Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1892 — Christening a Camp. [ARTICLE]

Christening a Camp.

Thomus Egan has a special claim to the title of pioneer, since he came here in 1846. In 1848 lie settled down at Dry Diggings, now known os Placerville. A few days before Christmas, 1848, the name of Dry Diggings was changed summarily to Hangtown by a grim eircumstuuce. “A few days before Christmas," said he “Dry Diggings was surprised by u story told by a white-faced miner. While resting in his tent at uight five men entered. They decided to kill the minor if he showed uny sign of awakening. Therefore he lay perfectly still, and, out of the corner of his eye, watched the men pocketiug his precious gold dust. Next day the miner told his

story, tho IhioTes were arrested, tried before Judge Lynch, condemned first to be whipped and finally to bo hanged. I was present itfthe hanging of three of them. They were drawn on a team under a large oak tree. Hopes were placed around their nocks, a crowd below held the long ends, tho horses were lashed awny from the tree and tho next minute the three culprits were dangling in midair. “In this way wo ushered in Christmas . of '4S, and we agreed to change the name of tho camp to Hangtown. On Christmas eve a grand dance was given. One lady was present, an.! lucky .was the man who bail the good fortune to lend her in tho cotillon. \Yo laid a substantial supj>er of coffee, pork and beuns, ami very little beet.” —|PlaceriilleChronicle.