Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-04-05
The CHRONICLE.
A CALIFORNIA STORY.
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CALikORhIA SIORf.
BY CAPTAIN MORTON.
In the year Zoe, L, with three others
who were officers on the good steam
ship "Winfeld Scott" then lying at
the wharf in San Francisco, became
imbued, as many others before US
had, and have since been, with the
%pervading gold fever. Resigning U
positions in the good ship, we started
for the famous gold miues OF Gar
sons Creek Our journey was &C
complished on foot, we carving our
loads OF provisions on our backs-the
sun in the middle Of the day terribly
hot. The nights being cold, we would
build q fire, and wrapping our blank
els around Us, put US in our little
beds" and then compose ourselves to
sleep, soon to be awakened by the dis
NAL bark Of the thousand eayotes,
bears, and other insects, y that would
quickly surround US. A brand from
the fire w,,uld cause them to seamper
OF il a hurry, shaking the ground as
they went.
Pursuing our course in the day
time. our only guide through the for
ests being the innumerable "sardine-
bOXesa that literally paved the way,
and constantly In dread Of meeting
the noted cut-throat and rObbeE "San
JOsquin, aud his band, whoever
then roaming round the country, the
terror Of all miners, we finally, at
sunset Of the ninth day, reached Car
sons Greek, and took up u quarters
in a deserted log cabin, standing apart
some distance nom any other. Build
ing q fire and sending up to the store
in the miners camp on the hill for
some beef, we soon felt as il we were
capable Of meeting San Josquin,
bears, or "any other man.
On looking round in the room Of
1 the cabin, we discovered a platform
raised about three feet from the ground
! There being no hoOrl, which evident
ly had been used for a bedstead and
three OF US took our blankets and
Lard down 70 get some sleep, myself
in the middle; the fourth one, whose
name was Jack DAYS., having been
wise enough to bring his hammock
along with him, hung il high up to
the rafters. Something during the
middle Of the night, the IRE having
gone out, we were awakened by Jack
Davis yelling, lump up, fellers,
jump upi There's a grizzly under
the bed2 He win soon have you2"
The intelligence of our dangerous
position for "a time parslyzed us, and
neither Of US possessing the requisite
amount of courage TO get up, we soon
became engaged with each other in a
desperate struggle for the middle of
the bed. Ibeing strongest, managed
to hold my own. Meanwhile Jack
Davis, from his comparatively secure
position high upon the matters, yelled
ineessantly for rs to get up and attack
the bear-calling US towards, sojers,
and threatening 10 come down and
lex us, bear and all, which brilliant
performances he had no idea of at.
tempting. My two bedfellows, falling
in their attempt to get the middle Of
the bed, agreed with me to jump for
the door, which We did But now
another difficulty presented itself-no
one knew how 10 open IL Our situa-
ton becoming desperate we turned TO
face the animal. and from under the
bed two large red eyes glared on us,
while from the rafbers came the con-
soIing yelh from Jack: wow he's
coming, look out! YOU'RE ali gone
Amt you a nice set2 SRilorsi blast
you, you're sojesp Go hOmep'
which last advice every mothers son
of us would then and there have glad
" consented to act upon. Another
struggle now ensued between US three
as TO which should be in front, or
rather who should be behind, when
they finally succeeded in thrusting
me in front, and at the same time the
animal sprang out striking me in the
breast and face, knocking me down,
and in my fall taking the others with
me. Each one thinking he had hold
Of the animal while on the ground, we
gave mi another the most Unmereiful
pounding that any mortal ever re-
ceived, being encouraged in our good
work by Davis yelling to us, Give it
to him, boysl Now you've gothim!'
until, after exhaustion, we found out
our mistake, the animal having es-
capped through a large hole IN the bot
tom Of the door, that we had not OBJ
served before.
Striking q light, we presented q for
Ilorn and ragged appearance, aud con-
cluded We were not much at mining
life, fthst which we had just passed
neutrality-suspicious.. Our thoughts
were disturbed by Davis asking us
where the bear was, and il we had
killed him. We made M reply; but
mentally swore that we would be even
with HIM. The opportunity present
ed itself sooner than expected. In
the morning we were inviIed by some
OF the miners to come to their camp
and give them the latest news from
home. We started in the evening,
leaving Jack behind, as he preferred
20 sleep in his hammock. G
Relating our terrific combat, it came
ont that instead of s bear, II was :
poor dog that slept there every night,
which accounted for the hole in the
door. Our modification at the alb
surdity Of the whole affair was in
tense, and the miners laughed hearth
ly. At midnight they accompanied
US home, and reaching the bill that
overlooked the creek where the cabin
stood, it occurred 20 US that now was
the time TO get even with Jack
Firing our revOlvers. throwing large
stones on the roof, and yelling like
demons, "San Josquini" San Jos
duin!' we rushed down the hill oRly
to e poor Jack come out in his shirt,
Jump the creek, and bolt like a shot
up Bears Hill, on the other side Of
the valley. Through the tangled I'M
derbrush he went, and he was soon
lost in the gloom.
Awaking in the morning we saw
the face of Jack peering through The
door, and such = face we had never
seen before. Scared was no name for
lit. The very life seemed frightened
out of him.
"Fellers," said Jack, 'has he
gomez
"Who9" we replied.
"San Josiuin."
No; we hadn't seen anything of
him.
"Jack, where have you been ?'
"Fellers, | had an awful time last
night. The band was here. / stood
my ground and fought them as long
as l could, and hurt some Of them
bad.n
HWau vas lack buf what zara