The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-15
a California Sage.
From the Santa Barbara (cal) independently

From the Santa Barbara (Cal) independently
A hunting party from Santa Barbara, LED
by G. w. Clark. of the Morris house, recent
ly made an extensive raid through the
mountains in the direction of Kern county.
Some were after pleasure, others bear, and
Clark after curiosities for his museum
During their ramble they came upon the
home of old Davy Brown, who has coast
wide reputation as the hunter and pioneer
of California. Old Davy Brown is known
to hundreds of the "old timers.' but his
whereabouts has been a debatable question
In most of the old mining camps of this
state for years past. He was always what
he Is now, hunter, and he never could live
In or tolerate civilization or it's attendant sur
roundings. He was and is California
Daniel Boone OF sspath-tinder,n who loves
to live where nature is least disturbed. The
Santa Barbara party was making its way
through the mountains on horseback, with
pack ponies bearing the camp equipage,
stores, etc., when itsuddenly discovered far
down in a romantic valley, surrounded by
a luxuriant growth of oaks, blue Jet of
smoke and snow-white tent shining in the
afternoon sunbeams.
On reaching the tent it was surrounded
by all the evidences of permanent settle
ment, corral of horses, well-cultivated
garden, through which plentiful stream of
tic animals, such as dogs, mules and horses,
were among the surroundings. An old man
with snow-white hair and beard, and attired
In clothing indicating good taste and easy
financial means, was found seated near the
tent cleaning rife He cheerfully and
cordially welcomed the party and made
them his guests for the night. During heir
stay he related the story of his escape from
San Francisco, when he was last taken sick
This was more than 10 years ago. He says
he was taken sick in the American Ex-
change hotel, and the doctors began talking
about death. He got up out of bed, took
his rife and made his way out in the San
Mateo hills, where he fouget with death
sihglehanded aud whipped him-this at an
age of u years. He related many interest
ing stories OF his early experiences as bear
hunter in Calaverns county in 1S48, 184o
1850, where be has bagged 10 grizzlies dur
ing one week. He says he cannot find many
now, but he manages to bring one in occa-
sionally, as the trophies round the old hunt
er's camp indicate.
horse, John, which is % years of age and
which old Dayy raised from colt. He is
proud of old John and offers this remarka-
BILE wager; he is SO years of age and his
horse is 2S years old. He will ride in a run
ming race for the sum of $500 against any
man and horse of the same age in the state
Old Davy has a yellow mule, also raised by
himself 1t is trick mule, and very old.
The old man, while the mule was growing,
amused himself by bending beneath it, plac-
ing his hands upon his knees, and raising
the mule from its feet. But as the old man
got older and the yellow mule grew heavier,
the task became harder. Now, when Davy
gets under the mule and lifts, and cries
''tread light, Dicky," the mule elevates it.
self upon the tip of its hoofs to ease Off the
old mans burden. Like most eccentric
characters, Davy possesses wonderful pow
er over animals. His brood mares, of which
he has quite a number in the neighboring
valleys, are tame with him, but wild with
strangers. One animal, which can only be
caught by The display of a club and use of
'cuss words,' is his favorite. His dog is a
trick dog and very intelligent. AS before
remarked, the old reciuse has garden, but
he has a trout stream also, which fairly
abounds in beautiful speckled fish,
which the old man guards with a par
ents care Among other things he has an
old doe which he uses as decoy for other
deer. This animal, with its fawD, broWses
about in the vicinity of Dayy's tent and
brings down many fat buck to replenish
the old mans larder. He warns all passing
hunters to shoot no does or fawns in valley,
and woe to the reckless sportsman who kills
Davy's doe. Methooical in everything, this
mountain hermit has methodically arrang-
ed garden. He cultivates little of everything
OF vegetable character, but has a specified
amount of each and never raises more nor
less, for as he says. ''To raise more would
glut the market. His garden contains 365
hills OF potatoes, which he says average one
pound to the hill, affording a pound for each
day in the year. He has fifty hills of corn,
80 onions of the largest and finest variety, SO
hills of gumbo or okra, of which the old man
is very fond; three tomatoe vines, which live