 1 ; sisters; . of the slayers /and slain mingled their tears, together those who a few short hours .before: were :; grappling in fierce combat, but who now were cold and still, and Jayjpeaceably side by side. The sobbing and wailing that rose from the numerous mourners were enough I to ; melt" neart " of flint. "My father F' ,]

"My brother !*>> My husband P» "M/ Bon r and similar ©xpressionß were simultaneously ejaculated. Few eyes were dry in the large assembly present. The funeral procession was conducted with great order and judgment. The first waggon.moved up and took off the oldest, Thomas Coates, and aB it moved off five elderly gentlemen, all about the same age as deceased, served as pall-bearers and walked along >ith the waggon to the grave. The next that followed was Elisha Frost, who was next; in age. A like' number of similar pall-bearers took charge of his remains. The same ceremony was observed in each' case. The funeral procession w ; s about three-quar-ters of a mile in length. ■ They were all buried in the same graveyard, a few feet only from each other. ,