Omaha daily bee., 1883-02-12
AN EARLY
Interesting "Reminiscences OF an An
Client Fisherman

IuterootlnB hemlni6conceb OF IN AL
Client Fisherman
Redwood (Cai.) Times and o,sst.e.
In the year 1918 there sailed from
English shores the ship Neriad, owned
aud controlled by the Hudson Bay
company. Its destination vas where
It's interests are now conferred. Upon
reaching the Pacific coast q delay of q
month was necessary for repairs, which
wore made at Monterey. From there
the vessel visited the harbor of San
Francisco. At that time there was
not 0 habitation or q living soul where
now iourishes The great city. Aland.
ing was made under the brow of Tele.
graph Hill, near where the sea avail has
been built. On this ship was a sailcr
named James Peace, aged 20 years,
He had had trouble with the captain
and mate, aud left their employ OF
this port, and was landed and left to
shift for himself. He found his way
to the old mission, where he was
kindly cared for. After remaining
there for a short time, he made his
way south along the coaot until he
struck Half Moon Bay, where he
found q tribe of wild Indians located.
Peace took up his residence among
this nomadic tribe, and built for him
self q home. Several years afterward
he was taken prisoner by the Mexican
government, transferred to their soil,
and there held for nearly two years.
Matters were finally settled and he
Was allowed to return to his home.
From that day to this James Peace
has lived in San Marco county, res.
idenos OF sixty.6ve years. In an early
day he was possessed of considerable
property, but owing to poor manage
ment he gradually lost all that he had
gained until he only retained q small
homestead. Several years ago his son
Tony shot and killed q man named
Clifford near Half Moan bay. The
trial and subsequent scquittal cost his
father even his old home, which had
to be m~ortgaged for the costs of the
%expeneive trial. Since that time the
old man, now SO years of age. has had
to earn his living by fishing and dig
ging In the creeks near Redwood. All
that he now has left Is his boat, In
which he lives, and which from the
small revenue derived from the sale of
ish he subsiBtn. Thinking that per-
hsps the old fellows history might
contain something of Inherent, a Times
and Gszette reporter called upon him
the other day at his craft In q slough
back of Belmont. He was found all
alone, preparing to put out his nets
for the night. Ills memory Is poorss
to dates, but the incidents of past
years are as fresh in his mind as ever.
1t 10 Jimpy's pride to tell about the
first American flag that wss ever I'M
furled in Half Moon bay, and he takes
unto himself the honor Of this act of
patriotism. He still has the old flag
in his boat, which he exhibited. 1t
looks ancient, indeed, and there can
DO no doubt that It's history as related
Ia correct. In those early days Peace
claims to have seen none of the race
now called the "Greaser."
At that time, away from the Mis-.
sion, the country was uninhabited ex-
oept by Wild Indians. But as the
MeIicans began to locate and inter
marry with the natives, the founds.
ton was laid for the "Greaser" race
of to-day. Although SO years of age,
Jimmy Is far from being feeble, as 10
evinced by the management of his
boat and nets, without aid. OF course
The life thus led Is q hard one, and
for such an old man is doubly hard.
But there Is no help for It; 1t Is either
work or s~tarve, and Jimmy considers
the latter decidedly disagreeable.
This mode Of livelihood, though Sc
we're, Is at least independent. Peace
Is probably the Oldest white resident
In the state, and there does not live
to-day the man that can truthfully
dispute his claim to the "oldest In
habitant."