The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-05-24
miscellaneous Selections.
A VISION FROM THE PLAINS.
A Thrilling Sketch of California Life

Early in the summer of IS49 a
long emigrant train arrived on the
banks of the Platte River, on the
way to the newly discovered gold
regions of California.
The weary emigrants had accom-
iplished about half their journey from
the Mississippi Valley to the Pacific
coast, but not the worst half, and
they halted on the green prairie till
means should be devised to cross
the river.
Various plans were discussed.
Some talked of bridge, others of a
stationary raft, others of moving up
or down the stream till ford might
be found. But every device met with
some serious obstacle.
Among the emigrants was Young
man named Abram Wilder,who with
his wife and two little children
girl and bOy-had faced the setting
sun to seek an independent home.
He was one of those honest, thrift
ty fellows who like to make money
Isquarly, and who are generally a
benefit to any community, and it oc-
CURED to him that a temporary fer
ry might be made profitable.
Hiring two men of the train named
Mallity and Sears to assist him, he
felled some cottonwood trees and
prepared three canoes. These he
lashed towether, covering them with
puncheons, and thus forming a aoat
that would sustain the weight of q
wagon.
Thus the ferry was opened, doing
a thriving business day and night,
till Wilder accumulated considerable
money. Was not that enterprise in
that wild region?
That he might lose no time, he
sent his family on with the train, re-
tanning a riding horse, with which he
proposed to follow in few days;
and, while he accumulated gold and
silver, Mrs. Wilder and her children
travelled on toward the Rocky
Mountains.
A week-ten days-two weeks
passed, and Wilder did not overtake
them. But, at least, his two hired
men-Mallity andSears-came along
on horse. back, saying that Wilder
would come up next day, then push
ed on ahead Of the train with singu-
lar haste.
Abram Wilder was never seen
again.
Five years passed. In the summer
of 1864 the mining post of Forest
Hill, in Placer County, California,
had its population augmented by
the arrival of a family consisting of
woman, her boy of twelve, and
daughter of eight years.
The woman, who had a pale, wea-
ry looking face, was Mrs. Wilder, and
she had toiled hard for those child
rem during the last five years. She
had spent most of this time in Sac
ramentO, where she had done wash
ing and all sorts of hard work; but
suffering from ague, she had resolv-
ed to go up into the mountains.
Her boy, George, was particularly
in favor of this, declaring that he
would dig geld and make them all
rich.
On the second evening after their
arrival at Forest Hill, a good -natur-
ed miner came stroIling by their
tent, and accosted Mrs. Wilder, who,
as it was very warm, sat outside.
"Good evening, ma'am," he said,
politely.
She returned his greeting court
eously.
Its late now," said he, ''to offer
my assistance. l would have come
round and helped to put up your
tent, if / had known you were alone
with these children. Isn't your hus-
band living, ma'amY
"No-he is dead.
And shade crossed her pale face,
as she recalled the Platte river and
the prairies.
Then she recounted the whole
painful history, telling how she had
worked in Sacramento, saying that