The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-12-14
Barron Munchausen in california;.

The following is very fair representation,
somewhat enlarged, of the "big talk" about the
agricultural productions of the Pacific coast
which one hears in those parts: t'".
"Two weeks ago l started on visit to the
Yosemite Valley. 1 arrived at the wharf mo-
ment too late to get on board, and instead OF
waiting until the next day, l determined to go
to Stockton on horseback. according crossed
the bay to Oakland or as it is better known,
Little Peddlington,' procured horse and rode
over to the Livermore Valley, where staid all
night with rancher. who was known in the
valley rs Clamps They call him that because
he got rich by holding on to his money with q
degree of fortitude not universal in the coun-
try. AS supper time approached, Clamps
asked me if would like some egg, and how I
preferred it, hard or soft, boiled or fried. l
told him I would like some eggs, and that 1t
would suit me best to have them soft boiled.
''In few moments came Clamps and his
wife, rolling an egg. the size of a flour barrel,
which they boiled in short time in a large
cauldron, and then set it up on end by madam's
chair at the table. A hole was made in the top
of the shell, and the egg was dipped out with
long handled ladle. l was astonished at the
size of the egg, and observed that his hens must
be enormously large. by no means he re-
piled you will not be so much surprised
when 1 tell you that one hen did not lay this
egg alone; it took seven or eight hens almost
week to lay it. 1t was joint production of
the chickens, but still it is better than an indi-
vidual responsibility plan.'
"At breakfast the next morning we had more
egg, and then l went On the road TO Stockton.
/ reached San Joaquin River at noon, and was
ferried over in unique looking craft While
the ferryman was tuggng silently at his big
oars, inquired whether his ferry was profta-
BILE.
"'Doesn't scarcely pay for raisin' the boat
".Raising the boat?' I repeated, what do
you mean by raising the boat%
"'Mister,' said he, resting for while on his
oars, you be stranger in these parts, bean't
you?
''I replied that had not been long in the
country.
"'fhen,' said he pointing to the shore, this
'ere boat growed in that pumpkin patch oyer
yonder.'
"'Growed in that pumpkin patch?' ex-
claimed.
"'Growed in that pumpkin patch, on a
pumpkin vine. Mister, this boat is pumpkin
shell, cut in two; that patch is where it growed.
"Where, over by that barn p inquired.
"'That amt no barn. he answered; unless
you choose to call it So That's pumpkin,
too. But made hole in the end ont and let
the stock inside, and when the wet season sets
in, why you see, I plug up the hole, and let 'em
winter there. They come out awful fat in the
spring. That big green-looking squash over
yonder I'm hollerin out to live in
"'Are these the growth of the season 2 l
asked
"sWe don't have no sich difference here on
the San Joaquin as CROWN seasons and them
others; things keep on CROWN all the time till
we pull 'em or they die
GAS was taking leave of the ferryman he
gave me pumpkin seed, with the remark that
/ might astonish the folks in the East with it;
but before twenty-four hours had elapsed
came near having calamity by reason of it
myself
"It was in this wise: After riding several
hours in the sun was overcome by drowsiness
as to find it impossible to keep in the saddle,
and dismounting. lay down on the ground, in
tending to take short nap. had the pump
kin seed in my vest pocket. During my slum-
bers it fell on the ground, and [ rolled over on
it. My great fatigue caused me to oversleep
myself, and 1 awoke in the morning by being
roughly hurried over the ground in my pros
trate position, with what seemed to be q rope
around my body. I howled Justify for help,
and my cries attracted the attention of two men
who were on their way to the harvest field.
"On being relieved from my perilous position
the mystery became clear The warmth of my
body caused the pumpkin seed to sprout and
begin growing, and one of the tendrils of the
new vine had coiled itself around my body,
dragging me along in its rapid growth a dis
tance of more than half mile before was
awakened. My deliyerers had q hard run to
keep pace with me in the clutches of the pump
kin vine, and finally arrested my progress by
cutting it with their scythe blades l gave
them the vine for their reward, and we counted
on it no less than three hundred young pump
kins, ranging from the size OF hens egg to a
flour barrel.
"There is but one more thing will notice.
Six years ago gentleman residing near Stock
ton planted grapevine by his house.. In two
years the building was completely embodied in
the branches of the vine, and the gentleman
was surprised at seeing his dwelling starting
from it's foundations. The vine grew with Won
derful vigor, and carried the house unharmed
up the height of sixty feet in the air, where it
remained. The gentleman now reaches his
front door by means of winding staircase
around the trunk of grapevine, and anybody
who will take the trouble to 60 and see will find
it just as have said"