The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-09-18
inc point at the mouth Of the river, The
MIRA mountain air restored Mr.. Fishers

reached the ancient town Of Panama, on TIT
Pacific coast. This place had once been
large Spanish city, but it was then only INT
shadow Of its former self II had formerly
contained, besides other ede6ces, twelve INIT
Catholic churches, and all these, save one OF
two, anu many squares Of once costly and
handsome buildings were in ruins. lie sa"
a large oak growing out through the debris
of one Of these churches, indicating that tn
citys decay had begun many years before
Here they took steamer and in due time
arrived at San Francisco, which WAS merely
landing place with little indications OF Its
future greatness. Thence passing up Amer
can river, they arrived at Sacramento, noted
as an ancient Pueblo or Spanish village
They here left the water and took to the
mountains.
MINING LIFE.
Here Mr.. Fisher, at the place agreed up.
on, met his son Charles, who had successful.
ly made the long and tedious trip overland,
in movers wagon, propelled by horses, mules
or oxen, as happened most convenient or in
convenient, for, on the plains in those days
man might propose, but unless his team, OF
whatever variety, seconded the motion, he
was "laid on the table" by a triumphant
majority, and from the decision of his dumb
but lnfexible companions there was no ap,
peal, except through the aid Of grass, water,
and rest. But he arrived and they proceed
ed to the gulches and ravines to make their
fortunes or msiorunes as the case might be
Providing themselves with ammunition,
guns, knives etc, picks, shovels and drills,
a few pots and pans, some salt pork, -four at
about dollar u pound, and mule to carry
provisions from the coast to the camp occas-
ionally, and with sufficient vocal ability to
strike dismsy to the hearts Of bowling and
prowling wolves, A, first, while. the men
slept under friendly pine tree about 100 or
80 II. above the bottom Of the ravine, which
they were securing clean for the precious
metal. Here with their blankets wrapped
about them they slept sweetly and soundly,
after the first or second night For bed
they had the whole earth, for augh, they
knew upon a mine Of gold and diamonds;
for canopy the starry sky and as an accom-.
paninent to their snoring, were the bowling
Of the wolves, the screeching Of owls, the
screaming Of panthers, the growing Of grizz,
y bears, and other wild, free and unculti-
Vated voices Of the night"
CURIOUS VISITOR.
One beautiful moonlight night, after the
miners had been in dreamland an hour or
so, Charles was awak ened he could not quite
tell how or why, but he saw at a distance Of
about twenty feet away, sitting upon its
launches O somewhat tall and slender and
graceful animal. Nudging his father, Charlie
exclaimed "See there, what's that" Mr..
Fisher senior, thus suddenly and perhaps
only partly awakened out ofhis first nap, an.
swered drowsly, 80! that's nothing but a
WOLF The beast sat motionless for min.
ute or so and then changed its position to
another point Of the compass, but at the
same distance of, and here it took another
ong view of the tired miners who undertook
% stare il out Of countenance, and both fell
lsleep in the attempt. Next morning on
weakening, they remembered their curious
visitor Of the night before and on examining
Is tracks, discovered il to have been pan
her of enormous size! one Of the most
erocious Of oil the wild animals Of the far
vest. AT once they concluded that it had
made midnight lunch Of their old mule,
,ut short search revealed their long cared
riend quietly breakfasting on the tender
hoots Of pine tree near by. AT that time
here were many other wild animals Of car
livorous tastes in that region. The small
Volt abounded everywhere and never failed
o make night hideous with his clamorous
'elpings. This little cowardly thief, among
ther complishments, has the trick of
lowling in three different keys of sharps and
ats at once. and 80 mixing them up as to
make the uneducated "tenderioot' believe
hat there are about twenty of him when
here is only one! The king Of the woods
nd mountains, however, is the grizzly bear,
'eighing from 500 to 1900 pounds. Let
lone they are peaceful, and never make an
tack on man without great provocation.
INDIANS.
The only cred skins in the vicinity of
he camp were Of the digger" variety. the
owest type Of the American Indian. They
btained their name from their habit of dig
ing round hole in the ground or the side
( a hill and all tumbling into il to sleep,
heads and points," men, women and child
on, dirty, ignorant and still Indians through
nd through, never forgetting a trae friend
r forgiving an injury, or failing a chance of
evenge. Mr.. Fisher in his travels about his
,nt, obtained several months after his arry-
|, discovered splendid specimen of wild
ly, bearing upon its branches forty.two
Dlendid blooms. He tied the branches TO.
M har vii "A yinW N rpturninu for tho saal