The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-02-21
The Days of 40.
Stories Which the New York Graphic AL
leges were Told at Recent Reunion OF
the Pioneers.

Pioneer ca story: ~ went to the mines ear
ly in 49, 1 purchased in San Francisco .
washjng-machine, weighing 60 pounds, which
packed on my back, over the hot and arid
plain lying between Stockton and the Moke-
lumne river. When got there dug my FIRST
hole, and planted my washing-machine sby 1t.
1t wouldn't work. Pretty soon the Oldest man
in the mines came along, and says he, 'Stran-
| ger, how much dye charge for washing shirts?'
1 told him was not there to wash shirts, but
| to wash out gold. He burst into guffaw which
was heard as far as Murphy's camp. Why
says he, that's a contrivance for washing
clothes you've got thar. They've taken ye In
and done for ye.' 1t was trHe had been
cruelty imposed upon. But made a small
fortune out of that washing-machine. gave
up gold-mining, turned washerwoman for the
whole camp at Cut-throat Bar, and in six
months made $4,000 by washing shirts at SIS
apiece. Gentlemen, the services I perform d
in building and making history for the great
State of California are among the proudest re-
Elections of my liie.'
Judge B's story: When arrivedfin Sane
Francisco there was any amount of hanging
going on by the vigilance committees. There
was great scarcity of rope for halters. i hap
pened to have with me bale of choice hemp.
Law business was just then very dull. Il had
opened law office and hung out my shingle)
My expenses were fifty dollars per day. An
inspiration seized me. occupied my spare
time (Which was all my time) in making hal
ters and selling them to the vigilance commit
tee at one hundred dollars each Some days
made five hundred dollars. A single boiled po-
tato cost then dollar. This was the COM
mencement of my fortune regard with
shame the humble part had in bailding up
the State of California"
Pioneer D. story: "My "49' house in Hap
py Valley was a hogshead. At night laid it
horizontally on the ground and slept as much
of myself as 1 could in it By day stood the
hogshead on end, top up, and lived in it. I
started my bar in this hogshead. l cut hole
in the side, tackled little shelf outside, and,
when customer appeared, put out my bottle.
The bottle held my entire stock in trade. 1
sold whiskey at seventy-fve cents a drink.
have known men to travel quarter Of mile
after being struck with that whiskey before
they fell. Those were great times AS things
prospered with me 1 bought more hogsheads
and rented them out at one hundred dollars
per week. California is great State for bring
ing out mans full strength and character. i
should never have been half the man am but
for my California experience. 1t was my good
that great and glorious State. am proud OF
it,"
Col. DIS story "On the first night of my
arrival put up at the Occidental Hotel, then
kept by Lewis and jerome Leland. slept on
the top floor During the night heard
scratching paving and shifting at the door.
Thinking it to be the Cat opened it to drive
the animal away. 1t was not the cat. An
enormous grizzly stood before me. The door
opened, and with a single bound he overthrow
mas and xUa in the With gtrOka 0f
his paw he demolished my spectaces, tore out
my set of false teeth and upset my cologne bot
tie. l had three revolvers and four bowie
knives in my valise, but alssl had neglected
to take any of them out before retiring. The
monster seemed to divine the contents Of my
portmanteau, for he grabbed it with one of his
human-like claws and threw it out of the win
dow. Shall l tell you how / fought him and
saved my life? Will you believe it? l fought
him with my bottle of smelling salts. Every
time he made for me / gave him sniff Of il.
He would roar terribly and temporarily back
down. Then he would rush for me again.
The fight was kept up for the remainder OF the
night until my supply OF smelling salts was ex-
hausted. 1 called out to Lewis Leland to send
me mp some more. He replied that there was
but single pound in the entire city. l said,
Buy it at any price, He sent out a waiter,
who returned with the reply that it would cost
81 900. (here the speakers words will be
drowned by the band-at the close Of which
there will be heard slight murmur of proud
record-my part-building up The glorious
IrfufIvugn uszy
was but Is minutes, assisted as a spectator in
hanging two men without judge or jury.
There was no delay in justice in those days.
believe that one of these men was afterward
found innocent But he was an awful exani-
pie to the guilty party, whoever he was, and
he was never-no never-discovered. Our
vessel sailed then Immediately to China. AL
though have never seen the shores OF the
State assisted to find and make history for,
still tho humble part in which it was my gloFl-
GUS privilege to take in elevating her to her
present proportions is one of the proudest, etc. "
Maj F's story: During the spring Of '49
the Wallop-o Wogga tribe of Indians used
often to attack our camp at Dirty Blanket bar
We expected attacks from them nightly and
were in the habit of sleeping on our arms.
had no arms then but pocket pistol had
brought out from the States. used to sleep
on that. So did my brother. These pocket
pistols were fully charged every night. They
were generally empty in the morning IN con-
sequence of the repeated and furious attacks
from these Indians-and snakes. 1t kept one
man busy getting them charged next day-at
the nearest grocery. They were loaded from
barrel Those were wild old times can tell
YOU One day two wild Indians chased my
brother three miles. We saw him being pur-
sued by them. That is, we saw him, but never
saw the Indians. 1t was the same with the
snakes. Numbers of our party were pursued
by snakes, but it is singular fact that no one
ever saw the snakes save the parties pursued
People at the East can never realize the hard
ships and perils endured by us brave, daring
California miners. 1t was a very dangerous
country where we mined. Nearly all our par:
ty eventually met their death at the hands OF
these Indians and snakes. Whisky then was
$40 per gallon. 1t cost us nearly all our earn
ings for ammunition. But, gentlemen, am
proud that I, too, had hand in making Cali
fornia the great State she is