Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-02-07
A Ride for Life.

fornia adventure of mine A ride for
life, 1 may we'll call it" asked old Ma
jor Ransom, as he settled himself back
into the depths of a large easy chair,
situated at the head of the mess table.
| The long, breezy hall was well filed
by officers of the regiment, mostly
young men, who had seen but little ac-
tive service, and the "reminiscences of
the older gentlemen of the corps were
always eagerly listened to with respect
full consideration.
"Well, it may serve to while away an
idle half hour, and if you are all SO dis
posed, will relate the circumstances,
The details are indelibly stamped upon
my memory, | can assure you"
/ The time honored regimental can cir
culated around the table. cigars were
lighted. and the major clearing his
throat commenced:
i "When California was first admitted |
into the Union it was filled with more
than its quota of desperate characters
gathered from all parts of the globe.
Perhaps the worst element, the most
treacherous, tricky and cowardly, was
the Mexican element-halfbreed Mexi-
cans, or, as they are commonly known
in the vernacular of the country, Greas-
ers-and it is with that particular class
of yellow-skinned rascals that the bur-
den of my yarn will principally deal.
| l had been ordered by the depart
ment to proceed to Southern California
to pay of the troops stationed at Los
Angelos-a most delightful spot, by the
way, favored alike by heaven and ma
ture. l had discharged the duty to the
entire satisfaction of all concerned, and
with accounts balancing to a cent. |
took leave of the jolly old commandant,
and, mounted on sorry looking specta-
Gle of an army horse, l turned my back
on the town. having slowed in my sad
die bags about 100000, mostly in scrip,
rustling bank notes, mixed up with
more or less gold-more than wished
there was before l got through with it.
Through the kindness of the COM
manding officer, I had been furnished
with an escort in the shape of two troop
ers, who, fully armed and equipped rode
behind me to guard Uncle Sans treas
ures from the ravenous paws of wander
ing desperadoes and vagrants who had
received of late alarming reinforcements
to their ranks. owing to the gold fever
which had broken out, and was carry
ing everything before it in a boundless
wave of excitement.
My destination was camp situated
in the mountains some fifty miles dis
tant from Los Angeles. and as my two
troopers were thoroughly conversant
with the way, | gave myself no concern
about the route.
At the close of the first days ride
1--WE did not hurry at ally, we camped in
a delightful orange grove, close to a
q rancho where band Of horses was qui-
etly grazing. l looked at them with
longing eyes as the frisked about on the
open plain,, more especially as my old
hack, in addition to being most CON
foundedly hard under the saddle, was
already lame. and, in fact, about ready
'i- to knock under.
The soldiers told me that for $50
W could make a selection from the entire
rancho. A Spaniard, courtly gentle
man, met me. and Immediately upon my
-, errand being made known. he had tn,
animals corraled.
IN The object of my choice was superb
coal-black, three-quarters blood, who b.
rv no means had become mixed with infe
". rior stock. The horse was gentle. bu
as lacked training. having never been sub
Id jected to the saddle. However, as
was an accomplished horseman, caret
70 little for that fact. The price was pait
us and that night I slept i'll the Spaniard'
hospitable mansion while one Of tn
an vacqueros saddled the horse whom
ie dubbed Prince. and with Mexican bi
he behaved with the steadiness of vet
hv eran. l was delighted, and that nigh
retired to my luxurious couch happy an
ry contented in mind and at peace with al
or the world, with my precious saddle bag
carefully deposited on the back side Q
N, my old-fashioned bed I never los
ILL., sight of them-upon that you may de
pend.
! Early next morning l was in the sac
-'n die. and with my escort trotting in th
rear, and waving last adieu to th
- - courteous Spaniard, we struck for tn
foot hills, and at noon, when we halte
to make a cup of coffee, we found ou
rs selves in altogether different countr
NO from the level plains behind US.
adj Hills and valleys, with gentle und'
will lating plateaus Intervening, greeted tt
eye in pleasant succession ; while tree
re. shrubs and an endless variety of rul
er- ming plants abounded on all sides.
rly The day had been exceedingly war;
ing the sun pouring down with relentle
an fury, and the parched. dry earth rehec