按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
massacre。
〃7。 The statements of Indians in the neighborhood of the scene of the
massacre： these statements are shown； not only by Cradlebaugh and
Rodgers； but by a number of military officers； and by J。 Forney； who was；
in 1859； Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Territory。 To all
these were such statements freely and frequently made by the Indians。
〃8。 The testimony of R。 P。 Campbell； Capt。 2d Dragoons； who was sent in
the Spring of 1859 to Santa Clara； to protect travelers on the road to
California and to inquire into Indian depredations。〃
C。
CONCERNING A FRIGHTFUL ASSASSINATION THAT WAS NEVER CONSUMMATED
If ever there was a harmless man； it is Conrad Wiegand； of Gold Hill；
Nevada。 If ever there was a gentle spirit that thought itself unfired
gunpowder and latent ruin； it is Conrad Wiegand。 If ever there was an
oyster that fancied itself a whale； or a jack…o'lantern； confined to a
swamp； that fancied itself a planet with a billion…mile orbit； or a
summer zephyr that deemed itself a hurricane； it is Conrad Wiegand。
Therefore； what wonder is it that when he says a thing； he thinks the
world listens； that when he does a thing the world stands still to look；
and that when he suffers； there is a convulsion of nature？ When I met
Conrad； he was 〃Superintendent of the Gold Hill Assay Office〃and he was
not only its Superintendent； but its entire force。 And he was a street
preacher； too； with a mongrel religion of his own invention； whereby he
expected to regenerate the universe。 This was years ago。 Here latterly
he has entered journalism； and his journalism is what it might be
expected to be： colossal to ear； but pigmy to the eye。 It is extravagant
grandiloquence confined to a newspaper about the size of a double letter
sheet。 He doubtless edits； sets the type； and prints his paper； all
alone； but he delights to speak of the concern as if it occupies a block
and employs a thousand men。
＇Something less than two years ago； Conrad assailed several people
mercilessly in his little 〃People's Tribune；〃 and got himself into
trouble。 Straightway he airs the affair in the 〃Territorial Enterprise；〃
in a communication over his own signature； and I propose to reproduce it
here； in all its native simplicity and more than human candor。 Long as
it is； it is well worth reading； for it is the richest specimen of
journalistic literature the history of America can furnish； perhaps：＇
From the Territorial Enterprise； Jan。 20； 1870。
SEEMING PLOT FOR ASSASSINATION MISCARRIED。
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ENTERPRISE： Months ago； when Mr。 Sutro incidentally
exposed mining management on the Comstock； and among others roused me to
protest against its continuance； in great kindness you warned me that any
attempt by publications； by public meetings and by legislative action；
aimed at the correction of chronic mining evils in Storey County； must
entail upon me （a） business ruin； （b） the burden of all its costs； （c）
personal violence； and if my purpose were persisted in； then （d）
assassination； and after all nothing would be effected。
YOUR PROPHECY FULFILLING。
In large part at least your prophecies have been fulfilled； for （a）
assaying； which was well attended to in the Gold Hill Assay Office （of
which I am superintendent）； in consequence of my publications； has been
taken elsewhere； so the President of one of the companies assures me。
With no reason assigned； other work has been taken away。 With but one or
two important exceptions； our assay business now consists simply of the
gleanings of the vicinity。 （b） Though my own personal donations to the
People's Tribune Association have already exceeded 1；500； outside of our
own numbers we have received （in money） less than 300 as contributions
and subscriptions for the journal。 （c） On Thursday last； on the main
street in Gold Hill； near noon； with neither warning nor cause assigned；
by a powerful blow I was felled to the ground； and while down I was
kicked by a man who it would seem had been led to believe that I had
spoken derogatorily of him。 By whom he was so induced to believe I am as
yet unable to say。 On Saturday last I was again assailed and beaten by a
man who first informed me why he did so； and who persisted in making his
assault even after the erroneous impression under which he also was at
first laboring had been clearly and repeatedly pointed out。 This same
man； after failing through intimidation to elicit from me the names of
our editorial contributors； against giving which he knew me to be
pledged； beat himself weary upon me with a raw hide； I not resisting； and
then pantingly threatened me with permanent disfiguring mayhem； if ever
again I should introduce his name into print； and who but a few minutes
before his attack upon me assured me that the only reason I was
〃permitted〃 to reach home alive on Wednesday evening last （at which time
the PEOPLE'S TRIBUNE was issued） was； that he deems me only half…witted；
and be it remembered the very next morning I was knocked down and kicked
by a man who seemed to be prepared for flight。
＇He sees doom impending：＇
WHEN WILL THE CIRCLE JOIN？
How long before the whole of your prophecy will be fulfilled I cannot
say； but under the shadow of so much fulfillment in so short a time； and
with such threats from a man who is one of the most prominent exponents
of the San Francisco mining…ring staring me and this whole community
defiantly in the face and pointing to a completion of your augury； do you
blame me for feeling that this communication is the last I shall ever
write for the Press； especially when a sense alike of personal self…
respect； of duty to this money…oppressed and fear…ridden community； and
of American fealty to the spirit of true Liberty all command me； and each
more loudly than love of life itself； to declare the name of that
prominent man to be JOHN B。 WINTERS； President of the Yellow Jacket
Company； a political aspirant and a military General？ The name of his
partially duped accomplice and abettor in this last marvelous assault； is
no other than PHILIP LYNCH； Editor and Proprietor of the Gold Hill News。
Despite the insult and wrong heaped upon me by John B。 Winters； on
Saturday afternoon； only a glimpse of which I shall be able to afford
your readers； so much do I deplore clinching （by publicity） a serious
mistake of any one； man or woman； committed under natural and not self…
wrought passion； in view of his great apparent excitement at the time and
in view of the almost perfect privacy of the assault； I am far from sure
that I should not have given him space for repentance before exposing
him； were it not that he himself has so far exposed the matter as to make
it the common talk of the town that he has horsewhipped me。 That fact
having been made public； all the facts in connection need to be also； or
silence on my part would seem more than singular； and with many would be
proof either that I was conscious of some unworthy aim in publishing the
article； or else that my 〃non…combatant〃 principles are but a convenient
cloak alike of physical and moral cowardice。 I therefore shall try to
present a graphic but truthful picture of this whole affair； but shall
forbear all comments； presuming that the editors of our own journal； if
others do not； will speak freely and fittingly upon this subject in our
next number； whether I shall then be dead or living； for my death will
not stop； though it may suspend； the publication of the PEOPLE'S TRIBUNE。
＇The 〃non…combatant〃 sticks to principle； but takes along a friend or two
of a conveniently different stripe：＇
THE TRAP SET。
On Saturday morning John B。 Winters sent verbal word to the Gold Hill
Assay Office that he desired to see me at the Yellow Jacket office。
Though such a request struck me as decidedly cool in view of his own
recent discourtesies to me there alike as a publisher and as a
stockholder in the Yellow Jacket mine； and though it seemed to me more
like a summons than the courteous request by one gentleman to another for
a favor； hoping that some conference with Sharon looking to the
betterment of mining matters in Nevada might arise from it； I felt
strongly inclined to overlook what possibly was simply an oversight in
courtesy。 But as then it had only been two days since I had been bruised
and beaten under a hasty and false apprehension of facts； my caution was
somewhat aroused。 Moreover I remembered sensitively his contemptuousness
of manner to me at my last interview in his office。 I therefore felt it
needful； if I went at all； to go accompanied by a friend whom he would
not dare to treat with incivility； and whose presence with me might
secure exemption from insult。 Accordingly I asked a neighbor to
accompany me。
THE TRAP ALMOST DETECTED。
Although I was not then aware of this fact； it would seem that previous
to my request this same neighbor had heard Dr。 Zabriskie state publicly
in a saloon； that Mr。 Winters had told him he had decided either to kill
or to horsewhip me； but had not finally decided on which。 My neighbor；
therefore； felt unwilling to go down with me until he had first called on
Mr。 Winters alone。 He therefore