Morning journal and courier., 1882-05-02

From the San Francisco Chronicle.] year ago last July a band of English ! gypsies, composed of four families and one l coy maiden left Boston, Mas S., on pilgrim | age to the Pacific coast. The party was well provided with horses, wagons and camping l outfits, and travelled under the direction of | Peter Hicks. Crossing through the inter vening States the wanderers, in the course of a couple of months, reached the western borders of Missouri, where they fell in with @ lot of emigrants numbering between two or three hundred persons, and for consider ation agreed to pilot them across the conti- nent.
 The party left Kansas City en route late in the fall of 1880, and wended their weary l way westward, without hurt or hindrance, until within about five miles of Leadville, | Col, where heavy snow squall overlook l them. The snowAakes fell fast and furious l upon the adventurers, blocking their way, and in remarkably short time rendering further progress impossible. Preparations for short stay were made. Day after day. however, the snow fell and drifted in such compact masses that it was with the utmost difficulty that members of the party were en- abled to reach Leadville and return with pro- visions, but by perseverance they did so and escaped the tortures of death from starva- tion. But it was not until five months after the involuntary halt was made that the pill S western way. The caravan soon passed through Colorado and into the sagebrush territory of Wyoming.
 Here other adventures awaited the pill grims Scarcely had they entered on the trackless wastes of Wyoming than large band of half famisned Ute Indians surround ed them and begged for food. Their scanty
 store the adventurers shared with the say
 ages, who followed in their wake and from importunities for food grew aggressive and de-
 manded it, threatening that if their demands were not acceded to they would murder the
 whole outfit. Being refused further noul ish-
 ment the redskins withdrew, muttering, and
 sharp lookout for an attack was kept up by
 the travellers. The attack came sooner than
 was expected, for the camp had hardly be-
 come hushed in sleep the following night be-
 fore the sharp crack of the outpost's rife
 rang the alarm. Every man was on his feet
 in an instant. rife in hand, and charge was
 made on the invaders, who were soon routed
 and were seen no more on the trip
 From Wyoming on through Utah. Nevada and California the party travelled without in
 cident. Upon reaching California the party
 bade their gypsy guides good-by, and making
 adetour moved north, and are at present
 located on farms in Washington territory.
 The gypsies south and, passing
 through Bodie, remained there for month
 or two, trading horses and looking into flu
 turity for love sick lassies and sentimental
 swains. They then moved onward to this
 city, which they reached 8 few days since,
 and are now camped on a vacant lot on Union
 street, near Steiner, San Francisco.
 A reporter visited the camp and found
 Captain Hicks engaged in feeding the horses
 and mules, of which they have about forty
 head Scattered around over the sward are
 four tents, one for each family, which is
 composed of man and wife, and the conven-
 tional black-eyed, swarthy faced and pretty
 gypsy child. Peter Hicks, or Captain" as
 he is called, is about 30 years of age, litthe and active of form, with deep, piercing jet
 black eyes, black hair and swarthy complex
 ion. He has none of the listlessness attributed to gypsies generally, and in conversation is
 quite entertaining. At Bodie he met the
 first country editor, and says he never wants to see another. He describes him as being
 tall, angular person, resembling 8 broken
 down parson more than anything. The edi- tor, according to Captain Hicks, visited his camp, and after conversing with him and his people, returned to his sanctum and wrote an article, pronouncing them horse thieves, COW boys, vagabonds, etc., and concluded by advising the people of Bodie to lay on their shotguns and guard their hen-roosts. 'I got even with that editor, though resumed the gypsy captain, with @ twinkle of his eye.
 ''I had him arrested for libel, and would have compelled him to prove all he said but he
 made retraction and took everything back"
 The business of the tribe is trading and sell ing horses which is conducted by the male members, while the women, providing you cross their hand with silver, will look into the future for loves and lovers. The tribe
 will remain in San Francisco several months, and when the summer comes will return to
 Boston.