The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1852-02-19
5br Cautustrr Ga3cttr.
Monday Evening Feb. 40, 1882
Th. Man with .he wheeibsrrow'

HcWopapS'N ,
of man wao sell out on the long journey
across the plains. trundling a wheeIIar
row. Time and again we heard of him
unl going ahead aud in f"e spirits, but
a. las, all record uf him ceased. A few
DAYS ago. however, we ngsin heard oi
him. 1t tappear1 that he reached his des
inn,ion, aud at lat accounts was delving
for gold in the mines Of California, with
fair prospect of becoming rich. The
history of his adventures is given in the
following letter 10 the New York Journal
of Commerce, IaioI San FrlnciJco, Oct
Is, 1851:
"In a previous communication, re
marked upon the character aud spri dc
velnped by the miners Of this c"unlry-
that such class Of men were very rare
yto be found.
AS an evidence nf the ruth Of my as
sumption, | win give the outline of the
case If one individual. the details ct
which we're related to me by gentleman
of at least apparent truth, also Interested
in the region where the sulj"ct of this
article dwels, and who was familiar with
tho facts.
A man who had been an unsuccessful
deliver in the mines of Georgia. on hear
ipC the thrilling rows Of the gold placers
Of California. had his spirit quickencd
within him; and although he had arrived
at an age h being about G0-when the
frcs Of youth usually cease to burn with
vig0r fixed his eye upon the far distant
aud but little known country, and resov.
ell that he would weud his way Ihilher.
--a'nne, and without that Indispensable
friend, money, uf which he was destitute.
Under such circumstances 1t would not
avail to attempt passage round the
HON. or by The more uncertain aud at
lhal lime unprotected route across the
Is,hmus; bnt as California was on this
continent, he knew there was way there
though il might lead through lrackIess
deserts and barren wastes. These were
mt enough To daunt his determined spir
IL. He bent his way to the Father oi
Waiers,' and worked hls way as he
could, till he found himse.i 1t lndepen
donco, 10 health and with 20 less ("
straHgth, aud with one hundrrd aud fifty
dollars in his purse. Ho had % famlI!
to provide for or even cumpnnInl ca
lcr for on the route upon which he wa
about to enler; yet some things were
necessary for himself; and to relieve hi
body from tho pressure of load. he pro
yiled himself with a wheelJarrOV, upor
which to place his traps
1t is not to be supposed, that our hero
was ignorant of the large numbers of EN-
igfants that were moving over the plains
aud lis quite probable, tina, his sagacit,
was precocious enough 10 look ahead.an'
the result Of attempting to carry fnrwar'
such ponderoUs loads. aud such variety u
at least dispeusible things, as the earle
parties started with.
A detailed list of the An Ount and vHri
city Of goods aud wares. useful aud NJ
pertlunus. with all the appendaces Of re
fined aud lasiinnable life that were dir
trlbutrd along the wide waste and mouI
tain ranges. would aslonish the reader.
Our hero was not in hurry. He rot
snneh thus: "the world was not made |
day, the ruCe is not to the swift" II
trundled along his harrow. enjoying til
comf,mls Of his pipe; the object of wor
der, the subject of much spnr,Ive remark
by those who were hurIied along wit
their fresh aud spirited teams ON the
fr,, days Many weeks had not passe
before our independent traveller had tat
qhle evidence that lroutle had fallen
the lot Of some WIN had preceded hr
4 stray OK was feeding on his track, Il
mate uf which he afterwards learned WI
killed, aud this on" turned adriit as us
less. He coaxed him To- be- the compa
ion of his travels, taking care To 81,
where he could provide himself with II
needlul suslenance. He had not far
travel. before he found matc for bis u
and ere long, wagon, which had Civ,
way in some of its parts. had been aba
doned by its owner aud left in the roa
Our travelling genius was aroused 10 tuI
these mishaps to his own advantage; an
hu went leisurcly tO work Ia patch an
bolster up the wagon. bound his aithfl
oxen To it. aud changed his cmploymrr
of luudllug the wheelbarrow to dtivin
team; oswnrd moved tho new rs,al
ljshmeut, gathering as he went from III
6upernbundance of those who had con
bclore. such as Il lur provisions of ever
kind, books, implements. even rich ca
pets. etc. which had been cast off ns bn
dcnsome hy other Travellers lie woul
occasionally find poor worn out animt
that hal been left behind; aud as it vi
not important To him to speed his cours
he gathered them, stopping whore the
was abundance oF grnss, time enough {
his cattle to gain little strength ~
spirit Time ollrd on, aud his wag,
rolled with him, till he reached tho er
of his journey. when it was discover,
that he had nn urc0mmnn fine team AT
good wagon, which prnducrd him ,
sale tDcRty fire hRRdycd dOjlars Bel,
nav relieved of the caro of his team, Al
IN the midst Of the gold region. he clos,
his prospecting 10y location; aud WIN
I'll around him were concentrating the
strength In consummate the work of yea
IN few months. he deliberately col
rnenced u building finishing aud as fast
hecould, furnishing, n comfortable cab
His wood was gathered, sawed and re
ularly piled in straight line, aud y,
nendicular Inv tho Innr- cnuv,,;,,,,