The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-02-18
The Wheelbarro W Man.

adjourned.
The Wheelbarro W Man.
The Journal of Commerce contains the
following account of an emigrant's method
of getting TO California, and his success af-
terwards, Says the correspondent of that
paper:
In previous communication, | remarked
upon the character and spirit developed by
the miners of this country-thatsuch class
of men were very rarely to be found.
AS an evidence of the truth ofmy assump-
ton, will give the outline of the case of
one individual, the details of which were re-
lated to me by gentleman of at least appa-
rent truth, also interested in the region
where the subject of this article dwells, and
who was familiar with the facts.
A man who had been an unsuccessful del
yer in the mines of Georgia, on hearing the
thrilling news of the gold placers Of Califor-
MIA, had his spirit quickened within him; and
although he had arrived at an age (being
about 6o) when the fires Of youth cease tc
burn with vigor, fixed his eyes upon the far
distant and little known country, snd re,
solved that ho would wend his way thitheI
alone. and without that indispensable friend,
money, of which he was destitute. Under
such circumstances, it would not avail to at
tempt passage Ground the Horn or by
the more uncertain and at that time unper-
fected route across tie Isthmus; but as Cal
ifornia was on this Continent, he knew that
there was way there, though it might lead
through trackless deserts and barren wastes
These were not enough to daunt his deter
mined spirit. He bent his way to the "Fath-
er of Waters" and worked his way as he
could, till he found himself at Independence,
in health, and with no loss of strength, and
with one hundred and fifty dollars in his
purse. He had no family to provide for, OF
even companion to cater for, on the route
npon which he was about to enter; yet some
things were necessary for himself; and to re-
lieve himself from the pressure of load
he provided himself with wheelJarr0w, up
on which to place his traps.
1t is not to be supposed our hero was ig
norant of the large number Of emigrants thai
were moving over the plains; and it is quite
probable that his Rsgacity was precociou:
enough to look ahead, and see the result o
attempting to carry forward such ponderou'
loads, and such variety of at least dispense
bic things, as the earlier parties started with
] A detailed list of the amount and variety
of goods and wares, useful and superhuous
with all the appendages Of refined and fash
ionable life, that were distributed along the
wide wastes and mountain ranges, would as
tonish the reader.
Our hero was not in hurry. He reason
ed thus: "the world was not made in day,
''the race is not to the swift" lie trundlcC
along his barrow, enjoying the comforts OF
his pipe, the object of wonder, and the sub.
ject of much sportive remark, By those who
were hurried along with their fresh and spir
tied teams on the first days.) Many week.
had not passed before our independent tray
eller had tangible evidence that trouble hac
fallen to the lot Of some who had preceded
him. A stray OK was feeding on his track
the mate of which he afterwards learned was
killed, and This one turned adrlfC as useless
He coaxed him to be the companion of his
travels, taking care to stop where he cnulc
provide himself with the needful sustenance
He had not far to travel before he found {
mate for his OK, and ere long wagon. whicl
had given away in some OF It's parts, haC
been abandoned by its owner, and'le in The
road. Our travelling genius was aroused
to turn these miShaps 10 his own advantage
and he went leisurely to work to patch anC
bolster up the wagon, bound his faithful oxel
toit, and changed his employment of trund
ling the wheelbarrow to driving team
Onward moved the new establishment, gath
ering as he went from the superabundanct
of til ose who had gone before, such as flour
provisions ofevery kind, books, implements
even rich carpets, DC, which had been cas
off as burdensome by other travellers. HI
would occasionally find a poor, worn-ou
animal that had been left behind and as il
was not important to him to speed his course
he gathered them, stopping where there was
abundance of grass, time enough for his cat
tie to gain a little strength and spirit. Time
rolled on, and his wagon rolled with him
till he reached the end Of his journey, wher
it was discovered that he had an uncommon
fine team and good wagon, which produ-
ced him on sale twenty-five hundred dollars
Being now relieved of the care of his team
and in the midst of the gold region, he clio.
sed his prospecting by a location, and while
all around him were concentrating Their
strength TO consumate the work of years il
a few months, he deliberately commenced
building, finishing, and as fast as he could
furnishing comfortable cabin. His wood
was gathered, sawed, and regularly piled in
a straight line, and perpendicularly by the
door-convenent, as though the old lady
was within to provide his meals. He acted
upon the adage, "never start till you are
ready" Now our hero was ready to com.
mence working his "claim,' which he did
as he did everything else, syst ematically
and steadily lie may be seen at his work
with the prospect he lives to be an old
MANI of being rich; for in the two years he
has accumulated ten thousand dollars.
EEThe following "prognostiGation" may
account for the unusually severe weather
we have had this winter. Hope it will prove
equally true in regard to the summer.