The Republican journal., 1888-02-09

soon long voyages began to be general. In IS49
and after, the gold fever on the Pacific coast made
Il deep impression the boys. Seven of them
who went to sea- and three others, set out for Cal
ffornia. some around the Horn and some across
the old settlers fell into line Two of the number
bought a schooner and loaded her in the creek
with lumber sawed mostly in the district, and sent
her around the Horn. One went across the Isthmus
and sold the vessel and cargo in San Francisco.
The boys who arrived in California tried gold dig
glnS with various success also prospecting in 9th
sheep and cattle ranches, and farming. At one
time one of the boys sawed with a two horse ma
chine most of the wood for what is now the city of
San Francisco. In all, fifteen boys went to Cali
fornia. A number have done well and settled
there, and some have been absent 81 years
The first pioneers by steady work and persever-
ance soon began to show signs of thrift in the way
of newly painted houses, better utbuildings, good
fences. and fields from which the rocks had been
cleared and built into stone walls. One of the
number, Hon. S. S. IIeagan, held many places of
trust in town and State. He kept the records of
the district and was elected clerk for 26 years.
Soon after the gold excitement the seafaring
boys began to ship as mates of vessels, mostly in
the cOasng trade, and after year two as mate
to take command. The first captains were as fol-
gan, schooner Ruth Thomas; James Partridge
schooner Marcellus.
In all this time, between 30 and 40 years. the
first settlers were strong rugged men. But five
had met with the sad loss of their wives and after
season had married again. Some had lost their
children after they 81 years of age with few
CTS anu consumption. CHNltC HUuCnccS anu
changes had begun to tell on the seafaring boys.
The first one died in the hospital at Portland.
Along in the different years the following deaths
occurred: Three captains in Havana; one in
Mexico; one in the Gulf near port; one at Gibral-
tar; one captain of steamer in the cOasting trade
one was drowned in Pensacola Bay. and one, mate
of a steamer, was drowned in Oregon. The last
two were brothers. One seaman died at St.
Thomas; one on the Mississippi river; one second
mate died and was buried ut sea in the Gulf Of
Mexico; one died in China; one in n Southern
port one in California, and number at home. or
all who went to sea only ono was lost in gale of
wind, and he was mate Of the schooner Italian that
fOundered off Long Island, n. Y, when all on
board were lost. Mr.. Staples left a wife and
little boy, who grew to manhood and was mate of
the Pendeton ship lately lost in gale in the In
dian ocean with all on board.
While the districts joining have lost quite
a number in the same families by going in one
vessel, old No. rs mourned sometimes four or five
vessels with almost their entire crews. Among
the lost vessels were bark Edgar, full-rigged brig
Sarah, sch0oners Marcellus, Genoa and Mexican,
brig J. b. johnson, schooncrs Hudson and Pavil-
liOn ship Loeb La Mar. brig Helen Is. Fish, schOOn-
err Susan Ross, brig Black Swan, and a number
OF others we could not mention now. BY these
disasters old No. l6 lost many promising young
men who had bid fair to become useful and well
to do citizens. Others with varying success tried
different occupations, and the number began to
dwindle down. Some were successful and left