Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-05
A CALIFORNIA PIONEER.

How "a Young Man Achieved Success.
A San Francisco correspondent tells the
following remarkable story of one of the
pioneers Of the Golden State:
"The history Of the pioneer of Meadow
Lake is one Of the most interesting that /
ever listened to. There must besomething
exceedingly fascinating in the life of a
trapper, spent as his has been among the
widest portions of the Sierras, to induce
Young man Of energy and enterprise to
forcgo the comforts Of home and the
pleasures Of society, to live the solitary life
Of the mountaineer, having for his COM
panions only the untamed dWellers of the
desert. Yet young men who think OF
coming 10 this country in search Of en-
ployment will do well 10 emulate his
example | say TO all such, take the career
Of this Young mountaineer for your guide,
and in q few years YOU may become, "a he
has. man of influence and We lth. The
name of this Young pioneer is Hartly. He
is about thirty wears Of age, although his
fresh features make him look much young
er. He is small in size, slim and erect in
figure. with a frame knit together with
sinews Of great strength and endurance.
Years ago he was a clerk in an importing
housa i'm Philadelphia BY strict economy
and close attention to business he laid by
quite a nice little property, and had as fair
prospects before him as any young man
could desire Then came the crisis OF
1857, and left him Penniless. Not dis
couraged by reverses Of fortune, he left his
Eastern home and came out 60 California,
and falling 20 obtain such a situation in
the city as he thought himself entitled
10. he went into the mountains and es-
! tablished himself As q hunter and trapper
! among the Sierras. During the fall
/ of 1861 he built a cabin on the head
waters of the American river, and pro-
! ceeded TO fortify himself for the approach
/ ing winter. During that winter the snow
/ fell to the depth of tweuty-eight feet, and
snow-drih covered his cabin twenty
/ feet below the surface, and so great was the
l pressure that il required thirteen massive
/ timbers 10 support the roof. He tunneled
an entrance to the cabin which was sixty
| FIVE feet long During that time he tended
| two hundred and seventy FIVE traps and
| dead falls, and he succeeded in obtaining
| many valuable animals. In 1862 and ! S63.
/ he lived in the vicinity of Castle Peak,
where he remained for five months in com
plete isolation, At one time, when be-
sieged by storms, he was kept prisoner in
his cabin for thirtv-two days; the snow be-
ing at thattimc over fourteen feet deep over
the surrounding country. Ia 1868 he heard,
from some herdsmen who had been ranch
ing their cattle in the mouatains, that the
country round about Meadow lake abounded
in Iedges Of some kind Of metal, Of what
they were net able 10 tell. In the follow
ing wear he penetrated the region alone,
and from one Of the high peaks near by,
discovered the Excelsior ledge. He, at the
came time. discovered the Great Eastern
ledge, and at once located them. He also
discovered aud located numerous other
mines. which, if they turn out as well a.
present appearances indicate, wall make
hIm one Of the millionaries of the country.
Not having 10 develop his mines, has had
the good sense 20 associate with HIM prac-
teal business men, and they form the EX-
celsior Mining Company. He is now living
on his rancho in a neat little cabin near the
Excelsior mine, and Dame Rumor says
that be has been 70 Washington Territory