San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-03-09
Some Old Forty-Niners.
San Francisco Chronicle.

mines early in 4S. purchased in San
Francisco washing-machine weipbin.
sixty pounds, which l packed on mS
back over the hot and arid plain lyin,
between Stockton and the Mokelnmnss
river. When I got there dug nv
first hole and planted my washing ma.
chine by it. 1t wouldn't work. Pretiy
soon the oldest man in the mines cams
along, and seys he, Stranger, how much
dye charge for washing shirts9' tola
him was not there to wash shirts, bpt
to wash out gold. He burst into emf.
faw, which was heard as far rs Murp6y's
Camp. Why says he, that's con.
trivance for washing clothes you've got
thar. They've taken ye in and done
for ye.' 1t was true. l had been cru.
elly imposed upon. But made small
fortune ont of that washing machine, /
gave up geld mining, turned washer.
woman for the whole camp at Gut.
throat Bar, and in six months made
$4,000 by washing shirts at S. apiece.
Gentlemen, the services 1 performed
in building and making history for the
great state of California are among the
proudest reflections of my life."
Judge BIS story: "When I arrived
in San Francisco there was any amount
of hanging going on by the Vigilance
Committee. There was q great SCARCITY
of rope for halters. happened to have
with me bale of choice hemp. Law
business was then very dull. Il had
opened law Office and hung out NV
shingle.) My expenses were $50 day.
An inspiration seized me. l occupied
my spare time (Which was all my time).
in making halters and selling them to
the Vigilance Committee at 500. Some
days made $500. A single boiled po-
tato cost then 81. This was the COM
mencement of my fortune. regard
with shame the humble part l had in
building up the state of California
Pioneer DIS story: my 49, house
in Happy Valley was hogshead. At
night L laid it horizontally on the
ground and tucked as much of myself
as could in it. By day stood the
hogshead on end, top up, and lived in
it. I started my bar in this hogshead.
I cut hole in the side, tackled a little
shelf outside, and when a customer ap-
peared, put out my bottle. The bottle
held my entire stock in trade. I sold
whisky at rs cents per drink. have
known men to travel a quarter of mile
after being struch with that whisky be-
fore they fell. Those were great times.
AS things prospered with me bought
more hogsheads and rented them out at
500 per week. California is great
state for bringing out mans full
strength and character. should never
have been half the man am but for
my California experience. 1t was my
good fortune to have had some share in
building up that great and glorious
state. I am proud of it."
Gen. ELS story: Il landed on the
shores of the Golden State in '4S. Al
though my stay was but fifteen minutes
I assisted, as spectator, in hanging
two men without judge or jury. There
was no delay in justice in those days. l
believe that one of these men was al
terward found innocent. But he was
an awful example to the guilty party,
whoever he was, and who was never
no, never-discovered: Our vessel
sailed then Immediately to China. Al
though I have never since seen the
shores of the glorious state I assisted to
find and make history for, still the
humble part in which it was my glori-
GUS privilege to take in elevating her to
her present proportions is one OF the
proudest, etc"
Mai. FPS story: During the spring
of 40 the Wallop- -Wogga tribe of In
dams used often to attack our camp at
Dirty Blanket Bar. We expected at
tacks from them nightly, and were IN
the habit of sleeping on our arms. l
had no arms then but pocket pistol l
had brought out from the states. fused
to sleep on that. So did my brother
These pocket pistols were fally charged
every night. They were generally
empty in the morning in consequence
of the repeated and furious attacks
from these Indians-and snakes. IL
kept one man busy getting them
charged next day-at the nearest gro
Gerry. They were loaded from barrel:
Those were wild old times, 1 can tell
you. One day two wild Indians chased
nv brother three miles. We saw him
being pursued by them. That is, we
saw him, but never saw the Indians. IL
was the same with snakes. Numbers
of our party were pursued by snakes,
but it is a singular fact that no one ever
saw the snakes, save the parties pur-
sued. People at the Fast can never 70,
alize the hardships and perils endured
by us brave, daring Californiapioneeers'
It was very dangerous country where
we mined. Nearly all our party eventu,
ally met their death at the hands OF
these Indians and snakes. Whisky
then was $40 per gallon. 1t cost US
nearly all our earnings for ammunition
But, gentlemen, / am proud that 1, TOO