which, had it not missed its aim, would have killed
him. Being unarmed, and unable to procure a
weapon on board, the officer was obliged to return
without having accomplished his purpose.
In May 1853, one of the frequent disputes arose as to the possession of a certain piece of land at Santa Barbara. Jack Powers had settled upon a tract about two miles from town, which Nicholas Den claimed to have leased for a number of years from the government. The case was decided in Den's favor in the district court, and afterward in the supreme court. Nevertheless, Powers refused to give up possession, claiming that as it was government property, it was free to all American citizens. Sheriff Twist deter- mined to eject him by force. Powers then collected fifteen of his friends, and formed a sort of barricade on the rancho, by felling trees, piling up logs, and ar- ranging wagons for the purpose. They had liquors and food provided for a number of days, and several pieces of music to enliven the time. Well armed with revolvers, rifles, and shot-guns they were pre- pared to resist the officers. Three of Powers' adher- ents, on the way to his place, encountered the sheriff and others, who were trying to take out the spikes that had been put in the cannon the previous night. Words ensued as to their intended use of the cannon, which resulted in a serious melee with several wounded and some killed on both sides.
Not less than 200 men, squatters on the Fitch, the Pena, and the Berreyesa grants, situated about Healdsburg on Russian river, banded for mutual pro- tection in movements defensive and au:g:ressive. Sonoma and Santa Rosa valleys in common with al- most all parts of the state covered with Mexican grants, have been the scenes of repeated assassinations and outbreaks, of which I give n instance. In April 1858 fifty armed men attacked the government sur- veyor, Tracy, then acting under instructions issued by Mandeville, surveyor general, seized and tore in
