The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-14

so says a correspondent OF the Philadel-
phia Press. He is one OF Colorado's
earliest settlers, who came to the State du.
ring the gold excitement OF 1859. Here he
rules in the true baronial style, owning
more acres and controlling more wealth
than contemplated In the bigh-sounding
titles Of all his ancestry. The story OF his
life, as told by him, is extremely enter
tanning.
In 184S the descendants i'm Ireland OF old
Brian Boru appeared conspicuously as
members OF the Young Ireland party,
which had grown under the auspices Of
O'Connell. When the English Govern
ment swooped down upon the disorganized
Irish the rebellion was soon crushed.
Among those captured were the Briens, Of
Munster, now modernized by the prefix
and the addition OF given names, which
came in vogue with the reign OF their royal
ancestors. Willis, Smith 0'Brien was
sentenced TO be hanged. Edward Mearcie
O'Brien and another brother escaped and
fled to this country.
When they arrived here they separated.
| Edward was soon penniless. He could
have found friends among his own people,
but he preferred to remain unknown, as
upon his head. He was young man Of
good appearance, OF more than ordinary
intelligence, but could get no position be-
fitting his training; and, IN order to avert
starvation, he went to boating on the Hud-
son. During the eleven years that pre-
ceded his appearance in these mountains
his fortunes varied, until finally he ap-
peared in Chicago as a drayman. II was
Oh e hot t1n - l.
covery Of gold in the Rockies was agitating
the country.
Hastily gathering together what little he
possessed, which amounted to 5000, he
started westward in company with two
others as adventurous and poverty-stricken
as himself. The Cheyennes, ArrapahOes,
and Comanches were then in undisputed
possession OF the plains. Massacres were
OF frequent occurrence, and journey over
so widely travelled q country as the Santa
Fe trail was beset with danger. Joining
Il train OF twelve schooners they accom-
plished their perilous undertaking, arriving
at Santa Fe in the best OF spirits.
Without delay they passed on to the Rio
Grande, and following that river. were
soon in the Ute country, where from Chief
Ouray they learned that the gold-bearing
gulches were further on in the country OF
the Uncompahgres. Accompanied by n
Southern Ute, who served as a guide and
4 passport OF safety, they reached the north
fork Of the Gunnison. Thence they
crossed the Elk mountains and began ex-
cavating among the gulches Of what is now
Pitkln county. Fortune favored them,
and they soon located some valuable placer
mines.
In few years O'Brien returned to the
Southern Ute country, where he had made
friends with the natives. He had amassed
wealth, and was now disposed to live
leisurely. He had given up all thoughts OF
returning 10 Ireland, and when Ouray sug-
gested he should take up the tract Of coun-
try near him he readily consented, realizing
at once the advantage to be gained by the
old Chiefs friendship. Stock-raising was
then unknown in this region, and in Texas
1t was in its infancy. He located the tracts,
and held them for future he felt was sure
to come. Taking advantage OF his oppor-
tunities, he went into stock-raising rs soon
as the country began 10 open, and sue
ceeded beyond his expectations. He has
now eight ranches, aggregating eighty
miles square, with water-line OF 10000
acres.
THE CATTLE KINGS LIPE.
O'Brien lives his eXpatriation here In
contentment. 1t is beautiful place. At
his door runs the Rio Grande del Norte
and in the distance towers the Sierra
BlancI, almost $4,000 feet above the sea.
The Rocky Mountains run their irregular
course to the North and South rs far rs
the eye can reach, sloping down TO foot
hills and then sweeping off into gently un-
dulatlng country, rich in buffalo, mesquit,
and gramma grasses. His home lies in the
shaded depths OF an adjacent grove. 1t is
such building as might be found any
where in the South, only little rougher
on the outside. perhaps. Like the planter,
he lives on the ground floor, but, unlike
the usual planter, his surroundings are
those OF luxury and refinement.
His library is the library OF litterdteur,
and it Is here that he spends his declining
DAYS. Statuary fill the inches, and cabinets
and furniture smooth ont the angles in the
walls. On every hard are paintings and
engravipgs, and the bric-a-brac usually 10
be found in the home Of a literary recluse
is here seen in proiusion. On the desk be-
fore him are the works OF Disraeli just ar
rived from the East. and at his right-hand
is Stephens's Reviewers Reviewed."
which bears upon the title-page the auto
graph of the dead commoner. Stephens
and O'Brien were warm friends. Mutual
political sympathies had something to do
with this, and the friendship that grew
therefrom remained deep and sincere, and
was only broken by the death OF the
Georgia statesman.
O'Brien was East number Of years ago.
1t was while making this trip that he
stopped in Georgia, and, rs llncal de-
scendant OF the Kings OF Munster, was en-
tertained royalty by the Vice-President OF
the Southern Confederacy. 81 shall never
forget that VISIT" said OBrien. "He and
Bob Toombs were cl0seted together con-
sutlng over the troubled condition OF the
country when my arrival was announced.
Toombs soon left and was ushered INTO
the presence OF a man small in stature and
hali.buried In the papers Uttered about
him. While sitting there studied intently
the face before me. 1t was face L had
seen somewhere, possibly in the galleries OF
Europe. There were no weak lines, and
his every lineament was a reflex OF intellec-
| tuaI strength. When he finished perusing
the letters / had given him he extended q
second cordial greeting, and from that mo-
ment to the day | left his uppermost
thought seemed to be my enjoyment and
personal comfort.
ado expect to return to Europes No |!
I am an American citizen, and such shall
remain. The only request could reason
ably ask at the hands Of my countrymen
woi,ld be 10 see that my lifeless bones were
laid among those Of my ancestry. That
much I shall expect OF them when the
time comes, and that time, l think, is not
far distant"
zausas Family Drowned In q Well.