Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-05-07
written for the HERALD.l
MEDICINE; THIS SIDE UP.
A Pioneer sketch.
BY ApoLPHUs PERKINS.

that he had not followed one of the
prosiest, matter-of-fac forms of exist
ence outside the treadmill. He might
be church deacon or a retired coun-
try parson, or, indeed, for all you
know, he might be the prophet Jere-
miah himself, come back and called
Jerry for convenience. But be assured
he is nothing of the kind.
Rumor hath it that in his youthful
days Jerry employed his best energies
and the greater portion of his time In
sowing wild oats. But notwithstand-
ing the attention devoted to his agri-
cultural pursuits in early life, Jerry's
crop turned out lamentable failure,
I am panied to state, and it was this
kind of industry which caused his de-
parture for California in the days of
l849.
Like many others who tore them
selves away from their homes in the
East to seek the new Ell Dorado, Jerry
left behind wide circle of acquaint-
ances who greatly regretted his depar-
ture. Among this number of his es-
teemed friends were the entire police
force of the city of Boston. l have
heard that Jerry's voyage was has
tened by an unlooked-for mishap
which occurred about that time.
1t seems that q certain handsome
and chaste young lady, the daughter
of a wealthy and influential judge,
took a sudden fancy to Jerry and
asked his hand in marriage. This pro-
cedure was of course very singular,
since the year one thousand eight
hundred and forty-nine was not leap
year, or indeed season Of any unu-
sual social privileges. But what is
still more singular, the young lady's
father insisted strongly in uniting the
two young people in the holy bonds of
matrimony, and although Jerry cour-
teously declined the honor thus urged
upon him, the arm of the law was in
voked to enforce his compliance.
For week or more Jerry's friends,
the police, were on sharp lookout for
him, but the little man kept studiously
reserved, feeling a natural delicacy
about being found in the company of
such notorious personages. Finally
one of the officers insisted upon forcing
himself upon Jerry's company, and he
was dismissed so summarily by our
hero that he remained in bed for some
time thereafter.
But meanwhile the city of Boston
became too contracted for Jerry's field
OF operations and he longed for other
worlds to conquer. Upon consulting
his more immediate and disinterested
friends the general decision was
reached that he should go-but how?
It was much to be desired that
his departure should be with
out show of ostentation, and
above all, prove as little trouble as
possible to the police.
The good ship Duxbury lay at
Bagg's wharf ready freighted and
bound for California. AT the last mo-
ment before she weighed anchor an
express wagon came. laundering
down the wharf loaded with a good
sized box marked sc. Burdell, M. D.,
San Francisco, California, via ship
Duxbury. MEDICINE. THIS SIDE
Up" The express wagon drew up to
the vessel. A tall gentleman whom
we at once determine to be Doctor
Burdell jumped from the seat and,
with the aid of the truckman, lifted
the box carefully down upon the
ground. 1t was then hurried on board
ship with other belated baggage, the
Doctor experimenting the proceeding
personally, 80 great was his solicitude
for the precious drugs within. His
charge safely deposited on the deck of
the vessel, the Doctor went away to
look after his other baggage, and we
would accompany him were it not for
the various other matters which de-
mand our attention in connection
with the box of medicine which we
have mentioned. There was good
representation of the police force of
the city about the wharf and vessel.
The officers moved constantly about
from place to place, and seemed to be
expecting something or somebody.
What they really wanted, of course
the writer of this history is not sup
posed to know. Finally, two of these
uneasy officials approached the box of
medicine, and one remarked in an au-
dible voice:
she might be in there"
"No," said the party addressed,
.'the box is too small.p
"But he is mighty little fellow"
was the rejoinder.
'srhen try it and see.n
With this suggestion the first party
stuck the end of his cane through a
knot-hole in the side of the box and
rammed away with it as though he
were loading a piece of artillery.
Had the medicines in the case been OF
very fragile character they must
certainly have perished, or had they
been the villainous nitr0-glycerine or
dynamite invented in more modern
times, they must as certainly have
made a grand explosion. But the in
quisitive officer finally withdrew his
cane, regardles of the damage he
might have done, and when his fellow
Inquired what he had discovered, he
replied, "Only BOTTLE"
Then the Mate came along with a
gang of deck hands, slowing away
freight, and the box was rolled into a
snug corner for convenience while the
officers strolled away. 1 think the
Mate and his men did not read the di-
rections on the box, or else they were
very stupid and careless, for instead of
placing "this end up" as was marked
plainly enough in big black letters.
they put "this endn down. Such q
procedure only illustrates the careless
manner in which our precious goods
are handled by public carriers. re-
gret that there has been so little i'm
provement in this respect of late years.
AS the vessels moorings were that
moment loosed, and the ship put out
with a great clamor, the tall doctor
whom we have previously noted came
up in an apparent furry of excite
ment. When he saw that his box of
medicine had been removed he was
greatly disconnected, and he seemed in
much haste to search it out. Then