Their suspicions were aroused when he presented the $2000 check, not-alone because of the size of the check, but also because as noted before, the signatures of Anderson & Samuel Sharp appeard as witnesses. So unusual is it to have witnesses to the signature of a check that it is not to be wondered that the bank officials refused to hand over the money.

Anderson left the bank, but soon returned with his attorney, S. M. Buck. Demand was made again for the payment of the check, the attorney insisting vigorously. The bank officials, however, were obdurate & Kehoe's thousands were still intact.

Fearing that Anderson might negotiate the check, Kehoe's attorneys have published a warning against anyone's receiving it. Then to make certain that Anderson would do nothing with it, the complaint upon which he was arrested was made.

When arrested, Anderson was brought before Justice Baldwin, who placed him under $2500 bonds. Under charge of Constable Brown, Anderson went out to seek bondsmen. Henry Buhne & Fred Hansen became his sureties & he was released.

To his attorney Kehoe denied all knowledge of having drawn the check & again & again said he did not want Anderson to have the money, but that he desired in case of his death it should go to his nephews & neice in Waterford, Ireland of which town Kehoe is a native.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Times" Eureka, California
Thursday, March 24, 1892

Mrs. Margaret Loos, committed to the Napa Insane Asylum, was taken down on the steamer Humboldt" yesterday morning. Considerable trouble was experienced by the officers in getting her to alight from the carriage at the wharf. They could get her no further than the carriage step, when her husband, "Shoo Fly" Harry, voluntered to assist. Evidently he had a wholesome dread of the prowess of the late partner of his Joys, for he stood behind Under Sheriff Ferrill & went no further than to timidly plead with her. His timidity was well grounded, for no sooner did she catch sight of him than she stood erect on the step & launched out with her right fist over the officer's shoulder, & it caromed on Harry's left optic. Harry immediately retired among the crowd & did not emerge again until she was safe aboard the steamer, when he confidently remarked to the officer, "Py Shiminy! If dot vooman vas a man, she coot lick dot John L. Sullivan."
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Friday, June 5, 1891

It is asserted (and denied) that Mrs. Ella Belle McKelvey has been expelled from the Presbyterian church for unbecoming conduct at Far Rockaway Beach. The denials emanate mostly from Mrs. McKelvey herself, who is spoken of as a plump & pleasing blonde. The affirmations are chiefly from church members, who saw her in the scanty bathing suit of black flannel. The action of the Deacon who tacked up the suit in question on a wall where everybody could see it, was certainly inexcusable.
 
 

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"The Daily Humboldt Times" Eureka, California
Wednesday, January 24, 1883

There are a number of small children, some of whom are not over seven years of age, whose parents allow them to spend their time in wandering alone along the city front. The little ones put in their time climbing lumber piles, going under the wharves, on the mill booms, or some improvised unsafe raft, & thoughtlessly place themselves in many dangerous positions. If the parents of these children do not look after them, there is a good prospect of a little funeral being announced from some family, almost any day.
 
 

The Dally Humboldt Times
Thursday, November 27, 1884

Turkeys were abundant in town yesterday, good fat ones, at that. We know a woman --- in fact we are quite intimately acquainted with her --- that worked all the forenoon yesterday, pulling the feathers off one, & was not quite satisfied when she got through whether it was a turkey or a blue crane. If a turkey, the lady contends, it must have recently been driven across the plains. Says she will never trust her husband to buy another turkey for her.
 
 

"The Ferndale Enterprise" Ferndale, California
Friday, June 7, 1889

A couple of young men recently rented a house on D street, & used it for assignation purposes in Eureka. I will not go into particulars as it would only add to the disgrace now heaped upon worthy parents, but would mildly suggest that an active Committee of Fifteen, with power to act, would be proper ones to attend to the men hereinbefore mentioned.
 
 

"The Ferndale Enterprise"
Friday, June 21, 1889

Mr. McCoy of Howe Creek made a trip to San Bernadino coutny where he met his father, brother & sister for the first time in twenty-five years. On May 2nd they celebrated the elderly gentleman's 99th birthday. After dinner the old gentleman went out & assisted his two sons in bundling hay' to show them, he said, that he was good for a few years yet.
 
 

"The Ferndale Enterprise"
Friday, August 16, 1889

The salaries of the city attorney & city clerk, of Eureka, have been raised to $50 per month, J. N. Gillette & James T. Kelcher have been re-appointed to fill said offices. They having previously tendered their resignations on the ground that their salaries --- $25 per month --- were too small.
 
 

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" The Daily Humboldt Times" Eureka, California
June 26, 1889

August Carlson, who has been under the treatment of Dr. Foster, was Monday evening relieved of a tapeworm, which being measured in the presence of five reliable witnesses, was found to be 337 feet long. The doctor truly says this is "hard to beat." It exceeds anything in this line we have ever heard of.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Monday, February 4, 1889

An order was filed in the clerk's office Saturday, made by Judge Beerbower of South Fork Township, holding Charles Hecker to answer for an assault to commit murder. In an attempt to reach a woman named Jennie, whose throat he had threatened to cut, struck another womman in the face with a knife which he held in his hand, inflicting a wound five inches long. Defendant has given bail in the amount of $500.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Standard"
Friday, March 1, 1889

Last evening there was a circus downtown, which resulted diastrously for the head of the family. The wife would not stand a beating, & fired a tumbler, hitting her husband on the head inflicting a severe head wound, The matter will be investigated in the city courts.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Standard"
Tuesday, April 2, 1889

Complaint has been made that boys from fourteen to eighteen years of age make a practice of going into the First Congregational church Sunday evenings & after taking a seat, clandestinely light a cigarette & smoke it, much to the anoyance of the congregation. No decent or well disposed youth would be guilty of such a trick.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Standard"
Friday, June 7, 1889

Taken from letters to the newspaper' From Robert Ward, a soldier at Fort Gaston. "I have again been rewarded with an increase of salary for sobriety & good conduct. I started in with $13 a month, regular recruit's pay, & now there is but five men in the company who receive more wages than I do. I have never found a place where sobriety is an well rewarded as in the U. S. Army.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Standard"
Friday, August 30, 1889

Henry M. Devoy & wife returned from down below by the overland route last evening. They came from Ukiah in their own conveyance. The trip was made in four & a half days. They left the overland road at Harris, coming in by the way of Garberville, the South Fork & main road which Mr. Devoy considers a savings of time & distance.
 
 

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THE ED. INMAN STORY

"The Arcata Union" Arcata, California
Saturday, February 8, 1896

He Changed His Mind

George M. Brice last Friday received a telephone dispatch from Arcata stating that Ed. Inman had attempted suicide at that place, & asking him to inform Inman's parents of the matter & to have Mrs. Inman come to Arcata at once. She departed on the stage Friday noon but we have not been able to ascertain any further facts. Ed. Inman was recently divorced from his wife.

The above mentioned attempt at suicide did not pan out very well & Inman is still in the land of the living. He has been stopping with his sister in Arcata, & has been making himself very obnoxious by his unwelcome attentions to a 16 year old girl, living on the hill. Inman was greatly enamoured with the girl & annoyed the family by meeting her on the way home from school, until the girl's mother had to call upon the Marshal for protection. The object of his affections refused to accept his advances which made Inman so despondent that on Friday he took up a razor & a butcher knife & started for the woods to end his life. His sister then sent to Ferndale for his mother who arrived the same day. The suciding was therefore postponed, & Mrs. Inman took her son back to Ferndale on Monday.
 
 

Saturday, February 15, 1896

He Wants "damages." fearndale feb 11 1896

the ederty of Arcata Union

Dear Sir I see that you have put a felts report in your paper bout me to hurt my name if you will be cine anoff to recfie that felts report for it is all felts an it done to hurt my name in Arcata I never annoyed the girl nor had no troubell with the famely an it is all felts the family an I ar on good turmes we had nor troubell What ever shear is a nother parsen try en to make troubell betwins us an the parhen tillfome to my mother a felts report the port about the rasor butcher knife shear was none such a thing this parsen done it to make troubell betwen the famely pleas now recefie this felts report as soon as posebeld if no recfide I will take a steep to see at it is done and I shall look for damages. your true fried B. W. Inman

The report of the threatened suicide was published as it came to us upon what we deemed good authority, but was not published until it appeared in the "Ferndale Enterprise," the message having been sent from here by Inman's sister. We give the public the benefit of his denial whether he talked suicide or not. The "Union" has no desire to encourage suicide, & trusts that the publication of this letter will not cause Inman to renew the attempt, though the provocation is somewhat greater, if possible, than being crossed in love. Inman made a fool of himself here, or at least filled that part of the job which nature had left undone. He is welcome to what "dameges" he can recover from the "Union..

....... continued
 
 

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"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka , California
Saturday, July 18, 1896

TWO MEN DROWNED

Fatal Accident at the Entrance to Humboldt Bay

A horrible accident occurred at the south jetty last night, in which two men lost their lives. A crew of men were at work about a mile out on the south spit at about 9 o'clock working overtime on account of the favorable tide. They were dumping rock & had finished all of the train load, with the exception of two cars. The immediate cause of the accident is not definately known, but it is believed that the car was slightly tilted in the desired direction, when for some unaccountable reason its position was instantly reversed & both cars, together with their rock & trucks were pitched into the waters between the tracks. Five men, among them ED INMAN, were in charge of the work Inman occupied a place between the two cars & as the ears went over Inman was carried with them & hurled to his death. The other workers searched all night long but no trace of Inman was found. The tide was ebbing on the bar & unless Inman was pinioned down by the falling cars & rocks he was surely carried out to sea.

Ed Inman was well known as "Shorty" Inman. He was born & raised in this county, and his mother, sisters & brothers reside near Ferndale. He was recently divorced from his wife. Inman was about 26 years of age & for a number of years before going to the jetties he engaged in fishing on the Eel river.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Times" Eureka, California
Thursday, July 30, 1896

SUIT AGAINST the JETTY COMPANY

Edward Inman's Children Ask for $50,000 Damages

The appointment Tuesday of Lilly M. Martin as guardian of Pearle, Susie & Lizzie Inman, aged respectively 5,3 & 1 1/2 years, was the first step in the expected damage suits to grow out of the accident at the south Jetty July 17, 1896 which caused the death of Edward H. Inman The children are the issue of deceased & Lillie Inman, from whom he secured a divorce last January on the ground of adultry. In the divorce decree no provision was made for custody of the children & Lily Martin of Arcata, sister of deceased had herself appointed guardian.
 
 

"The Arcata Union" Arcata, California
Saturday, August 1, 1896

Mrs. Lily M. Martin of Arcata has been appointed guardian of the children of her deceased brother, Edward Inman, who was killed at the Jetty recently, & has commenced suit against the company for $50,000 damages. Inman was knocked overboard & drowned. The complaint alleges that the accident was due to defective machinery. The company, however, is fully insured against all damage suits in the London Guarntee & Accident company.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Times" Eureka, California
Friday, March 26, 1896

Married, in Eureka March 24, 1897....Mrs. Lillie Inman & Nicholas Balducci
 
 

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"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Saturday, January 15, 1898

THEY WANT TO GET OUT

County Convicts Petition the Supervisors

The Board of Supervisors received a novel petition this morning. It came from the "gentlemen of elegant leisure' now sojourning at the Hotel de Brown, vulgarly called the County Jail. These pampered pets of the public have evidently experienced an attack of the Klondike fever & desire to sever their connection with the county institution by invoking the aid of an old law, which is designed to shorten their terms of detention. The petition is as follows :
 
 

Eureka, Cal. Jan. 12, 1898

To the Honorable Board of Supervisors, W. J. Swortzel, Chairman.

Gentlemen: We, the undersigned petition the Board to act in our behalf on the short term act of January 1894, by which we are entitled to five days off of each month.

We hope the Honorable Board will act in our behalf & by doing so will see that the county will benefit by it as well as we, the petitioners.

The petition is signed by Charles Tinsley, 30 days for violating the game law; F. S. Lindley, 30 days for disturbing the peace & Charles W. Hall, 60 days for petty larcency, constituting 3 of the 5 persons in the jail at the time. It was evidently the work of Hall, the tramp, who stole a sack of clothes from the Scandia hotel recently, & is suspected of having caused the disastrous fire at Fortuna last Thanksgiving night.

As to the merits of the petition, the law provides that Supervisors may pass an ordinance allowing credits to petty offenders for good behavior, but this Board has not yet passed such an ordinance nor does it intend to, for in their opionion, as far as the troublesome tramps are concerned, they are like" Mr. Finnegan, only out of jail to git in agin."
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Saturday, January 29, 1898

Stella Thorn, was charged with discharging firearms within the city limits. Stella keeps a house on First street near C and likewise keeps a gun. Her aim with a pistol, however, is not much better than that of an ordinary woman with a stone and to this fact S. S. Swanson owes the integrity of his epidermis and his vital organs. Swanson was a visitor to the house the other night and becoming obstreperous Stella did a double firing act, that is she fired the pistol to fire Swanson, taking two shots at him. Both bullets, however, missed their mark but spoiled the interior of the house, while the reports attracted a policeman who was forced to enter the house through a back window to arrest the shootress. Stella has been suffing with nervous prostration since her target practice and her trial was therefore postponed.
 
 

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"The Daily Humboldt Times" Eureka, California
August 14, 1897, Saturday

KEEP THE GYPSIES ON THE MOVE

Their Presence A Nuisance That Should Be Speedily Abated

The band of Gypsies which have been mentioned several times in these columns the past week, have at last arrived here & have commenced their stealing & thieving. They are camped near Ryan's slough & number about fifty men & women. Yesterday morning, about about two o'clock they raided the cattle pen of George Gibson, on the Arcata road. They drove all of his cows out of the pens & were on their way to the Gypsy camp when overtaken by members of Mr. Gibson's family, who had been awakened by the noise incident to the driving. When overtaken the thieves jumped over the nearby fences & escaped, leaving the cows in the road. The cattle were then driven home. An investigation of the premises was then made & disclosed the fact that about a dozen of Mr. Gibson's choicest chickens were missing.

Other depredations have been reported. A gentleman driving a horse, visited the camp a few days ago, when the Gypsies asked him to trade horses with them. He replied that he did not desire to part with his horse. Finally he was surrounded by members of the band & they proceeded to unharness the animal & remove him from the shafts, stating that the owner had agreed to trade. The gentleman declared himself, whereupon the horse was returned to him.

Another visitor did not fare so well. A peddler with a wagon load of fruit & vegetables visited the camp, thinking that he might be able to dispose of some of his stock. This he suceeded in doing, but no cash changed hands, the Gypsies stealing nearly the entire load.

A large number of the band usually visit a store & several of them will make trivial purchases while the others steal all they can conveniently remove.

The "Arcata Union" says when the clan passed through Arcata their wagons were well loaded with fresh oat hay, which they found, so it is stated, floating down Mad river at the crossing of that stream.

The authorities should see that our county is not any longer infested with these people. If they are unable to cope with them, the Naval Reserve might be called into service.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Times"
Thursday, August 24, 1897

The Gypsies have played havoc with the small ranches on the Klamath road at one place owned by a man known as "Old Nick," they took his provisions out of his house while he was watching them. He was so frightened that he did not interfere. He lives alone & is far removed from his neighbors. They did not leave him enough in the house to eat for supper.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Times"
Saturday, August 28, 1897

Yesterday the sad news was received in this city that Mrs. John Bush, who resides on Yager creek, the other side of Hydesville, was so frightened by a visit of the much talked Or Gypsies that
 
 

248

she died shortly afterwards. She was alone at the time of the visit & being in a very delicate condition, she was so scared it caused her demise. Mr. Bush was at work in the fields at the time & upon his return he found his wife in a precarious condition. A doctor was called, but before his arrival she had died. The sad affair cast a gloom over the neighborhood where the deceased lived, & no doubt the travellers will be notified to keep moving.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Times"
Wednesday, August 25, 1897

The gang of Brazillian Gypsies are now camped at the Ballon ford on the Salt river, near Ferndale. They have commenced their thieving as the following from the "Ferndale Enterprise" shows: Monday morning as Peter Bennett was nearing gallon's ford on Salt river, where the Gypsies are camped, he was halted by a woman, who asked for a dollar's worth of meat. Pete started to wait on her, but he had no sooner got the door of his wagon open when he was surrounded by the "gang," some dressed & others undressed, he says. They commenced grabbing & asking for this & that, & Peter, seeing he was in for it, jumped to his wagon seat & made his escape. He estimates that he lost about $2 worth of meat, & didn't get a cent for it. It is also stated that a dairyman was stopped yesterday while on his way to the creamery & relieved of some of his milk.
 
 

"The Ferndale Enterprise" Ferndale, California
Friday, August 27, 1897

Owing to the presence of the Gypsies in our community, George L. Collins served last Monday as an extra nightwatchman to assist our regular nigh/watchman, James Howard. The electric lights in our business houses were kept burning all night, so there was little chance for the" gang" to get in their work, had they been so inclined.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Friday, December 31, 1897

Mrs. Annie Their, an elderly woman, was brought down from Arcata last evening & lodged in the county jail to serve 50 days for malicious mischief in default of paying a fine of $50 imposed by Justice tice Hopkins. Mrs. Their became involved in a quarrel with her husband, Victor Their, who is suing her for divorce, & in the course of a heated argument she threw a rock at him, but womanlike her aim was bad & the missle crashed through a window of their home, whereupon her husband had her arrested for malicious mischief. In the Justice Court she pleaded guilty & uncomplainingly accepted her sentence but her attorney in the divorce proceedings will endeavor today to secure her release on Habeas Corpus, as it transpires that the committing magistrated is the attorney for her husband in the divorce proceedings, which fact disqualified him from acting in the misdemeaner case.
 
 

"The Arcata Union" Arcata, California
Saturday, July 3, 1897

The two year old son of James Ferguson had his forefinger clipped off by his 3 1/2 year old brother, last Sunday.
 
 

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"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California

Monday, January 13, 1896

(Taken from the "Fortuna Advance "newspaper)

Fortuna is a flourishing town but it is a very good one for soft snaps. Perhaps it is its prosperity that brings out all kinds of fakes & dead beats here. Perhaps it is because no other place of its size would be so easily victimized, Patent medicine venders, theatrical barn stormers, religious fanatics, all see for their victims. And now comes a new fake. Eureka crap fiends are making their appearance. de can stand the Salvation Army; they do some good, but God deliver us from "Tin Horn Gamblers."
 
 

"The Ferndale Enterprise, "Ferndale, California
Tuesday, April 7, 1896

A Eureka woman, by eloping with a half breed Indian, has given the people of southeastern Humboldt something to talk about. Her husband & a deputy sheriff followed the pair into Trinity county, & found the woman at a dance, but she informed her pursuers that they could go home without her, which they did. It is claimed that the woman is slightly deranged.
 
 

"The Ferndale Enterprise" Eureka, California
January 24, 1896, Friday

Edgar Francis Leslie, a 14 year old boy of Eureka, is to be sent to the reform school for stealing. He is the son of a Salvation Army man. His father says that the youngster is beyond his control.
 
 

"The Ferndale Enterprise" Ferndale, California
Tuesday, June 16, 1896

Enos Sweasey was in great trouble at the Ocean House Saturday. He was hauling wood from the beach-with a span of mules, & stopped to borrow a chew of tobacco from a passing friend. While his back was turned, the mules started, & before they could be stopped the road was strewn with pieces of timber. No other damage was done, but it took Enos a half day to gather up his load. He has quit chewing tobacco in consequence.---Sworn off.
 
 

"The Ferndale Enterprise" Ferndale, California
Friday, August 14, 1896

It is rumored that wages are to be cut down at Scotia to $15 a month. Certainly times are hard.
 
 

"The Ferndale Enterprise" Ferndale, California
Friday, November 20, 1896

James Quill, of the Table Bluff lighthouse, attended the ball at Table Bluff last Saturday night, but when he departed for home he drove away with the wrong horse & buggy, & he never discovered his mistake until the owner of the "rig" showed up at the lighthouse next day & informed Jim that he was certainly color blind. Mr. Quill's horse is a bay. The one he took by mistake was a sorrel.
 
 

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"The Daily Humboldt Times" Eureka, California
November 1897

DESERTED in EUREKA

The officers of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children have in hand a case not totally devoid of interest in so much as it involves the case of five little children who to a great extent have been thrown upon the cold charity of the world, says the "San Francisco Call" of Sunday.

"About a week ago a Mrs. Louise Hunter arrived from Eureka, California, with two little children, & she took from a children's home in Oakland three other of her offspring who had been there for a year or so. She took her little ones, who range from fourteen to three years, to a room on First street, near Howard, where she lived in seclusion, seldom leaving her apartments. The family was provided for with food by the landlady, but within a day or so the case reached the ears of the humane society who at once made an investigation.

To them Mrs. Hunter stated that her husband, Fremont Hunter, a lumberman, deserted her in Eureka. That was about three months ago, & she came to San Francisco in hopes of finding the man. She believed from what she could learn that he did not stop here long but went to Mexico. One of the girls she hired out to a tamale man in Alameda for $5 a month, & the social officers are now hunting for the child, who is but nine years of age. Yesterday when the officers called upon Mrs. Hunter they found her in a condition that warranted them in sending the woman to the Receiving Hospital. They feel that her sorrow has caused her to resort to opiates or stimulants. At any rate she is not fit to take care of the children, three of whom were sent to the Youth's Directory. The doctors advise that Mrs. Hunter be sent to the City & County Hospital.

Inquiries here have elicited the fact that the Hunters came here from San Francisco last year, & lived in a house owned by Charles McGill, on California street near Washington. The husband claimed to have worked for McKay & company in San Francisco, & had come here to work in the Occidental mill. At any rate he worked in that mill for a time, & then disappeared. The wife said that he was dissatisfied with the wages, & had gone elsewhere to better his condition. She had been left destitute, however, & applied to the Supervisors for aid, who upon her representation that she had relatives in San Francisco, paid the fares of herself & family to that city.
 
 

"The Humboldt Daily Times" Eureka, California
Thursday, November 20, 1890

The notorius Mrs. Eby undertook to paint the town red last evening, after priming with a liberal allowance of cheap whiskey, & started with the Salvation Army meeting. Being ejected from there, she took on the business portion of the city, with Officer Bulkely in hot pursuit, but always a block behind. The officer finally headed her off at the corner of 3rd & F streets & took her to jail.
 
 

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"The Arcata Union" Arcata, California
Saturday, Jan 11, 1890

Judge Garber has granted Caroline Smith a divorce from James Smith, on the grounds of failure to provide. The wife in her testimony before the Court Commissoner, stated that in the early part of 1888, her husband, while employed as a bookkeeper in Humboldt county, embezzled $1,600.00 from his employers, & in order to save him from arrest & disgrace she sacrificed her household furniture & personal property to make good the defalcation. He subsquently obtained a position in Chico, but instead of profiting by his former experience, stole a considerable sum of money from his new employers. His wife again saved him from the penitentary by refunding the amount stolen. The husband to show his gratitude, imediately sought a new field of operations & repeating defalcations, fled to Mexico where he has since resided.

The above is from the San Francisco Chronicle & refers to James Chrystal Smith, who came to Eureka in 1881, accompanied by his wife & son. They were English people, Mrs. Smith was a lady, but the husband was a scamp. He was employed for a while by the Eureka & Elk River Rail Company, as a deputy for A. W. Randle, while that man was a secretary, & for about 6 months kept books for the "Humboldt Times" while the writer of this was managing owner of that concern. He afterwards organized the California Arms company, Smith becoming treasurer of the company, & got away with the funds. It was for this, he was arrested & jailed, & not for robbing his employers as stated above. His wife did get him out of jail, & they all skipped in 1885.
 
 

"The Arcata Union" Arcata, California
October 25, 1890, Saturday

John Francis Campbell of Willow Creek was the first man naturlized as a citizen on September 15, 1852.
 
 

"The Arcata Union" Arcata, California
Saturday, September 6, 1890

William Carson is universally blessed by the people of Eureka. There is but a doubt in the minds of unprejudiced persons that to him is due that the mill workers of Humboldt county are to hereafter work only 10 hours a day. He induced the H.L.M.A. organization to adopt this plan 6 months ago on the condition that Mendocino county lumbermen would do the same. They refused to do so & Mr. Carson made up his mind to act alone.
 
 

"The Arcata Union" Arcata, California
Saturday, September 8, 1890

In one of the Arcata precincts 1 more ballot was found in the box than the tally list showed. To arrange this little "Informality" James Menefee was blindfolded & directed to draw out a ticket. Very much to his disgust, he hauled out a straight Democrat ticket, which was destroyed. Jim says there is one satisfaction about it--a Democrat put it in.
 
 

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"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Wednesday, July 20, 1898

SHE FANCIES HORSE FLESH

Inez Coonskin Charged With Horse Stealing

An Innocent Aboriginal Maiden Who Temporarily Appropriates Ranchers' Horses

Inez Coonskin, a dusky & diminutive maid of the forest, who from an altitude of scarcely four feet, can look back over about 15 summers & an equal number of winters is in durance vile at the county jail charged with horse stealing. Inez, who is one of the celebrated aboriginal family of Coonskins, prominent in the annals of Diggerdom in this county, would make a good socialist for her contact with the white man has not yet eradicated the prehistoric Indian idea of the commonality of property. In her little brain the world & all its contents are hers, especially that portion which includes the equine race. She has all the Indian affection for the horse, that noble servant of her forefathers, & like those forefathers she scorns plebian pedestrianism. Inez is a perfect horsewoman, wither mounted or driving, & when she wants to travel she goes out & catches a horse, any old horse will do & no favoritism as to owner is shown, nor is a saddle necessary & away she goes. This sublime innocence of Inez as to the rights of property has caused her trouble more than once in the neighborhood of Maple Creek where she lives with her mother & stepfather according to the Indian custom, & only the fact that she always returns the animal when through with it has saved her from prosecution hitherto. Her last adventure, however, has resulted disastrously for her for she extended her journey too far & the owner of the horse, Patrick Murray, becoming alarmed, swore out a warrant charging her with grand larcency. It appears that Inez had "borrowed" his horse & obtaining a cart & harness from someone else had made a trip to Eureka. In the meantime the warrant for her arrest had been obtained & when she returned with the horse she was arrested at Blue Lake where Justice Skinner held her to answer to a charge of grand larcency. Inez claims that she had no intention of keeping or disposing of the horse & it is probable that the case will not come to trial but in default of giving bonds for her appearance she is confined in the solitude of Sheriff Brown's bird cage.
 
 

Thursday, July 21, 1898

INEZ MAY GO FREE

Inez Coonskin, the diminutive Indian maiden charged with horse stealing, will probably be released today from the county jail where she has been kept since yesterday, as District Attorney Burnell is reluctant to press the charge against her owing to her extreme youth. To this end her father, Ed Coonskin, who has been separated from her mother for ten years, was notified of the plight of his offspring & this morning came in from Cannibal Island with an offer to take charge of the mischievous miss. Ed, although a full blood Indian, is thoroughly civilized & enjoys the respect & confidence of his white neighbors. He proposes to take his daughter home with him & place her in school where she can become civilized like himself as he claims that she has been allowed to run wild by her mother. The girl, who by the way, according to her father's statement, is only 12 years old, demurs somewhat to leave her mother, probably because her father is strange to her, as she was taken away by her mother when only 2 years old, but as she has no alternative to saving her from being sent to a reform school she will no doubt consent to go with him.
 
 

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"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Friday, July 22, 1898

Inez Coonskin, the little Indian girl from Maple creek charged with horse stealing, consented to go with her father Ed Coonskin & was yesterday released from custody, the father assuming the responsibility for her future behavior. Inez at first was not inclined to go with her parent, whom she did not remember, but he won her over with the present of a handsome dress & cape, in fact a complete outfit of the clothes of civilization. When she beheld herself in a glass in all her finery her tears soon gave way to smiles of pleasure & she went away probably the happiest & proudest piece of feminimity in the land.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Times" Eureka, California
Thursday, October 11, 1883

Another case of domestic infelicity has occured in Eureka. An industrious good natured, hard working logger, whom we will call Bob --- not because that is not his name, but because he is short --- got married a few months ago, furnished a home & started out in life housekeeping in genuine American style. The husband worked in the woods, & visited the object of his affections usually not more than once a week. On Tuesday, Bob being at his work, & not expected home, the faithless spouse concluded to "do the grand in a foreign land," & packed her furniture, including a piano, & shipped all on board the "Humboldt," intending to sail yesterday morning. Tuesday being a balmy evening, & bright moonlight, the husband concluded to surprise his adorable by a visit, & came home. But no bright eyes & loving smiles greeted his entrance. Instead, the house was as bare as a last year's birds nest, & as blank as the "other side of a tombstone." The mystery was soon solved, papers taken out, the services of an officer procured & the furniture recovered. It is said the woman left on the steamer yesterday, getting off with a watch & chain, a present from the husband, leaving him the furniture, with which he will be able to commence housekeeping again, should he be inclined to make another venture in that direction.
 
 

"The Arcata Union" Arcata, California
Saturday, March 12, 1887

There is no law we know of to prevent any class of people, however undesireable they may be, from coming here, but there is a way to make sure such people behave themselves. At a late hour last Saturday night --- or rather early on Sunday morning --- there was boisterous proceedings indulged in & around the Plaza which had better not be repeated here. Courtesans & pimps who have found the climate too warm for them in Eureka will find the mercury at high range for them in this town if they don't carry themselves straight.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Times" Eureka, California
Wednesday, October 3, 1883

If the young man who went to call on a girl in the Eastern Division of the city last Sunday evening, but who suddenly left the front door & shot out of the yard with a dog attached, will return the dog, a reward of $5 will be paid by the girl's father, & no questions asked.
 
 

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"The Daily Humboldt Times" Eureka, California
Tuesday, November 8, 1898

MISSED HIS AIM

A shooting affair occured in front of a first street saloon early last night, which came near resulting in a fatality. Happily the firer of the gun resembled a Spanish gunner in his handling of the weapon, & so the intended victim was not hit.

The row commenced in the saloon. Art Smith, a longshoreman was engaged in attempting fickle fortune at cards. A stranger by the name of Brandenstein, reputed to be from Siskiyou county, interfered in the game &-was offering comments which were not acceptable to the participants. Smith had some words with Brandenstein, & in the heat of controversy that ensued, struck the latter in the face.

The matter had its continuation & climax out on the sidewalk, words never authorized by Webster were bandied back & forth, & compliments exchanged between the parties that would not bear publication. Each made threats, & the matter promised to end in a test of the participants abilities as fighters, when Brandenstein, it is alleged, drew a pistol & fired point blank at Smith. The latter when he saw the menacing weapon pointed at him & realizing that his contriversialist intentions were to use him as a target, Jumped aside Just as the weapon was discharged, thus averting a catastrophe of which he most likely would have been the victim. A powder burnt hand is a good testimonial of how close he came to being hit.
 
 

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"The Daily Humboldt Times" Eureka, California
Tuesday, November 1, 1898

THE GUN WAS LOADED

The festive youth on Halloween considers that he has full license to cart away people's gates, & play such pranks as only the ingenuity of a youthful mind can invent & put into practice. Last evening, however, a prank played came seriously near having the element of a tragedy in it.

About 8:30 p. m. a crowd of about fifteen boys gathered in front of the residence of Zenas Rice, who lives between I & J streets, in the vicinity of Eleventh & Twelfth streets, & sought amusement by pelting the home with potatoes. This diversion attracted to the spot a number of small boys, among them Clarence Coonan, the son of Attorney J. F. Coonan, who watched the antics of their elder companions with boyish admiration.

Danger lurks where it is least suspected, & the boys continued their pastime. The people within the house evidently did not relish the joke as much as those on the outside for suddenly the door flew open, Rice rushed out & discharged a gun, loaded with shot or some other amunition, at the crowd. The Coonan boy, who was not a participant, but only as on-looker, was the recipient of the charge, the shot striking him in the forehead, just above the eyes, making several ugly gashes, & in the right leg with like effect.

Clarence has cause to be thankful that he was standing at seventy-five feet distance, for had he been nearer, he would have been seriously hurt. The wound in the leg indicates that the murderous charge must have been buckshot, for there is a gash considerably larger than the size of a pea on the limb that was struck.

Some of the boys in the crowd say that immediately after the gun was fired that the man cried out "blank shot."

Coonan's wounds were dressed by Dr. Sinclair & there are no dangerous results anticipated.

Mr. Coonan intends swearing out a warrant for Rice's arrest today.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Monday, May 2, 1898

ADMIRAL DEWEY IN HUMBOLDT

Twelve or fourteen years ago when the present Rear Admiral George Dewey was a Lieutenent in the navy, he paid a visit to this county in company with Lighthouse Inspector, Captain Casey. A. P. Marble, who was then in charge of Mendocino Lighthouse, remembers him distinctly as he took dinner with Captain Casey at his table. He visited all the lights on the Humboldt coast & stopped a day or two in Eureka. At that time Admiral Dewey was a young man. He made a good impression on all those who met him. It is evident that he is made of the right material for a naval commander.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Standard, Eureka, California
February 1898

It is a sorry condition of affairs to admit but the recent rain storm has forced the conclusion that besides the three paved blocks Eureka has only three other blocks of roadway that can be called decent.
 
 

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"The Weekly Humboldt Times" Eureka, California
Saturday, March 3, 1860

INDIAN MASSACRE

The rancheria on Indian island was attacked on Saturday night by an unknown party of men & with the exception of three or four that escaped, the whole tribe, with many Mad river Indians stopping there were killed.

It may well be imagined that the unexpected attack on the diggers so near town, accompanied with such a terrible & indiscriminate slaughter, produced considerable excitement here on Sunday evening. In the midst of it, news reached town that the ranches on South Beach had also been attacked the same night, & the whole numbers of diggers there, exterminated. Since then it is reported that a considerable number of Indians on Eel river were killed the same time. The ranches at Bucksport & on Elk river were not disturbed as there were only squaws & children at these places, except two old bucks, it would seem that the design at first was only to kill the bucks. The killing appears to have been principally with knives & hatchets, or axes. The whole number killed at the different places on Saturday night, cannot fall far below a hundred & fifty, including bucks, squaws & children.

These simultaneous attacks, at different points, show clearly that this new plan of operations against the Indians, has been adopted by a large number of people in this county, & they act in concert. It is generally supposed that the sufferers from Indian depredations in the Bald Hills, on Eel river, & the lower part of the county, are at the bottom of it.

There are men in this county, as there may be elsewhere, where the Government allows these degraded diggers-to roam at large, & plunder & murder without restraint, who have become perfectly desperate, & we have here some of the fruits of that desperation. They have friends or relatives cruelly & savagely butchered, their homes made desolate, & their hard-earned property destroyed by these sneaking, cowardly wretches; & when an attempt is made to hunt them from their hiding places in the mountains, to administer merited punishment upon them, they escape to the friendly ranches on the coast for protection. When appeals are made for aid in protecting their lives & property, they are met by contumely & reproach. Their brethren in other parts of the State, many of whom approve of hanging up white men without "due process of law" for much less crimes than these diggers have comitted, heap ridicule upon them & shed crocodile tears over the "poor Indians."

Smarting under these great & grievous wrongs, we are prepared to overlook much that would otherwise be unjustifiable, but we cannot approve of the indiscriminate slaughter of helpless children & defenseless squaws. We cannot conceive of any excuse for such killing unless it be acciental, & will not suppose that anyone in his sober moments will attempt to justify such a thing.

If in defense of your property & your all, it becomes necessary to break up these hiding places of your mountain enemies, so be it; but for heavens sake, in doing this, do not forget to what race you belong.

We say this in all kindness, & sincerely hope that such an indiscriminate slaughter may never occur again in this county.
 
 

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"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Saturday, May 20, 1899

A SAD CASE

Edwin Russell paid a severe penalty this morning for a theft upon which he realized only 15 cents, as he was sentenced by Police Judge Melendy to serve six months in the County Jail. Russell, who is a physical & moral wreck from the excessive use of morphine, yesterday stole a bed spread, valued at one dollar or two, from the Rowell House where he was rooming & sold it to obtain money with which to purchase more of the baneful drug. The spread was sold to the "Little Tailor" on First street, who paid Russell 15 cents for it & then informed the owner that it was in his possession, the result being that within 15 minutes after receiving the money the thief was in custody.

Russell, who has been in Eureka about five months & claims to have come from San Jose, is a confirmed "morphine fiend," & presents a most pitable spectacle. His limbs & body are masses of sores from the punctures of the hypodermic needle that he uses & his sufferings when unable to satisfy his craving for the drug excite both pity & disgust. He admits & deprecates his failing & says that several times he has sought to end it all by taking an overdose of the seductive stuff that has been his bane, but the utmost result of his attempts was 48 hours' unconsciousness from which he revived with an increased appetite for morphine.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Saturday, April 29, 1899

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

Peter Anderson, the electrician, writes the Ferndale Enterprise that Tom Marble, formerly of that section had a lively experience in Benicia the other day. Tom dropped into that place a total stranger, & had not been in town more than a day before he was pursued by a man with a gun. It seems that a few weeks before Tom's arrival at Benicia a man & a woman had opened a restaurant at that place, into which Tom entered to get a meal. The woman saw him, & mistook him for her ax-husband. She immediately informed the man associated with her that the man she deserted was on their track, & told him that if the two met one of them would surely be killed. The man lost no time in arming himself, & started in pursuit of Marble, his purpose being to get in the first shot.

Tom was told of the matter, & promptly denied to those who warned him that he was the woman's husband. He gave his name, his former residence & swore he never saw the woman before, but he was not believed, & half frightened to death he hunted Mr. Andersen up for protection. In the meantime his pursuer, failing to find Tom, went to a lawyer & secured a warrant for Marble's arrest, which was a lucky thing for Tom, for when he appeared before the court he soon made it evident that it was a case of mistaken identity. The two men shook hands after the hearing, the restaurant keeper apologized to Tom, treated him to a good dinner, & when the former Humboldter had eaten his fill he bade Benicia a hurried good-bye.
 
 

258

"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Tuesday, May 22, 1888

"INDIAN BOB" DISSENTS

On the north slope of Table Bluff & facing South Bay, is the little town of Indianola. It was founded by "Dandy Bill," we believe, & is populated by natives" to the manor born." Laws peculiar to the remnant of Indians who abide there are in vogue & are religiously enforced. In short Indianola is working under a series of police regulations which is commendable. It is a happy little colony of aborigines under ordinary circumstances.

But just now everything is not working smoothly. "Dandy Bill" has a comely daughter of marriageable age, & wants to sell her, Indian fashion (which fashion, by the way, is very much like that of some pale-faced fathers, but on a somewhat different plan). The dandy father of this human chattel assesses her value at $75. "tow Long" offers $65. The difference in seeming value is agitating Indianola just now, & "Long's" proposition to "split the difference" is under consideration.

"Indian Bob" is a sedate thinking member of the Indianola clan, but evidently a step further advanced in the grade of civilization than his fellow aborigines. He approached us with his unvarnished tale of the situation yesterday, & announced his dissent to the proposed sale of the dusky maiden. His soul revolts at the proposition, & when he told us that merchant Lathrow, at Table Bluff, was his Sunday school teacher, & had instructed him up to his present advanced ideas, his earnestness was something wonderful to comtemplate, both in the matter of gesticulation & utterance.

After hearing "Bob" through we referred him to Sheriff Brown, which struck him as a happy idea. He left us with his plan fully matured --- that of having the worthy official referred to dictate to "Dandy Bill" that the girl is worh $100, which will "oversize; "tow Long's "pile."
 
 

"The Arcata Union" Arcata, California
Friday, November 30, 1888

CROSSED the RANGE

H. C. Lockhart, a man who has given the police a great deal of trouble in the last year or two, has taken a short, easy & cheap mode of righting things by hanging himself. A few months ago he shot his woman, & but for a corset steel deflecting the course of the bullet, would undoubtedly have killed her. While locked up for trial on this charge he showed symptoms of insanity, but when he was set at liberty, the woman declining to prosecute, he became sane again immediately. Since then he sold his property, a doggery on Third street & the ground it stood on, and, claiming to have been drunk & insane when the deed was signed, brought suit to recover. A few days ago he was arrested on a charge of robbery, a man named Thomas identifying him as the man who robbed him of $150. When he was taken to the county jail after his commital for trial, all his insane symptoms re-appeared, & he finally got so obstropoulous that he was put into a straight jacket Wednesday night & kept in it several hours. On Thursday Deputy Sheriff Ferril talked to him, & he promised to behave himself. That night the prisoners were locked up as usual, each one in a cell by himself. The cell next to Lockhart's was empty, while the second was occupied by Schwedesky, the embezzler. The jailor discovered the body of the suicide suspended from the grating of the ventilator by a piece of rope. Thus closes the case of the People vs Lockhart.
 
 

259

"The Ferndale Enterprise" Ferndale, California
Friday, March 29, 1895

Albert Whetstone, Fortuna's solid citizen, was in Rohnerville last week asking for money with which to buy a suit of clothes. He picked up quite an amount. Albert now weighs 472 pounds & hopes before long to reach 500 pounds.
 
 

"The Ferndale Enterprise"
Friday, May 3, 1895

The "infant" Whetstone came to Ferndale Saturday with the "Little Tycoon" company of Eureka, & occupied a conspicious seat in Roberts Hall. During the rendition of the opera, just as Miss Hurricane asked' "Have you seen the whale?'! Whetstone made his way to the footlights, but his imense person obscured the view of the audience, an usher directed him to be seated. It was another whale the lady had refered to.
 
 

"The Ferndale Enterprise" Ferndale, California
Friday, June 22, 1894

Albert Whetstone, Fortuna's mammoth specimen of humanity, who tips the beam at 525 pounds, paid his first visit to Ferndale Tuesday & was quite an attraction for our people. He appeared in town behind two apparently weary horses & filled the wagon bed almost completely. Before leaving he awarded the contract of a pair of shoes to bootmaker Rein hart, & when they are completed the wagon will be sent after them.
 
 

"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Saturday, June 15, 1895

ALBERT WHETSTONE DEAD

After suffering for several weeks from paralysis or heart failure, on which his physicians failed to agree, Albert Whetstone, the Eel river valley giant, succumbed to the dread destroyer at 1 o'clock Friday morning.

Deceased was 28 years of age & at the time of his death, weighed 496 pounds. He was not only a giant in girth, but also in height as he was 6 feet, 2 inches tall.

Whetstone had several good offers to go on the road as a museum freak, but always refused them. His relatives were also opposed to his doing so. He did start out at one time but the Combination he was traveling with broke up, & left him stranded. He was not over bright but was able to take care of himself. Whetstone 's parents are ordinary sized mortals but three of his brothers, & himself are 6 feet 2 inches tall, the fourth one being an even 6 feet. Some six weeks ago W. B. Snow, of this city, received a visit from the fat man, who wanted to get measured for a suit of clothes, & found his measurements to be as follows: Breast measure 58 inches, waist (?) 72 inches, thigh 39 inches, his Weight at that time being 472 pounds. The funeral was held at Rohnerville e at 2 o'clock this afternoon, It is needless to say that it was the "largest" funeral ever held in this county.

. . . continued .....
 
 

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"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Wednesday, June 19, 1895

Albert Whetstone, a likeness of whom is given on this page, & who at the time of his death at Fortuna, June 13th, was probly the largest man in the United States, was born at Atlanta, Indiana, March 11, 1867, & when four years of age was the smallest of a family of seven children, at which time he had just commenced to walk. He came from a family noted for their large size. His mother at the present time weighs three hundred & forty-five pounds, & she has two brothers whose average weight is three hundred & twenty. When five years of age he was kicked in the head by a horse, which in a manner affected his mind, although he had an astonishing memory in regards to scenes & occurances that he had witnessed. When about twenty years of age he had attained such size that he was engaged to go on exhibition through the eastern states, but being of too confiding a disposition he never realized any of the profits from the same as those who had him in charge kept all of the proceeds. In February, 1891, he came to California, & lived for two years with his father's family at Rio Dell, since which time he has resided with them at Fortuna. At the time of his death, he had made arrangements to go on exhibition with a party from San Francisco.

His weight at his decease was four hundred & ninety-six pounds. It took ten men to bear him to the grave, & it was necessary to cut an opening through the side of the house in order to take him out. Over one hundred feet of one & one-half inch lumber was used in making his casket, which weighed over one hundred pounds,& was six feet eight inches long, thirty-two inches wide & thirty inches high. He was always given a free pass over the railroads, & his gentle disposition made every one a friend to him. The illustration given, as well as his history, was given direct to the "Standard" reporter & is the most correct one that has been given.
 
 

(JF: Drawing of Albert Whetstone by D (?) Bailey in original)

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