The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-06-20
Joaquin MiNer's Romance,
From the sap Fran cisco chronieIe


From the San Francisco Chronicle.
She seemed to see wreck and storm
and separation for us on the arena of
life long before it came, and even while
we were newly married, very hopeful,
young and strong and happy. And so,
twenty years ago this spring, while we
were living in the top of house on
Fulton street, San Francisco, No, 421,
with this singular and sad notion in her
head, she one evening half playfully
said that, whatever came to us, if died
first she would write me we'll before the
world and let none do my memory
wrong. And she exacted the same prom
ise from me. And from that time, so far
from forgetting the foolish covenant,
she reminded me of it ever after. She
reminded me of it in this city only
few days before her death, last May In
the fulfllmert of this promise now un
dertske this most delicate and difficult
task. For it is on my conscience that
the occasion is opportune and that can
not well conclude these Sketches of my
life in the Sierras in this Journal with
out trying, after a years delay, to keep
this covenant and solemn promise of
twenty years ago. 1t was while I was
riding Mossman & Miller's pony express
from WaIla Wana to Millersburg, in the
summer Of 1851, that was first attract
ed by her writings in the newspapers.
/ wrote her and had replies. Then when
l came down from the mountains aud
embarked in Journalism she wrote to
me and our letters grew ardent and fun
of affection. Then I mounted my horse
and rode hundreds of miles through the
Ivalleys and over the mountains, till /
came to the sea at Point Oxford, then a
4 fiourishing mining town, and there first
saw " Minnie Myrtle nj Toi nu1 o1 &.
Tall, dark and striking in every re-
sPect, this first Saxon woman had ever
addressed had it all her own way at once
She knew nothing at all of my life, ex-
Fcept that was an expressman and coun-
try editor. knew nothing at all of hers,
but found her with her kind good pa
rents, surrounded abyo brothers and sis
ters, and the pet and spoiled child of the
mining and lumber camp. In her woody
little world there by the sea she was lit
orally worshipped by the rough miners
and lumbermen, aud the heart of tht
bright and merry girl was brimmine
fullof romance, hope aud happiness. j
arrived ongPhursdaya On nSunday mex
q lwewere married Oh, to what else Ibu
= ruin and regret could such romanti,
a. folly lead o. Procuring horse for her
. we set out at once to return to my pos
: far away over the mountains. Thes
: mountains were then 5 as now ant
Ii IiieveriwIll be, Treckon, crossed, only b,
u a dim, broken trail with houses tw ent,
d and thirty miles apart for tile tew trav
III elerssui sdf nogg INK .fqs9 bna -
II Thesfirst day lout we came upon
great band of elk. Towards evening
a drew . Feyolyer and with wild deligh
n We dashed among the frightened beasts
and following them, quite a distance w
i lost our way And so we had tefspen
e our first night together, tired, hungry
thirsty, sitting under the pinesOna hill
~ side, holding on to our impatient horses
I We reached my home all right. hover
/ j .lersat length after asweek' 5 ride, bu
only TO find that my paper had bee
suppressed -bysthe Government, and "
: resolved to seek our fortunes in Sa
Francisco. But we fonnd neither fo