Amador County High School - Skip Yearbook (Sutter Creek, CA)

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Lost Leaves From History Herewith are tales of bandit raids ln days when gold held swayg Prospector Jim has yarns to spin And necktie parties are no sin Though Joaquin gets away. An llncident in the Life of a Famous Bandit q young, blackfeyed, blackfhaired boy of nineteen came to stay with his sisters who ran a hotel in Mokelumne Hill. At first the sisters were de- lighted to have him with them for he was so jolly and good natured. But their joy was shortflived for they soon found that he was also wild and reckless and it was impossible to control him. Instead of being a help to them he was a constant source of worry for he was always in the neighboring towns drinking and gambling and sometimes quarreling over the card games. To all their entreaties urging him to give up the wild life he lead he turned a deaf ear, for was he not Joaquin Marietta? No harm could come to him. Had he not been told so by a very wise old woman in that beautiful town in Mexico from which he had come? So he continued his reckless life. One night, at a saloon in Sutter Creek, Joaquin accused a man of cheating in a game of cards. A fight ensued and Joaquin killed the man. He escaped on his horse, which was easily recognizable because of its peculiar markings. This was the first crime committed by Joaquin Marietta. A party was organized immediately and a reward was offered for his cap' ture. One evening, the sheriff, with a party of men, came into a saloon. They were feeling quite happy because they were on Joaquin's trail. A crowd of men were gathered around a table, at which a game was going on. Also, at the bar, men were gathered. By the stove another man was sitting with his feet propped against it. Apparently, he was asleep. His head was dropped forward on his chest and his hat was drawn down over his eyes. A cloak was wrapped around him and the collar was turned up around his face. Come on, boys, the sheriff called. 'Tm treating tonight. All the men came up to the bar, except the man by the stove. The sheriff went over and gave him a slap on the back. Wake up, man, 'and drink to the capture of Joaquin Marietta. The man started up and asked, Has he been caught? cub'

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LITERARY

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Not yet, the sheriff answered. But he will be soon. That's the way to talk, Bob,f' one of the men at the bar said. The sheriff and the stranger came over to the bar, and drank with the other men. One glass followed the other until all the men became quite drunk. In fact, they became so drunk that they did not notice that the stranger did not drink more than one glass. Talk centered on Joaquin Marietta and many were the wishes that he were there then. If I had him here now, one man said, I would tear him limb from limb. Thash nothin' compared to what I'd do, another man proclaimed. Fd take an axe and chop him into little bits. Ho, you're all drunk, the sheriff informed them. The truth was that the sheriff was drunker than the whole crowd put together. If you' saw him you'd all run and leave me alone to contend with him. And I'd certainly show him a thing or two. Oh, would you? The stranger spoke for the first time. I am Joaquin Marietta. Now what are you going to show me? All eyes were focused on him. He had a pistol in each hand. His hat was off and they saw that it was Joaquin. The sheriff started toward him, but Joaquin said, A step nearer and you'll be dead. He shot at the lamp and put it out. A scuffle started but he escaped, and jump- ing on his horse, which was at the side of the building, he escaped the law a second time. It was wondered afterward why he announced to the sheriff and his party that he was Joaquin Marietta. The reason was probably because of his love for ad- venture. And also, the wise woman in Mexico may have been right-that he bore a charmed life. ' -Lillian Fontenrose, '28. J The Capture of the County Seat T seems that when Calaveras County was organized flater it became Amador and Calaveras Countiesj, the county seat was placed at Double Springs, a small town of but one building which answered for courthouse, saloon, hotel, and store. Jackson at that time was a town of about six or seven houses, and the inhabitants of the town wished very much to have the county seat moved to Jackson. ' I The people of Jackson were so eager for the county seat that they formed a plan under the leadership of Mr. Boynton to get it. This plan did not have any- thing to do with Elections and Acts of Legislature fby which means a county seat was usually changed, for that was too slow a method. This plan was to capture it. So one morning bright and early Mr. Boynton, accompanied by another staunch advocate of the county seat movement arrived in Double Springs, 7 1i'l'llf,V-1