St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-16
GRIZZLED AND GRAY.

Inc OLD veteran was grlZZleu ana gray
the winds of fifty winters had whistled
through his unkempt locks and toyed with
his flowing beard. Yet he was hale and
hearty, a veritable man OF the mountains. Ii
was in the forties that he had left the girl of
his choice behind him to be cared for by the
other fellow, and gone with other argonauts
of the East to seek his fortune in the wilds
of the West, where rolls the Oregon to the
placid waters of the Pacifcl9 The autograph
that he registered at Col. Aliens caravan
sary was simple and unostentatious John
Wilson, but the chirography was as pictur-
esque as the diagram of mining camp.
However, it attracted the attention of a
GLOBE reporter and he sought j. W. out and,
of course, found him posed as petrifaction
from the Bad Lands against the bar of the
Merchants. Solicited for the story of his
wanderings, he was reticent until he had
been mellowed by congenial cocktail, when
he grew garrulous and gave up the story of
his life. cit was in 1877 he said, ''when
found that the day-dream of my life was dis
sipated by the only girl I ever loved repuls-
ing my suit for young flop of our set This
was in York state. 1t matters not, but the
town was Cazenovia, where the seminary is
located. The girls name? That is asking
too much. Man of the mountains, that am,
and have been for quarter of a century,
am too chivalric to betray her name to the
world in print. Fact is, have forgiven the
girl, and after many years of wandering,
L am going back to take care of
her and her children. She is
now in sore distress, the husband having
died tragic death, leaving her with large
family and in Strengthened circumstances,
while have acquired an abundance of the
worlds treasures. Yes, she was the only
woman that ever awakened the softer senti-
ment in my heart. Through all the trials of
frontier life under tent and in blanket in
the Businesses of the mountain have never
forgotten this, my first, love. What of my
past life! Well, it is long, and to you per-
haps would prove to be tedious, story. 1t
has been full of exciting incidents. When
in camp in the mines of the Sierra Nevada
my messmate, about whose life there was a
mystery, disappeared and the vigilantes &C
cused me of his untimely taking off and
gave me three days to find him or
suffer the justice of a mining camp.
Their theory was that had killed him for
his dust and thrown him down a shaft, to
penetrate the bottom of which meant death
from noxious gas. To convince them of my
innocence l agreed to descend to the bottom
with any one of their number whom they
might designate. All stood appalled, at the
proposition, yet held me to account for my
missing messmate until finally sturdy
miner who believed in my innocence volun-
teered to make the descent with me for nv
sake. Ropes were procured and we started
on our perilous mission, shall never for
get that awful day. / survived it, but my
new-found friend succumbed, and when
we were hauled up he could
not be resuscitated. Then I was
held responsible for his death, and had 1 not
made sneak out of the camp that night
/ would not now be here telling you
this story. l left some good claims
in that camp and guess the boys wanted
them, but never returned to question their
title. 1t wasn't healthy for me in that camp
| then drifted into Oregon, thence to Wash
ington territory, latter to Idaho and finally
into Montana, where scent several seasons
looking for the Lost Cabin mine without
avail. 1t was while was on this mission
that ! had the adventure of my life. ! had
been in the mountains for mont tbs, and given
up all hope of finding the lost
mine of territorial tradition when l
set out for the Yellowstone, de-
termined to return to the states. had not
seen any campfire except my own for
weeks, when as | neared the river l saw
smoke an l thought had come upon the
camp of some trappers or skin hunters. The
night was awfully dark, but l made direct for
the fire. But before l got there
l was challenged in an I'M
known tongue, and was almost in
staDtly seized and bound with thongs
/ thought then that was in the hands of the
hostile Sioux and that my hour had come
After night of apprehensive agony, / was
confronted by band Of Indians whom
believed would burn me at the stake, but at
sunrise | was taken to the tepee Of the chief,
whom ! found to be no less parsonage than
Chief Joseph Of the Nez Perces, then on that
memorable march, which ranks with the ex-
petition of Hannibal that / read of when ]
was a boy, from Oregon to the Bear Paw
mountains, where you will remem Der he was
rounded up by Gen. Miles. After ascertain
ing that / was not spy from Gen. Howard,
be treated me with the honors Of war and re-
leased me on parole with all my equipments
Yes, he was the noblest Indian /
ever knew, and ! regret to learn that
he is held practically as prisoner
of war in the Indian territory and his people
are exiled from their fair Oregon homes
Well, after that experience | prospected in
the Clark's Forks country and other min
eral districts in Montana, sold out some
promising claims, got together all the money
l shall need for myself, for the woman
have never forgotten, and for the children
that ought to be mine, took the first train /
had seen for many years, at Custer Station,
aud here am making ID fool Of myself
talking TO a newspaper man, vino likely as
not will print these ram bling incidents Of a
misspent life. But / must be off on this
train for the East. I think the old girl will
be glad to see me now aud am anxious to
get there.
A MIDNIGHT VISION.