Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-01-04
AFTER FORTY YEARS.
A Pioneer of 1s4s Re-visits Los
Angeles.


M. T. J. Urquhart, Superintendent OF
the Moiave division of the Southern Pa
sific, accompanied by his father-in-law,
Mr.. r. Brownlee, of Napa Valley, came
in town on Wednesday to meet General
Superintendent Fillmore. 1t is an inter-
esting trip for Mr.. Brownlee, for it is the
first time he has seen Los Angeles since
September, 1S48, when he passed through
the city with a party of enthusiasts bound
for the newly discovered gold mines. A
HERALD man asked him whether he
recognized his surroundings, and Mr..
Brownlee replied: ''The change is
simply marvellous. l we'll remem-
Der the circumstances under which
first saw Los Angeles. l
as a member of one of the biggest emf.
gran} trains that had ever crossed the
continent, for there were sixty wagon
loads of US in all, left Kansas in the
April Of '4S. fred with excitment to
reach the country where our imagina-
ton painted hills Of gold. 1t was hard
work travelling in those days, for
although we had six horses to each wagon
the country was 80 rough that progress
was very slow indeed. We came over
the old Santa Fe trail through New Mex
leo and Arizona, and contrary to expec-
tations, encountered no trouble with the
Indians en- route, although they were
marauding whenever they had
chance, the number of
our party kept them at respectful
distance. We were we'll stocked with
provisions and we did not suffer for
water, for when we reached the deserts
the trail led us along the Santa Cruz
river, where there was sufficiency of
the aqueous fluid at all times. The
party broke up when we were at the Gila
river in Arizona, for number of the
most impatient of us dissatisfied with
our slow progress determined to push on
by forced marches and reach our ultima
loads in all deserted from the main party
and within few days sighted the first
traces we had seen of civilization in
Temecula Valley. Our stay there was
and snatch little sleep for ourselves,
and then we struck out for Los Angeles,
for in those days the lightly equipped
parties went through the Angel City and
the heavy pedestrian by way Of the
western skies with the gories of his set
ting rays as from an eminence we caught
our first glimpse of the pueblo of La
Reina de Los Angeles, and before night
bad fallen we had reached the settle
ment. If 1 remember correctly there
were Just six adobe houses and
one two-storied building of the
same material, which stood some
where about where Wells-Fargo's office
is now located. The large building was
a store and was run by two white men
whose names forget. We asked them
where there was good camping place,
and they directed us to place over the
river, so bidding them goodnight we
pulled over to the point indicated and
there passed the night. We were up
bright and early and pursued our journey
northward, and until to-day never saw
Los Angeles since. l made few thous-
and dollars in the mines and finally set-
tied down where now live, in the north
ern part of the State where, during the
past two years, l have heard so much
of the big jump that Los Angeles has
made that determined at last to come
down and look at my old camping
ground. To say that I am surprised
would not by one-half convey my feel
ings. 1t is astounding. Why, you have
buildings here that will bear comparison
with any on the American continent,
and, Judging by the amount of construc
ton that is going on about town, you are
going to have good many more. am
glad came, and to nay northern home 1
will bear away very pleasant recollec-
tions of my second visit here"
Mr.. Brownlee, who is Scotchman by
birth, is still hale and hearty, in spite OF
the fact that nearly eighty years has
rolled over his head. In company with
Mr.. Fillmore and party he went over the
branches yesterday and left at noon for
the north.