, 1889-01-31

90 "sn WIS uuhiy Carried out OF tno OF
for bis lost millions. Mr.. Adams saws ne
wants to know the name Of the Putnam
policeman Who forged bis name.
THE HEKhITs or RAsAnp,
For'y-N'nsrs stranded In sn Arizons
valley.
Among the visitors ia this eitv a fsv
days ago, says Denver dispatch. was an
aged man With heavy beard ss silverv and
a. long - the beard Of Rip Vsn WinkIe.
MT: James Graybcard, As he termed him.
self, one evening after his arrival vas
asked to enlighten number Of gentlemen
~ TO who he was and from where he came.
Believe me-" he ssid, "when / tell
you that | belong to race OF people of
which you have probably never heard. /
am Hssamper. knew you all would
be surprised, but nearly every man in
Arizona knows what Hasamper l..
200 or 900. and we live and have % our be-.
ing on what 10 known as the Hasamp
creek. THE 10 o stream OF water, some-
times rising to the dignity of q river, at
others simply a creek. IL 10 several hmm.
dred miles in length, running through the
central and southern portion OF Arizona,
Along the banks of the Hassmp are locat.
ed many rich and productive hills,
and beyond for several miles on
each side are located a. many fine ranches
or farms. Like the Mormons. Who made
the valleys and plains OF Utah bloom int o
Hover gradens, fields Of grain and or
chards OF fruit. the Hasampefs converted
their section Of the globe into q land Of
plenty. Nature helps us out, or probably
our little band Of people would now be
destitute Of the distinction We enjoy
I'm the days Of 40, when the Califoo-
mia excitement was at its height. I Joined
the rush. was at that time student of
the Louisville medical college,. at Louis
vile, Ky. left home one night on an
old fashioned steamer that was bound for
Cincinnati, from which city hundreds Of
people were leaving every week for the
new Eldorado. In course Of time the
trials that were encountered by q trip
across the plains and mountains we're
overcome, ald | Landed in the couotry that
has since become 80 rich and famous, and
IN which many an ambitious youth Loo
his head and eventually died q violeu1
death, or became lost to all associates.
II lived. but my life has been almost a
blank. | went to California nsarly forty
years ago, and belong to the great major
ity OF men who were disappoiuted. For
two years journeyed from one camp TO
another, trying my luck at prospecting
and starving. One day about $50 miles
from San Francisco, ran against train
OF wagons that were bound eastward, and
Joined them. The train was made no OF
young fellows from the East whose disap.
pointment was as great as my own, spd
they were glad to have their number n
creased.
I'VE journeyed for several weeks. stop
ping now and then. " give our stock u
chance to pick up. In course OF time We
entered Central Arizona and struck the
creek from which we derive our name.
The HasaMp is an Indian name, meaning
long, Or having no end. The pretty hills
and wide valley that seemed TO stretch ont
for many miles attracted our attention,
and We remained there several moDths.
The Wallspia and Javapis Indians were
quently in the matter Of food. With the
game that abounded we had
no trouble In getting along,
became troublesome and wanted % US to
leave what they termed their country.
This We declined to do az many OF our
party had discovered rich minerals that
promised great results. and We renewed
our ambitions to become millionaires. The
frequent attempts of the indians to drive
us out sometimes proved disastrous to us,
bnt oftener to themselves. We were re-
inforced by other unsuccessful seekers af-
ter California gold from time to time, and
in the course of events Hasamp Creek be.
came well settled. Many Of us took up
mining Glazing, while others settled upon
agricultural and grazing lands and be-
came farmers and stock-raIsers.
These things happened such a long
time ago that | scarcely remember them:
but our little world waRgad along. and we
became efxtures-nnmovable to such an ex.
tent that this is my first trip. am now,
after an absence OF forty years, on my way
t. the old Kentucky Home Yes, we ore
all alike. Every Hasamper has long
white beard. wears red shirt, white
hat, buckskin coat and waistcoat, cordu-
roy trousers and hiRh-topped boots. Mar
riedp Why. my boy, not q man OF US Is
married. It's a part OF our religion not to
do anything no foolish, for it's u faiinre!
We have no chance TO marry except
among the Indians, and you wouidnt ex.
pect decent man to do that, wound you ?
Oh. yes, We have our lodges, Mason iu aud
otherwise, and We are great poker play
ers. We don't know much about the civ
iized tricks ut the great game but We can
play square poker better tbau any class Of
people We have ever met"
OFurthsr talk with the old Hasampsv re-
vealed the fact that the race" were in
comfortable circumstances. They take
out enough ore or sel suthciept stock b
net them several thousands annually each,
and they visit Prescott. Tucson and other
Arizona towns now and then to get a
taste of civilization. They loaf around
gambling houses, SALOONS and other resorts
30 attractive to miners until they are
broke, then return to their lonely life and
skimp" themselves until their exchequer
is replenished. when they 20 back 10 the
fasclnatious of the city towns and suffer
themselves to be skinned" out of their
hard earnings.
'ln conclusion my name." he said,
shack in the states was Benjamin Rid dvley.
Out on the Hasamp il is Old James Gray