The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-05-25

captain SUttcr.- he 1OIioNing ETapH!C
sketch Of Captain Suffer, aud Suffers Fort.
is from an excellent letter from California,
in the last number of the Home Journal:
! will give, az yon have requested, the
readers of the Home Journal a sketch Of
Capt. Snter, pronounced by himself SCOT
err his means, the fort bearing his name
and a few facts in relation to the gold egion,
He is about fity-twc years of age, Of mid
ding height straight form, and possesses
that symmetry and smalluess Of hand and
foot which Lord Byron sets down as sure
evidence of gentle b'ood. In manners and
conversation. Capt Suffer is perfect Ches-
terrified; he is well educated, and speaks
several different languages furutly; he i.
a native Of Switzerland. and was one OF the
officers Of the Swiss Guard III TIE Revolu-
ton of July, during the reign Of Charles \.
After this revolution, he rmigra'ed to the
United States, became naturalized aud resi-
ded several years in Missouri: thence. in
1899, he came TO California. and obtained
a grant Of ninety miles square Of land from
the Mexican ahihori,ies--hs title is con-
ditiOnal one, and may, hereafter, create
trouble FOR him, In his private character.
Capt Suffer is kind, hosptable and gene
rouS. In fact, his generosity frequently lays
him open TO be preyed upon w the idle and
worthless. When asked why he permitted
snch large demands upon his hospitality
without recompense lie replied: "Wha'
can l do, Sir they come here, eat drink and
sleep: and sometimes even without thank
ing me, but what can do cannot turn
them out in the wild forest" and surrounded
as he was, on his first settling in this ooun.
try, by tribes Of Wild Indians, he has by kind
ness and just dealing, attached them 10 hi
interest. and he now has from three TO ioui
hundred of these devoted to him and his
They, fer their food and pay from four to ss
dollars per month, man hi, fort, work hi;
farms aud mills, and do all the labor gene
rally required in new settlements. Capt
Suffer with all his landed and other proper
ty, is subjected to many annoyances.-.
When the Russians, through necessity. q.
banduuod their settlements at Ross and Bo'
dega, Capt. Suffer purchased their stock
cannon, furniture, &C., and transported them
with great labor, to his settlements al New
lIelvelia. This purchase was effected fora
consideration cf 10000, 10 be paid in al
annual instaIlment Of wheat, deliverable I,
one of the Russian Fur Company'S vessels
The instaUmeuts. owing to the unfortunate
seasons, have laid over for some wears. anu
should Russian vessel appear at this juno.
turr, his large crop will be swept away al q
mere nominal value.
Suffers Fort, now called Fort Sacrament
t.. is situated short distance from Tho
southern bank Of the American Fork, ~
one of the tributaries o! the Sacramento, iiv,
miles from its mouth aud 100 miles from Sar
Francisco. The iort is in form Of a I .ral
telegram, 800 feet IN length by 100 ii
breadth.
The walls and houses are built Of the oft
mentioned mud brick ar adobe. Bas'ions a
the angles, with caunors mounted, pro,ec
ali sides, and numerous guns project from
the mud walls. On the inner side, facing
the court are numerous buildings occupic,
as store houses. dwelling, aud arracks III
the garrison The maiu store house wa
rented, during the fever Of gold digging, a
$4,000 per month. The garrison Of the for
being more ,rus'y men, are better fed au'
clothed than the fam Indians.
The crop Of wheat raised hy Capt. Suite
for the year 1913, was upwards of3O,0Oi
bushels, which is valued at the round sun
OF SS0.ODO. This i, the proceed from III,
labor Of one hundred and twenty five Indi
ans. He has also erected mills for cliudin!
wheat and saving timber, and il was in tin
construction of dam and race for saw
mill, that one of the persons in his cmplo,
discovered the gold.