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I would say this incident was more newsworthy than the OK corral fight which of course was after the muzzleloading days. But it occurred in a place and time where newspapers and reporters did not exist.
The California Gold Rush 1849 to 1855 were the peak years. The Sydney Ducks gang terrorized San Francisco. There were under 1000 people living in that small town when Gold was found in '48. The only permanent buildings, as opposed to tents and such, were at the Presidio military post and the mission.
The town grew extremely quickly to over 25,000 by the next year 1849 and it then looked like a real city with real buildings and real newspapers. It was wild and frenetic and the Sydney Ducks gang was terrorizing the city. The gang also invaded the Sierra Nevada mountains a hundred miles away.
In 2 days they ambushed and killed minors, stealing their gold. The next day this gang of thirteen Ducks gang ambushed a party of 3 men who were walking along the riverbank near Placerville. One of three attacked was Jonathon Rutledge Davis who was an expert fencer and army officer. He was carrying two Colt revolvers and a Bowie knife. A fight ensued.
https://www.frontieramericanillustr...e-forgotten-warrior-of-california-s-gold-rush
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_R._Davis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Ducks
The California Gold Rush 1849 to 1855 were the peak years. The Sydney Ducks gang terrorized San Francisco. There were under 1000 people living in that small town when Gold was found in '48. The only permanent buildings, as opposed to tents and such, were at the Presidio military post and the mission.
The town grew extremely quickly to over 25,000 by the next year 1849 and it then looked like a real city with real buildings and real newspapers. It was wild and frenetic and the Sydney Ducks gang was terrorizing the city. The gang also invaded the Sierra Nevada mountains a hundred miles away.
In 2 days they ambushed and killed minors, stealing their gold. The next day this gang of thirteen Ducks gang ambushed a party of 3 men who were walking along the riverbank near Placerville. One of three attacked was Jonathon Rutledge Davis who was an expert fencer and army officer. He was carrying two Colt revolvers and a Bowie knife. A fight ensued.
https://www.frontieramericanillustr...e-forgotten-warrior-of-california-s-gold-rush
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_R._Davis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Ducks
