Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 6

Author: Foote, Horace S., ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844

USA > California > Santa Clara County > Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California > Part 6

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The location of the Murphy settlement was a few miles below the present site of the city of St. Joseph, but at that time there was nothing but a primitive mill used for grinding corn. The place occupied by our pioneers was called by them the "Irish Grove," in memory of their native land. They had purchased several hundred acres, which they cultivated, and proceeded to lay the foundations of a home. Here was a rich soil, which responded with bounteous crops to the efforts of the husbandman, and here also was the perfect political liberty in pursuit of which the patriarch had traveled thousands of miles, en- countering dangers by land and by sea. But there were two things lacking-health and educational and religious privileges. The virgin soil, covered with decayed vegetation, the deposit of centuries, was the lurking-place of deadly malaria, and, when turned up by the plow, the atmosphere was filled with germs of that dread disease, fever and ague, the scourge of the West in the days of its early settlement. There were

Martin Murphy

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

no schools or churches, teachers or ministers of the gos- pel

All of our settlers were attacked by the prevalent disease, and some of them died. Among these were his wife, and Eliza, Mary, and Nellie, daughters of his son Martin. Martin Murphy, the head of the family, was in anguish of mind at the condition of affairs. He was a devout Catholic and had reared his family in that faith. He saw his younger children and his grand- children growing up in the wilderness with no religious instruction, and no holy priest to administer the con- solation of the church to the sick or dying. The absence of these things was a heavy price to pay for the broad domain whose fertile soil would soon blossom into a valuable estate. While matters were in this condition the settlement was visited by Father Hookins, a Catholic missionary, who had penetrated the wilderness to administer the sacraments to those of his faith who located their homes on the outskirts of civilization. He found the Murphys in much dis- tress, mourning over loss of loved ones and full of anxiety as to the fate of others who were sick. He was a man of wide information and had traveled much. He had met brothers in the church who had described the glorious climate and fertile soil of Cali- fornia, a country which owed its settlement to the Mission Fathers, and where the cross was planted on every hill-side and in every valley, and which was under a government of which Catholicism was the established religion. All these things Father Hook- ins told the bereaved family in the days that he passed with them, trying to answer their eager inquiries with detailed information. As to the location of this wonderful land he could tell them that it was on the shore of the Pacific Ocean, and that it lay in a westerly direction from fever-stricken Missouri, but as to the distance, route, or character of the country or people intervening, he had no knowledge that would be use- ful to anyone attempting the journey. But in spite of this lack of all information as to how to reach this Arcadia, when Martin Murphy announced his inten- tion to seek it, he found his entire family ready to follow him. We cannot sufficiently admire the indomitable mind that could make so great a deter- mination with so little hesitation.

Men have made perilous expeditions upon com- pulsion or in quest of glory, but this proposition of the Murphy family to cross pathless plains and track- less deserts, and scale inaccessible mountains, with uncertainty as to food supplies and the certainty of meeting tribes of Indians, almost sure to be hostile,

and to do this with half a dozen men and boys, with a larger number of helpless women and children, meets no parallel in history. The voyage of Colum- bus when America was discovered, contained no element of danger-only uncertainty: His path was defined; he would sail due west, taking sufficient pro- visions; if in a certain time he met no land he would return by the same easy route. It was a venture that required but a small portion of the courage, and involved none of the labor, entailed upon the Murphy party. Much has been said and written to the glory of Fremont, called the Pathfinder, who, two years later, crossed the continent. He had with him a large body of hardy and experienced frontiersmen, versed in all knowledge of woodcraft, and inured to exposure and hardships of all kinds. He had Kit Carson and his company of scouts, the most skillful ever known on the continent. He had abundant supplies, with a force sufficient to cope with any hostile band he might encounter. He had no women or helpless children to impede his movements, and he had the trail of the Murphy party to guide him. In view of all the circumstances, the journey of these Missouri emigrants in its inception and consumma- tion transcends everything of the kind of which we have any record.

But little time was allowed to escape after the decision was made to seek the new El Dorado, and the first of March, 1844, found them with their belongings at Nisnabotna, a point on the Missouri River, in the northwest corner of Missouri, and about fifty miles south from Council Bluffs. Here they were joined by a party made up by Dr. Townsend, and they also found a large number of others, some forty wagons in all, but most of these were going to Oregon. Those bound for California were only eleven wagons, with the following-named persons composing the party: Martin Murphy, Sr .; Martin Murphy, Jr., wife and four children, James, Martin, Patrick W., Bernard D .; James Murphy and wife and daughter Mary; Bernard Murphy, John Murphy, Ellen Murphy, Daniel Murphy, James Miller and his wife, nee Mary Murphy, and family; Mr. Martin, father of Mrs. James Murphy; Dennis Martin, Patrick Martin, Dr. Townsend and wife, Allen Montgomery and wife, Captain Stevens, Mr. Hitchcock, Mrs. Patterson and family, Mat Harbin, Mr. Calvin, John Sullivan and sister, Robert Sullivan, Michael Sullivan, John Flom- boy, Joseph Foster, Oliver Magnet (a Frenchman), Francis Delanet, old Mr. Greenwood, John Green-, wood, Britton Greenwood, and M. Schallenberger.

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

Notwithstanding the smallness of their numbers, they determined to go on, keeping with the Oregon party as far as their paths ran together; after that they would trust to their own resources to bring them safely through to the promised land. They proceeded north to Council Bluffs, where they organized the entire company for offense and defense. Mr. Stevens was chosen captain, and corporals of guard were selected from among the younger men. After laying by for a few days in order to make repairs and perfect their organization, the crossing of the Missouri River was commenced.

From Mr. Moses Schallenberger we have obtained many of the particulars of this famous expedition. The difficulties that met the party at this, the first stage of their journey, would have stopped many stout-hearted men. The wagons were safely crossed in a rude flat-boat, and it was intended to swim the cattle. The river was full and they refused to take the water, and when forced in would swim in a circle, trying to save themselves by climbing on each other's backs. They were finally permitted to return to the bank, but some were stuck in the sand, which had been tramped by them until it was as tenacious as quicksand. When the water receded, a few of the mired cattle were dug out with pick and spade, but others were fastened so securely and deep that it was impossible to rescue them, and they were abandoned. It was a question whether they would be able to cross their cattle at all. At last an expedient was hit upon. Two men got into a canoe with a line, which was tied round the horns of one of the gentlest of the oxen. The ox was urged into the water until he was compelled to swim, after which the men in the canoe could easily guide him. Other cattle were then forced into the stream, and following the lead of the first, they were all safely crossed to the other side.

They were now in the country of the Otoe Indians, a tribe which, though not considered hostile, had a very bad reputation for honesty. Of the people of the train only a few had crossed over when night came, and the young men volunteered to go over and stand guard. Those who were on the Otoe side were Martin Murphy and his family, and John Sulli- van with his two brothers and his sister Mary, who afterwards married Mr. Sherbeck, of San Francisco. John Murphy and Moses Schallenberger had been chosen corporals of the guard. They were mere boys in age, not over seventeen years, but were excellent marksmen, and had a reckless bravery born of frontier life. The wagons were formed into a corral

by drawing them into a circle and placing the tongue of one wagon on the hind wheel of the one in front, thus making a very good sort of a fortification. The guard was placed outside of the corral and relieved every two hours, each relief being in charge of a corporal, whose duty it was to go from post to post and see that each sentinel was alert. While in places where the cattle might be lost or stolen, it was cus- tomary to graze them under charge of herdsmen until dark and then to bring them to the corral and chain them to the wagons. This precaution was taken on this first night across the river, on account of the bad reputation of the Otoes.

The time passed quietly until midnight, when the young corporals became disgusted with the monotony and resolved to play a joke on John Sullivan. The proposition was made by John Murphy, and in- dorsed by Schallenberger, though not without some misgivings as to what the result would be if Martin should detect them. But to be assured, they informed Mr. Murphy of the plot, who entered heartily into the spirit of the scheme. Accordingly, John unfastened Sullivan's cattle and drove them some distance into the woods, and he then gave the alarm. Sulli- van, who 't seems had all night been convinced in his own mind that the Indians were hovering about the camp, jumped up with his gun in his hand, and all joined in pursuit of the oxen. After a long chase, in which Sullivan was given a due amount of exercise, the cattle were again captured and secured to the wagon, Sullivan returning to his slumbers. He had barely got to sleep when the alarm was again given, and he again turned out, with some words not indicat- ing much respect for the thieving Otoes. This time the boys had driven the cattle further than before, and the only way they could be followed was by theclinking of the yoke ring. During the chase, Sullivan climbed to the top of a log, and stood listening intently for this sound. John Murphy, who was lying concealed behind this log, when he saw Sullivan in this position, fired into the air with his gun, which was a shotgun heavily loaded. Sullivan leaped into the air, and, as soon as he could recover himself, ran at full speed to the wagons, crying out that he had been shot by an Indian. In the meantime the cattle were recovered and secured to the wagon, and Sullivan stood guard over them until daylight. He frequently afterwards referred to the narrow escape he had from the Indians in the Otoe country.

The next morning the captain, in commending the courage and skill of the young men in twice recaptur-

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

ing the cattle, expressed his surprise that Sullivan's oxen should have been taken each time and none of the others disturbed. The boys explained this by calling attention to the fact that Sullivan's cattle were white, and could, on that account, be seen better in the dark. Two days after this event the entire train had been brought across the Missouri and was rolling toward the West. The "Horn," a stream en- countered before reaching the Platte River, was crossed by sewing rawhides over one of the wagon boxes and thus constructing a rude ferry-boat. The wagons were unloaded and taken apart and put across the stream in this boat, which occupied much time and was tedious work. The horses and cattle were com- pelled to swim. This was the last stream where they were compelled to swim their stock; all the others they were able to ford. No striking incident occurred during their journey through the Otoe nation.

Arriving at the country of the Pawnees, they found a village deserted by all but women, children, and infirm old men. It seems that a short time previously the Sioux had made a raid on thein and exterminated nearly all their able-bodied men. When the party received this intelligence they knew they would not be molested while in the Pawnee country. This gave them more confidence in grazing their cattle, but the vigilance of the guard was not relaxed at night. In fact, the Pawnees were not considered hostile; it was the Sioux nation from which they had most to fear, they being the most warlike, cruel, and treacherous Indians at that time known to the whites.

Before reaching Laramie, herds of buffaloes were encountered. The first were a few old bulls which, not being able to defend themselves from the at- tacks of the younger animals, had been driven from the herd. They were poor and scrawny, but as they were the first that the boys had seen they must neces- sarily have a hunt. After putting about twenty bullets into the body of one old patriarch, they suc- ceeded in bringing him to the ground within fifty feet of the wagons, in the direction of which he had charged when first wounded. The meat was poor and did not pay for the ammunition expended in procuring it. However, before Fort Laramie was reached, the party were able to secure an abundance of meat from younger buffaloes, which is generally conceded to be superior to that from any other animal.

The party reached Fort Laramie with little fatigue and no loss. Here they found about four thousand Sioux encamped round the fort. They had their squaws and children with them, and for this reason 6

were not considered dangerous, this tribe being loth to fight when accompanied by their families. While there was no immediate danger to be apprehended, there was great probability that, after leaving the fort, they would encounter a hunting or war party. These bands usually consisted of from one hundred to five hundred men, unencumbered by women or children, and never were known to waste an opportunity to take a scalp. The party remained at Laramie several days, having a good camp, with plenty of grass for their stock. They traded some of their horses for Indian ponies, thinking they were more hardy and accustomed to the work on the plains. They also bought moccasins to replace their boots and shoes, which were pretty well worn out by their long tramp. In resuming the march, still greater precautions were taken to prevent surprise by the Indians. The wag- ons were kept close together, so that they could be formed into a corral with no unnecessary delay. As the Indians in those days had no fire-arms it was thought they could be kept at such a distance that their arrows could not reach the pioneers. Fortu- nately, the party had no use for these precautions, for no Indians were encountered until the Snake nation was reached.

For so large a train, the party was unusually har- monious, only one occasion of discord having arisen among them. This occurred while passing through the Sioux country. The orders were that no fires should be lighted after dark. This order was disre- garded by an old gentleman named Derby, who kept his fire burning after hours. Dr. Townsend, who had charge of the watch that night, remonstrated with the old man. Derby said that Captain Stevens was an old granny, and that he would not put out his fire for him or any other man. However, the fire was extinguished by Townsend, who returned to his duties. A few minutes only had elapsed until the fire was burning as brightly as before. Dr. Townsend went again to Derby and told him he must put the fire out. "No," answered Derby, "I will not, and I don't think it will be healthy for anyone else to try it." The Doctor, seeing that argument was useless, walked up to the fire and scattered it broadcast, saying to Derby at the same time, "It will not be well for you to light that fire again to-night." The Doctor was known to be very determined, although a man of few words, and Derby's fire was not again lighted. But the next morning he complained to the captain, who it seems had been a witness to the transaction of the night be- fore. Captain Stevens sustained Dr. Townsend, and

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

Derby, with an oath, declared that he would not travel with such a crowd, and he actually did camp about half a mile behind the train for a week afterwards; but he lighted no fires after dark. One day when the party had stopped for noon, some of the boys, return- ing from a buffalo hunt, reported that they had seen a band of Sioux. That night Derby camped with the train and remained with them afterwards, cheer- fully submitting to all the rules.

John Murphy had been quite ill for some time, but was now recovered sufficiently to get around. He was anxious to go on a buffalo hunt and persuaded Schallenberger to accompany him. The boys were quite proud of their skill as hunters, and promised the camp a good supply of fresh meat on their return. They started early in the morning, well mounted and equipped for their expedition. They saw several bands of buffaloes, and followed them nearly all day, but in spite of all their strategy they were unable to get near enough to shoot with any certainty. Each herd had bulls stationed as sentinels on the higher grounds, who would give the alarm before our hunters could get within reach. Finally, the declining sun warned them that they must return. Reluctantly they turned their horses' heads toward camp, revolv- ing in their minds the big promises they had made before setting out in the morning, and the small chance there was of their fulfillment. They had seen plenty of antelope, but to carry antelope into camp, when they had promised buffalo, would be considered a sort of disgrace.

On the return, however, the herds of antelope be- came more numerous, and some came so near to the hunters that Murphy declared he was afraid they would bite him, and, drawing up his rifle, killed one in its tracks. Schallenberger suggested that since the antelope was dead they had better save the meat. They dismounted and commenced the process of butchering. While thus engaged their horses strayed towards camp. They had only got about a hundred yards when Schallenberger, fearing they might go be- yond recall, proposed to bring them back. Taking from his waist a handsome belt containing a fine brace of pistols, which Mr. Montgomery had made for him, together with shot pouch and powder horn, he started in pursuit of the horses. He overtook them without trouble, and, noticing that a blanket that had been on Murphy's horse was gone, he looked for it on his way back to the antelope. Not finding it, he called to Murphy, who joined in the search. They soon found the blanket and started to return to their

game and guns. Much to their surprise they could find neither. They hunted until dark without success, and then turned their unwilling course towards camp. They fully realized the ridiculousness of their position. Starting from camp with much boasting of the large amount of buffalo they were going to bring in, and re- turning, not only with no meat, but without arms or ammunition-the affair was altogether too humiliat- ing. As they went along they concocted one story after another to account for their unfortunate con- dition, but each was rejected. The plan that seemed most likely was to say that they had been captured by Indians and robbed of their arms; but this story, after careful consideration, was voted to be too trans- parent, and they finally resolved to face the music and tell the truth. Their reception at camp can better be imagined than described.

The next day, with a party of six men, they went to a spot they had marked as not being more than three hundred yards from where they had left their guns, and, although they continued the search for several hours, could find nothing. There were thou- sands of acres covered with grass about four feet high, and all presenting exactly the same appearance; it would have been impossible to find their property ex- cept by accident.

Thus far on their journey the emigrants had been taking things very easy, and had not made the progress they intended, but they had no fears that they would not get through. Some of the party were getting short of provisions, but this gave them little trouble, as they were still in the buffalo country. They determined to stop before they got entirely out of the buffalo grounds and kill and dry enough meat to last them through; if their flour be- came exhausted, they could use their dried meat for bread with bacon for meat, and thus get along very well. Their route continued up the Platte and Sweet- water, the ascent being so gradual that it was hardly perceptible. They lived almost entirely on fresh meat, from three to five men being detailed as hunters each day. After going some distance up the Sweet- water, it was resolved to go into camp and remain long enough to accumulate sufficient meat for the remainder of the journey.

As the American bison, or buffalo, is now practi- cally extinct, and their existence will soon be beyond the memory of even the oldest inhabitant, a descrip- tion of this hunt may not be out of place in these pages. John Murphy, Allen Montgomery, Joseph Foster, and Moses Schallenberger started out at day-

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

light, intending to hunt together, but they soon became separated, Murphy and Foster following one herd of cows and Montgomery and Schallenberger another.

We will follow the latter party, gathering our facts from Mr. Schallenberger's narration. They kept after the herd all day without being able to get within rifle range, owing to the fact that a picket guard of bulls was always kept on the highest points, who gave the alarm on the approach of the hunters. Finally they reached a large mound of rocks, under shelter of which they thought they might reach a ravine which would furnish cover within range of the game. They reached the top of the mound, and, looking over, dis- covered an old bull on the other side, fast asleep. To keep out of sight of the herd they would be compelled to pass in front of his nose. They crawled along cautiously, near enough to touch him with their guns, and they began to hope for success in their under- taking; but as soon as they came in front of his nose, he seemed to wind them, and, starting up with a snort, he rushed off toward the cows at full speed. Aggra- vated by their failure, Montgomery sent a bullet after the bull, which tumbled him on the plain. The report of the rifle startled the herd and caused them to move on.

The hunters followed them until nearly dark, when they stopped at a small tributary of the Sweetwater to drink. Here the men, by crawling on their stom- achs and taking advantage of a few greasewood bushes that were growing here and there over the plain, succeeded in approaching within about two hun- dred yards of the game. It was now nearly night- fall, and although the distance was too great for ac- curate shooting, it was their last chance, and they re- solved to make the venture. Selecting a good-look- ing cow, they both aimed at her heart. At the word "fire" both rifles were discharged simultaneously. The bullets struck the quarry just above the kidneys, and her hind parts dropped to the ground. The hunt- ers concealed themselves behind the brush and re- loaded their rifles. In the meantime the entire herd gathered round the wounded cow, sniffing the blood and pawing and bellowing.

While thus engaged, Montgomery and Schallen- berger emerged from their concealment, and, advanc- ing to about seventy-five yards, shot down seven of the best of them; but as they advanced nearer, the herd took fright and galloped off, all but one bull, which remained near the broken-backed cow, and showed fight. Two bullets were fired into him, and he walked off about forty yards and laid down and

died. On examining the cow first shot, they found the two bullet-holes not two inches apart, but neither one was within three feet of the point aimed at.

It was now quite dark, and they could not return to camp. Accordingly, they made their bed between the carcasses of the two cows, and, butchering the others, carried the meat to this place to protect it from the wolves These animals gathered in large numbers and made night hideous until, towards morning, they were driven off by a huge bear, who had come for his breakfast. As soon as it became light enough to shoot, Montgomery and Schallenberger attempted to kill the bear, but he went away so rapidly that they could not follow him. After returning from pur- suit of the bear, they finished butchering their game, which process consisted of cutting out the choice pieces and leaving the rest to the wolves. Packing the meat on their horses, they started for camp about three o'clock in the afternoon. They traveled until after dark, but could find no camp. The moon was in the third quarter, but the night was cloudy, and they became bewildered. They traveled all night, walking and leading their horses. At daybreak they crossed the trail of the wagons about a quarter of a mile from camp. They arrived at the wagons just as the guard was taken off. They were nearly worn out with fatigue, but Schallenberger says he felt a great deal more cheerful than when he and Murphy came into camp with neither meat nor arms. The other hunting parties had been equally successfully, and a week was spent in this camp killing and curing meat. after which they resumed their journey up the Sweet- water. In this camp was born to Mr. and Mrs. James Miller a daughter, who was named Ellen In- dependence, from Independence Rock, which was near the place.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 6

Author: Foote, Horace S., ed Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 844

Author: Foote, Horace S., ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844