Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-21

had started in bushes and was doing very
well, but Suffer could not accommodate
himself to the humdrum of mercantile
life. He had INDUCED in wild dreams of
adventure and wanted to strike out. Still,
he managed to live tolerably pleasant
sort of life. He visited me daily, and-got
all his drinks for nothing. The Santa Fe
expedition was now assuming shape, and
was expected to soon start. l suggested to
Suffer that he had better carry out his first
intentions, with which he sgreed. From
the Creoles before alluded to | gained the
information that there were several French
men in st. Louis who annually visited
Santa Fe on trading expeditions and had
become wealthy.
This was encouraging news, so / went at
once to Suffer and informed him of it. At
once a load was lifted from his heart. l
urged him to hasten and see these parties
and hurry back, as it was time for BIN to
be on his journey. The next morn
of business and took good
sriff 'horn' to enable him to keep up his
courage, and left in good spirits. The next
day he returned smiling, and while empty
ing bottle of wine related to me the re-
suit of his visit, the courteous reception he
met with, the good advice given him, etc,
and last, but not least with him, that he
could go with them and join their mess
without expense. He went again to st.
Louis. and bought some pistols and Ger
man students jackets for the Santa Fe mar
ket, which were forwarded to Independence
with the Frenchmen's goods, as they were
ready to start on their annual trip.
Before he departed ii was agreed that he
should keep me apprised of his success,
and that ! would let all our German friends
know of it, SO that on his return we might
form German company for the next ex-
petition. In order TO save expenses on the
road gave him some supplies, including
several bottles of whisky. During his alb
sence many young men applied to me for
permission to join the next expedition. l
was doing good business, and they had
confidence in my judgment.
About the last of September Suffer re-
turned with five mules and three gallon
keg of Ell Paso wine. The mules he placed
on the farm of comedy German widow,
but whether he ever realized anything
from them, or whether the widow kept
them for the cost of the pasturage, l never
learned. But Suffer and his friends soon
got away with the Ell Paso wine. He gave
glowing but peculiar account of his trip,
but had no real information to give con-
corning Santa Fe and the condition of bus
mess there. All he would say was that
every member of the expedition would |
make an independent fortune.
The winter passed away pleasantly, and |
Suffer paid me daily visits. Everybody |
ga hered about my store to hear Suffer talk |
of the prospects of the coming expedition. |
They were mostly young men with money, |
and this fact so deeply impressed Suffer |
that he was profuse in his assurances OF the |
fortunes they would surely realize
Here my recital of the events of that |
year in St. Louis, so far as Suffer was con-
cerned, must close. If l were to go into |
the details of that Santa Fe expedition
which was one of the worst swindles ever
upon innocent and confidiDg |
might shatter some of the |
idols that a few people have erected for the
purpose of blindly adoring them, so will |
let the curtain fall at this point. We have
heard here in California of Captain" SUIT
ter, Colonel" Suffer and even of General
Suffer. 1 think l nave sufficiently ex-
planned the circumstances that inspired the |
idea in Suffer OF assuming military title. |
j. a. LAUFKCTTER.