Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-04-02
From the Pacific Coast
For the Fayettevil!e Observer.

OlR-tAItefa slIellce Oh ten years,
| again write to my old friend
the OBSERVER. I have seen
much, Ioced much, felt much
and suffered much, since l was
a resident Of your county Du-
ring that time | went a-roaming
into the far West and in the
lands Of the setting sun / have
grown older, and l hope wiser
than [ was in Tennessee. Bless
me, Mr.. Editor, how the time
flies. 1t seems only yesterday
since | parted with Fannie at the
gate--how | miss the r0ccOO1
hunts-the Persimmons that [
used to get by climbing--(my
breast is still naked where the
persinmon bark barked the hair
off, [ left Washington City in
! February, 1866, for New \ ork,
From the latter place | took the
steamer Henry Chauncy for As
pinwall. We arrived at Cuba in
seven days-the heat was OPP
.pressive-we made Aspinwall
on the eighth day. The scene
~ Of the Isthmus is very beau-
tifui--high mountains, cone
shaped, and the climate an eter-
nal summer. A railroad 48
miles long brings the traveller to
Panama on the Pacific side
Here we took q steamer for San
Francisco. Panama is q city
of about eight thousand souls,
and the natives bear Il rescm-
blance to an animal called a
leopard, on account Of the spots
Iof Indian, Mexican and Negro
which shine conspicuously on
their faces. Fourteen hundred
and thirty three miles brought
US to the beautiful serpentine
harbor Of Acapulco, Mexico.--
Here we coaled up and then
proceeded on our voyage. We
arrived at the Golden Gate,
San Francisco, in twcnty-One
days time-distance by water
five thousand three hundred and
twenty-three miles. At San
Francisco | took Il steamer for
Portland, Oregon - time five
days, distance twelve hundred
miles. From Portland / went
to The DalIes up the Columbia.
Here | bought a horse and went
to themines at Silver City, Idaho.
In the fall | went to Boise City
and took the stage for Sacra-
mento, California. | went ria
Granite Creek desert, Black
Rock Mines, Honey Lake Val
ley and Oroville. Iremained at
Sacramento until Spring and
then set out for the mines
located at Newark, Nevada
Here / mined until NOvem-
Der, 1867, and started for Cali
fornia again. | went TO Los
Angeles, California, and taught
school until July, 1868. Then
took the stage for Arizona ria
San Bernardinc, old San Ber-
nardine, Aqua Caliente, the
IToroes, Chuckawalla, Death
Valley, and arrived at La Paz
after crossing the Colorado Of
the West. Distance $50 miles
from Los Angeles. At La Paz,
| took the stage for Wicken-
burg, a mining town in the III
terror, situated OH the Hasa
yampa river. / remained three
weeks-came back to La Paz
and took boat for Fort Yuma,
(the latter place is at The mouth
of the ella river.) Here | took
the stage for Tucson, the capital
Of Arizona. There being no
stage from Tucson to Hermasil-
10, Mexico, l hired a pony and
accompanied a pack train on
my journey, on account Of the
Indians, who are hard cases.
!. Owing to the state Of society in
Sonora, Mexico, ] became fright
ened andreturnedto Fort \ luna.
Here | took the stage for Cali
fornia rja the great Yuma Des-
ert. | came into San Bernadine
county and went to clerking in
a store. Getting the mining fe-
yer in the Spring of 1869, | set
ont for White Pine, Nevada,
ria Los Angeles, SoIedad, Owens
Valley and Silver Peak. AT
White Pine, | remained eleven
months and made ten thousand
dollars. From there | went to
Utah, in May, 1870, and COM
mencedspeculating in the mines.
/ lost nine thousand dollars in
two months and bolted for Mon
tona. Imade about eight thou
} sand dollars during the summer
and lost it by specializing in the
fall. In 1871 came to Oregon
and taught school. l am here yet
in the same business. SO, Mr.. Ed.
. i ]