The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-05-11
- MINNIE MYRTLE
Joaquin Miller. Tribute to ~. wife
Her Marriage and Death.
San Praaci~o Chronicle.

Her Marriage and Death.
San Frdaciso Chronicle.
She seemed 10 fear wreck and storm and
separation for IFS I'm the arena OF life long
before u came, and this while we were newly
married, very hopeful, young aud strong aud
happy. And 80, twenty years ago this spring,
while we were living In the top OF house
on Fulton street, San Francisco, No. AL,
with this singular and sad notion In her bead
she one evening half playfally said that,
whatever came TO us, that II died first she
would write me well before the world and
let none do my memory wrong. And she
exacted the same promise Of me. And from
that time, 80 far from forgetting the
foolish covenant, she reminded me Of 1t ever
after. She reminded me Of 1t In this city
only q few days before her death, last May.
In the fulfilment Of this promise now un-
dertake this most delicate and most difficult
task. For IL is on my conscience that the
occasion Is opportune and that cannot well
conclude these sketches of my life In the
Slerras In this journal, without trying, after
a years delay, TO keep this covenant and
solemn promise of twenty years ago. 1t was
while was riding Mossman & Millers pony
express from Walla Walla to Millersburg, In
the mines OF Idaho, In the summer Of 1851,
that | first was attracted by her writings In
the newspapers. wrote her and had re-
n AsxsuW an
mountains and embarked In Journalism she
wrote 10 me and our letters grew ardent and
full or affection. Then mounted my horse
and rode hundreds Of miles through the val
legs and over the mountains, Till came TO
the sea, at Port Oxford, then flourishing
mining town, and there first saw "Minnie
Myrtle "..5
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
Tall, dark and striking in every respect
this first Saxon woman had ever addressed
had IL all her own way at once. She knew
nothing at all Of my life, except that was
an expressman and country editor. ! knew
nothing at all OF hers, but found her with
her kind, good parents, surrounded by
brothers and sisters, and the pet and spoiled
child of the mining and lumber camp. In
the woody little world there by the sea she
was literally woshipped by the rough miners
and lumbermen aud the heart Of the bright
and merry girl was Drumming full Of romance,
hope and happiness. arrived on Thursday.
On Sunday next we were married! oh, TO
what else but ruin and regret could such
romantic folly lead? Procuring horse for
her we set out at once to return to my post
far away over the mountains. These noun.
tains were then as now, and ever will be
reckon, crossed only by q dim, broken trail,
with houses twenty and thirty miles apart
for the few travellers. ...m
The first day out we came upon a great
band of elk. Toward evening drew re-
volyer and with wild delight we dashed
among the frightened beasts, aud following
them quite q distance, we lost our way. And
. so we had TO spend our first night together
tired, hungry and thirsty, sitting under the
pines on the hillside, holding on TO our i'm
patient horses. We reached my home al
right, hswever, at length, after weeks ride
but only to find that my paper had been sup
pressed by the Government, and we resolved
TO seek our fortunes in San Francisco. Blu,
we found neither fortune nor friends In thu
great new city, and so returning TO Oregon
i bought q band of cattle and we set ou
with our baby and party Of friends ane
relatives TO reach the new mining camp
Canyon City, In Eastern Oregon. In fact,
had gone before TO spy out the land. w
fought the Indians and got some foothol'
and we selected this location for our futur
home.
"A ROMANTIC RIDE.
And what journey was this Of ours owe
the Oregon Sierra, driving the believing chi
tile IN the narrow trail through the dens
woods, up the steep, snowy mountains, dow
through the roaring cafons! II was wild
glorious, fresh, full Of hazard and adventure
Minnie had made willow basket and swun
Il TO her saddle-horn, with the Growing an
good-natured baby inside, looking up At be
laughing rs she leaped her horse over th
fallen logs or made Q full hand with Will
and lasso, slashing after the cattle. Br
when we descended the wooded mountain
to the open plain on the eastern side Of S
erras, the Indians were ready 10 receive u
and we almost literally had to fight our wa
for the next weeks journey, every day an
night. Aud this woman was one OF u
truest souls that ever saw battle. ! thin
she never, even In the hour of death, kne
what fear was. She was not only wonde
fal horse-womsn, but very adroit with u
use of arms. She was q much better sho
indeed, than myself. In our FIRST little ski
mish on this occasion had take position q
ahiIl with few men, while the cattle ar
pack animals were corraled by the others
q blight In the foothills below TO prevent
stampede. And thus entrenched, we waite
the attack from the Indians, who held u
farther point OF the ridge on which ! hi
stationed my men. Suddenly Minnie, bal
In arms, stood at my side and began TO calr
iy discuss the situation and TO pass merry !
marks about the queer noises the bulle
made a. they fiattened on the rocks about
and glanced over our heads. finally got b
to 10 down, or, rather, promise TO 90 dow
TO camp for the better safety Of the bat
But In moment she was back. She b
hidden the laughing little baby in the rocl
and now, gun In hand, kept At my side
the brush was over and the Indians beat
of. ME3
A LEAF FROM HER JOURNAL.
Here Is one leaf from her journal, or rath
think, her recollections Of the journ'
which she left me along with her other
pers when she died:
One night Of that journey shall not so
forget. There had been some fighting ahe
OF us and we knew the foe was lurking
ambush. they made q kind Of fort Of
freight and while We lay down In the cant
baby and /, away up on the high, sharp bu
JOAQUIN stood sentinel. And say this
night In his behalf and In his praise, that
aid bravely and saved bis loved ones II,
peril that night. That he stood on U
dreary summit, target for the foe, and
one but me TO take note Of his valor-s0
TIL the morning shonc radiant, stood Till
night was passed. There was ne wo
looking On 10 praise his courage and echo
ever the land; only the frozen stars In M
tic rroups far away, and the slender mo
like sword drawn 10 hold him u bay.