American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-11-23
THE LOST CABIN.

= THE LOST CABIN.
Some one raped at my office-door
and, in response to my "COme in" no
utHred in the gentlest of tones. tai
young man, of dark complexion and hab
tered. recognized him, after the usua
salutations had passed, as person who
had for several weeks, been sojourning al
my hotel, the - House. Taking The
chair proffered, he seated himself neal
the stove, and. bending upon me from un
glance giittering and keen with scrutiny
said. It's nasty night for April"
1t is, indeed" replied, STOPPING to
replenish the stove land you seem to
have had the benefit of IT,
Yes; 1 had some difficulty in finding
your ofaee-and that reminds me that l
did not come here to discuss the weather,
but to talk business
He bent his head for moment, as if to
reflect, and I fixed myself in an attitude
of respectful attention, my first fee being
ths idea which was uppermOst in my
mind.
g Are you satisfied with this ~ and, as
as he spoke, he waved his hand satirically
toward the single Falstaff1an column of
laybooks: largely recruited from the
Patent Office Department, on a shelf
against the wall opposite.
Il smiled, and, without waiting for fur
Their answer, he proceeded:
If y0u succeed at all in the practice of
the law In Portland, it will be after years
hideous economy and privation. Ibelieve
that you realize this yourself, and for that
reason have come here tonight to share
with you a valuable secret, and to solicit
your assistance In project which, if sue
cessfully prosecuted, will enrich us BOTH"
a 81 - \ L. -
flashed across me, and suppose he must
? have seen something of the kind in my
face, for he resumed Immediately, with
an inpatient gesture, uNay, it is
honorable and all ask of you in return
for the confidence am about to repose in
You, is pledge of secrecy in the event
that you do not join me in the project to
which have alluded"
Having received every assurance of
good faith on my part, he drew his chair
close to mine, and then looking toward the
door, suggested that had better lock it.
l got up TO attend to that, and when L re-
sumed my seat beside him, he had lighted
a cigar, and was evidently going to be
comfortable: He held his cigar-case to-
Ibid you ever hear the story of The
Lost Cabin?''
2 never had.
mo? 1 will tell it to you now. In the
spring Of 1856, while the southern border
OF Oregon was ringing with the battles
offhat memorable war between the heroic
settlers of the Territory and the Shasta a{i1
Rogue River Indians, two brothers by the
name of WilsOn-James and Henry-ar-
riv, d at Jacksonville, and getting tOgeth-
er small party of hardy and experienced
miners, set out, fully armed, to prospect
for gold along the rivers and among the
broken ranges of mOunLains southwark of
that then prosperous mining town. The
party had been out for several weeks
meeting with but little success. and had
just lost one of their number in a skir-
mish with the Indians, when council
was called, and all but TIE Wilson BROTH
ers concurred in the opinion that it was
for the conclusion of the war.
"The wilson's were of naughty, OBJ
stinate spirit, thorough in mountain craft,
and brave to recklessness. With them
daring was habit and danger luxury,
and they held out against the argu-
ments and entreaties OF their more pru-
dent comrades, until it was agreed. final
ly, that they should have the greater part
Of the provisions, ammunition, ETC., and
continue in their search, while the others
would retrace their steps by the shortest
and safest route.
s'On the morning of parting, James
Wilson rose in his stirrups, and, swing
muscular, exclaimed: 'Good-by, boys
and good luck to you, but we can't go
back There is gold somewhere yonder
behind that smoky line of mountains. and
we are going to dig it out, though all the
Redskins OF the wilderness stand guard
over it! Well come back rich as king
bOyst or leave our bones to bleach there
it's a glorious battle-ground
''This high speech fired the hearts of
the retreating party for moment, and
some Of them turned, as though they, too,
would faiu peril their lives for that with
out which life is more bitter than death
but the mOmentary flash of heroism went
down, and, shaking their heads in denial,
they rode away, shouting back rude
words Of cheer.
s'They never met again. The main di-
vision reached jacksonville after many
days of wearisome and perilous travel,
and waited in vain through lengthening
months for some tidings Of the Wilson's.
Their story is sealed to all, save me. l
owe my own knowledge OF their further
progress and final fate to the fact that
we are cousins and confidential friends.
With this word of explanation, 1 will give
you so much of the history of the brothers
as came to me in the letters of James,
written at San Francisco, In the year 1859.
he drew forth a packet of perhaps dozen
letters. much worn, creased, and soiled,
and held them in his haEd-s.but have no
need to recur to them, as l have read
them many times.
''Well, from the point of separation the
Wilson's continued in a sOuth-easterly di.
rection. They at first travelled with every
PrecautiOn against surprise, but finally re-
laxed their vigilance, as they were SEEM
ingly beyond the range OF the hostile
tribes.
''At last they reached a green and mar
mountains, around which meandered |
rock and across beds of smooth and shi- |
ming pebbles, the limpid waters of snow
fed stream. Here they determined to rest |
and recruit themselves and their faded an
finals, while they leisurely and thorough |
1y prospected for gold the region immedi- !
atelv about them.
Desiring to remain i'm the valley for |
some time, they concluded to put up a
rude lOg-cabin, which would protect their
camp equipage, and, pierced with loop
holes, fort-fashiOn, would serve as a de-
tense in case Of an Indian attack.
son the morning after their arrival, |
Henry began to cut timber, out of which |
to construct the temporary home and for |
tress; while James went forth, gun in
hand, to repIenish their impoverished lar
der. About ten O'Clock he killed deer, |
which he shouldered and started for camp. |
He reached the little stream perspiring and |
for the day was warm, and threw
his limp burden down upon a pebble bar
while he stopped to get drink.