Attempt to Murder and Rob

ATTEMPT TO MURDER AND ROB – August Berg Assaulted by a Chinaman and Fearfully Cut With A Hatchet

From Robt. Nugent we learn the following particulars of an assault made upon August Berg by a Chinaman, last Monday afternoon, at Berg’s home, on Salmon River. Mr. Nugent relates the circumstances of the affair as he heard them from a man by the name of Barker, who was sent into Florence with the intelligence from Allison’s, where Mr. Nugent was lying in a critical condition. It seems that the unfortunate man had been a short time away from home and had returned. He was going toward his stable with a saddle under his arm when a Chinaman stepped up behind him and struck him on the head with a hatchet two or three times. A fearful encounter ensued in which Mr. Berg dealt a few blows with a club, but the Chinaman struck at him with the hatchet and cut both thumbs off and inflicted a severe wound in his side. Berg in some way succeeded in getting the hatchet and struck the Chinaman, who by this time was retreating. Berg went into his house and got a pistol, came out, mounted his horse and started in pursuit of the would-be-murderer. He tracked him by the blood from his wound some distance above his place, but could not get sight of him. Arriving at Allison’s, a distance of seven miles from his place, he became so exhausted from the loss of blood, and the excitement having ceased, that he found himself helpless. Mr Allison was unable to render him much assistance, having recently cut his foot with an ax so as to be scarcely able to move about. In this condition Mr. Berg was situated until Mr. Barker came along, who immediately went into Florence and reported the affair last Wednesday afternoon. A Chinaman having arrived in Florence the day previous, with wounds upon his head, he was at once sought for and arrested. In reply to questions asked him about his wounds, he said he was attacked by an Indian on the road to Florence, with whom he had a scuffle and got hurt. Mr. Nugent, who was dispatched at once for a physician, says when he left Florence the excitement was intense over the affair, and that parties were in the act of tying the Chinaman to a bench. Robbery seems to be the cause of the attack, the Chinaman having formerly been in the employ of Mr. Berg and being well acquainted with his premises. Upon the arrival of Mr. Nugent here Dr. Stainton was summoned and both parties left for Allison’s Thursday afternoon.