Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-01-05
ghe Obio 9tatesmam
T x r n o
MY LAST STAKE.
a Thrilling Story of Early Life In California.

MY LAST STAKE.
A Thrilling Story of Early Life in California.
It ia cold, stormy, chilly evening in Sacra.
mepto, and north. eastern winds that come from
the snowy tops of the Sierra Nevada bring with
them wintry feeling of discomfort TO the deni-
sons of the plains, disagreeabe in proportion to
their rarity. The heavy curtains OF the parlor
in INV snns little cottage are closely drawn, and
the bright, flashing, swapping wood fire in the
CRATE gives cheerful light and heat to the hap
nv home have found after years oil toll and vi
| cissitudes, The calm content that now blesses
me is a fitting conclusion to the stormy days
that have passed. Sitting In my cosy arm chair,
gazing at the genial aud changing flames,
host Of unbidden memories come to me from the
past, like dreams, more than like the bitter re-
alites they were; for We scarcely can realize,
in looking back to early life in California, the
indifference and GOODNESS with which we met
danger and even death-When all was In state
of delirious excitement, a feveIish mania for
old.seeking ac.uating all and proving worse
curse than even at present.
While irdulging In these thoughts and the lux.
ury of comparing past suiferngs ana sorrows
with present happiness and Joys, soft little
hand had crept into my hand, soft cheek rest
ed against my face, and the inquiriDg eyes of
my darling little girl, Kitty, met mine; yet an
other hand clssped my left and another head
was resting against my heart whence loving
looks sought mine from the liquid depths OF my
wife's bright eyes. Gazing within them l
could read there the unchanging love that
made nv constant happiness; for what more in
estimabie boon can fortnue bestow on man
than the love Of a true woman7
Said q voice in my ear, "Father, you pro-
missed me story to-nigbt-a real, true story
tell me one about yourself-when you first came
here, and about gold digging, and killing, and
all those strange things the newspapers tell
about, sometimes. / know you cant and per-
bsps YOU was most killed in those horrid times
yourself-were you ever, papa"
The child's eager curiosity brought to my re-
membrance one Of those dark episodes in my
life. that came and passed 30 quickly, that 1t is
with difficulty can realize | was an actor in
Il. although at the time viewed the incident
as not 40 very remarkable. The child nestled
closer to me, and as the thoughts she had sug-
gested arose, they came from my lips in words,
rather as if | was thinking aloud than relating
story for her amusement.
Yes. those were dark times for me in the lat.
ter part of the year 1852. Recovering from a
severe and nearly fatal illness, was totally
without means, or any steaoy employment
the greater part of my life among books, as a
scholar, Ihad no friends among those who might
have assisted me in obtaing work and bread =
Mauy more there were, doubtless, who, like
myself preferred the keen, biting pangs OF
hunger, to making o confession OF poverty, OF
asking aid from the mockiug lips of charity.
lis true many will consider il very repre-
hensible degree of pride; but felt | woulC
rather die than beg favor from my fellow nan
and very near | came to 1t that winter OF 1907
How many in like circumstances may hav,
passed away in death, Throughout she length ant
breadth of California; and whose sad story ant
fate unknown, shall never be told. In a disma
garrett, open to the winds OF heaven, unprotect
ed from the cold, sssailed by the torturin
nanps of hunger, l can never forget those long
iong. weary nights. A dull, hopeless despai
seized upon me, and life and death were alik
Indifferent. In the day time it was better; SOM
little employment could sometimes be had Il
keen away the wolf-hunger-that was gDawiDl
at nv vitals Yet, during all this period, lik'
n, the Spartan boy, concealed my sutferings il
nv bosom, and none that met me IN the DALI
walks of lie ever knew Of my destitute condi-
ton.
had obtained work for few days, and b.
tbis means put few dollars in my pocket, bu
Is still II was only Temporary Ieliet; and afte
0 the email cum was eked out to its utmost ca
" nacity, for bread, then, as had happened man!
a. umes before, another period OF suffering was Il
= come. All this bad, combined with past mis-
fortunes, neatly broken my spirit, and hope wal
l., even departing from the horizon OF my future
was weary of disappointment, almost wear.
T. Of life. In this unfortunate state OF mind, reck
q less and Indifferent, was walking one evening
alopp---sLreet, San Francisco, which LED by
long wharf to the waters edge had {
:Joa in I'm % cad that nm reaching IL
termination should have before me, at leas
- the means by which could terminate all m.
~ nresent sufferings. As | recollect my feel
TO mos at that time, I do not imagine that for
", moment, seriously contemplated suicide, bu
rather that there was a certain fascination and
ir. Measure In seeing the way by which morta
troubles could be left behind. AT that tim
Gambling, in all its varieties, was the great fea
ture of life in California, and Its bells were
- be seen on every hand, all over the cityj but 10
some innate feeling OF disgust more than fror
reasoning, had never gambed; for 1t aiway
seemed to me that a dollar obtained by intelli
oence of the mind and honest labor, was wort
fSr mere than many dollars gained by mer
blind chance. Ihad too much confidence in m
abilities and manhood to stOop to the trickery {
dce. for money ought to have the power
= gain by more intelligent means.
Refore reaching the end of the wharf, wa
aroused from my revery.by the confused din {
many voices and sounds of music, among whiC
v, above all others, arose the shriil screams of a
ill-played clsrionet. Turning around found
was in front of one of the vilest and most nj
torious hels in the lower part OF the city, whe
rumor said many crimes were committed wi
impunity-for justice existed bnt in name
. those dsys, and rogues did exactly what seem.
good in their own eyes. As gazed within Il
large. crowded room, remembered that an q
uusintapce was employed as musician In q
orchestra on one side Of the room, and govern
by the impulse of the moment, pushed my VI
d Of through the mass OF persons around the table
'ed' speak to him. After few moments convers
T. lion with the musician, he turned to me
- said in a quiet tone Of voice:
"Wheneyer you come in here, never
nv. tempted to risk dollar on any game play
ali for not square game is played here; and mt
than that, the poTst hnga man can do is TO
money here ., ,
saving this he resumed his occupation. \
!. caring much for the information, lgazed ab'
IT. e. me al the scene, with still greater reckl
depression Of spirits Vice and virtue seen
I'D to he mere words withou. meaning; and 81
rs in uated BY my weak and foolish thoughts,
)Orn. question arose in my heart--is everything in
rson, mere chance, like the turning OF dice or carr
lrIer' !. ,haro anv God who directs, who prote