Daily Alta California, Volume 19, Number 6436, 29 October 1867 — THE MISSION CREEK MYSTERY. [ARTICLE]

THE MISSION CREEK MYSTERY.

The investigations of the police in the matter ol the alleged attempt to murder the woman whose case was mentioned in yesterday's Ai.ta, have no) resulted in causing them to change their first opinion of the transaction. On the other hand, there are circumstances connected with the affaii which look somewhat as if there might have been an attempt to abduct her, if not to murder her. II look_ very singular that at the hour mentioned by her, she could have been walked between two men such a distance as she states, passing on the way the door of a butcher shop, whioh was lighted up and open, the proprietor standing in the door, as he states, at the time, and no one noticed the party. It is also singular that she should be able to see, hear and remember everything so distinctly even down to the most minute detail of the transaction, and to struggle successfully against her would-be murderers, and at the same time not be able to cry out or give any alarm, or attract attention in any manner. It is singular, also, that her assailants having gone so far, and having her in their power completely, should have left their work half done, oontenting themselves with pitching her into a creek in which they must have known she oould not have been drowned if they really intended to murder her or carry her off. But that she teat found in the creek is undoubted, whether she was thrown there or jumped there herself, and there are said to be marks on her person which indicate that she had been roughly handled by somebocy. It is a curious case altogether. New Brand of Gunpowder.—We have been shown a sample of a new brand of sporting powder, manufactured at the Pacific Powder Mills, in Marin County, which seems admirably adapted for the purpose intended. It ha: a large, hard grain which prevents its packing hard in the gun, or filling the nipple so as to burn it out, and burns quickly and olean, leaving but a very slight coating on the barrel. Any sportsman will comprehend the advantages of such powder at a glance. It more closely resembles the brand called the "Audubon Club, ' wnich was manufactured by Lullin, Smith Si Boioe, expressly to take the prize at the National Fair, in 1859, than anything else we have seen. A Valuable Wood.—Capt. Clark, of the barque Magnolia, exhibits at the Merchants' Exchange a specimen of wood designated as Lignum ferro 11], which grows in Southern China, and waere grea. durability and strength is required must prove ex ceedingly valuable. It is said to grow tall and straight, .ticks of 45 feet in lei.gth by _4 inches in thickness being easily obtainable. For stern-posts, kelsons, treenails, keels, etc., it is admirably adapted, and it is also claimed to be proof against the ravages of worms of any kind, which would make it particularly useful in constructing wharves Tbis wood has a close, smooth grain, and is quite heavy Police Charges.—John R. Conway, one of the very best men on the police force of San Francisco, has resigned his position, to take the appointment tendered him by the authorities of Alameda County, in place of the late Richard Richardson, the particulars of whose murder have been fully set forth in the Ai.ta. We cni.gratulate our Oakland friends on tbe selection of a number one vi.iv. Watson Nichols, formerly a special police officer, has been appointed on the regular foroo, vice Coi. way, resigned, as above Suppobed Abortion.—Yesterday tbe body of a female infant was found floating in the bay, off Mission Street Wharf. The Coroner, after examination, pronounced it to be a fiveZmonths' child, but whether the miscarriage or abortion was acciden , tal or wilfully produced could not be determined, as I there was nothing upon which to give the slightest i clue to aid a search for its origin. .

Death of an Oi.o Ska-Captain.—Captain Charles E Lovett, who came here as Master of the brig Col. Taylor, in 18111. and has been running in the Hawaiian and Chinese trade nearly ever since, died in this city on Sunday, aged fifty-seven years. Deceased was a native of Beverly, Massachusetts. One of his sons is now in Shanghai, but we are not aware that he leaves any family in this city. He for a long time commanded the barque Yankee, but his last trip was as master of the barque Smyrniote, some months since, his ill health having compelled him, from that time until his death, to remain on shore. He was appointed to the charge of the Captains' Koom of the Merchants' Exchange, on the opening of that establishment, but had oeen too unwell to attend to tho duties ot the position. His disease was dropsy of the heart. He is spoken of, by all who knew him, as''God's noblest work, an honest man;" and his decease will be deeply regretted by very many of our citizens. It may be a comfort to his friends at the East to know that he was surrounded with every com fort during his Illness, aod cared for by kind frionds. One of the ladies who waited upon him during his sickness remarked that he was the most patient sufferer she ever knew. Ilia r. mains were taken in charge by the Masonic Fraternity, and will be interred by them.

Stabbing Affair.—Yesterday evening an affray oocurred at the Four Mile House, on the old San Jose Road, between two men, one of whom reoeived several severe wound... Isador Williams is at the place mentioned, carrying on thejuisiness of a haypressor, and Wm. Smith is employed there also In the capacity of cook. Both the men are middle aged, and some ill-feeling has existed between them for some time past. It is said that love and jealousy, inspired by a oountry Phoebe, was theo'iginai cause of the disagreement which grew day by day until it culminated in a fight. In the collision which ensued after an angry dispute, Williams took up a billet of wood and hit Mnitb over the head with it, when Smith drew his p .cket knife and made at Williams, who threw down his stick and turned to fly, but Smith overtook him and plunged the large blade of his knil'o into Williams' back, as he ran, six or seven times, inflicting severe and probably dangerous wounds. The wounded roan was oared for, and officer A. D. Brown, of tho Mission, sent for, who arrested Smith and locked him up on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon. The Wreck of the "Shuurick."—The United States Revenue steamer Wattandu, whose departure for "Shubricksville," near Cape Mendocino, last week, was noticed in the Alta, returned yesterday, and the following memoranda furnished by her purser to the marine reporters, tells the position of matters at the wreck when she departed: "Left San Francisco on 24th October, with Capt. Bloomfield and wrecking party and material to repair ship; had calms with dense fog all the passage up; hove-to during Friday night, owing to dense fog; Saturday afternoon fog partially lifted; steamed in to the wreck, and succeeded in getting two boat loads on shore; but, owing to heavy surf on the beach, stopped discharging until next morning at daylight; 27th, succeeded in landing all the materials; at 1:30 p. W., got underway for San Franoisco; passed S'eainer Sierra Nevada, bound up the coast; tho Shubrictc had received no further injury, and Capt. Bloomfield and party felt confident of getting hor off soon." A Chapter op Disasters.—By tho memoranda of the ship Gardiner Colby, from Newport, Wales, we learn that on August 22j, latitude 54 degrees south, longitude 83 degrees west, James McCool, boy, a native of Ireland, fell from the gangway overboard and was diowned; August 24th, C. Franklin, seumati, a native of England, aged 20 years, while furling the flying jib, fell overboard and was drowned; tho Captain immediately lowered a boat, but was unable to find him; in getting the boat alongside, she was also lost, the crew barely escaping with their lives before she swamped. Off Cape Horn, Henry Taylor, trst mate, had his right leg- broken, by being washed about the decks by a sea which boarded the suip. When boarded by the Harbor Police, yesterday, the Captain said be would permit runners on board.

Stage Upset.—The morning boat from San Quentin brought intelligence yesterday that Barnard's stage coach, containing eighteen persons, was capsized when arriving at San Rafael. The driver of the stage, it is said, attempted to strike a dog with his whip, which frightend the horses, causing the leaders to double upon tho wheel horses, and breaking the whipple-tree. Before the driver oould recover control of them the coach upset. James Dohson broke his back, and sustained other injuries. James Finigan, of Sacramento, was injured internally, and his wife had a oompound comminuted fracture of the wrist, pieces of the bones protruding through the skin. Six or seven others were more or less injured, but none seriously. _ Protestant Orphan Asylum.—An examination of the fchool department of the Protestant Orphan Asylum will beheld to morrow (Wednesday), commencing at ten o'clock in the morning, at the Asylum Building, off Market street, opposite the San Jos6 Railroad Depot. The friends of the institution are invitid to visit the Asylum on that occasion. The ltdy managers will be present to welcome such _. may take an interest in the exercises of the educational branch of this most worthy institution. Apply to the Courts.—Thomas Young Wilson has submitted a written statement of alleged brutal treatment he received from the Captain of the British barque Oliver Cutts, arrived on Sunday from Sydney, N. 8. W. The matter is too voluminous to publish, and, moreover, possesses no interest for the public. If "WilHam Is_ac Wilson, master mariner," has been guilty of what T. Y. W. says he is, redress might be obtained before his Honor Judge Hoffman. Death ok Another Pioneer.—Joseph McGregor, who hsd been a resident of San Francisco since IS-P.i, and was widely known as an astronomer nnd rater of chronometers, died in this city, yesterday, quite Rudde.ily. Ho was n native of Scotland. 55 years of age, and leaves a widow and several children to mourn his loss. He was- one of the builders of the Observatory on Telegraph Hill, and was familiarly known to nearly all our old inhabitants. ______ Serious Accident.—F. W. Crosby, and a friend, returning from Bay View Park, on Saturday evening, met with a serious accident. Their team ran away, and smashing the baggy to pieces, pitched them head foremoßt on to the hard road.^Wr. Crosby, striking on his head, was severely injured. He was taken hotre insensiblo, and remained in a critical condition last evening. His friend escaped without serious injury. Fire.—A second alarm of fire came at about 10 o'clock last night, from Signal Box No. 7, on Union, between Hyde and Larkin streets. Fire was discovered in the hou-o situate on the west side of Larkin, one door from Union street, belonging to Nelson Young, carpenter. It was a one-story frame building, and is nearly destroyed. The wholo loss will be less than $1,000, which is fully covered by insurance.

For Ecclesial Uses.—ln the list of tranaac lion., in real estate last week the name of the Most Reverend Archbishop Alemany appears as grantee no le=s than seven time-". The property purchased by him is located between Mission and Jessie anti Third and Fourth streets, and the aggregate cost of the several lots was $l:\ l>'->. The site is intended for a building for educational or devotional purposes. • ." ...v. Bench-Warrant.—Offioers Wotkins and Greer yesterday brought in Alexander Griffith on a* bench-warrant from the County Court, he haviug been indicted for grand larceny. He is the individual charged with stealing some articles of female apparel from a homo he was employed to paint nearly two years ago. The particulars have been already published. Election op Church Oppicers.—The Congregation Sherith Israel have elected the following officers for the ensuing year: C. Meyer, President; S. Retcstein, Vioe President; J. Funkenstein, Tre .- surer; Isaiah Cohn, Secretary; J. M. Martin, B. Levy, P. Berwin, H. Breslauer, B. Joseph, Trustees; Rev. it. U. A. Henry, Minister; L. Riess, t'olleotor^ ' Another Of the Gang. — Yesterday morning Chief Crowley and officers Lees and Fuller, captured Patrick Manning, alias Roderick, alias Montague, on Pacific street, complaint of grand larceny being made against him hy James Mean-. He is accused of being one of the gang who have recently been committing depredations on clothing stores. Fire in Hates' Valley.—A lively little fire was discovered in the attic of house No. 569 Hayes street, about half-past 11 Sunday night. Hayes Valley Hose Company was promptly ou hand and extinguished the fire. It is the supposed work of an incendiary, as the house was unoccupied. Missing.—John Fish, Captain of a small schooner, the Daisy, oaine ashore at Vallejo street wharf last Saturday morning, and has not since been seen or heaid of. He is a man six feet in height, darkcomplexioned, and was clad in dark-colored clothes and a blue shirt. Pueblo Land Meeting.—The Pueblo Land Organization will hold a meeting this evening, at 7% o'clock, at Barra _ Hall, northwest corner of First and Minna streets, at which questions of grave importance, relative to the disposition of tbe Pueblo laws, will be discussed. Seats free. The " Saranac."—lt is reported—with how much truth we do not know—that the U. S. war-steamer Saranac, now on the Mexican coast, will not return to San Francisco, but will go around the Horn t> tbe Atlantic coast, and be repaired at one of the Eastern navy yards. Fare Reduced.—Td consequence (f the running of the steamer Tulare, as an opposition boat on the Stockton route, the California Steam Navigation Company have reduced the fare on their boats on this route from $5 to $1, for the timebeing. False Alarm.—The alarm of fire at eight o'clook last evening, from Box No. 59, was without any just cause Search was made all round the vicinity, but not even the smell of smoke rewarded the industry of the searchers. Middies Coming.—The U. S. war-steamer Mo. h icon will soon run down to Panama, and receive on board fifty midshipmen from the Naval School at Annapolis, who have been ordered here to join the North Pacific Squadron. The Old " Cyanb."—The old sloop-of-war Oyane, now a storeship, is lying in port awaiting her complement of men to sail for Panama, where she is to be stationed. Purse Found.—The conductor of car No. 4, Omnibus Railroad, picked up a purso containing money, lsst Saturday night, which the owner can have by applying ut the Company's office. That Whistle.—The great steam blower on the Vulcan Foundry now speaks for itself, daily, and needs no further praise from the press. I The Weather—Perfect. We have no suggestions to make.