Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1857-07-11
Her Last Footprints.


Often does the wayworn and weary
overland emigrant, in passing through
Honey Lake Valley, turn his steps from
the more beaten trail or wagon track,
in order to get nearer view of the
lake, that makes so important feature
of the landscape there presented. And
as he winds along the oft frequented
foot-paths, he will see yet another, and
smaller than the one ne is following,
that seems to lead even more directly
to the lake; but one in which the
green grass of the valley is trampled
down barely sufficient to mark it as a
zraii; but should he from curiosity fol-
low it, as he approaches the low bank
of the lake, he will, if he be stranger
there, come Unexpectedly upon a little
spot of grouad, upon which Death IS
seal has been set; grave has been
marked not made, for there is no era We
there. And yet head-board has been
reared, and on it is this inscription
HER LAST FOOTPRINTS.
10 very many who have seen it and
know nothing of the circumstances of
it's origin it doubtless bears the impress
of mystery, but of the import of that
inscription, and the causes and circum
stances attendant upon the erection Of
that frail monument, oh! would to
Heaven it were all mystery TO me
that its history were but myth to the
reader, and to the world.
The overland emigration to Califor-
MIA in 1852 WAS immense, and marked
its pathway by mementos that still ex-
ist, telling their tales of woe not only
in characters Of Camp fires long con>
sumed, and bones that bleach in the
svash;ne,' but unmarked graves that
never can be numbered.
The company to which was attach
ed was m ,de up mostly Of Young men :,
numbering twenty-five in all, and re-
presenting more than half the S ates
of the Uuion. All bat enc Of US were
adventures, on our Gist trip to the
new FL Dorado. The exception was a
Tennesseean, and as he hid once be-
fore made the ever laad journey, he
was supposed, and assumed, to know
more of the route, and the requirements
ard duties necessary to successful
prosecution of the journey, than any
one or all the rest of the company.
1t was the general custom If compa-
nies that year on starting out, to de-
s guate one cf their number TO act as
chiet director or Captain, and as or
Tennesseean, in injection with fine
physical development, possessed traits
of character that seemed we'll calculat'
ed to e9apt hlm to the position, he was
unanimously elected our chief, with the
aiale Of Capt. Tenn, as an abTidgment
of Tennessee, his real name we never
knew.
Ours was p icS-train, we had no
wagon, but tln, fer every fve men,
with the single exception of that OF
Capt. Tennis, which was occupied by
but two; himself, and one shom he
claimed as a relative, and whom he
called Lally; Why we never knew.
lie was but youth, frail and delicate
IN appearance, and apparently tn i'll
health, though ever appearing gate
joyous and happy And such was the
interest taken by the Captain in his wei
fare, that he always cheerfully prefer
red doing double guard du'y at night,
rather than impose the hardship upon
his tent companion.
| have said that Lally ever seemed
joyous and happy and SO he was till
nearly half the journey was accom-
plished. We had reached Pacific
Springs, three miles west of the South
Pass, and had cncamped along the bor-
der of boggy marsh, near the way
side much earlier than usual, so that
numerous other companies that throng.
ed the way, passed by Us. Among
many Mo setback riders, were several
ladies, and of their number, one seem
ed to lag far behind the rest. As she
passed our camp, Captain Tenn Very
pleasantly accosted her x;th--'fou
must hurry up madam, your friends
are getting far ahead of yvu,' to which
she replied My husband is yet be-
hind
Every man Of US who heard her, was
strubh with the peculiar tone of her
voice, as one of sweetness and anxiety
interm,ngled. while her face beamed
with an expression that alone made
her charming, despite SIX weeks tx
posure upon the plains to parchine
winds and glaring sunshine. Before
passing entirely from view, she reinec
up her hors. as If in waiting for hel
husband, and thus remained for ful
half hour.
At this moment, Capt. Tenn, throw
ing a ,ddle upon his mule, and mount
ing, started towards her, which helm
observed w her, she too started tnongI
slowly on her way, but was soon over
taken by Tean, who offered ls escor
her, as it was already getting dark. t
her friends, who b ID pushed on to Pa
cific Creek, Two miles beyond Sh
accepted his offer, though reluctantly
prefcrring ard hopeing every momen
that her husband would arrive.
lie had been out upon hunt, leas
ing his company early il the mornin