USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 3
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wild animals roaming about, but I considered a man the most dangerous of all the animals. I was satisfied to get into a place where a man was not likely to find me. I made numerous trips over this route in course of the season, and always adopted this method of camping at night. With my blankets for a wrap and my saddle for a pillow, and plenty of elbow room and fresh air, it was about right. At Stock- ton I got passage on a small schooner to San Francisco. I at once made for the post-office, hoping to get news from home. A steamer had come up from Panama, and brought some mail from somewhere; but I could get no let- ter for myself or Dr. Brown or for anybody else. The postmaster had only arrived a short time before, and the shanty in which he had fixed up for business was in great confusion. It was a sad day to me, six months from home and not one word to be learned. I was a lit- tle homesick. I got together such merchan- dise as I thought I wanted, and went back to Stockton with it on a little freight schooner. I soon had a Mexican pack train on the road to Murphy's camp, freight fifteen cents a pound. I arrived there with my horse some days ahead of the train. In a few weeks I re- peated the trip. I obtained a hatful of let- ters. I took a seat on a barrel opposite the plaza, and read them. There was no bad news, and it was a great relief to find that I was not entirely cut off from communication with home. It took me but a few days to get back to Stockton and get off my mule train again. Dr. Brown's letters informed him of the death of one of his children. It was sad news to him, and there was sadness in our tent, where we could but have deep sympathy. I believe he then wished he had stayed at home, and perhaps saved his child's life.
In September there arrived at our camp a party of about twelve brainy men. They had
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come through from Texas on large fine mules, and pitched their tents near our store, where they remained several weeks. They did not want to dig, but they came on their legitimate business - politics. Among them were Major Roman, Dr. Ashe, Judge Terry, and others whose names at present are out of mind. They soon became the leading men in the pol- itics of the State. I never saw twelve men together who were as handsome and accom- plished as they. When they left our camp, they went their several ways to different parts of the State, and laid the wires that called a Constitutional convention of their chosen friends, had it submitted to Congress, where it was approved, and in a few months Cali- fornia was made a State. Of course the men that led off kept the lead for themselves and their Southern friends. They had done good work; and the down-cast Yankees, having other business, did not want the offices. As there were not a sufficient number of Southern men in California to fill all the offices created in the next year or two, these leaders ordered from home all their poor relations, who were soon provided for. Soon after a custom- house was established. It was called the Vir- ginia poor-house, and it was for many years referred to by that appellation. This is quite a digression from the purpose of this paper; but it is important history of early California, in which I had a small share of experience and observation.
August and September worked a great change in California. Some thousands of bright energetic men arrived from the business centres of the Eastern States, all moved by that magic word, "gold." The ships that started early were arriving rapidly, and mer- chandise was piled up in great quantity over the sandy acres. It was then that the real business of establishing the great city of San
Francisco commenced. The lack of building materials was the great drawback, but every- body was busy providing some temporary shel- ter. Common laborers received sixteen dol- lars a day for their services. Everybody had full pockets who tried to do anything, and made good use of their money. House frames were ordered from the East in great quantity, with zinc or sheet iron for covering; but it required about six months to get the order to New York, delivered by way of Cape Horn, seventeen thousand miles. In Novem- ber and December the rush of emigrants was wonderful. Most of them went back to the mines. The roads were thronged with persons going both ways. The rainy season had com- menced. Mud was deep and very sticky. All provisions at the mines were being exhausted rapidly except fresh beef and mutton. These two valuable articles were abundant and cheap. Everything else in the provision line went up to a dollar a pound; saleratus, eight dollars : nails, four dollars; powder, five dollars : shot. three dollars; good cowhide or kip boots. one hundred dollars a pair; fine French calf boots, ten dollars.
By the middle of December it was almost impossible for loaded pack mules to get through to the mines. Our last train arrived January 2, 1850, having been on the road si weeks. January 1, I started to find them, not having heard of them since they started. We had almost concluded that our Mexican muleteers had confiscated the valuable cargo. All that New Year's Day it rained in tor- rents. Near night I found them encamped near twenty miles from Murphy's diggings. That night I stayed in a tent about fifteen by twenty feet in size, kept for general en- tertainment. There were some fifteen or twenty visitors from neighboring mines, who were celebrating the day, singing, dancing,
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and telling yarns, each one of these interest- ing acts being followed by drinks all round of "hot stuff." By ten o'clock one after an- other got too "tired" to participate in the festivities, and dropped quietly to the ground ; but it was midnight before I considered it safe for me to lie down by the fire in my wet clothes, wrapped in my wet blankets. The next morning I started with the train, and before dark we were within four miles of our camp. The train was obliged to halt for the night, but with the two head muleteers I pushed on for my comfortable camp fire. We could see no trail, it being very dark and raining lightly, and soon we were lost in the forest; but, knowing that the creek was at my left and down the side of the mountain, we made for the creek, a mile or two distant. We were obliged to ford the creek where the water was swift and the bed quite rocky. My mule could scarcely keep his feet; but, as it was only two rods wide, we got through without accident. For a mile or two to our camp it was over and around rocks and water gullies; but before nine o'clock we were under cover, by a good fire, and enjoying a wholesome hot supper.
Our cargo arrived by ten o'clock next day. Just before the rainy season commenced we built on to the rear of our store a log cabin sixteen feet square, which we covered with rawhides, lapping them to shed the rain. We put up bunks on three sides, with bottoms made from the staves of flour barrels, covered with pine boughs; and with our blankets we thought we had luxurious quarters. We built a stone fireplace, laid up in mud, with a bar- rel for the top of the chimney. Our logs were chinked up with mud, with one small opening on the side, with a piece of white cloth to keep out the wind and rain. It seemed to be just right; but the sun came down very hot,
the rawhide began to curl, and away went our four-dollar nails with snap after snap, until half were gone. It began to rain. Then the curl came out of the hides, and we stretched them to their places again. We built a good fire to warm and dry out the place; but, as the heat ascended to our pretty roof, there were odors developed that we had never dreamed of. It was not like rose-water or peppermint, and in fact we could not compare it to anything else in existence; but we were satisfied that it was too pungent for our taste and for our health. We were glad to get back into the store, which we had got covered in with canvas. We came across some West- erners, who cut down a pine-tree, and split out "shakes," as they called them, shingles three feet long. They covered our cabin with them, and made it tight. We paid five hundred dollars, and got our money's worth.
A young vagabond Mexican in a gambling- den one night got mad because he lost his money at one of the games. He drew a long knife, and threatened to use it, but finally decided not to do so. The next morning a little crowd of respectable people got together to decide what should be done with him. . They thought he ought not to be hung, and could not fine him because he had no money, and there was no one to hold the money. They could not imprison him, as there was no prison. The conclusion was to give him thirty-nine lashes on his bare back. He was tied up to a large tree within twenty feet of our cabin, and received the lashes without one word of complaint. It was discovered that his back bore the marks of having gone through a similar experience before. Dr. Some one, a nice gentleman from Virginia, laid on the lashes. A year or two later these two persons met on the highway, both on horseback. The Mexican drew his pistol, and
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shot the doctor dead. From that hour the Mexican took to the highway as general rob- ber and murderer. He was Joaquin Muriatta, and for three years he was the terror of the country. Three-fingered Jack and one or two others became his partners. They would ride into a mining town; and some of them would ride into a store, with pistols drawn, and take what they wanted. If no one gave them a chance to kill, they felt rather slighted. They would write with chalk on the building, "Joaquin," and ride off out of sight. It is said that in three years they killed over three hundred persons, five one morning before breakfast. Finally, the governor offered a reward of twenty thousand dollars for Joa- quin's head. Harry Love, a lawyer, organ- ized a company of twenty men, who went out determined to find the gang and bring back that precious head. Through a treacherous Mexican woman, who had lived with Joaquin, his rendezvous was discovered, back in a wild, sechided spot in the mountains. The Love party arrived in the night, and surrounded the cabin. Then, as they were at the front door, Joaquin went out the back door, where he jumped on to a horse, ready saddled and bridled, and started for an escape. In an in- stant he was shot dead. One of the Love party, named Bill Burns, immediately cut off his head. It was afterward preserved in alco- hol, and placed on exhibition in San Fran- cisco, at twenty-five cents admission.
Bill Burns was living at Murphy's camp, where he was one of our customers in 1849 and the carly part of 1850. I saw him twenty years later in Sacramento, where he was an inmate of the city hospital, the most used- up victim of alcohol that I have ever met. He gave me the entire story of Joaquin's ca- reer and of his death. He also gave me an account of the eleven comrades that came to
Murphy's camp with him in the fall of 1849. They had all died with their boots on except himself and a brother, who went to Oregon five years before this conversation, and had not been heard of since. I have other reasons to remember Joaquin. In September, 1849, he came into our store, and asked for credit. I declined to give it to him. I think it is the only case where I ever did so to any one while I was there. Joaquin got into a perfect rage. That suited me; for I had taken a great preju- dice against him, and wanted him to keep away. When he left, he said he would call and see me in the night. I told him to come. I was always prepared to mect fellows like him. I related the case to Dr. Brown when he came in from the diggings. We looked after our weapons of defence a little more carefully than usual, and lay down, and had a very good night's rest. The next day Joaquin came round, and begged me to forgive him, called me the best friend he had in the world, and would do anything for me. Ile fawned round like a whipped dog, but I could plainly see that he had some design in all this. In a few days he said he was anxious to go to San Francisco, and the next time I went he wanted to go with me. I could not tell how soon I should go. When I did start it was near midnight: and no one knew I had gone, except my partner, until some time the next day. I dodged him the same way two or three times more in the course of the season. After he developed into a high- wayman I could plainly see that my conclui- sions in regard to him had saved me from being his first victim.
In January a Mexican named Robling ar- rived at Murphy's camp with a cargo of mer- chandise that he had brought from Stockton on private speculation. As he did not find many customers who wanted to buy for cash
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(gold was cash at sixteen dollars per ounce) except in small lots, we bought him out. He was to start back the next day; and I made an arrangement to go along with his train of ten muleteers and on one of his mules. About noon the train struck out from the regular travelled route on to an Indian trail that led to our left through the low mountains. I protested, and told them in English that it was not the road, and insisted that they should switch over to the main road. They argued loud and long in Spanish that in a little while we should reach the main road. I was particular not to understand a word they said, and they were just as particular not to understand one word of English. We kept up firing language to each other for a long time. I understood all they said, but con- vinced them that I did not understand one word. I got very suspicious of foul designs on me; and I let every man keep ahead of me, so I could not get hit in the back. We saw no one on the trail except a few Indians, who had a little camp by the side of the trail. It was near sunset when we got out of the moun- tain range, and I could see that we were get- ting near San Joaquin valley. I estimated that five miles more would bring us out to the main road; and I had high hopes of getting there to spend the night at some wayside tent, where I could have new company. But to my dismay, just as we got to the foot of the moun- tain, the train halted; and the pack saddles were soon all on the ground for a night's rest. I urged Robling to go on with me to the road; but my words were of no avail, and, as I had no mule of my own, I was obliged to submit to circumstances. They soon had a good fire, where they cooked their tortilla. Each man took a pack saddle for a bed, with his feet to the fire. I went to a large tree two rods dis- tant, where I selected my resting-place, fac-
ing the fire and my travelling comrades. I had no desire or expectation of sleeping. I was particular to let them see me carefully examine my weapons. Soon we were all quiet. I had one eye open and both ears, eager to see and hear what was going on. Soon there was a lively conference going on in whispers. I could catch many words. The substance of the whole was that this Yankee was loaded with gold, taken out of territory that should belong to Mexico. Consequently they should have it instead of the bad Yankee. Robling did not dispute their arguments, but said that he was known to have taken me in his care, and that he alone would have to bear all the responsibility, while the rest of them could scatter as they pleased. I had heard enough to think it best to break up the confer- ence before it went any further. I sat up, and in a loud voice gave them a regular Yankee blowing up in English for keeping me awake. In a minute everybody was very quiet. After a time whispering began again, very low, so I could distinguish but a few words. Again I pitched in, rougher than before. I think I said some bad words, just to show them how mad I was at their keeping me awake. Sev- eral times more before daylight I had to repeat my method of keeping them from having a conference whereby they could settle upon any plan of action to murder and rob me. I felt under obligation to Robling for his objecting to their plans; but he was sharp enough to realize that, if I was killed and robbed, the next thing to happen would be to serve him in the same way. His hundred mules and the gold he got for his cargo would have enabled these scoundrels to divide up a nice boodle. By ten o'clock in the morning we were on our main road, where we got refreshments, and where people were always in sight, wallowing through the mud, either pushing on to the
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gold diggings or working their way back. On our arrival in Stockton these precious muleteers wanted me to eat and drink with them, and professed ever so much friendship for me. I shook them off politely, but quickly; and I think they were much disap- pointed when they found they could not have just one more night with me. In February, 1850, the rains let up enough to favor mining work. At Murphy's camp there were near five hundred miners. Business was lively. Several persons went to Stockton to buy goods, to start trading business. We learned that numerous mule trains were on the way to our neighborhood, loaded with goods to be sold by the muleteers. It was evident to us that the business was to be overdone. In a few weeks we should expect better roads and very much cheaper freight; and we decided to stand from under as quick as possible. We sold at a discount from regular prices all we could in larger lots. A stranger, a Mr. Will- iams, came in one day, anxious to start busi- ness. We gave him a price for the entire property. It took only an hour or two to close the trade. Then we were ready to leave for home as soon as we could call in gold for some debts outstanding.
One day I started on foot up the mountain to see one of our customers three miles off. I had gone two miles on an Indian trail when I came face to face with a California lion, six rods off. We looked savage at each other; but I did not want to hurt him, and I hap- pened to think I had business in camp that re- quired my attention, of much more importance than collecting debts or killing lions. So I whirled about, and went back. I kept one eye on the lion, who also kept an eye on me, as he moved slowly up the side of the mountain. I have always thought we showed discretion in parting company, otherwise one of us might
have been hurt. Lions, cougars, wild-cats. and coyotes were always howling round our camp every night, but seldom seen by day- light. In a few days after we sold out we came to the conclusion that Williams was a sharp gambler. He tried his best to interest me in poker, whereby he expected to win back the bag of gold we received from him. A few weeks after we left I am told that he went to a Mexican tent one night to play cards. He won their money by cheating. One of the Mexicans put a knife through him. Next day three of the party were hung.
Near the 15th of February we quit the camp with a mule train bound for Stockton. We forded the three branches of the Calaveras River. The middle branch was deep and swift, about six rods wide; and in many places there were trees overhanging the banks. We had to enter the river ten rods above a safe landing on the other side, as the current swept the mules down stream as they swam across; and below this safe landing were overhanging trees and steep banks. All got over safe before Dr. Brown would venture the trial. From some cause his mule did not reach the landing, but was close to the shore. The doc- tor took in the situation, and caught holl of the first branch of a tree that he could reach. He hung hard to that until we hanled him ashore. The mule was got ashore further down the stream. It was a very narrow es- cape from death for Dr. Brown. At Stockton we found a small passenger steamer, that took us to San Francisco in ten hours for thirty dollars each. The full capacity of the steamer was twenty passengers, ten on each side. When a passenger passed across the deck, some other must cross over to take his place, to trim ship.
The harbor of San Francisco seemed to be full of ships. It looked as if all the ships in
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the world had arrived there. A good river steamer had arrived, and was making regular trips to Sacramento City. Buildings and building materials had arrived in great quan- tities, and were rapidly being utilized. The crowd of people, the bustle of business, the excitement, the reckless gambling, the free and easy ways of everybody, made the town as lively as a circus. No one had ever seen any- thing like it, or ever will again. Money was plenty. Everybody had some of it, and no one seemed to care whether school kept or not. I was made glad many times cach day by meeting old friends that I supposed were in their quiet homes at the East. Every steamer or sailing-ship that arrived in port, from every part of the world, was crowded to its utmost capacity. California tickets for the steamers in New York were sold six months in advance, and anything that could be got for early sailing sold for hundreds of dollar's premium. Even one thousand dollars was sometimes paid for quick passage as prc- mium. Dr. Brown and myself paid five hun- dred dollars each for steamer passage home. We had been from home fourteen months. During that time we had not seen milk, eggs, or a bed. Neither of us had spoken to a white woman, or seen any of the comforts of a civilized home. I now think I must have been homesick ; but, when we sailed for home, I had in mind that in three months I should be back in California.
April 1, 1850, we werc on a stcamship bound for home by way of Panama. The luxury of a clean bunk, with pillows and sheets, clean towels, napkins, and table- cloths, good tableware, and a tolerably good bill of fare, was highly appreciated. Our steamer touched at Monterey, San Diego, San Blas, and Acapulco. At the two last-named places we got plenty of tropical fruits, deli-
cious chocolate, chickens, eggs, etc. The reader can well imagine that we enjoyed our trip on the Pacific beyond any ability I have to express it. In a little more than two weeks we were inside the beautiful Bay of Panama, ninety miles in length and from ten to thirty miles wide, dotted with perhaps a hundred islands, all of which seemed to be cultivated to the top with pineapples, bananas, tama- rinds, limes, oranges, cocoanuts, and many other tropical fruits, all of which flourish there to perfection. Our steamer anchored at Tobago Island (twelve miles front Panama). All the passengers were at once put ashore by the use of the native dugouts, most of them from thirty to sixty feet long.
The steamship company furnished us with mules to take us to Gorgona with one hundred pounds baggage. We spent one night at Panama at the American Hotel. During the evening some of our passengers and others were in a drinking-saloon a few doors from the hotel, where there was some trouble. Knives were used, also several pistols. At first I went to the place to see what was going on; but, as I heard several balls whiz by my head, I concluded to withdraw to the hotel. It was. said that a few people were killed and others wounded. As we were off for Gorgona early the next morning, we never knew the particu- lars of the result of that scrimmage; but we did know that several of our passengers failed to go over the Isthmus with us, and we could only guess why they did not do so. Probably somebody's mother, wife, or sister is still wondering why that absent one never returned home. Dr. Brown and myself kept together with the muleteer who had our luggage in charge.
When near the place where we partook of monkey and parrot stew on our former trip across the Isthmus, we met the man Robinson,
I
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who was dressed in white linen, on a fine high-headed horse, decked with saddle and bridle elaborately trimmed with silver. Rob- inson spoke good English, was tall, with a prom- inent scar on one cheek that inight have been made with a sword or some other ugly weapon. Five minutes before we met him he met Hiram Grimes, who was considered quite rich, and who was just ahead of us with a relative, both of Boston. Robinson halted them, and drew a big knife. Grimes, who seldom ever spoke except in a joking way, said, "Hello, here comes a man to stick a fork in me," and inquired of Robinson what he wanted. An- swer came, "Your gold." "Is that all?" said Grimes, while he ran his hand into his pocket, and brought out a handful of bright golden coin, some four hundred dollars, and trans- ferred it to Robinson. "Good-by," and all was done in two minutes. We arrived at Gor- gona a few minutes behind Grimes, who was anxious to know how we got along. We knew nothing of the robbery until we got it from Grimes. This man Robinson for a year or two after that time was known to lead the life of a highwayman, and it was supposed that he had the protection of some government offi- cials. He so much interfered with Isthmus travel that they were obliged to arrest and hang him. I well remember meeting him on my first trip over the Isthmus. He came up to me at a lively gait when I had got five minutes behind my companions. He inquired if there were other parties behind me. I told him, "Yes, twenty men." "Are they armed or unarmed, like me?" "Yes, all armed like me," showing my pistols. He went on.
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