The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-05-17

A Thrilling sketch of California Life.

Early in the summer of lS49 a Ions
emigrant train arrived on the banks OF
the Platte river, on the way to the
newly-discovered gold regions of Cali
fornia.
Thew weary emigrants had accomplish
ed 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 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 a Young
man named Abram Wilder, who with
his wife and two little children-a girl
and boy-had faced the setting sun
to seek an independent home.
He was one of those honest, thrifty
fellows who like to make money square.
ly, and who are generally benefit to
any community, and it occurred to him
that temporary ferry might be made
profitable.
Hiring two men of the train named
Nallity and Sears to assist him, he felled
some cottonwood trees and prepared
three canoes. These he dashed together.
covering them with puncheons, and
thus forming float that would sustain
the weight of wagon.
Thus the ferry was opened, doing
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, retaining
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 last, his two hired men
Mallity and Sears-came along on horse
back, saying that Wilder would come
up next day then pushed on ahead of
the train with singular haste.
Abram Wilder was never seen again.
Five years passed. In the summer of
1854 the mining post of Forest Hill, in
Placer county, California, had its popu.
lation augmented by the arrival OF a
family consisting of woman, her boy
OF twelve, and daughter of eight years.
The woman, who had q pale, weary.
looking face, was Mrs. Wilder, and she
had toiled hard for those children dur.
ing the last five years. She had spent
most of this time in Sacramento, where
she had done washing and all sorts of
hard work but, suffering from ague,
she had resolved to 60 up into the
mountains.
Her boy, George, was particularly in
favor of this, declaring that he would
dig gold and make them all rich.
On the second evening after their
arrival at Forest Hill, good .natured
miner came strolling 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 courteously.
Its late now" said he, Z" to offer INV
assistance. | would have come round
and helped to put up your tent, if
had known you were alone with these
children. Isn't your husband living,
ma'am2"
"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 she was willing
to wash for the miners, and that her
boy was determined to dig gold.
. hope you'll get along well, ma ann
said the good-natured fellow; "and